Free The Romany Heiress by Nikki Poppen Page B

and I thought
you could offer suggestions.”
    “I would be delighted.” Cate crooked her arm through
Cecile’s and began chattering at once, pausing after
she’d walked a few yards to look over her shoulder as an
afterthought and say, “Perhaps another time, Lady FoxHaughton?”
    Giles breathed easier knowing Cate was safely ensconced within Isabella and Cecile’s protection. They
wouldn’t let Candice within fifty yards of her. Despising
Candice as they did, the two of them enjoyed thwarting
her efforts on any level. It would be a great relief to
know Cate was with them as long as Tristan hadn’t
tipped off her identity to Isabella.
    “What do you see in her?” Alain asked as they
moved off to view the horse stalls.
    “She has a somewhat substantiated claim to Spelthorne
Abbey,” Giles said. “I’d rather keep her close than let her
alone to sow trouble” His eyes followed the women at the
vending stalls in the distance.
    “No. Not her. I meant Lady FoxHaughton. None of
us can stand her. Does she think you’ll propose? She
acts as if it’s fait accompli.”

    “She and I have an understanding of convenience.
After all, I’m not likely to find another hostess with her
skills and entree. It’s a very practical arrangement. If
she expects more, she’ll be disappointed, but I doubt
she does. She’s a practical woman who understands the
world.”
    Alain snorted. “There’s no arguing that, Giles. She
understands the world well enough to know how much
she can accomplish for herself and how much she needs
a man to do the rest. Lady FoxHaughton is notoriously
ambitious and knows exactly what an upstanding peer
of your caliber can do for her political ambitions. She
wants to be the wife of a prime minister.”
    Giles thrust his hands deep in his trouser pockets as
they sauntered. “Then she’ll be doubly disappointed in
me. On no front will I be able to please her.”
    “Are you going to tell her about our Lady Cate?”
    It was Giles’s turn to snort in disbelief. “What do you
think?”
    “Right-o then,” Alain said somewhat awkwardly. “I
wouldn’t tell her either.”
    Their arrival at the long length of rope stalls provided
an end to their conversation. A sorrel mare of medium
proportions whickered, drawing their attention. Alain
went to it and lay a soothing hand on her long face,
crooning soft words as he gave the horse a cursory
once-over look.
    “Just the sort of horse I was hoping to find for Cecile. She’s game enough to learn to ride but I think we
all terrify her with our big horses and hedge jumping.” Alain hunkered down to look at the horse’s legs, running an expert hand over the fetlocks, testing for damaged tendons.

    The mare looked promising, and they told the owner they’d be back after they’d looked over the rest of
the stock.
    It was half past one when they rejoined the group
from the house party, congregating under the shady
boughs of a spreading oak. Giles’s servants had arrived with picnic supplies and erected a large white
canopy and laid out a cold collation for his guests,
complete with ice cold lemonade for the ladies and ale
for the men. Everyone was in good spirits from the
food and morning well spent among the excitement of
a country fair.
    He and Alain easily spotted Tristan and the ladies
and went to join them. Cate was chatting effortlessly
with Cecile and Isabella as Giles came up beside her.
    “I see you found some lace” Giles nodded to the
brown paper-wrapped package in Cecile’s basket.
    “Yes. I found the perfect trim.” Cecile’s sherry eyes
danced with mischief. “I also found the perfect length
of ribbon for Cate’s hair but she refused to purchase it.
I think you could persuade her, Giles. It would be the
ideal souvenir for your cousin so she would remember
her day at our little fair.”
    Giles reprimanded himself inwardly. Of all the
things to forget! He’d not remembered she would