“Absolutely not. I don’t even like him.”
“Do you know how many times I thought about the conversation I’ve just had?” Tony grimaced. “I assumed I’d be having it with Blythe, or maybe some other gentleman you decided to adore next.”
Theo slid her eyes from him. “That’s rather unkind.”
“You used to have a great deal of common sense, Theodosia. It disappeared completely when you met Blythe. Or spotted him in the park.” He waved his hand. “It really doesn’t matter. Romy warned me after seeing the way you tossed yourself at him during Granby’s house party.”
Theo shrank back further into the squabs. “I’m not a dinner roll, Tony.”
“You’ve been compromised, Theodosia.”
“I realize that.” She smoothed down her skirts. “I—”
“Christ, you were hiding in the study, waiting for Blythe,hopingfor ruination. You were trying to compromise yourself with him. Well, it appears you got far more than you bargained for. Romy insisted you were unnaturally obsessed with Blythe. Swore that if I didn’t put a stop to it, you’d do something dreadful.”
Her mouth went dry. “That isn’t exactly—”
Tony pinched the bridge of his nose. “You must have overheard him making plans to meet Haven in the study tonight. Decided to pop out and instead of finding Blythe, you found Haven.”
Her face heated. What could she say in her own defense without mentioning that stupid miniature and making things worse?
“If you think I’ve been blind to your machinations, or too busy at Elysium with Leo gone, I assure you, I have not been. I just hoped I was wrong.” A deep sigh left him. “Phaedra has apprised me of the incident in the park.”
“I wasn’t conspiring to trap Blythe,” she said, knowing he’d never believe her. “And that day in the park, well, it was merely an accident. As tonight was.”
“You deliberately entangled yourself in Blythe’s kite string while half of London watched. Lifting your skirts before he even asked so he could unwind the string which had mysteriously wrapped itself around your ankle. Your pursuit of him at Granby’s house party was a study in brazen behavior. And it was only the beginning. You threw yourself at Blythe during Lady Cambourne’s ball without a shred of decorum or dignity. We all witnessed it.”
Shame etched itself across her chest. “Well, youwouldknow about immoral behavior,” she shot back, the fragile hold on her emotions finally snapping. Had she really behaved so poorly?
“As a matter of fact,” Tony’s voice raised, “Idoknow all about how to be improper. Do you know how many young ladies threw themselves at me in an attempt to be compromised?”
“Thousands, I’m sure,” Theo bit out.
“At least. I suppose we should consider it lucky you didn’t tumble over the sofa and break your neck in your determination this evening, given you won’t wear your spectacles.”
Dear God. Tony made Theo sound as if she were the most pathetic creature in all of England. And this was her brother’s opinion of her. What must everyone else think? She was so horrified, she couldn’t speak.
“Blythe—”
“Is a rake, Theo. He may reform one day, but it will not be for you.” Tony leaned close. “Had Blythe been serious about you in any way, he most certainly would have offered for you immediately once you were compromised, not given you over to his friend.”
Pain seared her heart, an echo of when she’d seen Blythe flirting with Lady Meredith and Miss Cummings. She’d only thought if she was different enough. Bold enough.
“Now, I will have the pleasure,” Tony emphasized, words laced with more than a hint of sarcasm, “of having the Marquess of Haven in the family. A gentleman who was fortunate enough tonotbe Blythe. The recipient of a fat dowry which inexplicably dropped right into his lap. No wonder he didn’t push you out the door the moment he saw you. The only person happier is Lady Blythe.” He shot her a sideways glance. “There isn’t a gentleman in all of London more desperate than Haven.”
How incredibly hurtful. Even if it was true.
“I grew alarmed each time Haven came to call on Romy in Granby’s stead,” Tony said. “Your mother was convinced he’d steal an expensive vase by sticking it under his coat. After he ate the entire contents of our larder, of course. He’s like a mongrel begging at the kitchen door for scraps.”
“It was an accident,” Theo whispered.
“Yes. It appears it was. Blythe assures me he asked Haven to come to the study to discuss a possible courtship of Miss Emerson and was caught in the midst of your scheme to compromise yourself with Blythe.”
Theo swallowed. “You can send me away. I could meet Romy in Italy.”
“Granby would send you back. And don’t even ask to go to Leo in New York. Or to the country to wait things out. Lady Blythe has promised discretion over tonight’s events given that Haven will do the right thing, but she’s never liked us Barringtons overmuch. We will try to contain the gossip. Hopefully, it will dissipate after you’re wed.”
“You promised I would never be forced to marry. Youpromised,” Theo implored. “And marrying Haven is very much against my will.”
