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gripping the arms of the chair.
    She wheeled him through the door and into the sunshine as if she hadn’t heard.
    Maybe she hadn’t. Maybe her hearing had saved him from sounding as pathetic as he looked.
    The wind struck him sharply, but the sunshine felt good on his face, not to mention his legs and chest. Two of the hounds rose and stretched, then came forward to snuffle at his hands. Petting them was a forgotten pleasure, for they weren’t allowed in the house.
    And really, how many strangers could see him as he sat on the terrace?
    “Please, bring me my outer garments,” the woman instructed the hovering servants. “Then pick up the chair and, if you would be so kind, carry it down the stairs.”
    He looked around and realized she was referring to his chair.
    “What the hell are you planning?” he said in a snarling tone.
    “I thought we’d go for a walk.” That woman took her bonnet from the maid and tied it under her chin. “I fancy a look at the Atlantic.”
    Garth didn’t blink. He acted as if Rand regularly wheeled himself around the countryside, flaunting his helplessness so everyone could point and laugh. Rand’s beloved brother betrayed him with a gesture to Jasper. “Take him down the stairs.”
    Rand waited for Jasper to object again, but he had the proper respect for the duke of Clairmont.
    Gesturing to two of the footmen, Jasper said, “Each of ye take a wheel.” He leaned forward. “I’ll lift the footrest.”
    Rand knocked him with his fist.
    Jasper landed on his rear on the stone. Rand shot backward from the impact. When he regained control, he saw Jasper clutching his mouth and the two footmen cowering.
    Lowering his hand, Jasper examined his palm andsaw blood, then wiggled his two front teeth. “Haven’t lost that punishing right, Lord Rand.”
    “Try to pick me up again, and you’ll see my left.”
    Jasper spoke reproachfully through swelling lips. “Now, Lord Rand, I’m just doing me duty.”
    Rand could scarcely see through the red mist before his eyes. “Your duty is to obey me .”
    Sylvan pulled on her gloves. “You’re acting like a slavering dog.”
    “And you’re acting like a bitch.”
    The wind sang with its elemental voice, the dogs licked themselves, but everything else fell silent.
    At the door, Garth groaned. “Oh, Rand.”
    Rand loved his brother. He really did. He knew that Garth had only his best interests at heart, but Garth didn’t—couldn’t—comprehend the despair and mortification that trapped Rand.
    No one understood, but Rand hated to humiliate Garth with such a breach of manners. In truth, he had humiliated himself. Yet he wouldn’t admit it. Not and see that woman simper. “Well, she is,” Rand snapped.
    “I’ve been called worse.” Apparently unperturbed, that woman donned her pelisse. “And by better men.”
    Did nothing rattle her?
    Jasper reached out and touched the footrest of the wheelchair, and when Rand did no more than glare, he nodded to the footmen. Silent, they carried Rand off the terrace, across the driveway, and onto the path that wound to the sea.
    “Just go that direction, miss.” Stiff with disapproval, Jasper pointed toward the patch of blue that shone beyond the trees. “’Tis a fairly good path, so ye’ll have little trouble, but don’t drop too far down toward the beach or ye’ll have a time hoisting Lord Rand back up.”
    She moved to her place at the back of the wheelchair. “Thank you, Jasper.”
    “You’ve charmed my brother, have you?” Rand asked sharply. “You’ll not charm me.”
    “I doubt the effort would be worth the results.” She shoved the chair forward with one violent push, then, despite her diminutive stature, kept it rolling along the track.
    Through the generations, the dukes of Clairmont and their families had ridden along this path, their horses wearing a rut through the smooth lawn and around bright, blooming peonies. The wheels of the chair bounced along, straddling the groove,