Read Online Ivory Innocence by Susan Stevens - Free Book Online

it's any of your business?" His hands pressed her even closer to his body. There was no mistaking the fact that he, too, had been roused to fever pitch. She had never experienced such feelings before. They frightened her, partly because of the anger she now read in his eyes. Frantically she sought for some way to bring him out of this lustful mood.
    "It's my business when it concerns Janey!" she flung at him, and was relieved when the steel muscles in his arms relaxed a little. "Do you know that Janey hates Carla?"
    All at once the threatening glower left his face. His eyes turned glacial and he released her, stepping away. "Yes, I'm aware of that. But I'm afraid that, if and when I decide to marry again, I shan't consult my daughter first."
    She was left staring at the study door, which quivered from the furious slam he had given it. She was appalled that he could discount Janey's feelings so callously— and even more appalled when she remembered how she had melted against him, her senses scrambled by his physical proximity. Her mind detested him, but her body had responded with disgusting alacrity.
    To a man like that! To a Kendrake!

Chapter Five

    In the morning, Ivory sent Janey out to play in the grounds, then found herself wandering nervously about the house expecting at any moment to encounter Matthew. But there was no sign of him.
    "Oh, didn't he tell you?" Mrs. Barnes said in surprise when she brought coffee out to the terrace where Ivory sat in the shade. "He's gone to London for this board meeting. Be away for some time, so he said. That's why he was so busy yesterday, trying to get the estate business straight. Mr. Firth's a good manager, but Mr. Kendrake likes to know exactly what's going on."
    That was probably why Matthew had been in the woods yesterday, Ivory thought. He'd been coming back from a visit to Angus Firth, the estate manager, who kept his office at the Home Farm. Pure bad luck had caused all that trouble. She recalled how it had ended, with herself locked in Matthew's arms, and a flush heated her entire body—with shame, she knew. How he could have gone off to London without a word to her or Janey would have been a mystery, if she hadn't known that that was the kind of man he was. Having virtually told her that she must not take Janey anywhere without his permission, he had put himself out of reach. Did he really expect her to stay at the Hall patiently awaiting his return? Despite his threats, she was not his prisoner, nor was Janey.
    That Friday evening, Ivory received a phone call— from Rob Garth.
    "I'd have come to see you," he said, "only I didn't want you to get into trouble again because of me. Is there any chance you might get away tomorrow? There's a local gymkhana and fete. Becky's taking part, on Cherry. I wondered if you'd like to come."
    "We'd love to, Rob," Ivory said, pleased. "I'm sure Janey would enjoy it."
    "Oh; Janey," he said, then sighed. "Can't you get away on your own?"
    "Not at the moment. Mr. Kendrake's away on business. Besides, Janey would love to see Becky riding in a gymkhana."
    "Well, all right," Rob said dubiously. "I'll pick you both up about two o'clock. Okay?"
    "I look forward to it," Ivory said. "Do I gather I'm forgiven? I didn't expect you to speak to me again after—"
    "Oh, I've forgotten all about that. It wasn't your fault, it was that, that
boss
of yours. I'm glad he's gone away. See you tomorrow, then."
    The prospect of seeing a gymkhana excited Janey. All morning she asked questions and was impatient for Rob to arrive. Ivory had dressed both Janey and herself casually in denims and T-shirts, with sweaters in case the weather grew cool. For herself she had added sunglasses and a broad-brimmed straw hat to protect her face from the sun.
    Rebecca and her pony were already installed in the competitors' area of the big field where horse-boxes stood in rows and children in jodhpurs and protective hard hats fussed over their ponies. Lines of flags fluttered