Page 120 of Kathryn

Katie held in her snort of disgust—barely. “If you keep waylaying me somebody is bound to notice.”

He came close enough to stroke Robin’s neck. “That is a magnificent horse,” he said, the envy in his tone the first genuine thing to come out of him.

“Dulverton bought him for me.”

Jasper’s mouth tightened and he pulled back his hand. His handsome face was remarkably easy to read, and Katie was amused to watch as he slowly but surely conquered his anger and gave her a caressing look. “Circumstances have forced me to be brash because it is the only time I can get you to myself. By all accounts Dulverton keeps you on a very short leash. There are already stories circulating about how possessive he is of you.”

Katie was tempted to mention the stories circulating about Jasper, but managed to bite her tongue.

Jasper gave a derisive laugh when she did not respond. “I suppose he is determined not to lose a second wife.”

Katie’s hand twitched to cuff him, but instead she slyly chided him. “Dulverton is not a man to be trifled with, Jasper. At least not without taking your life in your hands.”

Jasper bristled at her imputation that Dulverton was the more masculine, dangerous man. “The days of dueling are over—even for dukes, Katie. The law no longer looks the other way, and Dulverton should know that.” He leaned over in his saddle far enough to set his hand on her leather-clad ankle and give it a gentle squeeze. It was all she could do not to kick him. “Besides, he can hardly call me out for talking to you, can he?”

She eased Robin away enough to break Jasper’s hold. “As interesting as this conversation is, I don’t have time for idle chatter today.”

His mouth tightened briefly before smoothing back into a smile. “Say you’ll meet me tomorrow—there is a cottage not far from here. A pretty little place that is abandoned since the old lady who lived there moved away.”

“How well versed you are in neighborhood matters for a man who is only visiting. Unfortunately, I am engaged all day tomorrow.” She clucked her tongue, and Robin broke into a trot.

“Then the next day. Or the one after. Please,” he begged, trotting after her. “I will come to the cottage every day at three o’clock just in case you can get away.”

Katie urged Robin into a canter. “How nice to be a man of leisure,” she threw over her shoulder.

“I will wait every day!” he called after her.

Katie forced herself to laugh as she rode away. But inside, she seethed at his temerity.

Such towering conceit deserved punishment.

And Katie would be the one to deliver it.

***

“You want me to do what?” Becky shrieked.

“Shhh. Lower your voice, Becks. I want you to spread some gossip for me—just say a few things in Cook’s hearing. Nothing too egregious, just mention my trust fund and how it is mine, no matter that I am married or—or what I do.”

Becky turned pale. “No matter what you do? Good Lord, Katie! What do you mean by that?”

“I will tell you, but only if you swear to keep my confidence.”

Becky drew herself up to her full five feet nothing inches. “I have never in my life—”

“I’m sorry.” Katie hurriedly cut in. “I know you wouldn’t gossip.”

“What are you up to, Katie?”

“I am going to teach Lord Jasper a lesson.”

“What?”

Katie winced. “Would you please keep your voice down?”

“What?” Becky managed to shriek in a whisper.

“I am going to make him sorry for what he did. I am going to make him think twice before ever using a woman again.”