Another surprised laugh left him. “No, I have not killed any men since then.”
Ought she congratulate him on his forbearance? That didn’t quite seem right, but then, neither did suggesting that his lack of recent murderous tendencies made him an upstanding member of society.
In truth, the frisson of danger that accompanied him intrigued her.
The music ended and the gong rang for the evening’s supper. Sir Montague offered her his arm, which she would have taken if it were not for the cold voice behind her.
“Duchess,” Nathanial said. His eyes glittered with an emotion she couldn’t place. “I believe the honour is mine.”
“Nathanial.” Blushing, confused by both his expression and the commanding note in his voice, Theo accepted his arm. “I believe you are already acquainted with your cousin, Sir Montague.”
Excellent work stating the obvious.
She blushed, wishing her shame did not creep so high up her neck to her cheeks. Nathanial glanced at her, taking in her blush, before returning his gaze to Sir Montague. “I am,” Nathanial said curtly.
Sir Montague bowed, his gaze never leaving Nathanial’s face. “And so we meet again, cousin.”
Nathanial inclined his head and glanced down at Theo. “Shall we go in, my love?”
He only called her ‘my love’ when he was pretending they were affectionately married, but for the strangest reason, she didn’twantto pretend in front of Sir Montague.
“Really, Nathanial,” she scolded under her breath as they entered the dining room. “When I said you should play the jealous husband, this wasnotwhat I meant.”
“What better time than when you were flirting so brazenlywith another man?”
There was a hard note in his voice that compelled her to snap, “I was not flirting so very much. Certainly no more than with any other gentleman.”
“I would beg to disagree. And so, I would surmise, would the entire ballroom.”
So this was to be their first argument, and over a man she had met but once and very briefly. In a place, moreover, where anyone could see them. Theo’s stomach roiled and she felt too hot. Her smile slipped. “This conversation should not take place here,” she said.
“Then you shall be certain I shall address it at home.”
Home.That cavernous place in which she now lived, its halls filled with servants waiting for her command. It felt no more like home than this ballroom, where instead of a mistress, she was a glittering ornament.
To her relief, Nathanial appeared to relax as he greeted a mutual acquaintance. She allowed him to lead her to her seat and the rest of the night passed in a blur. Nathanial played the role of young husband with his customary careless charm, and if Theo noticed the fury in his eyes that surfaced whenever he glanced at Sir Montague, no one else appeared to.
He did not leave her side for the remainder of the evening.
Chapter Seven
By the time they arrived home in the early hours of the morning, Theo had a headache and little inclination to confront Nathanial. Judging by his silence and his frown like a gathering storm, he did not share her inhibitions.
“That will be all,” he said to the butler as they walked into the house. “The Duchess will ring for her maid when she retires.”
“Very good, sir.”
Theo’s head throbbed. “Really, Nathanial,” she said as she followed him into the drawing room. “You’re being ridiculous.”
He stopped in the centre of the room and swung around to face her. “When I said we could come to an arrangement, I did not mean that you could flirt with my cousin in front of the entire ballroom.”
“I was flirting no more than any other young lady there.”
“Any other young lady,” he said grimly, “isnot married to me.”
“You are being ridiculous!” The words left her mouth too fast, but she could not bring herself to regret them. “What is it about Sir Montague that you dislike? For you know it is not myflirting, or you would have approached me far earlier.” Angry tears sparkled at the corners of her eyes, and she brushed them aside impatiently. “You told me we would not change our lifestyles when we were married.”
“And yet I accompanied you to Almack’s.”
