Her lips were still twitching when she said, "I assure you, he was very fast indeed."
"I know." His tone was distinctly surly. "And I don't like to be laughed at."
Her eyes were dancing as she accused, "You were dazzled."
His gaze was fixed bemusedly on her face. "Completely." He glanced away from her. "I still am."
Her smile vanished. Warmth and humor and amusement were all there in his expression. In a way, such emotions were more dangerous than lust. She hurriedly glanced down at Morgana. "She's a magnificent mare."
"As I told you."
"But not as fine as Kapu."
"And what makes the stallion better?"
"Because he's mine," she said simply.
He laughed. "Why doesn't that statement surprise me?"
"Aren't you the same? Don't you think that Morgana is finer because she belongs to you?"
"I suppose I'm a bit biased, but I try to control it. For instance, I'm ready to admit that Kapu may be faster."
She grunted in disgust. "I don't see why you're all so excited about how fast they are. Bradford could talk about nothing but the races you have here."
"I admit I'm also guilty. I'd love to see Morgana and Kapu race."
"I won't allow it," she said quickly. "I don't want them ever pitted against each other."
"Why not?"
"Because I like Morgana."
"And?"
"Can't you see? They don't like each other. They're only ignoring each other now, but I won't have them enemies."
"They're not ignoring each other."
"Of course they are."
"Oh, they're not being obvious about it, but I've noticed a few sidelong glances."
She frowned. "You're wrong."
"Watch them. Perhaps I'm more accustomed to such subtleties than you are." His glance shifted away from her to the fence bordering the meadow. "There's Josette. She's waiting for you."
Cassie stiffened as her gaze followed his to the small figure sitting on the top rail of the fence. "There's no reason for her to want to speak to me. She's probably waiting for you."
His lips twisted. "I assure you that after our talk this morning she won't want to see me for a while. Besides, she came up with a rather unique suggestion regarding you. She probably wants to discuss it."
The girl probably wanted to see her drawn and quartered, Cassie thought gloomily.
"At any rate, I'll leave you alone and let her have her chance." He nudged Morgana into a gallop and headed for the stable. He nodded at Josette as he passed, and she gave him a wary glance. Then her attention shifted to Cassie.
"You've been a long time. I've been waiting for hours." Her gaze went to Kapu. "How fast is he?"
"You didn't wait for me to find out how fast Kapu could run." Cassie rode the stallion up to the fence and braced herself. "Did you?"
"Well, not primarily, but I'm always interested." Josette soberly met her gaze. "You think I'm going to blame you for what your father did."
"For what Jared says my father did," she corrected.
"He's usually right about most things."
"He's not about-"
Josette waved her hand to silence her. "I'm not here to argue. The quarrel's between Jared and him, not us. I'd never blame anyone for being born to the wrong father or the wrong country. I've suffered too much myself for my birth."
Cassie felt a rush of relief. She had not realized until this moment how much she had dreaded Josette's condemnation. "Thank you. You're being very generous."
"Not as generous as you think." Josette's eyes were suddenly twinkling. "There's a price to pay. When can I ride Kapu?"
Cassie shook her head. The girl was impossible. "He'd kill you."
"Maybe not. I told you, I'm good with horses." She jumped down from the fence and moved forward to open the gate. "Come on. I'll help you put him up."
Cassie felt bewildered. She had feared this encounter since she had discovered the girl's identity, and Josette was being almost casual about it.
Josette's gaze narrowed on her face. "It's not so strange," she said as if she had read her thoughts. "I was very young when my parents were killed. Jared and Bradford are the only family I remember. Did you know that after his father was killed, Jared brought me to England himself?"
"No."
"He was holding me when they murdered his father. His wrists were bound, but he managed to slip into the underbrush and hide in the forest for three days. Then he made his way to the ship his father had arranged to meet them. He wasn't able to get the ropes off, and his wrists were still tied and bloody when he reached the coast."
I hate to be bound.
No wonder. He must have felt terribly helpless and frustrated, bound, bereaved, with a small child to tend. The experience would have scarred anyone.
"So you wouldn't find me understanding if you or your father did something to hurt Jared." Josette closed the gate behind Cassie. "But you're very interesting. I can't stand those ninnies at school. I believe I'll enjoy your stay here at Morland. You can tell me all about that odd place where you lived, and we'll ride and have great fun."
"Indeed? Jared regards me as a hostage, you know."
Josette made a face. "A very peculiar hostage, who's permitted to ride freely over the estate. I don't see that as a problem." She opened the stable door. "Now, what about this Lani? Is she really your father's mistress?"
Cassie stiffened. "Yes."
Josette didn't seem to notice the change in her demeanor. "Many of Jared's friends have mistresses, but they don't usually let me meet them. Once at one of Jared's house parties I saw one of his lady birds slip into his room."
"Lady birds?"
"Light of loves, cyprians." When Cassie still looked at her blankly, she said baldly, "Whores."
Heat stung Cassie's cheeks. "Lani is not a whore. Don't you dare compare her to one. She's as respectable as-"
"I didn't know," Josette interrupted. "My apologies. Here in England mistresses are not considered-" She broke off and gave a deep sigh. "I always say the wrong thing. I meant no offense."
The girl was so clearly penitent that Cassie's anger ebbed away. "She's my friend."
"Will I like her?"
"Maybe." Cassie thought back to those first days after Lani had come to the cottage. Cassie had been rebellious and full of jealousy and resentment, and it had taken time for Lani to win her over. Josette was not as young as Cassie had been then but was just as independent and proud. "Perhaps not at once, but then you'll love her."
"Oh, she's like Jared." Josette nodded in understanding. "Sometimes I want to throttle him. He's always so right about everything." She smiled. "But then he does something absolutely splendid, and you forget all the rest."
Clearly the girl adored Jared even when she wanted to do him injury, Cassie thought. What had he done to deserve such affection? "Jared's not at all like Lani," she said dryly as she dismounted.
Morgana was already in her stall, and as Cassie led Kapu past her, she watched closely for the sidelong glances Jared had mentioned.
Blast it!
How had he noticed something almost imperceptible? She could fully sympathize with Josette's annoyance over Jared's disgusting habit of being right.
"You're frowning. Are you still angry with me?" Josette asked anxiously.
She smiled. "No, I'm not angry."
"Then after we get Kapu comfortable, will you introduce me to your Lani?"
Cassie nodded. "Very well. We'll go to the library when we finish."
As soon as Cassie and Josette left the stable and started across the courtyard, they spied the handsome carriage pulled up before the front entrance of the castle.
"Oh, no!" Josette's eyes widened in alarm. "She's here!"
"Who is here?" Cassie asked.