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London? Devlin’s brows were knit now, though he didn’t know it.
    “The mares, sir,” Devlin said somewhat curtly. “They will be yours for the duration of my stay here, just like Caesar. But you needn’t concern yourself with the operation. It takes a while for a stud farm to get started, after all, much longer than I intend to be here. We will merely go through the motions for appearances, you understand. It may not even be necessary to do any actual breeding, but having the mares here will lend credence to the operation.”
    “A stud farm,” the squire mused, shaking his head with a chuckle. “Never even considered one, you know. Megan will certainly be surprised.”
    She’d already been surprised, Devlin recalled. She hadn’t believed it, in fact, which was what seemed to have got her animosity up to begin with, though he had to admit he’d helped on that score at the end. Not that a stud farm, real or not, was any of her business. He’d told her that, too. So there was no reason for the squire’s daughter to cross paths with the squire’s new horse breeder again. And Devlin would go out of his way to make sure of that.
    He stood up. “If you have no further questions, I will take my leave.”
    “You’re welcome to stay in the main house.”
    “Appreciate it, sir, but that would defeat the purpose of my being here. I’m to keep out of the way, and I can’t do that as a guest. That’s just what my friend will expect and be looking for.”
    “Well, if you need anything, just tell Mr. Krebs. He’s m’butler and will see to it—”
    “Father, I—”
    She didn’t burst in as Devlin had imagined she would, but she did come in quietly without any warning. Obviously, she hadn’t expected Devlin to still be there, for her mouth snapped shut when she noticed him, her body stiffened perceptibly, and the look she gave him was just short of withering. Devlin, to his horror, realized that the way she had looked him over before didn’t have much to do with the lust he had experienced, for his body was reacting to her again without the least bit of encouragement on her part.
    “You’re back early, m’dear,” the squire remarked. “I believe you have met Devlin Jefferys?”
    “Yes—I did.” The word “unfortunately” hung unspoken in the air. “I’m sorry to interrupt, Father, but I need to speak with you—privately.”
    “Certainly,” the squire allowed. “Mr. Jefferys was just leaving.”
    “Leaving?” She glanced at Devlin. “As in back to where you came from?”
    That hopeful note was in her voice again, and it rankled just as easily as it had before. “Not quite that far, Miss Penworthy. I was just going to get settled in.”
    “Then you might want to wait in the hall,” she replied stiffly as she held the door open for him. “Because I am quite sure my father will wish to speak to you again in just a few minutes.”
    “I will?” the squire said.
    Devlin gave her a slow smile as he walked toward her. “By all means.” And then when he reached her, he said softly, so only she could hear, “I’ll wait so you can show me the way to the stable yourself.”
    Her look said she’d show him the front door or nothing. Devlin would have laughed if the study door hadn’t closed so quickly behind him. He was left in the not-quite-empty hall staring at the Penworthys’ butler across the way, who stared back inquiringly.
    “I’m to wait,” Devlin announced, at which point the helpful servant indicated one of the two benches on either side of the front door at the end of the hall. But Devlin smiled confidently to himself. “No need, Mr. Krebs. I guarantee it won’t be that long a wait.” And he wasn’t about to move and miss hearing any possibly raised voices on the other side of the study door if he could help it.

Chapter 5
    Megan whirled around the second the door closed and leaned across her father’s desk to demand, “A horse-breeding farm?”
    “You don’t like the