Page 53 of The Truth About Lord Stoneville
Suddenly he remembered the look on Maria’s face when he’d said that the servants understood not to open the door when the curtains were closed.
Dropping into the chair, he stared blindly at the fireplace. What waswrongwith him? He’d thought himself guilty only of insulting and frightening her, but he’dbeen guilty of so much more. No wonder she’d behaved so differently after leaving the carriage. No wonder she’d balked at his purchasing gowns for her. He’d practically proclaimed her one of his whores before his servants, and she was damned sensitive about that.
With good reason, of course. Shewasa respectable woman. And an heiress. A very rich heiress.
Damn it all to hell. He hadn’t guessed she was worth so much. And if she didn’t realize it herself, she was even more susceptible to being taken advantage of by that scoundrel Hyatt.
Oliver downed the rest of his brandy, then set the glass firmly on the desk. He had to save her from the man. He owed her that for her help with Gran.
When this was done, Miss Maria Butterfield would no longer be shackled to some ambitious weasel with an eye on her fortune. Not if he could help it
HETTY WAS AWAKENEDfrom a doze in a chair by the sound of a door opening. She was about to make herself known to whoever had entered the library when someone else entered, too, and she heard Minerva say, “Well? What do you think? Am I right about Oliver and Miss Butterfield?”
Shrinking into the chair, she prayed she wouldn’t be noticed in the corner.
“It certainly looks that way.” It was Jarret’s voice. “He does seem to have genuine feelings for her. I’ve neverwitnessed him act like that over a woman. You should have seen him—ready to strike me when I suggested going after her myself.”
“What a brilliant touch!” Minerva cried. “Itoldyou he liked her. And I’ll hazard a guess that she likes him, too. I went up to her room after they got back, and she blushed furiously when I asked if Oliver had behaved himself.”
“That’s the problem. Liking her is one thing, but whether he’ll act on the attraction honorably is another matter entirely. Oliver isn’t used to being around a woman he’s not allowed to . . . er . . .”
“Take to bed.”
Hetty blinked.
“My God, Minerva, don’t say things like that! You’re not supposed to know about such matters.”
“Pish posh. I could hardly grow up with a rogue for a father and three rogue brothers without hearing a few things.”
Hetty had to chomp on the inside of her cheek to stifle her laugh.
“Well, at leastpretendyou don’t know, will you?” Jarret grumbled. “One day you’ll say something like that in public and give me heart failure.”
“We have to find a way to push them together,” Minerva said. “You know perfectly well that if Oliver marries, Gran will forget this ridiculous idea of hers about the rest of us marrying. She just wants him to produce an heir.”
Hetty’s eyebrows shot high. Her granddaughter had a big surprise coming down the road.
“And you’re willing to throw him under the wheels of the coach to save yourself, is that it?” Jarret quipped.
“No!” Her voice softened. “You and I both know he needs someone to drag him out of himself. Or he’s just going to get scarier as he gets older.” She paused. “Did you tell him about Miss Butterfield’s being an heiress?”
Thatcertainly arrested Hetty’s attention. She hadn’t dreamed that the girl had money.
“Yes, but I fear that might have been a mistake—when I suggested that he marry her for her fortune, he got angry.”
Of course he got angry, you fool,Hetty thought with a roll of her eyes. Honestly, did her grandson know nothing about his brother?
“For goodness sake, Jarret, you weren’t supposed to suggest that. You were supposed to get him concerned that she might fall prey to fortune hunters.”
At least Minerva had a brain.
“Damn,” Jarret said. “Then I probably shouldn’t have exaggerated the amount.”
“Oh, Lord.” Minerva sighed. “By how much?”
“I kind of . . . tripled it.”
Minerva released an unladylike oath. “Why did you do that? Now he won’t gonearher. Haven’t you noticed how much he hates talk of marrying for money?”
