Fate's Intervention (18 page)

“
Well, of course, he may object,
”
Marcelle said lightly, trying not to sound concerned
,
“
a
fter
all, this was the first time he entrusted me with the family business and I did do something unusually presumptuous with that temporary authority. I mean, I hired a new trainer. In reality, you
’
re our very first trainer,
”
she babbled nervously,
“
a
nd
, not only that, but I drastically changed the business, veering off into a whole other direction, in which you had to invest quite a sum of money,
”
she continued and Matthew froze. She was echoing his very thoughts from only a moment earlier.
“
So
father
,
”
she concluded in a rush of breath,
“
may be . . . well, he may question . . .
you know, we don
’
t know wh
at
he
’
ll say or do, so
let
’
s not borrow trouble, shall we?
”
Marcelle smiled encouragingly. It didn
’
t work. Matthew exploded.

“
Damn
!
”
Matthew threw his hands in the air and started pacing.
“
I really
could
lose this job and the investment that I just paid out, all in one afternoon. Is that what you
’
re telling me?
”
He stopped pacing and glowered at Marcelle, who was blushing profusely.

“
Mr. Daragh, if you will just calm down for a moment. My
father
is a very kind and
reason
able man, so there is absolutely no need for concern. I
’
m certain that any objections he may
have will be short-lived once he hears what plans we have for
Weatherman
Stables. Especially when he sees how genuinely knowledgeable you are about horses.
”

“
I hope for your sake, Miss
Weatherman
that you are right,
”
Matthew said tightly, reaching for Marcelle
’
s arm again.

“
Is that a threat, Mr. Daragh?
”
Marcelle said softly, dodging his attempts to regain hold of her elbow.
“
Because if it is, I take exception.
”

“
If I lose everything today because of the whims of a woman, I
’
ll show you exception, Miss
Weatherman
,
”
Matthew said, his tone raising Marcelle
’
s hackles. She pulled further away, absurdly
undaunted
by the anger clouding his face.
“
I
’
m not quite certain I like your tone, sir!
”

“
I don
’
t particularly care what you like at the moment,
w
oman. What I care about is my future or lack thereof, which may end prematurely if we don
’
t clear out of the way of that oncoming vehicle.
”

Marcelle turned and looked down the thoroughfare
.
“
W
hat
vehicle?
”
She said and then gasped as Matthew
’
s hand latched onto her elbow.

“
Got you!
”
He snapped, pulling her toward the hotel.

“
Do you mind?
”
Marcelle said between clenched teeth, trying desperately to pull free of Matthew
’
s iron-tight grip, but Matthew wasn
’
t listening. He continued
onward
as if she wasn
’
t tugging at him, trying to get free.
All
he could think about was the upcoming meeting with her
father
;
and what would happen to his investment
if her father d
etermine
d
to terminate his employment
. He could take the three mares and leave, but he couldn
’
t do much without a stallion to impregnate them with and Marcelle had purchased White Star with her
father
’
s money, and
White Star was the only stud in which he was interested.

I
’
ll just have to convince Mr.
Weatherman
that I
’
m an asset he can
’
t do without, or I
’
ll be out a heck of a lot more money trying to purchase White Star back from a woman who may be
just furious enough never to bargain with me for the rest of eternity
. Tarnation!

“
Come in,
”
a faint voice called from inside the hotel room.

Matthew opened the door and stepped back, allowing Marcelle to
precede
him into the room.

“
Hello, dear,
”
her
father
said,
“
you
’
re back earlier than I anticipated you
. . . ,
”
Peter stopped talking when he spied Matthew standing in the doorway.
“
Who have we here? I thought I told you to go out and buy horses, not find a man.
Alt
hough the sight of you with someone makes this old heart glad.
”

“
Father
! It
’
s not what you think.
”
Marcelle shot a glance at Matthew and blushed.
Obviously,
he hadn
’
t thought about the idea that his employment might include a marriage contract. It didn
’
t, but his expression said he suddenly doubted her honor.
“
Now see what you
’
ve done,
Father
. You made him think ill of me. Now do hush and tell me how you
’
re feeling, then I
’
ll be happy to make the introductions.
”

“
The
re
’
s that sharp tone again,
”
her
father
reprimanded lightly.
“
A
nd
you, young lady,
will tell me why you
’
ve taken that tone with me before I tell you anything. Were you unable to place bids today? Is that why you
’
re speaking to me inappropriately?
”

“
No, nothing like that,
Father
,
”
Marcelle said, kneeling down in front of her
father
’
s chair,
“
a
nd
I
’
m sorry I was a bit short with you.
”
Marcelle patted her
father
’
s hand, unwilling to tell him that her mood had to do with the man standing in the doorway.

He had a lot of nerve
threatening
her in the street, hauling her into the hotel without so much as a
by your leave
, and then eyeing her as if she was an infectious disease when her
father
was obviously toying with them. Honestly, the man tended to get all ruffled over the most trifling of things.

“
Very well, then. I
’
m feeling much better, now that I had a long rest,
”
her
father
said, casting sidelong glances at the man standing in the doorway.
“
So
,
now that I
’
ve been courteous enough to answer your query, you need to answer mine. Why are you in such a dither? Is it because of this gentleman that
’
s returned here with you?
”

“
If truth be told, yes,
”
Marcelle could never fool her
father
for long, so trying was pointless.

Matthew straightened and eyed her suspiciously,
“
W
hat
exactly have I done to upset you, Miss
Weatherman
?
”
He asked, his voice a strained whisper.

Marcelle moved from her
father
’
s side, raised her chin
haughtily,
and strode over to where Matthew was standing,
“
Well,
if you hadn
’
t been so rude to me before we got here then I might not be put out with you now.
”

“
Oh, if that isn
’
t just like a woman,
”
he said, eyeing her with exasperation.

“
What exactly is
that
supposed to mean?
”

“
It means that whenever there is a problem, a woman automatically assumes the man is the one who caused it, when in this case, Miss
Weatherman
, you are the one who angered me.
”

“
I beg your pardon!
”

“
A
s well you should.
”

“
Just where do you get off accusing me of riling you when you are the one that literally manhandled me into this hotel room!
”

“
If you hadn
’
t played a little tease with me, leading me to believe that your decisions were final and placing my employment in jeopardy before it began, then I wouldn
’
t have had to get disagreeable with you!
”

“
Now, now, children,
”
Peter interrupted, a grin on his lips. If he didn
’
t know better, he would think that Marcelle had inadvertently met her future mate. That is, if the gentleman in question appeared the slightest bit interested, which he didn
’
t.
Of course
, Peter thought,
there are always ways around lack of interest
– and
I
’
ve got nearly an entire year in which to convince the boy that it
’
s in his best interest to marry my daughter. I might see her happily wed after all. Talk about dumb luck.
“
So
meone please explain to me what this ruckus is all about,
”
he said, eyeing both of them in mock irritation. Both had the good sense to look abashed.

“
Father
,
”
Marcelle whispered,
“
may I introduce Matthew Daragh? Matthew, this is my
father
, Peter
Weatherman
.
”

“
Finally, the manners I raised you with are showing,
”
her
father
said, earning an irritated
look from his daughter and a smile from Matthew.

“
It
’
s a
pleasure
to meet you, sir,
”
Matthew said. He walked across the room and offered the old man his hand.

Peter shook it, impressed with the firm grip.

“
So
, who are you, son?
”
Peter asked.
“
A
nd
what are you doing going about upsetting young women?
”

Matthew saw the teasing look in the old man
’
s eyes and laughed,
“
I guess I do owe you an apology, sir. It wasn
’
t exactly the best first impression I
’
ve ever made.
”