She looked up, meeting his eyes, shoving down fear. “It’s not your place to decide these things, Wilson,” she said as if he hadn’t spoken, her voice surprisingly calm given that her stomach was in knots.
“Not my place?” he echoed, his voice rising, warning Kay she was going too far, but she knew she could not stand down, or this would happen again. And again.
The more things change…
“It’s not for you to choose my gowns, my schedule, or my friends,” she said evenly. “I will decide these things for myself, and you will just have to trust me.”
She turned to go, but suddenly, Wilson’s hand snaked out, grabbing her by the wrist to stop her.
“Don’t turn your back on me,” he said, swinging her around,tightening his grip when she tried to pull free. “Don’t ever turn your back on me.”
She was given no chance to reply.
“Let her go.”
“You,” Wilson muttered, keeping Kay’s wrist locked in his grip. “I should have known you’d be sneaking about, looking to make trouble.”
“I do adore trouble, I confess,” Devlin answered, but though his voice was light and careless, Kay knew there was danger beneath it. “Let her go, or you’ll have more of it than you can handle.”
“Devlin,” Kay began, striving to resolve the situation before it could get out of hand, but Wilson forestalled any attempt to make peace.
“This is none of your business, Sharpe,” he said, looking past Kay’s shoulder to give Devlin a hard stare that most men would have wilted under. “My fiancée and I were having a private conversation. Get out of here.”
Devlin merely laughed. “No, I don’t believe I will. I don’t leave women to be manhandled by other men.”
“I’m quite all right, Devlin,” she said. “There’s no need—”
“The one who needs to leave, Mr. Rycroft,” Devlin cut her off mid-sentence, “is you. I suggest you let go of Kay and return to the party of your own accord. Otherwise, I shall have to make you do so.”
“Threats of violence aren’t surprising from a cad like you, I suppose.”
“Not in the least,” Devlin agreed. “I’m an absolute savage. Don’t make me prove it.”
Much to Kay’s relief, Wilson’s hands fell to his sides. “Come with me, Kay. We’ll finish this conversation inside. In private.”
He took a step toward the door, but when he noticed she was not following him, he stopped.
“Kay?” he said and held out his hand. “Come along.”
She stared at his outstretched hand for a moment, then she looked up, met the cold anger in his eyes, and decided further argument tonight was something neither of them would want.
Slowly, she shook her head. “I think it’s best if we resume our discussion on this topic another day, Wilson. We’re both angry just now. It’s only a few weeks until the wedding,” she added, her voice as reasonable and conciliatory as she could make it, “and I should hate for either of us to say anything foolish in the heat of the moment, things that we might regret later. Best to give each other a bit of time to cool our tempers and regain our composure.”
His jaw jutted forward, but to her relief, he didn’t argue the matter. “Very well. But this is not over, Kay. We will discuss this again. Without an audience.”
If his expression was anything to go by, that discussion would not be any more pleasant than this stupid argument had been, but she didn’t say so. Instead, she nodded. “Of course.”
Wilson bowed, and without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away.
“It seems my arrival was timely,” Devlin murmured, watching the other man enter the house.
“I’m not so sure,” she said, rubbing her sore wrist as she watched Wilson cross the terrace and reenter the house. “Your arrival has probably made everything worse. Wilson was right. I should neverhave come to this house party. What brought you out here anyway? I thought you were playing bridge.”
“So I am. I’m dummy for this rubber, so I came out for some air. It’s a good thing I did, too,” he added, his gaze falling to her hands. “Are you all right?”
At once, Kay jerked her hands down. “Of course I’m all right,” she said lightly. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
He said nothing. He merely looked at her, something almost sad in his face, and Kay stiffened, looking away. She didn’t need his pity. “Thank you for your concern,” she said, working to keep her voice even, “but I’m perfectly all right.”
