Roman raised one black eyebrow. “Only if you need a man there to tell you how to perform them, Hamm.”
At the blatant insult, Hammond slapped his gloves across Roman’s cheek.
Roman didn’t flinch.
“Have you nothing to say about the fact that I slapped you, sir?” Hammond asked incredulously.
Roman sent a dangerous smile into Hammond’s eyes. “Ouch.”
“Sir, by slapping your cheek with my glove, I have issued a challenge to you,” Hammond explained, his irritation growing to anger.
Roman laughed. “You challenge men with gloves in England? What do you sissies do when the fight comes? Throw socks at each other?”
Hammond knew a fury that transcended all thought of civil behavior. Instantly, he reached inside his coat.
But before he had time to even touch the metal of his pistol, Roman whipped out his Colt, cocked it, and aimed it at Hammond’s chest.
Hammond paled with fear.
Roman decided the man looked as if he’d dipped his face into hot white wax and let it harden there. “If you can’t bed a woman any better than you can pull a gun, Hamm, then I think it’d be a damned good idea for me to be there while you attempt to get Theodosia with child. I could sit across the room and call out step-by-step instructions.”
Hammond had no chance to form a reply. From inside the room, Theodosia was trying to open the door. “Roman, are you out there? The door won’t open.”
Hammond took the knob but failed to turn it. “It seems to be jammed, my dear. Give me a moment, and I will bring the manager.”
Roman moved Hammond’s hand away and forced the doorknob to turn.
As soon as the door opened, Theodosia saw Roman’s heavy revolver in hand and understood that the two men had had words.
“This savage drew his gun on me,” Hammond announced.
Theodosia waited for Roman to elaborate.
He only met her gaze.
She read the truth in his brilliant blue eyes.
Watching their silent exchange, Hammond was reminded anew of their simmering attraction to each other. As he had last night, he tried to convince himself that their emotions didn’t matter, thathewas the man who would bed Theodosia.
But his injured pride demanded reprisal, and after a moment of thought, he knew precisely how he could gain such satisfaction.
He threw back his bony shoulders. “Theodosia, I simply cannot endure this man’s presence. His thunderous expressions, dripping sarcasm, and fondness for violence have taken their toll on me. Indeed, my sensibilities have been tormented to such an extent that I must reconsider accepting your proposition.”
Theodosia laid her hand on his arm. “Hammond, surely you do not mean to—”
“Yes, my dear, I do. I am afraid that I will be unable to assist you in the fulfillment of your goals. I understand your unwavering desire to present your beloved sister with the child she has been unable to have, and I do apologize for having caused this inconvenience. I shall, however, stand firm in my decision. Good day to you both.”
Roman watched the nobleman march down the corridor, then turned back to Theodosia. He saw bewilderment in her beautiful eyes, and shock, and panic.
He saw defeat, and he understood that as she watched Hammond vanish down the hall, she was watching her goal disappear as well.
Something happened inside him at that moment. He couldn’t name it, but it made him resolve to prevent Theodosia from losing what she’d worked so hard to attain.
He leaned against the wall again and folded his arms across his chest. “Well, you win some, and you lose some.”
Slowly, Theodosia moved her gaze from Hammond’s back to Roman’s face. “I beg your pardon?”
“You lost, Theodosia. Failed with your plans. You aren’t going to get a kid for your sister. It’s just as well, though. It was a dumb idea in the first place, and it got even dumber when you picked that aristocratic ass.”
