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hour ride from Fairborough Hall. The owners, Lord and Lady Bristow, had decided to travel the Continent together in an effort to reacquaint themselves with one another after a lengthy separation. A separation in which most of the world believed Lord Bristow to be dead and, apparently, Lady Bristow simply wished he was.
    “I am not used to dealing with women in matters of a business nature. Women should not be involved in business.”
    “I thought she explained that to you.”
    “She did, but . . .” Win shook his head. “Something about her explanation struck me as being . . . not a lie exactly, more like a half-truth. The woman is definitely hiding something.”
    “You said that yesterday.”
    “It cannot be said often enough.”
    “And you know this because you are so very good at recognizing when a woman is hiding something?”
    “Well, I should be, shouldn’t I?”
    “One would think,” Gray said under his breath in a not too subtle allusion to Win’s three engagements.
    Gray had been out of the country for years and had not witnessed firsthand his cousin’s previous failures to wed. Although they corresponded regularly, Win had never written in detail about his ill-fated betrothals. He had made no mention of the third at all. Since Gray’s return to England a few months ago, the cousins had spent long hours, with the appropriate libation in hand, discussing the various incidents, as well as all else that had happened in their respective lives. Win was able now to see the humor inherent in each engagement: the lady who had decided she would much rather marry a man with better prospects, the female who had considered him entirely too lighthearted to be a suitable husband and the very sweet young woman who was unfortunately in love with someone else.
    “I did think you liked intelligent women.”
    “I do, under most circumstances.” Win paused. He much preferred women who were clever and witty. Who could match him barb for barb. Although he had long considered the idea that that might have been where he had made his mistakes in the past. A less intelligent woman was far more likely to agree with him, to see things his way. Still, in his experience, women who weren’t clever weren’t especially interesting either. Did he really wish to spend the rest of his life bored out of his mind? “What I dislike is a woman who makes me feel stupid. Who looks at me in a pitiful manner as if I were a child who can barely understand two words.”
    “I see.” Gray was obviously once again holding back laughter. At least one of them was amused by all this. “Then you found her annoying because she is more intelligent than you and took no pains to hide it?”
    “She is most certainly not more intelligent. Possibly as intelligent but definitely not more . It’s ridiculous to even think such a thing. She is a woman after all.” As much as Win liked women in general the very idea of a woman being more intelligent than a man was absurd.
    “I wouldn’t let Aunt Margaret hear you say that.” Gray shuddered.
    “Because I am indeed an intelligent man, I would never allow her to do so,” Win said in a lofty manner, then thought for a moment. “It was the surprise, I think. Lady Garret caught me unawares. I simply wasn’t prepared for a woman—for her. I shall be better prepared for our next meeting.”
    “Then you wish to continue with Garret and Tempest?” Gray studied him closely. “In spite of the indomitable Lady Garret?”
    Win blew a resigned breath and sank into the chair that matched Gray’s. “I don’t see any other option.”
    “We could hire someone else, you know.”
    “No one else can take this on in as timely a manner.” Win shook his head. “I don’t want Fairborough Hall moldering in disrepair for the next six months. I want rebuilding to begin as soon as possible.” He aimed an accusing look at his cousin. “Pity you won’t be here to keep an eye on the work with me.”
    “I am sorry,