“Tsk, tsk, such foul language.”
Only then did Warrick notice Lady Theodosia. He stifled another groan. Double the trouble.
He would not be able to escape his duty as a guard dog today. Damn it. Though he was not without fault in this. While he’d been tasked by Saville to protect Selena from fortune-hunters, he could have declined. At the time, guilt had driven him to agree. Guilt aside, Warrick had never been a man to walk away from the consequences of his actions.
Selena’s grin widened. Never a good sign. “By your tone, brother, am I to assume you do not approve of this fresh style of fashion? Theo and I are quite enjoying this craze.”
“What fashion craze? This is a mutiny.”
Agreed.
Lady Theodosia directed a sidelong glance at Saville. “Are you certain you are using the word mutiny correctly?”
Saville’s eyes took on a glint of steel. An equally foreboding sign. “I see both of you are determined to get a rise out of me this morning.”
Warrick rubbed his temples.Here we go.
“As we should,” Selena said.
I should add a dash of brandy to the brew.
Saville pointed a finger at the trousers the women were boasting about. “What is the meaning of dressing like this? If it’s to annoy me, congratulations, you succeeded.”
“This might come as a shock to you, brother, but not everything is about annoying you. It just so happens that we are joining the parade.”
Warrick’s ears twitched.
“Parade? What parade?” Saville demanded. “I have no knowledge of any parade.”
Ah. So that’s what the buzz is about.
“The one outside your house.” Theodosia tilted her head to the side. “Care to join us?”
“No, I do not.” Saville shook his head in emphasis, then suddenly stopped to clear his throat. “I mean, you are not setting foot outside this house.”
“I should like to see you stop us, brother.” Selena’s smile took on a different sharpness, and Warrick instantly recognized the honed devilry within that slight arch of lips. “If you dare.”
“Do not test me, Selena.”
“Test you? Brother, have you not been testing me ever since your betting book got stolen?”
Warrick emptied his cup of coffee and began sweeping the cabinets for alcohol.
“I’ve been protecting you ever since you and your friends released copies of that damn book and caused scandal after scandal.”
“Well, I shall not point out who is to blame for that, since you already know.”
“What do you imagine this rebellion of yours will prove?”
“Good question, brother. I shall let you know once I have the answer to that as well.”
Damn it. No alcohol.
“If not to aimlessly annoy me, then your true purpose must be to drive me to Bedlam.”
“You give me too much credit, brother. However, since the wagers became public, the world of women has changed. This is a journey of self-discovery.”
“The world of women?”
