backstage of pleasure

nt porch. She glanced at him. “When

oming harvest, about the local tin mining in which both est

espect and rely on Madeline’s views, drawn as they were from

who wouldn’t readily talk to Miss Gascoigne about his e

nt on on the Lizard Peninsula and in surrounding

ust be going.” She met his eyes. “Thank

others that I was not amused. I’ll

down the steps to the forecourt, where her horse, a tall, powerful chestn

her saddle. Gervase held the horse’s bridle, watching without a blink as Mad

rts for the purpose. Given the miles she covered every day

considered the fact

isk salute, she backed the chestnut, then wheeled

district were the other male landowners; in their councils

y treat her as a man—thump her on the back or o

many ways, sh

ered that a little of Madeline’s uniquen

castle, he remount

er . . . only to discover that it wa

lt calm, in control once more, confident and

sible and rational—had regrounded him. Wh

ose things he should b

t when he reached the drawing roo

looking the forecourt, through which they’d obviously

her daughters, no doubt

four looked at him, their expressi

d at them

they star

you might invite he

line?

suggested they were wonderi

them, Belinda deigned to help. “Mad

n answer. Not any answer he wanted to give.

rable mask settle into place. “I have to go a

se entered his library-cum-study and headed directly for the tantalus. As h

nd

r about to commence the laborious task of dismantling th

where the huge waterwheel sat unmoving in the narrow s

red the mill. Whatever they’d done to

hoolgirls, two of decent height and

g the lower third of the wheel. After squinting into the

o expose the gaps where three paddle blades ought to have

am hadn’t shifted it. With the three blades missing, the water rush

d at the gaps, at the

mply slotted into grooves in the wheel’s inner sides, tuck

the blades replaced—and the

d returned to the castle and had closeted

ew exchanges had been of a general nature, of local affairs and

the drawing room, he’d watched them go, and then come he

to the cushioning l

ut his head back a

atching him like hawks. Demanding creatures. He’d

course, h

efocused on the issue never far from his mind, his

hat now peace was established and he was free to become the Earl of Crowhurs

had spent the last ten and more years working behind e

nd creating a private club to guard against the marauding

deed proved useful