“I was here first.”
“I do not remember saying we were to regress into being children,” she spat, turning her back on him once again so she could try to fix the dress.
“You’re making it worse.” He rounded her quickly. “Come, let me.”
“What the –” Her words halted as he took hold of her shoulder again.
She tried not to think of the strong hand upon her. She should be terrified, shouldn’t she? This man made of darkness, this man as cold as stone, had his hand on her…
Yet she didn’t feel in any danger. He tore the dress once again, tutting at what he had done.
“It will have to do, though it is no fine job. This dress… how many times have you sewn up the holes in it?”
“I do not remember asking for your judgment on it.” She whirled around to face him again, suddenly realizing just how close they were standing. “Maybe we cannot all have perfect appearance all the time, the finest clothes,” she waved a hand at his pristine suit. “For some of us, life is a little different.”
“It’s going to break again.” He shook his head.
“What?”
“The dress.” He reached out and pulled on the sleeve. She had not been expecting his touch. Startled, she ended up stumbling forward and fell into him. Her hand rested on his chest, his other hand coming up to grip her hip to steady her, just as the sound of a door swinging open sounded.
Horrified, Margaret jerked her head around, in unison with the Duke of Thornfield.
They both stood there, as still as statues, as in the doorway Lady Sedgwick, the three gossiping ladies, and Evelina walked in.
“Have you really not had a tour yet? There is nothing to see beyond the library…” Evelina broke off as she stared at them. Lady Sedgwick smiled maliciously, like the cat that had stolen a bowl full of cream, and the three young ladies looked dramatically shocked throwing hands to their faces.
“Oh, my dears…” Lady Sedgwick’s proud grin became very toothy indeed. Her beady eyes looked between Margaret and the Duke of Thornfield, drinking in the sight of them. “What scandal this is!”
CHAPTER THREE
Theodore jumped back from Lady Margaret. His heart was thundering in his chest against his ribcage at the outrage of it all.
“Margaret!” Evelina cried, running forward.
In their tussle and falling against one another, Lady Margaret’s sleeve had become even worse. Her dress was now slipping down, revealing a corner of white stays.
Theodore could have growled under his breath, though he held it back. Lady Margaret was certainly very beautiful. The glimpse of her stays was not what he needed at this moment, He forced his gaze away with effort.
He tore off his tailcoat and threw it at Lady Margaret. She caught it in a kerfuffle, not raising her gaze to meet him as she pulled it on over her shoulders and hid her torn gown from view.
“Scandal, scandal!” Lady Sedgwick cried repeatedly, like a parrot that had learned no other words. “It cannot be kept secret.”
“Wait, Lady Sedgwick, please.” Evelina had whirled around and gripped the lady’s arm to stop her from running out of the room, but she was too late. Lady Sedgwick shrugged her arm out of her grasp.
“There is nothing that can be done, my dear Duchess. Oh, how can such a secret possibly be kept!”
It could be, if you just kept your mouth shut.
Yet Theodore saw no point in saying anything. He stood there, very still, his arms folded as he glowered at Lady Sedgwick and the three young ladies at her elbow. They all looked dutifully terrified and scurried out, as if his gaze had burned them.
My glare always has that effect.
Curiously, it had not had that effect on Lady Margaret. Though he wished it had. If she had left when he had asked her to, they wouldn’t be in this mess.
I could have left. Why didn’t I leave?
“Oh my God!” Evelina cried loudly, kicking the door shut behind her and leaning on it.
