‘But I bet I’d enjoy myself…for a while anyway. Luke wasn’t much fun. I didn’t appreciate that until I’d got over him.’ Harriet switched off the engine outside the cottage and lifted her chin. ‘Life’s too short for regrets. Didn’t you like anything about Rafael?’
Her brother regarded her in frank surprise. ‘When did I say I disliked the bloke? He’s clever, cool…a touch intimidating, I have to admit. But I’ve got nothing against him.’
Harriet could not help laughing. ‘No?’
‘No. I just don’t want you to get hurt again. Let’s face it—you’re into steady relationships and he wouldn’t know what one was…’
CHAPTER EIGHT
RAFAEL LAY in bed listening in resignation to Harriet’s bedraggled rooster bring in the dawn at Flynn Court. Familiarity with the experience did not lessen the full effect of Albert in full flow. In spite of Tolly and Una’s conspiracy of silence, he knew that the rooster belonged to Harriet’s menagerie since Davis had spilled the beans. Apparently Albert visited the stable yard for a second chorus every morning, and Davis was definitely not a fan.
‘I hear you’re a fine shot, sir,’ the groom had remarked hopefully. ‘Sure, who would ever know if that pesky bird was just to disappear into thin air?’
‘Albert is a pet,’ Rafael had murmured in quiet warning. ‘I want him to enjoy a long and healthy life.’
Harriet rose early. With the gymkhana taking place within twenty-four hours, she had
a busy day ahead. The elderly farmer who owned Slieveross had agreed to meet Boyce, but had also intimated that he was not yet willing to discuss the possibility of selling it. The auctioneer had warned her brother that the old man would probably want to spend a few weeks, at the very least, mulling over whether or not he was prepared to part with any of the land.
‘Such a quaint way to do business,’ Boyce commented with immense appreciation over breakfast.
The two women organising the gymkhana arrived about nine, with helpers to put up the jumps and rope off separate sections in the field so that more than one event could take place at the same time. Harriet had just sat down to finish off the bills in the office when a knock sounded on the door. It opened slowly to reveal Una.
‘It’s me…I suppose you’ve been wondering where I’ve been,’ the teenager said uncomfortably.
‘Yes.’
Una reddened. ‘I thought you’d gone back with your ex-fiancé and I was really annoyed with you.’
‘But why did you think that?’ Harriet asked gently.
Una hung her dark head and explained how she had reached that conclusion before saying, ‘You’re going to think I’m really sad…’
‘I won’t.’
‘I just so wanted you to get off with Rafael.’
Harriet was surprised. ‘You…did?’
‘I like you. I thought you’d be good for him. Please don’t tell him I said it, but left to himself he has really, really bad taste in women,’ the slender brunette confided in a guilty whisper.
Harriet could barely keep her face straight. ‘Is that so?’
‘All they’re interested in is his money, and they’re dead fake and plastic. But you’re into horses, like he is, and you’re not always fussing about how you look. I knew he’d go for that. I was waiting on you two getting together and—’
‘Giving me useful hints on how best to achieve that objective?’
Una nodded agreement, then got down on her knees to pet Samson and scratch Peanut at the back of the ear, in the precise spot that reduced the pig to an ecstatic porcine heap of contentment. ‘So I was furious when I thought you preferred a guy who’d two-timed you,’ the teenager admitted. ‘Rafael said that that was none of my business, and that I shouldn’t let it make a difference to me. I know that’s true, but we were friends and I couldn’t help being upset about it.’
‘I can understand that.’ But the faintest furrow still marred Harriet’s brow, for she believed every word that Rafael’s sister had said, and could not credit that the younger woman would have painted that warning on the stable wall.
‘Are you very angry with me?’ Una pressed tautly.
‘No, but from now on I think it would be easier for you if you took a little less interest in who your brother sees,’ she said quietly. ‘Now, if you’re here to stay I could really use an extra pair of hands around here today.’
At lunchtime Tolly appeared, with a large old-fashioned covered basket. ‘I’ve brought you a picnic.’
‘Have you?’ Harriet smiled, delighted he had come to see her. ‘Oh, I could hug you! I hope you’re planning to join us?’