His long-suffering sigh of annoyance buoyed her spirits to no end.
“Since when have I becomeTristanto you?” he growled.
“Since I saw your supine form covered in blood, you dunderhead.”
“Now you are simply being histrionic.”
“Stop being hurtful. If you had permitted the doctor to give you laudanum as he recommended, you wouldn’t be so peevish.”
“You know I hate laudanum.”
“Mmm, that is true. You hated it even as a boy.”
“Exactly, and now, you are attempting to coerce me into approving Penn-Leith’s absurd marriage proposal.”
“Is it working?”
He clenched his jaw in reply.
“Idointend to marry Ethan,” she said, casually . . . cheerfully, even. “I love him and he loves me and we will be blissfully happy together. And though we would appreciate your blessing, we do not require it. I would, however, ask you to not sabotage our plans.”
Tristan rolled his eyes. “How have my wishes regarding Penn-Leith been unclear to you, Lady Allegra? You are usually not quite so dense. I have been excessively consistent in my refusal of his suit and OW!!”
Her brother stared down at her finger where it had just poked his wounded shoulder.
“Merely a scrape, eh?” Allie cocked an eyebrow at him.
“That hurts!”
“Are you going to agree to my terms?”
Tristan looked up from his bandaged shoulder in confusion. “Terms?”
“The terms where you decide to love me again and accept Ethan Penn-Leith as your brother-in-law with open arms.”
“Lady Allegra, you need to relinquish—OW!!”
He caught her finger that time. “Stop that!”
“What? This?!” Allie poked his wound a third time with her unshackled hand.
Tristan grabbed her other hand, holding both of hers in one of his. “Dammit, that hurt, Allie!”
Allie.
The name resounded like a struck gong.
Finally!
He had called herAllie!
She couldn’t stop a bright flare of hope as her name reverberated . . .Allie, Allie, Allie . . .
Progress. She was making progress with her twin.
She twisted, trying to free her hands.
“Stop being so ill-tempered!” he grunted, holding her fast.
