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dubious bachelor establishment.’

      ‘Please do not concern yourself,’ she replied stiffly. ‘My action was entirely innocent and I am persuaded than my reputation cannot suffer, as a consequence, in the eyes of those people who know me, and those who don’t will never know.’

      ‘A woman of spirit indeed! I would not like to see you cowed by gossip.’

      ‘Lord Ashurst, I know well enough what my impetuosity and my meddling has cost me today and I would thank you not to rub it in.’

      Her words brought a broad smile to his lips and, in spite of her anger Rosa caught herself wondering why a man with such an unpleasant character should be gifted with such a lovely smile.

      ‘Excuse me. I will leave you now,’ she said, making for the door.

      ‘I will call on your grandmother shortly.’

      Neither of them spoke as they left the room and crossed the hall. Rosa looked squarely at the Earl as he held the door open for her to pass through, and as she met his gaze her small chin lifted and her spine stiffened. William saw her put up a valiant fight for control, a fight she won. She looked as regally erect as a proud young queen as she went down the short flight of steps and took possession of her horse the stable boy was holding. The boy held his hands for her booted foot, hoisting her atop her horse. Riding astride as he had seen no lady do since coming to England—normally they rode side-saddle—that was the moment William saw she was wearing skintight buff-coloured breeches beneath her skirt.

      Rosa sat on her horse unmoving, as if she were some stone goddess, insensate but powerful. She gripped the reins in her slender fingers and stared back to where he stood in the open doorway.

      ‘I realise how concerned you must be about the state of the finances. My offer was sincere. I would like to help—if you would let me,’ she offered.

      ‘Thank you. That is extremely generous of you. I appreciate your offer but I cannot accept it.’

      ‘Not now, perhaps, but think about it.’ About to ride off, she paused when she remembered something. ‘Oh—there is something I forgot to mention which you may like to know.’

      ‘Which is?’

      ‘At the inn—when I was leaving—I saw the man who I am certain pushed the boy. He was mingling with the other passengers and looked extremely angry.’

      William froze and then he was striding down the steps to where she was trying to settle her restless mount. ‘Are you certain?’

      ‘As certain as I can be.’

      ‘What did he look like? Can you describe him?’

      ‘He was of medium height, gaunt looking, with short, straight black hair and dark skin. The look he gave me made me thankful I was not his enemy.’

      ‘Was he alone? Was anyone else with him?’

      ‘I don’t know. I didn’t see anyone else—but then, there were so many people.’ She jerked her horse round. ‘I must go. Good day, sir.’

      Leaving the Earl staring after her as she rode away, she couldn’t help thinking that she had made things a whole lot worse. As she put a distance between her and Ashurst Park, something inside her, some hopeful light that had shone bright on her journey to meet with Lord Ashurst, faded and winked out of existence. But out of sheer pride she held herself tightly together against the disappointment and humiliation. She was sorry he had turned her down, but having such strong principles concerning slavery, she really could not blame him.

      As soon as her grandmother had married Clarissa off she would be thrown onto the marriage market and she would be expected to go trustingly and placidly into the unknown. The man chosen for her might be old or ugly or both. The thought was intolerable. At least Lord Ashurst was a young man and handsome.

      As it was there was nothing for it but to tell her grandmother everything. Her heart was filled with dread in anticipation of the condemnation she would ultimately receive. There would be no redemption, she knew that.

      As Rosa rode away from the house, William let his eyes sweep over the wide parkland, narrowing them against the glare of the sun. Filled with deep concern for the boy, he prayed God that soon Tipu would have this matter with Dhanu resolved and he could return to India. He was inclined to believe what Miss Ingram had told him and he would ensure that every precaution to safeguard his well-being would be taken. The idea that someone was stalking him with every intent of permanently removing Dhanu awakened in him a dangerous, quiet anger.

      He continued to watch Miss Ingram ride away, her hat tied loosely round her neck and bouncing madly against her back, only the ragged pulse that had leapt to life in his throat attesting to his own disquiet as he stared after her with mingled feelings of regret and concern.

      As he turned and went back into the house he refused to be moved by her offer. Until his cousin’s death, he had been a man who had made his own choices and, as much as he would like to appease his manly appetites with the lovely Rosa Ingram, he would not be so easily manipulated. How could he like some lapdog blindly accept what she was offering without yielding his mind and his principles?

      But she was far too beautiful for any man to turn his back on. It would be no easy matter banishing her from his mind. She was physically appealing, with a face and body he found attractive, but she was also appealing in other ways, with an intelligent sharpness of mind. He suspected on knowing her better she would possess a clever wit that he would admire, making her pleasant company and interesting to be with. However distasteful the prospect was, perhaps he should consider her proposal. After all, heiresses were few and far between.

      As an only child, the times he had spent with Charles had been precious to him and his untimely death had upset him profoundly. He had loved his cousin like a brother and deeply regretted that he had been unable to help him when he had fallen into financial difficulties, which had driven him to take his own life. William felt honour-bound to make the estate prosper as it had in the past. It would be a massive undertaking but he would do it—not only for himself but for Charles. Perhaps if he agreed to marry Miss Rosa Ingram he wouldn’t come out of it too badly. It could be the answer to a problem he could see no other way of solving at this present time.

      The noble certainty that she had been doing the right thing when she had set out for Ashurst Park had disappeared as Rosa rode back to Fountains Lodge. She felt abased in her own eyes. What she had done had been foolish in the extreme. She had acted impetuously, rashly and unthinkingly and most importantly without common sense in Lord Ashurst’s eyes, earning his derision and her profound dislike. He had been hard, cold and cynical and had done nothing to put her at her ease.

      Thinking of all the things she didn’t like about Lord Ashurst was a barrier against recalling her own shortcomings, so by the time she reached Fountains Lodge she had worked herself up into a temper and a very thorough dislike of the man. She hoped she would not have the misfortune to meet him again in the future, but somehow she felt that she would.

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