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idea?”
    “It’s a splendid idea, Father, but why didn’t you mention it sooner?”
    “A surprise?”
    Megan missed the question in his answer. “It was a surprise, all right. I made a bloody fool of myself, it was such a surprise.”
    The squire never took Megan to task for her less-than-ladylike vocabulary, since she was careful not to use such colorful words in mixed company—and she had got them from him in the first place. It amazed him sometimes that this was his daughter. He wished his dear wife had lived long enough to see what an extraordinary girl they had produced, but she’d died not long after Megan’s third year.
    “And that stallion must have cost a fortune!” Megan continued, but recalling Caesar, she got sidetracked. “Is he really yours?”
    “He is now.”
    “And you’re really going to breed him?”
    “That’s what I got him for. But these things take time,” he cautioned.
    “Yes, I know, and you can’t breed a stallion like that to just any old mare. We’ll have to buy the very best—”
    “Already got some. They’ll be delivered soon, and believe me, I got them at a bargain price.”
    “Well, good for you. We’ll also have to enlarge the stable, of course, but you’ve probably already made plans for that.”
    “Enlarge the stable?” the squire repeated weakly.
    “And the horses will have to be exercised. I can help with that, especially with the stallion. Oh, I can’t wait to ride him!”
    “Now, Megan—”
    “Now, Father,” she cut off his admonishment. “You know you don’t have to worry. I’ll be careful, and I won’t ride him where anyone will see me do it.”
    She went on with more assurances, while outside the door, Devlin was grinding his teeth. Ride Caesar? Her? Not bloody likely. And when was she going to get around to demanding his dismissal?
    Inside the study, the squire finally interrupted his daughter to say, “You’ll have to ask Jefferys.”
    “What?!”
    “He knows the animal, knows his temperament. He may not be ridable. And that’s not what I got him for, after all.”
    There was a long silence while Megan just stared at her father. Then she burst out, “Damn! Not ridable? But I wouldn’t ask him anyway, and speaking of him, he’s not the least bit suitable for such an important position, Father. You’ll simply have to find another—”
    “He said you took a dislike to him. Can’t imagine why. Damned fine-looking fellow, if you ask me.”
    “Damned rude fellow is what he is.”
    “But he comes highly recommended, m’dear, very highly recommended.”
    “I don’t care if the queen recommended him—”
    “Damned close,” the squire mumbled.
    “—his arrogant manner is offensive. I want him dismissed.”
    “Can’t do it.”
    “Of course you can. Just send him back where he came from. How difficult can it be to find a replacement? I’ll see to it myself, if you’d rather not.”
    “You’ll do no such thing, m’girl. And I won’t dismiss the man, so leave it go.”
    “Father?” She used the cajoling tone that usually got her her way.
    “Now, now, none of that. Mr. Jefferys comes with the horse, a condition of the sale. If he goes, so does the stallion.”
    “But that’s absurd!”
    The squire shrugged. “Can’t be helped. The seller wanted to be certain the stallion would have the best care possible. He trusts Mr. Jefferys to see to it.”
    “Good God, no wonder he’s so bloody arrogant. He knows he can’t be dismissed.”
    “I found him most likable m’self. He knows horses, knows everything to know about horse breeding.” But then the squire’s tone turned concerned. “I wouldn’t want to dismiss him, Megan, but if he’s done something that is totally unacceptable—”
    “No, no, it was nothing specific,” she quickly assured him. “I just—took a dislike to him, as he said.”
    “He’s not a guest,” her father pointed out. “It’s not as if you have to entertain the fellow in your parlor. You