Page 4 of Invitation to Pleasure
He stiffened. He loved his home and stables near Deal, Kent, and his sister knew that. “You fought so hard to keep our home for me. Why this sudden need to have me near?” He pushed her out of his arms but she would not look at him. She turned away and tried to laugh it off.
“Just a big sister missing her brother.”
Fear slid quickly down his spine. “What is wrong, Rheda?” He reached and swung her to face him and saw tears sliding down her cheeks. “Rhe?” He couldn’t remember the last time he’d ever seen his sister cry, not even when she’d been beaten to within an inch of her life. He looked at the beautiful, mature woman standing before him, her red hair still as vibrant as any young debutantes, and for once he did not see the fiery temper that always marked their arguments. Rheda had never been scared of anything but when he looked into her green eyes so similar to his all he saw was fear and it made his breath catch in his throat. “I have to have a small operation in the New Year.”
He pulled her back into his arms and hugged her tightly. “Why? What?”
“I have a small lump in my breast and they want to remove it just to be sure.”
Now he understood why she wanted him to stay. She was scared.
Was it a tumor? His body was awash with pain; pain from the blood trying to flow through his veins but it had turned to ice. He knew if it were a tumor his sister would most likely only have a few years. “Why didn’t you tell me? I shall of course stay until you are well.”
She burst into actual sobbing. “If something happens to me, if it is a tumor and I get sick, promise me you’ll move near to Rufus. He’ll be lost without me, and the children will need you too. You will have to help Rufus go on with his life.”
At that moment he would have promised her anything—everything. He wished it was he who was sick. Rheda had a family who loved her. He had no one—no one but her! If he lost her…He hugged her tighter. “You will be fine, it could be nothing. You’ve never let anything beat you and I won’t let you start now. Let’s just focus on you getting well.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead as she wiped the tears off her face.
“Don’t let Rufus know I’m scared. He’s trying to be so strong…Some Christmas. A thief has attacked you, and now I’m dumping my fears on you. I’m sorry.”
“I would have been cross if you had not told me. Besides, it’s not your fault someone hit me over the head. I will stay here until we know this lump is nothing. If I stay I can help Rufus find out who tried to steal Apollo.”
She smiled through watery eyes. “Just knowing you are here helps me face what is to come.”
He didn’t want to think about what she faced. Something of his fear must have appeared on his face because she said, “Rufus has got me some morphine to help with any pain from the surgery. They use it on the horses.”
He nodded but his fear did not leave him.
She reached up and cupped his face. “Let’s go and enjoy the day. We have some horseflesh to peruse. Is there anything in particular you want to buy for Tumbury?”
How could he think about horses after this? But he saw how much she wanted to take her mind off her situation. “I’d love to find a colt like Apollo. He’s a beauty and would breed amazing cavalry horses.”
“Why don’t you ask Rufus to sell Apollo to you. He only got the colt because the Marquis of Wentworth lost big at the 2000 Guinea race and he took Apollo in payment of the wager debt. I’m not sure he really needs the colt.”
“He’d part with Apollo?” Revenge reared its head. Oh, he would love to own what Lady Georgiana wanted.
“Who’d part with Apollo?” Rufus asked upon entering the room. He immediately went across to his wife and put his arm around her. Obviously she could not hide the fact she’d been crying.
“You would. Daniel thinks the colt will produce fabulous cavalry horses.”
Daniel was excited by the idea, forgetting all about Georgiana. “I do need new breeding stock. It could be economical to buy a new stallion rather than pay stud fees. I could also put him out to stud and earn more.”
Rufus looked at Rheda and smiled. “You’re welcome to buy him off me.”
Daniel scratched his head. He did have some savings and he could use the money set aside for stud fees since he’d use the colt instead. “What is the colt worth?”
Rufus looked at Rheda and the smile they shared made him yearn for such a relationship. His sister and her husband were as one. When he married he would marry a woman who thrilled and complemented him completely. He did not need money and power. He loved his life in Deal, Kent, with his horses. He wanted what Rufus and Rheda had—a true partnership of hearts and minds.
“Actually, it would make a wonderful Christmas gift. Saves me having to find you something else.”
So lost in his thoughts, Daniel barely registered Rufus’s comment. He unfolded his arms. “I can’t accept Apollo as a gift. He’s far too valuable.”
“It can be from Rhedaandme. I’d rather see you have your own stud breeding program than bother training him.”
That was a lie. Daniel looked at Rheda, torn at such a generous offer. They both had offered to provide more capital for him to see his horse breeding business prosper but he always declined. Rheda had done enough already. It was time he built his own future. “Ah, about Apollo, there was something I wanted to talk to you about the colt. I met someone who indicated Lord Wentworth had no right to give you the horse as repayment for his debt.”
Rufus’s head swung to face him. “Who said that?”
“No one of significance. Did Wentworth own Apollo?” Daniel asked again.
