Irritation continued to flare within her.She had not foreseen such a complication when she had accepted his help returning to Somerset.He was suggesting that his masculinity, his power, was the only thing that could combat Gordstone.
“I would prefer that you not intervene.”
He scoffed.“But I already have.You are here in my carriage, are you not?”
“I never asked for your help.”
“You have not asked for my help, but you have received it nonetheless.”
She gritted her teeth.He did not understand.Parkhorne washers.She did not need him meddling in her affairs there.She could handle Mr.Gordstone.
“Perhaps Lord Leith is correct,” Sally said, tentatively.“Mr.Gordstone will doubtlessly be intimidated by his rank.”
“No,” she said, letting more acid into her tone than she liked, but unable to bear the idea of being a helpless female beside Lord Leith the commanding peer.“I will deal with the man.If he does not respect me, he will never leave us alone.”
“Men of this nature, Beatrice, they only—”
“Yes, they only listen to other gentlemen.I am aware of your views.”
“That is not what I was going to say.I was going to say that they only listen to power.If I am right about him, he will only be checked by a man who has more influence and wealth than him.”
“I am more powerful than him,” she ground out, not at all certain what she meant.Gordstone was not particularly wealthy, but he was no doubt wealthier than her family at present.“Do not interfere.”
She met his eye.It was important to her that he understood.That he agreed.
“Please.”
He looked irritated.Annoyed.She anticipated the protest to come.
Instead, he took a breath and exhaled.
“I will let you lead.But if I detect any danger to you—or the others—I will not hold myself in check.Do not ask it of me.”
That, she supposed, was as much independence as the man was going to give her.
And she loathed the small part of herself that was relieved at his words.That took solace in his presence.That Gordstone would not be able to completely bully her family as long as he was at the hall.
“I, for one, am glad that you are with us, Lord Leith,” Sally said.“Gordstone is loathsome.And we need all the help we can get.”
Beatrice suppressed a childish impulse to give her sister a pinch.It seemed to her, even though she knew Sally did not mean it, supremely ungrateful of her to welcome aid from Lord Leith, when it was Beatrice who had taken care of everyone since her father’s death.
“I am glad you two agree,” she said instead, turning away from them and looking out the window.“Now, if you don’t mind, I am going to try and sleep.”
Blessedly, neither of them said another word.
At least she would be able to nurse her wounded pride in peace.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Their carriage reachedthe first inn long after nightfall.
Leith had recommended the place to Beatrice as a stopping point and he had been relieved when she hadn’t objected.
It had been one of the only things that shehadn’tobjected to since their departure from London.
The woman was clearly trying to avoid being indebted to him, most likely because she did not want to be under an enduring obligation to a man with whom she only desired a temporary arrangement.
At least in the latter case, a bad alliance can come to an end.
