She accompanied him then, although rather unwillingly.
As he led her down the wide marble steps, Ash tried to analyze why he felt so protective of Maura, and more inexplicably, why he felt this unexpected possessiveness toward her.
Her statement moments ago about not wanting a lover of any kind gave him a strange satisfaction. He’d never heard of Miss Collyer engaging in any romantic affairs, yet that didn’t mean she hadn’t indulged discreetly.
He supposed his protectiveness was a result of her close connection to his sister Katharine and his cousin Skye. The three girls had become fast friends years ago at their elite boarding academy.
Like Katharine, Maura was unique in that she enjoyed more masculine pursuits than was typical of their peers. Breeding racehorses was most assuredly not a ladylike profession either. After losing her father so unexpectedly, Maura had retired to the country and thrown herself into improving the breeding stables she’d inherited so that she could support herself.
Ash had always been impressed by her fire and spirit. Yet he’d kept his hands off her because he considered her off-limits.
Unquestionably he had noticed her, though. From the time she had turned sixteen, in fact, during one of her visits to Beauvoir. What red-blooded male wouldn’t? He’d have to be dead not to feel the rush of attraction for a beauty like Maura. But a gentleman—even a Wilde—did not go around seducing innocent schoolgirls, particularly a classmate of his sister’s.
Maura was clearly no longer a girl. Ash was intently aware of her graceful, ripe body as they reached the gardens below the terrace. She was also out of mourning for her father now, which made her fair game if he chose to pursue her.…
The notion intrigued him, yet he set it aside for now as he guided Maura along a path illuminated by the occasional Chinese lantern.
“Perhaps you should sit down,” he advised, leading her to a stone bench shadowed by a lilac tree.
She took no notice of his suggestion, but pulled her hand from his grasp and began to pace back and forth along the flagstone path.
Amusement tugged at Ash’s mouth as he settled on the bench in her place. Prepared to indulge her, he stretched his long legs out before him and crossed his ankles. Despite his pleasure in watching her, though, he knew it would be more gallant if he attempted to divert her from her agitation.
Consequently, he broke the silence after a moment. “Allow me to offer you my apologies, Miss Collyer.”
“For what?” she asked absently.
“I regret that you had to suffer Deering’s lechery.”
“You are not to blame for his disgusting behavior.”
“No, but this is my home, and I am responsible for the actions of my guests.”
“Perhaps, but Deering is as far from a gentleman as it is possible to be. The gall of him,” she muttered under her breath, “thinking I would have any interest in selling myself to him.”
“You handled him well. I am all admiration. Where did you learn that trick of incapacitating a man?”
“From my steward, Gandy. There are some unsavory characters in the racing world, and Gandy wanted me to be prepared should
I encounter any.”
“I thought Katharine and Skye were the only gently-bred females who were skilled in self-defense. I taught Kate that move myself.”
When that brought no response, Ash continued casually. “I should thank you. Your altercation spiced up my evening and saved me from excruciating boredom.”
His admission seemed to gain her attention for a moment, or at least she paused to glance at him. “Why did you even hold a ball if you are so jaded by them?”
“You know why. Because Katharine asked it of me.”
“And you can never refuse her?”
“Oh, I regularly refuse her, but in this instance, I was doing my duty as her elder brother. She claimed she was finally ready to look for a husband, much to my surprise.”
“It surprised me also,” Maura allowed, resuming her pacing.
Frankly, it had startled Ash two weeks ago when Katharine suddenly announced her desire to find a husband and requested a ball to aid her search for eligible candidates.
But he was not interested in his sister’s matrimonial prospects just now. Instead, he wanted to know what had led to her closest friend’s confrontation with one of his noble guests. Most particularly, why Deering would assume that Maura Collyer’s charms were for sale.…