Juliana rose. “Should I…?” She nodded at the door then towards his mother, her indecision showing.
“Come with me.” He hadn’t particularly wanted to introduce Juliana to his family, but he hoped that another woman, one of Juliana’s breeding and who was plainspoken, could convince his sister of her folly. Lord knew she didn’t listen to him.
He ignored the carriage that idled in front of his parents’ home. He strode down the street, knowing he was making Juliana trot to keep up but unable to slow his pace. Anger controlled his steps. How could his sister be so stupid? The man didn’t care for her. When Brogan had spoken to him before, he’d found that out only too easily.
But Sally thought she wasin love. Sentimental tripe. That’s all this was.
Juliana gasped as they reached the next corner, pressing her hand to her side. “Being with you does put me through my paces.”
“Sorry.” His voice was gruff, but he made a concerted effort to slow his feet. They crossed the street and turned at the next corner.
“How do you know where your sister is?”
He glanced at her from the side of his eye. “Unlike you, Sally makes no attempt to hide where she goes.” He stopped at a squat block of apartments. “She has been very open about the man she stupidly believes she will marry. She thought we would like him just as well as she does.”
Juliana clasped her hat as she tipped her head back to look where he did. “And you didn’t, I take it.”
“No,” he said grimly. “There’s nothing in that man to like.”
“There must be something.” She sniffed. “After all, your sister likes him. She cannot be completely without sense, not if she’s related to you.”
He grunted. His sister was eight years his junior. She’d grown up when he’d already started making some money in boxing. Her life had been easier, and perhaps she had been indulged too much.
He pushed open the building’s door. “Let’s get this over with. The man lives on the second floor.” He and Juliana climbed the sagging steps, and he pounded on the door.
The neighbor next door poked his head out, then scurried back inside his home at Brogan’s glare.
Juliana laughed. “You have picked the perfect profession. Intimidation comes easily to you. If a person didn’t know you better, he’d think you were capable of ripping their heads right off.”
He glanced down at her. Was it Juliana who didn’t know him better? Because at this moment he felt capable of tearing off some heads.
The door opened to his sister’s smiling face. “Brogan! You came. I was going to send a note as soon as the wedding date was set—”
He pushed open the door and brushed past her. His eyes immediately found the man responsible for this mess.
Charles Barbour sat at a small table, a cup of tea in front of him and an ironic expression raising one of his eyebrows. “A family visit. How nice.”
“Sally, this is Lady Juliana.” Brogan cleared his throat. “A friend. Go downstairs with her and wait for me.”
Sally protested. “This is my home now.”
Brogan eyed the stack of dirty dishes in the sink. The clothing piled on a chair. This was nobody’s home. This was a hovel not fit for his sister. The arsehole only wanted a mistress to tidy for him. And warm his bed.
“I’m going to speak with your intended,” he told his sister. “If the man still wishes to marry you when we’re done, I’ll leave you be and object to the match no more.”
She crossed her arms. “Of all the nerve. Of course, he’ll still want me.”
Brogan nodded to the door. “Then you have nothing to worry about.”
Juliana, for once silent, opened the apartment’s door and gave his sister a reassuring smile.
“Give me just five minutes,” Brogan asked his sister.
She narrowed her eyes. Glancing between Brogan and Juliana, she shifted her weight. With a nod, she finally relented. Brogan thought it was more curiosity about Juliana than his persuasive talents that got her out of the apartments.
He waited until the door was shut and their footsteps had faded.
“So, you’ve come to collect your sister again.” Barbour smirked. “When are you going to learn she has her own mind? She’s a determined lass. You can’t stop her from taking what she wants.”
