“Put that away, Mr. Dudley. I have already rectified what you found so objectionable, leaving you no reason to desert your position here.”

“Rectified? You’ve allowed the Ascots to keep their house?”

Vincent frowned over that absurd conclusion. “After all the effort and favors I called in to acquire it? No. But the lady is staying here until her father returns, so she won’t be sitting on some street corner, huddled in a blanket, half-buried in snow.”

Horace cleared his throat. “I hadn’t quite imagined such a dire circumstance, m’lord, but apparently you did.”

Vincent’s frown took on deeper lines. “Not a’tall, and beside the point,” he said briskly. “You will agree, however, that you no longer have reason to look for a new position?”

After the tongue-lashing he had received from his wife last night over his high morals, which wouldn’t put bread on the table, Horace was happy to say, “Indeed, and thank you, m’lord.”

“Back to work, then. You may concentrate now on those two investments we discussed last week. Oh, and summon my physician to the house.”

“You are feeling poorly?”

“No, but let the staff know that he’ll be here to take care of any illness or physical complaints they might have.”

“You should know they won’t come forward, m’lord. Physicians are much too expensive for minor—”

“I’ll take care of the charges.”

Horace blinked. “That’s quite—generous of you. Are you sure you aren’t feeling poorly?”

The frown became a definite scowl. “I haven’t gone daft, man, and I always have ulterior motives. Just make sure, if he’s asked by Miss Ascot, that he tells her he sees to the staff here each year at this time. And have him look in on her brother while he’s here. The boy has apparently been sick for some time now.”

“Ah, now I understand. You don’t want her to feel indebted to you.”

Vincent almost laughed at the misconception. Indebted would be nice, but would have to wait for something else to inspire it. His only concern now was to keep the lady from trying to pay for a physician herself. Horace didn’t need to know that, however, so Vincent merely nodded, allowing him to think what he would.

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

VINCENT MANAGED TO DISTRACT HIMSELF FOR THE remainder of the afternoon. But by the time the dinner hour was approaching, he was so filled with anticipation of seeing his beautiful houseguest again that he knew damn well he didn’t dare. Not yet. Not when just the thought of her entering the room set his blood to racing.