His Lady Mistress

Chapter NineMax stalked into breakfast on his birthday, thoroughly outof charity with the world. Apparently he had finally persuadedhis wife that their lives should be conducted separately.He hadn’t even seen her since their row in the garden.He should be feeling relieved, not worried about whether ornot she was eating properly.‘Happy birthday, Max,’ offered Richard.He smiled faintly. ‘You too, Ricky. Er...your presentwouldn’t fit in here. At least she would, but Henny sworethat she and the maids would resign in a body, so I left herin the stables.’‘Henny?’ asked Richard with a grin.Max chuckled. ‘No, Angelfire’s foal. She’ll be a beauty.Just up to your weight. Good breeding stock too.’Richard flushed. ‘Damn it, Max! You can’t give me thatfilly. With her bloodlines she could be a champion! AnotherMolly Longlegs. Choose an—’‘Oh, stubble it, Ricky!’ said Max. ‘She’s yours.’Richard subsided, still muttering about over generous idiots.Ignoring this, Max picked up one of the parcels besidehim on the table.He cast a guilty glance at the place set for Verity. It wouldremain empty. But the staff kept setting it for her. The empty