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home.”
    “That is my loss then, I have heard you hold several records for your crossings between England and America.”
    “That was in my first years of captaincy, not recently.”
    Katherine studied her groom with renewed interest.
    She had learned very early in life that a man’s desires, his drive to succeed, to control or possess, often lent an understanding to his character. As she studied the hard masculine planes of his face, a shiver of both heat and fear raced down her spine. The more she learned about her temporary husband, the more she wondered if perhaps she had made a bigger mistake than she realized.

CHAPTER FOUR
    “Shall we retire to my study for brandy and cigars, gentlemen?” Talbot rose from his seat at the head of the table.
    Matthew followed suit with more haste than was probably polite. The reception had run on endlessly. Now the Rudmans and Edward lingered. He’d had more than enough of their company and wished them gone.
    He observed his uncle’s guarded expression as Talbot closed the library door behind them. Matthew shifted his attention to Lord Rudman’s bullish features. A dark, powerful anger twisted inside him tightening his facial muscles and bringing knots of tension to his neck and shoulders. He drew a deep breath to ease the feeling and gain control of the emotion. Folding his hands behind him, he turned to the fire, and braced a foot on the hearth.
    “Shall we get on with it,” Talbot suggested.
    “There are some specific conditions I must place upon the receipt of your ship and the proceeds of the cargo, Hamilton.” Lord Rudman lowered his considerable bulk into one of the sturdy chairs pulled close to the fire. He produced a handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped the sweat from his sparsely covered pate. His attention focused on Matthew as he lowered his hand. “You must have no contact with my wife, nor shall you mention to her you have been detained, and you must leave England within a month, or I will reinstate the charges against you.” “That will be no hardship.” He kept his voice even with an effort as he accepted a glass of brandy from Talbot, and then acknowledged his uncle’s warning frown with a tip of his glass.
    “I must say you are being very civil about all this.” Edward cupped the bowl of the brandy snifter within his hand with dainty grace and took a seat.
    Matthew sipped his brandy. He didn’t want to be civil. A savage desire to lash out at both Lord Rudman and Edward Leighton tormented him. He moved to the French doors to look out into the garden, hoping to find some calming distraction there.
    The French doors across the courtyard opened, and Katherine exited the house. She crossed the raised stone patio, her movements decisive as she descended the steps and followed the path to the back of the garden.
    So she too felt the need to escape the confines of their guest’s presence. He wondered what Jacqueline Rudman might have said to her. The woman had shown her claws more than once over the course of dinner. Fresh anger sparked his resentment anew.
    He turned to address both the men behind him, determined to have an end to it all. “I’ll leave it to you to find a way to keep your wife from seeking me out, Rudman. I won’t be held accountable for her behavior.” Unprepared for the attack, Lord Rudman’s cheeks grew flushed and his lips opened and closed like a beached carp as he sought a reply.
    Matthew stepped close to Edward’s chair, forcing the other man to bend his head back to look up at him. “You left me in that pit for two weeks after we reached our agreement. Your actions are proof enough to me that you have no honor, nor can you be trusted. If you were more a man, I would settle this in a physical manner, but for Katherine’s sake, I’ll forego that pleasure.” He poked the man’s bony chest with a forefinger. “For the remainder of my time here in England though, you would do well to stay out of my way.”
    Edward