She hesitated, then shrugged. And tipped her nose in the air. "That was different."
With a frustrated growl, Richard tossed the currying brush aside, stepped around the mare-and trapped her against the stall wall. Eyes wide, locked on his, all fiery blue, Catriona heroically denied a crazed impulse to glance at the nearby trough.
"Just tell me where you're going in future. Don't disappear."
Lips thinning, she gave him back glare for glare. "If I wake you in the morning to tell you where I'm going, I won't get there."
His eyes bored into hers while she inwardly dared him to deny it.
Instead, after a fraught moment, he nodded curtly and drew back. "Tell me your plans the night before."
With that, he grasped her elbow and steered her, much less gently than was his wont, out of the stall. Forced to pace quickly by his side, Catriona stared up at him, struggling to make out his features in the stable's dim light.
"Very well," she agreed, as they reached the stable door. "But I don't need any protection while at the circle."
They stepped into the yard; the morning light found his face-illuminating a grim mask. "I'll think about it."
He continued to march her across the cobbles, heading for the house. The tension gripping him, shimmering about her, was beyond Catriona's comprehension.
"What is the matter with you?" Reaching the back doorstep she swung to face him. "I've agreed to tell you where I go-so what's this?" With one finger, she prodded one bicep-locked and as hard as iron.
His chest swelled. "That," he said, his voice very low, issuing through clenched teeth, "is because I'm hungry."
"Well breakfast should nearly be ready-"
"Wrong appetite."
She blinked-and looked into his eyes. And saw the truth simmering. "Great heavens! But… " She frowned at him. "You can't be. What about last night?"
"That was last night. Because you disappeared, I missed my morning snack."
"Morning…?" She felt her features blank, heard her incredulity ring in her weak: "Every morning?"
He grinned-a distinctly feral expression. "Let's just say that for the foreseeable future, it would help. But for now"-hauling open the door, he waved her inside-"why don't we see it I can be distracted with breakfast? Unless, of course, you're in favor of snacking throughout the day?"
For one instant, Catriona simply stared at him, then she glared and tossed her head-and ignored the shivery tendrils of excitement slithering clown her spine. "Breakfast," she declared, and swept into the house.
His features like stone, Richard followed her in.
They breakfasted together; in passing pikelets and jam, sharing toast, pouring coffee, the tension between them eased. They were the first to take their seats of those who sat at the main table. Mrs. Broom was fussing, overseeing the serving of the trays; McArdle hobbled in late. Algaria, arriving relatively early, took a seat at the far end and kept her black thoughts to herself.
Sitting back in the carved chair that was now his, Richard idly sipped coffee and watched to see how his wife started her day. Algaria's continued disapproval surprised him; he hoped she'd eventually get over it and accept their marriage, not for his sake, but Catriona's. He saw the hopeful glance Catriona threw the woman and sensed her sigh when it wasn't returned. If he'd thought it would help, he would have spoken to Algaria, but her defensiveness where he was concerned remained marked.
"Have there been any replies to those letters I sent about the grain?"
Catriona's question drew Richard's attention; it was ad dressed to McArdle
"Hmm… yes, actually, I believe there were." McArdle frowned. "One or two, at least."
"Well, I'll see those first, then we really must make some headway on the plans for next season's plantings."
"Ahh… Jem's not brought in his figures yet. Nor's Melchett."
"They haven't?" Catriona stared at McArdle. "But we need them to make any sense of it."
McArdle raised brows and shoulders in a comprehensive shrug. "You know how it is-they don't understand what you want, so they hope you'll forget-and so they forget."
Heaving an exasperated sigh, Catriona stood. "I'll see to that later then. But if you've finished, we may as well get started."