Page 44 of Sinfully Mine
“No tea, Hester.”
Hester belatedly realized that Ellie had sickened after drinking tea. “I wasn’t thinking, Martin. Of course, you don’t want tea. Something stronger, then?”
“Brandy, if you have it.”
Hester nodded and went to the sideboard, pouring them both a small glass. Drew had made sure that the sideboard at Blackbird Heath was well stocked.
“It was a shock, you understand.” Martin turned sad eyes to her as she handed him the brandy. “Though I suppose it shouldn’t have been, what with her constantly ill. The doctor in Grantham had such high hopes. But I just never thought—” He took a deep breath. “Well, one is never prepared, I suppose.”
“No, indeed.” Hester gave him a sympathetic look. “Mrs. Ebersole heard you were staying in Grantham for a time. Truthfully, I wasn’t sure you would return to Horncastle.”
“I don’t get on well with Ellie’s parents, as you know. And Grantham has never appealed to me. I only wanted to settle her affairs.” He sipped his brandy, eyes hopeful. “Would you miss me if I were gone, Hester?”
“Martin, we are friends. You’re my solicitor. It goes without saying I would miss you.” Hester’s fingers pressed into the glass she held, worried if she set down the brandy, Martin might try to take her hand. There was something manic in his gaze as he regarded her.
The brackets at the corners of his mouth deepened, one lip curling until Martin seemed to be sneering. “During my time in Grantham, where I was subjected to the whims of Ellie’s parents, I had much time to consider your situation, Hester. I was distressed and shocked upon returning to Horncastle to find that Sinclair isstillin residence.”
“Martin, we have had this conversation before. At least twice to my recollection.” Hester took another sip of her brandy, holding the glass against her chest. “You know the terms of Joshua’s will as well as I do. I’m sure everyone in Horncastle has been apprised of the situation. If I leave, I lose Blackbird Heath. Plain and simple.”
“How cozy you must find it.” His tone was ugly.
“There is nothing cozy about being a guest in your own home, which is what I’ve been reduced to.” Outrage laced her words. “I have people who depend upon me. Mrs. Ebersole. Dobbins. Jake. Mary and her family. If I give over Blackbird Heath, where will they go? And this is my home, Martin.”
“You realize that the longer this situation goes on, the worse the gossip becomes.” Martin leaned back and took a swallow of the brandy, swishing the liquid around his mouth, glaring at her in accusation.
“I doubt anyone cares about the widow of Joshua Black.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Hester. You’ve always been a target for rumor given your father’s habits and then wedding a man at least forty years your senior. The good people of Horncastle were merely convinced you were merely ambitious and desperate to escape your circumstances, but now the situation has become that much worse.”
How incredibly insulting. There was a reason Hester rarely went to Horncastle. Where was the concern of her neighbors when she was starving and dressed in rags with a drunk, gambling father?
“What would you have me do? Beg him on my hands and knees to depart?” she snapped.
Get on your knees, Hester. Part your lips.
A telling flush crawled up her cheeks, forcing her to look away. Pure lust, the sort that would make a woman mad, curled between her thighs, remembering what transpired last night. She’d complied, willingly, with all of it. And would do so again.
Martin’s nostrils flared sharply as if he could scent the arousal still clinging to her skin. “Perhaps,” he drawled in disdain, “You’ve grown more accustomed to his presence than you’ve led me to believe.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I find the situation intolerable.”
“I don’t know if Bishop Franks has heard the gossip, Hester. If he has, you can forget his support.”
“There is nothing remotely improper occurring, Martin,” Hester lied smoothly. “We are getting on better. I’ve shown him the fields. The progress I’ve made with the bees and sheep. I only want to convince him that I should be left to manage Blackbird Heath while he returns to London. I do not want to leave my home and I see no other solution.”
“Hmm.” Martin ran a hand through his hair, ruffling the close-cropped locks. “Is he out taking inventory of your crops, then?” There was an odd, stilted note in his voice. “Since he is now interested in his investment?”
“No, he’s gone to Horncastle on business, according to Mary. I haven’t seen him at all today.”
“Perhaps we’ll pass each other on the road. Did you know that Scoggins met with Sinclair shortly after his arrival? They discussed a fair price for the property.”
No, Hester hadn’t known. Drew never mentioned meeting Scoggins in Horncastle. A niggling bit of fear and distrust sunk its teeth into her. The old worry, that Drew was merely seducing her as a means to an end.
Martin turned back to her, eyes like slivers of ice. “It is my opinion that Sinclair doesn’t mean to relinquish his ownership of the estate, or its management to you. No matter howconvincingyou are, Hester.”
She inhaled sharply. “What, exactly, are you implying, Martin?”
“Not a thing.” He rolled his shoulders. “I know you to be a woman of great fortitude.” There was only a trace of mockery in his response.
