“Why?” He stared at her with a stoic expression. “Do you wish to marry me?”
The blunt question took her off guard. Afraid she might spill her soul to him, she made a feeble attempt at humor. “Not if you’re going to make light of our intimacies every time they happen.”
“Answer the question, and not with a jest.”
“It’s just that—”
“If you’re seeking to explain it, I know the answer.” He started to turn away.
“Now see here, Major Grumbler. Why don’tyouanswer the question? Do you wish to marryme?”
“I’m not marrying a woman who would use her feminine wiles as a way to get around me. To get what she wants.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I know better than to think you actually desire me.” He scowled at her. “You merely want to wrap me around your finger so you can do as you please while we’re in London—not let me know where you’re going, not allow me to accompany you, head off on walks and rides without any escort but a groom.”
She gaped at him. “That’s what you think of me? That I’m the worst sort of flirt, the worst sort ofwoman, who would manipulate a man by using my ‘feminine wiles’ to get my way? No wonder you have no wish to marry me, if that’s how you see me. And that’s precisely why I have no wish to marry a suspicious fellow likeyou, Joshua Wolfe!”
Stalking away from him, she headed for her horse. The man was impossible, unbelievable! She refused to put up with him and his groundless suspicions. Only think what he would say if he knewwhyshe hesitated!
“Damn it, Gwyn!” he growled, scooping up his cane so he could hurry after her. “Hold up, for God’s sake!”
Thank heavens she could mount without him. As soon as she was in the saddle, she rode off, leaving him to his own devices.
Cursing a blue streak behind her, he apparently managed to mount his own horse using the horse block, for he galloped after her. By the time he caught up to her, he was clearly livid. “You can’t go running off like that. Malet might even now be watching us.”
“I don’t think Mr. Malet is the problem at present,” she said in icy tones. “I rather think it’s your warped ideas about women—how they behave, how theyshouldbehave.”
“It has nothing to do with behavior,” he ground out. “You’re the daughter of a wealthy duke and the sister of another such. I am but a retired soldier on half-pay, and a damaged one at that. Logic dictates that you can’t help but be aware of that difference.”
“So now you think it’slogicalto assume I’m toying with your affections? Is that it? Or is it that you simply don’t like the idea of a woman like me having a say in such things as her own desires?”
Not that his ideas were any different from everyone else’s. Even Thorn would despise her if he knew everything that had happened years ago with Lionel.
When Joshua remained silent, proving he was like the rest of them, she stiffened and cantered ahead. This time he let her.
She rode in a fury, fighting to hold back tears. How dare he rouse her . . . desires and then accuseherof toying withhim! He was the one doing the toying. Just like Lionel, he wanted to have his cake and eat it, too. Men!
As they neared the tavern where he’d sent the groom, he rode up beside her once more. “We have to stop here. We dare not return to Armitage House without your groom.”
That was true. It would raise questions neither of them wanted to answer. “Fine,” she said and reined in.
But when she remained in the saddle as he dismounted and tied off his horse, he came around to the side of hers. “We both go in or neither of us do. And I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand here for the remainder of the day.”
Letting out a heavy breath, she dismounted as well, then strode into the tavern, leaving him to limp after her. But before she could so much as look for the groom, the youth came running up to them.
“Thank the good Lord you’ve come, milady,” he said. “Almost went after you, but I figured I best not lead the gentleman to you. So I just been sittin’ here biding me time, hopin’ you came soon.”
Joshua instantly went on the alert. She could see it in the stiffening of his spine, the way he gripped his cane, the hard glance he cast her way. “What gentleman?” he asked the groom.
“Didn’t give his name, though one of the maids called him ‘Cap’n.’ He said he was a friend of milady’s. Used her name properlike and everything.”
It had to be Lionel, blast it. A pox upon the man! She would never get his money to him if he didn’t stop putting Joshua on his guard.
“I don’t know how he got this far.” Joshua rubbed his chin. “He definitely didn’t follow us out here.”
“Told me he got your direction from the butler, he did, but I knew better’n that,” the groom said. “Our butler don’t tell nobody nothin’ unless he knows ’em.”
