Fate's Intervention (24 page)

“
Well, Carol
Ann
,
”
Marcelle said, leading the dazed girl to her carriage and opening the door,
“
you best be heading back before it gets to be past your own supper time.
”

“
Yes, of course,
”
Carol
Ann
said, dreamily,
“
A
nd
thank you for having me, Matthew.
”

Marcelle laughed. The poor girl was going to have Matthew on the brain for a while. She only hoped she didn
’
t slip up and say his name like that in front of her
father
.
When Marcelle safely ensconced Carol
Ann
in her carriage, she went to the kitchen to see about getting dinner started. Thanks to Miss Blackwarth
’
s visit, it was going to be a late one.

“
How are the horses progressing, Matthew?
”
Peter asked at dinner. He wasn
’
t used to postponing delivery to his clients after purchase, but Matthew had all but insisted. Peter protested his
reason
ing until Matthew explained about his wife and children.
He could understand the kind of devastation Matthew had suffered, especially since he
’
d lost his own darling Beverly to an equestrian accident as well some twelve years ago and had never felt the desire to remarry, even with the burden of raising a young girl alone.

At
least Matthew was doing something to help prevent further deaths from untrained horses. He admired the man for that, even while he wished that he
’
d get over his wife
’
s loss
–
unlike himself
–
and marry Marcelle.

“
Excellent. I
’
ll be starting deliveries tomorrow. When I get back, I
’
ll get on the stable roof. There
’
s some wear in it that might not withstand a heavy rain.
”

“
Good.
”

“
So
, you trained the horses that fast, did you?
”
Marcelle asked.
“
Or are you using Miss
Blackwarth
’
s visit as an excuse to start deliveries early? Not running away, are you?
”

Matthew grinned thinly at Marcelle, his face reddening in remembrance. Marcelle shoved a bite of food into her mouth and eyed Matthew mischievously.

“
What
’
s this about Miss Blackwarth?
”
Peter asked, pausing in mid-bite.
“
Wasn
’
t your visit pleasant
, a
nd
what does she have to do with Matthew? Why would you be scared of the child, Matthew?
”

“
It would appear that I was right,
Father
,
”
Marcelle interjected before Matthew could say anything.
“
Her visit was a ruse. Good thing you didn
’
t take me up on placing a wager on her visit. I would have won.
”

“
A
ruse, was it?
”

“
Yes, the poor child has a crush on Matthew.
”

Matthew groaned and Marcelle giggled.

“
I assure you madam,
”
Matthew said,
“
t
hat
her interest in me is undesired and will not be encouraged.
”

“
Want to hear something that will really add gray hair to your head, Matthew?
”
Marcelle said, the twinkle in her eyes increasing, when Matthew instinctively touched his hair.

“
I do not . . . ,
”
he started, but stopped when he saw the look in her eyes. He could tell she was really enjoying herself at his expense. Well, he
’
d let her have her fun, but maybe he
’
d teach her a little lesson later about laughing at someone.

“
Pray, do tell, Miss
Weatherman
,
”
Matthew said, taking a sip of his red wine.

“
Clifford Stanharbor is sniffing around her skirts now, so she
’
s hoping to catch your eye so that you
’
ll become enchanted enough to propose before Stanharbor has a chance.
”

“
Well, she
’
s not completely unappealing. Perhaps I
’
ll consider it,
”
Matthew said, and smiled widely when Marcelle spit her wine across the table.
“
Perhaps that will teach you to keep your teasing to a minimum.
”

“
Nice try, Matthew,
”
her
father
laughed,
“
but it may take more than that to curb my daughter
’
s mischievous ways.
”

“
Can I accept that as permission to try, sir?
”

“
Oh, without a doubt.
”

“
Hey, you two
!
”
Marcelle protested half-heartedly.
“
T
wo against one are not fair odds.
”

“
No, my dear,
”
her
father
corrected with a laugh,
“
it
’
s still one against one. Only now that Matthew has my permission to play on your level, the odds will be less one-sided.
”

“
Well, I certainly appreciate your support,
Father
,
”
Marcelle said sarcastically.
Although
she wasn
’
t upset about her
father
siding with Matthew, the look Matthew gave her unnerved her. Exactly how did he interpret what her
father
said? Exactly how did she
want
him to interpret it?

Matthew, on the other hand, was having absolutely
no
difficulty in interpreting his boss
’
s permission.
As
far as he was concerned, the boundary between the employer and employee relationship vanished and he could finally teach Marcelle a lesson or two about the consequences of teasing the opposite sex. The thought of finally being able to give tit for tat without fear of
retribution brought a huge smile to his face. That smile increased when he looked over and saw the worry creasing her brow.
So, she knows she
’
s in for it now
, he thought with childish glee
, that t
he invisible barrier of protection is gone.

“
Well, children, while that was a delightful dinner and entertaining repartee, I really must retire. These old bones need more rest than they used to.
”
Peter stood and laid his napkin on the table,
“
W
hat
time you planning to leave tomorrow, Matthew?
”

“
I
’
ll leave at sunup,
”
Matthew said, rising from his seat.

“
You remember how to get to our clients
’
homes, right?
”

“
Not a problem, sir, and if it
’
s just the same to you, I
’
d like to add a few stops along the way to solicit purchasers for our future breed stock.
”

“
I think that
’
s a fine idea
, s
o when can we expect you back, then?
”

“
T
hree weeks. Four tops.
”
Matthew moved behind Marcelle
’
s chair instinctively, and slid it back for her to rise.

“
Well, since I won
’
t see you until your return, I
’
ll wish you a safe journey. Marcelle, dear, do make certain that
Nancy
prepares something for Matthew to take with him in the morning.
”

“
Of course,
Father
,
”
Marcelle said, following him to the door.
“
Would you like your port?
”

“
It does help me sleep.
”

“
I
’
ll send
Nancy
right up,
”
she said, and placed a light kiss on his cheek.

“
Thank
you, dearest,
”
he said, covering a yawn.
“
You really are a wonderful daughter, my dear.
”

“
Good night,
Father
. Sleep well.
”

Marcelle watched her
father
climb the stairs slowly before turning to summon
Nancy
. Her gaze collided with Matthew
’
s and she smiled sadly.

“
It must be
hard
on you,
”
Matthew said softly, understanding in his eyes,
“
watching him weaken daily and having to pretend a strength you don
’
t feel, for his sake.
”

Marcelle
’
s eyes misted over and she was helpless to prevent the few tears that welled and fell in a stream down her face.
“
It was his request that I not allow his illness to change the few months of happiness we have remaining,
”
Marcelle whispered quietly.
“
You
’
re right, though, it
’
s very hard. Still I promised him, and I won
’
t break that promise. He
’
s suffering enough without the added burden of knowing his daughter is slowing dying with him.
”

Matthew misunderstood her statement and rushed to her side,
“
You
’
re not ill as well, are you
,
Marcelle?
”
He asked, forgetting to address her formally.

“
Ill? Not the way you
’
re thinking,
”
Marcelle said, placing a hand in comfort on his cheek.
“
It
’
s only that my heart is breaking off bit by bit, and I fear that when my
father
finally leaves me, I will have no heart left.
”

Matthew frowned slightly at that, but could think of nothing to say to comfort her. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and drew her into his embrace, placing a light kiss on her hair.
A
fter
a few moments, he stepped back.

“
I know it
’
s difficult to think about losing someone you love, but you mustn
’
t think that it will destroy you as well. You are a strong woman.
”

“
I know, and thank you. I
’
m fine now,
”
Marcelle sighed, pulling further away, but Matthew didn
’
t want to let her go. He wanted to hold her, to comfort her
, but
to hold on to her when she obviously didn
’
t want him to, was inappropriate behavior at best.
“
I
’
ll be okay. I just let it get to me sometimes.
”

“
It
’
s okay to let it get to you, you know,
”
Matthew said, reluctantly moving away another step, his arm sliding down her back.
“
What you can
’
t do, is let it destroy you.
A
re
you
certain
you
’
re okay, now? I can still see a tear of two moistening those lovely dark lashes of yours.
”