you.’
Charles, throwing Alyssa a puzzled look, asked bluntly, ‘What say you to these ridiculous terms, Maxton?’
‘What am I supposed to say?’ replied Gil, equally candid. ‘We must comply to obtain what we want. The general was a friend of mine so I also feel under some obligation to follow his wishes.’
‘Have you no thought for Alyssa’s reputation?’
‘Charles, please!’ she said, annoyed.
Again, Gil raised his brows. ‘The scandalmongers will find our situation newsworthy for a time, but the novelty will die away. Most people will understand Miss Paradise is simply carrying out her uncle’s request,’ he observed in a cold voice. ‘However, I can see why you are not happy with the arrangements—’
‘Charles knows I’m determined,’ interjected Alyssa.
‘I didn’t imagine you would change your mind,’ said Gil, amusement hovering on his lips. ‘I shall endeavour to remain compliant throughout dinner if you will do the same, Miss Paradise?’
‘I will try, but the provocation might prove too great on occasion.’
His smile grew. ‘Then shall we be content to see where our conversation leads?’
‘A gentleman keeps a civil tongue in his head when in the presence of a lady!’ said Charles.
Gil’s brows snapped together as he queried in a suddenly arctic tone, ‘True, but should I infer from your comment you do not consider me a gentleman?’
‘I was not suggesting anything of the sort,’ replied Charles mendaciously. ‘I am merely concerned Alyssa’s time here should be as pleasant as possible.’
‘I also wish the least difficulty and disruption for both of us,’ said Sir Giles in a curt voice.
Alyssa, feeling sidelined in this undeclared yet simmering confrontation, said quickly, ‘Sir Giles, may I suggest seven o’clock on Saturday for our first meeting, here at Hawkscote? I will then have had time to settle in and meet my land agent.’
‘That will be convenient. Ennis is your agent – he was your uncle’s for some years. He is very capable but if there are particular matters you wish to discuss or require advice on, we may speak about them on Saturday.’
‘Be aware, Sir Giles,’ said Charles, through gritted teeth, ‘Alyssa has friends who can offer advice.’
‘I expect she has,’ he replied, smoothly. ‘Remember Miss Paradise has only to seek my advice – she is not obliged to take it, although I would strongly recommend she does, or at the very least listens to Ennis. My local knowledge and experience in estate management might prove useful.’
‘I have estate management experience,’ said Charles.
‘Ah, I see.’ Gil paused infinitesimally. ‘May I enquire how many acres on your property?’
‘Almost two hundred.’
‘Eastcombe, my own estate, has one thousand acres. Perhaps we should leave Miss Paradise to decide who can offer the best advice?’
Charles, looking furious, made no further comment. It was clear he could not compete with Sir Giles on estate management or acreage.
Gil offered his hand and said, ‘I’ll take my leave now. We will surely meet again, Mr Brook.’
Charles murmured an indistinct response and could hardly bring himself to return the salutation. Afterwards, he turned away and Alyssa watched Sir Giles give a brief shrug in response. Feeling compelled to atone for Charles’s childish behaviour, she smiled brilliantly at her guest and put out her hand.
‘Thank you for driving over,’ she said, warmly. ‘I appreciate it and look forward to welcoming you again.’
His strong fingers closed over hers and he studied her smile with an expression that was hard to read. ‘I will be here promptly at seven,’ he replied. With that, he relinquished her hand and left.
Silence followed his departure until Charles snapped, ‘Like you, I find I do not like Sir Giles Maxton in the least, Alyssa!’
She did not reply immediately but a martial light glinted in her eyes.
CHAPTER FOUR
‘What possessed you to be
Charles, throwing Alyssa a puzzled look, asked bluntly, ‘What say you to these ridiculous terms, Maxton?’
‘What am I supposed to say?’ replied Gil, equally candid. ‘We must comply to obtain what we want. The general was a friend of mine so I also feel under some obligation to follow his wishes.’
‘Have you no thought for Alyssa’s reputation?’
‘Charles, please!’ she said, annoyed.
Again, Gil raised his brows. ‘The scandalmongers will find our situation newsworthy for a time, but the novelty will die away. Most people will understand Miss Paradise is simply carrying out her uncle’s request,’ he observed in a cold voice. ‘However, I can see why you are not happy with the arrangements—’
‘Charles knows I’m determined,’ interjected Alyssa.
‘I didn’t imagine you would change your mind,’ said Gil, amusement hovering on his lips. ‘I shall endeavour to remain compliant throughout dinner if you will do the same, Miss Paradise?’
‘I will try, but the provocation might prove too great on occasion.’
His smile grew. ‘Then shall we be content to see where our conversation leads?’
‘A gentleman keeps a civil tongue in his head when in the presence of a lady!’ said Charles.
Gil’s brows snapped together as he queried in a suddenly arctic tone, ‘True, but should I infer from your comment you do not consider me a gentleman?’
‘I was not suggesting anything of the sort,’ replied Charles mendaciously. ‘I am merely concerned Alyssa’s time here should be as pleasant as possible.’
‘I also wish the least difficulty and disruption for both of us,’ said Sir Giles in a curt voice.
Alyssa, feeling sidelined in this undeclared yet simmering confrontation, said quickly, ‘Sir Giles, may I suggest seven o’clock on Saturday for our first meeting, here at Hawkscote? I will then have had time to settle in and meet my land agent.’
‘That will be convenient. Ennis is your agent – he was your uncle’s for some years. He is very capable but if there are particular matters you wish to discuss or require advice on, we may speak about them on Saturday.’
‘Be aware, Sir Giles,’ said Charles, through gritted teeth, ‘Alyssa has friends who can offer advice.’
‘I expect she has,’ he replied, smoothly. ‘Remember Miss Paradise has only to seek my advice – she is not obliged to take it, although I would strongly recommend she does, or at the very least listens to Ennis. My local knowledge and experience in estate management might prove useful.’
‘I have estate management experience,’ said Charles.
‘Ah, I see.’ Gil paused infinitesimally. ‘May I enquire how many acres on your property?’
‘Almost two hundred.’
‘Eastcombe, my own estate, has one thousand acres. Perhaps we should leave Miss Paradise to decide who can offer the best advice?’
Charles, looking furious, made no further comment. It was clear he could not compete with Sir Giles on estate management or acreage.
Gil offered his hand and said, ‘I’ll take my leave now. We will surely meet again, Mr Brook.’
Charles murmured an indistinct response and could hardly bring himself to return the salutation. Afterwards, he turned away and Alyssa watched Sir Giles give a brief shrug in response. Feeling compelled to atone for Charles’s childish behaviour, she smiled brilliantly at her guest and put out her hand.
‘Thank you for driving over,’ she said, warmly. ‘I appreciate it and look forward to welcoming you again.’
His strong fingers closed over hers and he studied her smile with an expression that was hard to read. ‘I will be here promptly at seven,’ he replied. With that, he relinquished her hand and left.
Silence followed his departure until Charles snapped, ‘Like you, I find I do not like Sir Giles Maxton in the least, Alyssa!’
She did not reply immediately but a martial light glinted in her eyes.
CHAPTER FOUR
‘What possessed you to be
Similar Books
