Page 15 of Impossible
He decided to repeat his own words. “Mind your own business.”
Her shoulder twitched, and her expression turned to frustration, her eyes sparking. “I work on this estate for you, so thisismy business as far as I can tell. Furthermore, if no one meddled in your business, nothing would get done becauseyoudon’t mindyourbusiness.”
A pang of guilt smacked him in the chest. Exhaling, as if doing so would rid him of the emotion, he asked, “What would you have me do?”
She took a moment to respond, and he realized he’d surprised her. “To start, you should listen to Miss Treadway. And you should be the one to take her around the estate.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I won’t do either of those things.” He actually was sorry to disappoint her, but neither could he bring himself to change his manner. Perhaps he could satisfy her, at least in a small way. “I am, however, considering hiring a new steward.”
Surprise arrested her gaze with perhaps a dash of relief. “That would be a good start.” She sounded as if she didn’t quite believe it. “I only want the best for you, my lord. That’s why I haven’t left yet,” she added softly.
“I don’t ever want you to think you must stay.” He wasn’t actually hoping she might leave, as he’d done with the steward. Which, in hindsight, might have been foolish. He hadn’t thought he needed the man, but perhaps he did.
She shook her head. “Someone has to take care of you. I’d best get on.” She continued on her way.
Max watched her go, thinking no one should have to take care of him. Indeed, he should have died in Spain. He’d certainly done his best to try to achieve that end. That he hadn’t was a miracle.
No, it was a curse.
Chapter4
Ledger in hand, Ada walked to the stable yard at midmorning, eager to meet Archie. She saw the cart drawn by a single horse and wondered if the boy might even teach her how to drive. That would be a very useful skill for an independent young woman like herself.
A head popped up from the back of the cart, and she nearly tripped. There was no mistaking the brooding expression even with a hat pulled low over his brow. She’d always found hats attractive, and in this case, it gave Lord Warfield a dashing air.
And dashing was not a word she ever would have used to describe him. Cantankerous. Unhelpful. Antagonistic. Also enigmatic and alluring. Did she only think so because she was burdened with overactive curiosity? She decided it didn’t matter why she thought that.
“Good morning,” she called as she approached the cart. “Did you come to see me off?”
“No.”
Of course he hadn’t. That would be so out of what she knew of his character that she was surprised she’d even asked. “You’re driving me to London, aren’t you? Well, I won’t go.”
He stared at her a moment. “I said you could stay the fortnight provided you didn’t annoy me.”
“I was all but certain I’d continued to be a thorn in your side.”
“My side, my neck, my eye, my bloody arse.” He grunted. “My apologies. I didn’t mean to be crude.”
Now he was apologizing? “What’s wrong with you?” she asked.
“Nothing. I thought I would drive you around the estate, but perhaps that’s a bad idea since it seems you are—”
“No, no,” she interrupted, not at all interested in hearing what he thought she was. Beyond annoying, she was sure. “I’m thrilled you’ll be driving me today.” Indeed, she couldn’t keep the smile from her face. “Who better to tell me everything I need to know?” Except he probably didn’t know everything she needed to know. Not if he’d been as uninvolved in his estate as it seemed.
From what she could piece together from the former steward’s notes, the viscount’s father had died about the time his lordship had left Spain to return home due to his injuries. The new viscount, his lordship’s older brother, had soon followed, dying only days before Warfield arrived.
The newnewviscount had spent months recovering from his wounds, and had, understandably, taken little interest in the estate. However, that hadn’t changed as he’d recovered. As far as Ada could tell, the current viscount had never completely assumed his new position.
She had to assume he didn’t want it. How she longed to ask.
As expected, he didn’t respond to her rhetorical question. With a faint growl, he offered her his hand to help her into the cart.
Her gaze fell upon his appendage, covered in black leather. His hand was large, the fingers long. He looked as if he could break something quite easily.
Yet, when she put her hand in his, he helped her into the cart with a gentle strength that said he wouldn’t harm her. Not that she was afraid he would. He was grumpy and beastly, but she wasn’t frightened of him.
When she was seated, he went around and climbed in beside her. Without a word, he drove them from the stable yard and out to the front of the house.
