Page 19 of Sir Hugo Seeks a Wife
Miss de Smith watched him with a puzzled frown.“You worry about upsetting your staff?”
“I worry about upsetting Fogg.My head groom is an artist and as sensitive as a blasted star soprano.”
She gave a reluctant laugh.“You’re a strange man, Hugo Brinsmead.”
That sounded like a compliment, so he didn’t complain.“And it’s as cold as a witch’s tit out here.Not conducive for nutting out the details of our wedding.”
She went back to looking stern.“There’s not going to be a wedding.”
He was getting rather good at ignoring things that he didn’t want to hear.“If this was Yorkshire, I could find somewhere.But London’s a different kettle of fish.Unless you know a place.”
“We have nothing to talk about.”
“Yes, we do.”Hugo eyed her.She looked determined, but he’d learned that was a defense mechanism.“If we go to Madame Lebeau in a hackney, do you think she’ll give me some time alone with you to state my case?”
Miss de Smith’s lips firmed in a way that made him think of kisses.But then, that generous, expressive mouth always made him think of kisses.“Not if I ask her to refuse you admittance.”
“That would be unfriendly.”
She flashed him an annoyed glance.“To the devil with you, it would be wise.”
“But unfriendly all the same.”
She didn’t argue.Perhaps she’d decided to start ignoring what she didn’t want to hear, too.“And I’ll be perfectly safe alone in a hackney.There’s no need to escort me.”
That he wasn’t going to ignore.“Whether you agree to hear me out or not, I’m going to see you to Madame Lebeau.That’s not up for negotiation.Or we could go back to the shop.We’d have privacy there.Plunkett must have gone by now.I doubt his lustful impulses could survive this cold snap anyway.”
Her eyes narrowed on him.“I don’t know about that.Your lustful impulses seem to be alive and well.”
She had no idea.In his opinion, given the provocation, he was acting like a perfect gentleman.
Her room wasn’t a bad choice of destination.He’d like to see where she slept.It might offer up a few clues about her.It also might give him a chance to touch her without the impediment of winter coats.It was torture having her so close without holding her in his arms.
Lustful impulses indeed.
He turned the curricle into the lane leading to the stables behind his house.Paul ran out to take the horses’ heads.“We thought you’d got lost, Sir Hugo.”
“Yes, well, I’m not used to Town, my lad.Is Fogg up in the boughs?”
Paul gave a gurgle of laughter.He was a smart boy, the son of one of Hugo’s tenant farmers.The lad had been beside himself with excitement when Hugo offered him a place for the London visit.“Aye.He’s fretting something horrid.”
“Heaven help us.I’d better get my team in to him quick smart.then.Will you find a hackney and ask the driver to wait at the top of the lane?I need to see Miss de Smith reaches home safely.”
“Aye, Sir Hugo.”Paul raced off toward the road.
“A closed carriage, Paul,” Hugo called after the boy.“It’s too cold in the open air for a lady.”
His stablemaster Ebenezer Fogg loomed out of the stables.He looked lugubrious.But then, he always did.“Sir Hugo.”
“Fogg, I’ve brought them back for some of your magic.They’re cold and ready for bed.”
“I’ll see them right, master.”
“I know you will.”
Since they’d reached the stables, Hugo had been aware of Miss de Smith’s concentrated attention.He wondered what she was thinking.Probably how she meant to turn him down in a way that forestalled further offers.
Fogg already held the horses and talked to them in the low croon that made any equine into his acolyte.He paid no attention to Miss de Smith.Humans held little interest for him, unless they failed to treat fine horseflesh with appropriate respect.
