“Why?” Selena asked. “He couldn’t have gone far.”
“I arrived with a Bow Street Runner.” He pointed to the man he’d arrived with, currently inspected the overhead sword. “Do you imagine they will risk being exposed now? A damn alehouse of all places...”
He was right. Anyone who valued their secrecy would be long gone by now. However, “Why are you here with a Bow Street Runner?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Does it have to do with why your face is beaten to a pulp?”
He sighed, glancing to Leonora and back. “I suppose I ought to warn you, your brother knows we kissed.”
“What?How?”
He looked away. “You should ask him about his intuition and sharp eye. But I didn’t deny it when he accused me.”
Selena bristled. “Are you mad? Why wouldn’t you deny it? Who admits to such things?” She could not believe this.
“Unfortunately, your brother knows my tells.” His eyes, filled with some unreadable emotion, lifted to hers. “He demanded we marry.”
Selena couldn’t contain the shock jolted through her body.Marry?“That is why you should have denied it even if he didn’t believe you!”
“Damn it. I refused, all right?”
“Yourefused?”
Confusion marred his brow. “Shouldn’t I have?”
“Of course you should have!” She pinched the bridge of her nose, drawing in a deep breath. “It’s just my brother...”
“Was furious, yes.” He stepped closer and said in a lowered voice, “I can handle Saville. No need to worry that you will be leg shackled to me.”
“That’s not what I am worried about!”
“It’s . . . not?”
Selena froze.It’s not?Wait. Did that sound like she wouldn’t mind if he hadn’t refused? She shook her head. “I mean, that isexactlywhat I am worried about!”
A snort. “Like I said, there’s no need to worry.”
Selena bit down on her lip. “Whether you can handle him or not, Saville won’t just leave it at that. What aren’t you telling me?” She reached out to his bruised face, her hand hovering over the discoloring skin before she retracted her arm. “Does it hurt?”
“No,” he said softly.
“Liar.” Her brother had a nasty temper. “Out with it. What aren’t you telling me?” she asked again in a sterner voice.
His gaze shifted to the runner. Selena followed his gaze, not surprised to find the man standing guard at the door and her friend laughing at something he’d said. She hadn’t even noticed when Leonora had wandered off. Warrick glanced back at her, lowering his voice to whisper, “He challenged me to a duel at dawn.”
“That is madness,” Selena hissed back. “I won’t stand for a duel.” What if Warrick got hurt? Not that her brother was a crack shot, but the danger of a duel was all too real regardless. She couldn’t allow this to happen. Wouldn’t allow it.
“I can handle your brother,” he reassured.
“So you’ve said, but Saville is willing to openly point a pistol at you and fire, he’s that stubborn.”
Warrick suddenly smiled, catching Selena off guard. “A trait that runs in your family.”
“You should worry more about what runs in yours.”
He chuckled.
