Page 47 of Outrageous

She bristled. “You couldn’t frighten me if you tried.”

His smile said he believed otherwise.

Goaded, even though she realized exactly what he was doing, she said, “James’s father, the marquess’s stable master, worked for the Duke of Langham before my father lured him into his service many years ago—before James was born.”

“Ah, Langham—he’s had some champions, hasn’t he?”

She nodded. “And he keeps several breeding establishments. Our family visited his and I saw his main stables. He’s considered one of the finest judges of horseflesh in the country.”

“Does your father engage in breeding?”

“Only my stepmamma.”

Visel’s jaw sagged so low it was a wonder it didn’t come unhinged. Her face burned at what she’d said, but she couldn’t regret it.

He gave a disbelieving laugh. “You really are incorrigible.”

Eva tried not to preen, even though it wasn’t her own shocking comment but one she’d heard while engaging in the despicable act of eavesdropping—or Evasdropping, as Gabe called it. No matter how hard she tried, she simply couldn’t help herself, even though she felt dirty and ashamed every time she did it.

She’d heard the breeding comment while hiding in the library window seat while Gabriel engaged in one of his frequent arguments with his mother. Her stepbrother had muttered the comment not quite under his breath after Mia had, once again, nagged him on the subjects of his scandalous affairs (Gabe had employed two mistresses and kept them in the same house), and his lack of interest in marriage and offspring.

Mia’s answer to Gabe’s outrageous comment had been swift, sharp, and in Arabic. Eva had always marveled at the way Gabe and his mother bickered with each other, and then embraced afterward. That was not the way she and her sisters interacted with their father.

When she’d asked Mia about their frequent arguments, she blamed them on Gabe’s years in Oran.

“Gabriel was raised to believe his word is law.”

“That doesn’t sound much different from Papa,” Eva had countered.

Mia’s lips had curved into one of the secretive smiles she wore whenever the subject of her husband was raised; it was a smile that made Eva’s stomach flutter.

“You are correct, my dear, men the world over believe they are kings to be obeyed without question.” She’d shrugged. “Whomever he marries will have to have a strong but subtle hand to control him.”

And that was another thing—the way Mia did control Eva’s terrifying father without even looking as if she was trying.

Eva cut the equally terrifying man across from her a glance under her lashes, wondering if she could employ similar methods on Visel once they were married. Right now he was looking at her as if Eva were an unpredictable forest creature that had just wandered into his midst. She decided she could use that uncertainty to her advantage.

“My father has no interest in breeding racehorses,” she said, as if she’d never uttered the incendiary comment—keeping a man off balance was a tactic she’d watched Mia employ often. Based on the way Visel’s forehead furrowed, it had worked. “But James’s father still has a hankering for it and Papa allows Mr. Brewster to do a bit of breeding. They’ve sold a goodly number of pleasure horses, but none to race.”

He nodded, but said nothing, just studied her with an inscrutable, brooding look that made her feel as if she were ten years old.

Why did she even bother talking to him as if he might care?

Eva clamped her jaws shut, determined not to say another word. Not. One. More. Word.

* * *

Godric watched the kaleidoscope of feelings play over her face, her emotions as evident as white, fluffy clouds dancing across a clear blue sky. Eva was far from stupid, but she had as much guile as a kitten. Oddly, that knowledge made him feel tender and protective toward her—a reaction that alarmed the hell out of him.

You can pity or feel protective of her all you like, his constant critic observed, but don’t try to fool yourself—or her—by pretending you are anything other than hollow inside.

Godric noticed she’d gone quiet while he’d been engaging in his private turmoil. Her lips were pressed into a grim line that said he’d neglected his part of the conversation—and offended her in the process.

See? You can’t even engage in a simple conversation without disappointing her.

“I had six mounts during my time on the Continent.”

Her head whipped around.