“Tease and run...” Harriet bit her lip in thought. “I shall have to try it.”
“Don’t take Theo’s bad advice, Harriet,” Selena said. “Your husband has long legs. Be sure you can outrun him before you start teasing.”
“And run far way,” Leonora supplied with a chuckle. To Selena, she said, “Perhaps these women are still observing you and everyone on the list.”
“Or,” Theodosia said slyly, “perhaps they are a bunch of old crones having fun.” She nudged Selena with her shoulder. “You’d have to wait a few years to qualify.”
Selena rolled her eyes. “It’s not always the destination that matters, rather than the journey there.”
“So long as you know what you want,” Theodosia said with a small smile.
“I wish I could be more like you in that regard.” Selena swallowed another sip, surveying the women bustling about the garden. “I shall figure out what I want along the way.”
“I, for one, can absolutely relate,” Leonora said. “The future is uncertain and all we can do is seize all moments as they come.”
“Didn’t you want a protective husband like Leeds a moment ago?” Theodosia arched a brow lined with amusement.
“Well, that’s but one character trait, and it’s optional. Then again, is it? Should it be mandatory? What other traits do I want in a man? I’msoindecisive.”
Selena laughed.
Unable to decide what she wanted—she could certainly relate to that. What did she hope to gain by finding or even joining this club? Was it that important? What traits did she want in a husband? Did she want to marry or not? If not, what happened to her then? If she did, what would happen to herthen?
All these questions clamored for answers. But what if she made the wrong choice when she did answer them, when she did choose her path?
What if she lost more than just her identity?
So many decisions . . .
*
Warrick watched asSaville peeked through the window of the carriage stationed outside Lady Theodosia’s house. He should never have been swayed by his friend, who had lured him out of the house on the pretense of visiting Tattersalls.
Crazy fool.
Instead, he found himself in the one place he did not want to be—once again following Selena Savage. These siblings really knew how to rile a man.
But enough was enough.
Yes, he had his portion of blame to share when it came down to that deuced heiress list, but that didn’t mean he had to pay for it with his sanity. It also didn’t mean he had to spend his entire life atoning for it. They had all made a mistake, but what was done was done.
The moment the betting book was stolen from White’s, the original record lost, there was no honorable way to fulfil the wagers. Even if the book was retrieved, he would not allow it to come back into play. Either White’s ripped those pages out, or he would bloody burn the book until there was nothing left but ashes.
That wasifthe book was ever found. Warrick had his doubts whether those heiresses would relinquish the thing.
Either way, he was finished. It was time to move on. Selena in his bedroom, Selena dragging him to a charlatan’s house, and Selena kissing—no,himkissing Selena had been the eye-opening jolt he sorely needed.
He stared at Saville peering out the window, shaking his head slowly. “After today, your sister is all yours.”
“What do you mean?” Saville asked offhandedly, craning his neck to peek down the street when a carriage passed them.
“I’m done with my role of protector to your sister.”
“Why?” Saville asked without giving up his view of the street. “We agreed. The women on the list need protecting.”
Warrick gave a rare snort, the kind he needed only around the Savages. “If those women need protection, I am the Pope. Whoever approaches them with ill intent, they are the ones in need of protection.”
“Have you forgotten what happened to Deerhurst’s wife?”
