Then Came You (The Gamblers #1)(12)

“They described you as an eccentric.”

“I wondered if they still bother to acknowledge my existence.” She leaned down and said conspiratorially, “I have a tarnished reputation—it’s taken years of dedicated effort to acquire. The Lawsons don’t approve of me. Well, fate chooses our relatives, as they say. Too late to prune me from the family tree.” Lily paused in her friendly chatter as she stared down into his closed face. Heaven knew what was going on behind those silver eyes. It was clear that he was not going to indulge her with small talk and smiles, reverting to the game that sociable strangers played.

She wondered if bluntness were the best way to deal with him. “Raiford,” she said briskly, “I want to talk to you about my sister.”

He was silent, watching her with icy gray eyes.

“I know more than anyone about my parents’ ambitions of making an exceptional match for Penny,” Lily remarked. “She is a lovely and accomplished girl, isn’t she? And it would be a brilliant marriage. Miss Penelope Lawson, the countess of Raiford. No one in my family has ever ascended to such a title. But I wonder…would it be in her best interests to become your wife? That is, do you care for my sister, Lord Raiford?”

His face was impassive. “As much as necessary.”

“That hardly sets my mind at ease.”

“What is your concern, Miss Lawson?” he asked sardonically. “That I’ll mistreat your sister? That she’s had no choice in the matter? I assure you, Penelope is quite content with the state of affairs.” His eyes narrowed, and he continued softly. “And if you’re about to delight everyone with one of your theatrical displays, Miss Lawson, I warn you…I don’t like scenes.”

Lily was taken aback by the veiled menace in his tone. Oh, she didn’t like him at all! At first she had considered him vaguely amusing, a large, slightly pompous aristocrat with ice water in his veins. But something warned her that his nature was not only cold, but cruel. “I don’t believe your claim that Penny is content,” she replied. “I know my sister, and I have no doubt my parents have bullied and prodded her every step of the way to get what they want. You must terrify Penny. Does her happiness matter to you at all? She deserves a man who truly loves her. My instincts tell me that all you want is an obedient, fertile girl who will produce a string of little blond heirs to carry on your name, and if that’s the case you could easily find a hundred other girls to—”

“Enough,” he interrupted harshly. “Go interfere in someone else’s life, Miss Lawson. I’ll see you in hell—no, I’ll send you there—before I let you meddle with mine.”

Lily gave him an ominous look. “I’ve found out what I wanted to know,” she said, preparing to leave. “Good day, my lord. You’ve been most enlightening.”

“Wait.” Before Alex was aware of what he was doing, he reached out and caught one of her reins.

“Let go!” Lily said in surprised annoyance. His actions were outrageous. To take hold of any rider’s reins without invitation, removing control of the horse—it was a demeaning act.

“You’re not going to hunt,” he said.

“You don’t think I came out here to wish you well, do you? Yes, I’m going to hunt. Have no fear, I shan’t slow anyone down.”

“Women shouldn’t hunt.”

“Of course they should, if they wish to.”

“Only if they happen to be wives or daughters of masters of hounds. Otherwise—”

“A mere accident of birth won’t prevent me from hunting. I am a bruising rider, and I insist that no allowance be made for me. I’ll top any fence, no matter how high. I suppose you would like me to stay inside with the other women, tatting and gossiping.”

“There you won’t pose a danger to anyone. Out here you’ll be a hazard to others as well as yourself.”

“I’m afraid your opinion is in the minority, Lord Raiford. No one but you takes exception to my presence here.”

“No man in his rational mind would want you here.”

“Now I suppose I should go away meekly,” Lily mused, “my gaze cast down in shame. How dare I interfere in such a manly occupation as hunting? Well, I don’t give this—” she made a snapping motion with her gloved fingers, “—for you and your self-righteous opinions. Now let go!”

“You’re not riding,” Alex muttered. Something broke free inside him, driving him beyond rational thought. Caroline, no, Oh God—

“I’ll be damned if I’m not!” Lily jerked at the reins, while the white palfrey sidestepped uneasily. Alex’s grasp remained unbroken. Shocked, Lily stared into gray eyes as reflective as mirror glass. “You’re mad,” she whispered. They were both still.

Lily was the first to move, lashing out with her whip in a stroke of rebellious rage. It caught Alex underneath the jaw, leaving a streak of red that ended at the tip of his chin. Spurring the palfrey forward, Lily used the burst of motion to free the reins from the snare of his fingers. She rode away without looking back.

The confrontation had been so quick that no one had noticed. Alex wiped the smear of blood from his jaw, barely noticing the sting of pain. His mind was whirling. He wondered what was happening to him. For a few seconds he hadn’t been able to separate the present from the past. Caroline’s light, far-away voice came to his ears. “Darling Alex…then don’t love me…” He flinched, his heart beginning to pound as he remembered the day she had fallen…