Her heart skipped a beat. “Absolutely not.” If Thorn was constantly about, she’d never be able to pay Mr. Malet his money. She rose to face down her brother. “I can’t have you hovering over me during the entirety of my debut. Not only will it frighten off all my suitors, but you don’t even like marriage marts, so you’ll be bored, which always makes you annoying. I prefer more pleasant company when I attend balls, thank you very much.”
He opened his mouth, then thought better of whatever he meant to say. Instead, he released a heavy sigh. “What am I to do with you,Liebchen?”
The familiar endearment didn’t dissuade her from her purpose. “Be my brother, not my father,” she said softly. “I already have a nosy mother; that’s parent enough for me. I’m thirty, for pity’s sake. Don’t you think it’s about time you stopped hanging about me like a matron acting as my chaperone?”
Though he stiffened at the insulting comparison, he said, “I only wish Icouldstop, believe me.”
“Perhaps if you trusted me for a change—”
“I do trust you. It’s all the fortune-hunting arses in society I don’t trust. Like Malet. And speaking of him, did Wolfe overhear enough of your conversation to realize that you were once nearly engaged to the bastard?”
“I don’t think so. The major wasn’t close enough to us for that.”
Thorn released a breath. “Thank God. It wouldn’t do for people in society to learn that you were once involved with Malet. The gossip about his being cashiered—and why—has already filtered out to those in the highest ranks of society, and he is persona non grata there. So people might make unfounded speculations about you if it becomes known that you almost married the scoundrel ten years ago.”
She blinked at Thorn. “Being cashiered? I know nothing of that. What happened?”
A shadow crossed her twin’s face. “Ask Heywood and Cass if you want the whole story. Suffice it to say, Malet isn’t in any way an acceptable suitor for young women.”
“As I recall, you made sure I figured that out on my own,” she said tersely.
At least her brother had the good grace to look guilty. “Still angry with me over that, are you?”
“Don’t be absurd. You saved me from a dire fate—being married to Captain . . . Mr. Malet.”Never mind that you nearly destroyed my future in the process.“It’s all water under the bridge.”
“Liar,” her twin said softly. When she didn’t repeat her claim, he sighed. “In any case, we should keep your past association with Malet a secret from Wolfe. We’ll just let him continue to assume that Malet was trying to abduct you today because of his conflict with Heywood. Don’t you agree?”
“Of course.” The very idea of Major Wolfe knowing what a fool she’d been in her youth put a knot in her stomach, though she wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t as if she would see much of the former officer from now on. Her family was leaving for London in a few days, and he would be stuck here.
“I’m glad you concur,” Thorn went on. “I honestly don’t think Wolfe is the gossiping sort, but the less said about the matter to anyone, the better.”
“Most assuredly.”
When her twin walked over to the door and opened it, she belatedly remembered that Major Wolfe was awaiting them outside. But why? Did Thorn mean to offer him a reward for rescuing her today?
She hoped not. The major was as proud as a lion—and twice as snarly. He wouldn’t take that well.
“Come in, sir,” Thorn said. “I have a proposition to put to you.”
Oh no. That didn’t sound good.
Judging from Major Wolfe’s wary expression as he entered, he agreed with her. “What sort of proposition?” he asked, shooting her a questioning glance.
She gave a helpless shrug. She had no idea what her brother was cooking up.
“As you may know,” Thorn said, “the entire family will be decamping to London in a few days. We leave the day after Easter.”
“I’m aware,” the major said, crossing his arms over his chest.
“When we do, I would like you to join us.”
“I daresay there’s not much call for a gamekeeper in your London town house,” Major Wolfe said suspiciously.
“True, but I don’t need you for that. I need you to be Gwyn’s bodyguard.”
Chapter Three
Bloody hell. Nowthatwas unexpected.
