“Fine.” His eyes smoldered at her. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Fine.”
They stewed on. She regretted bitterly that she’d given him the option to choose silence. But just because he’d chosen to hide behind walls didn’t mean thatshehad to.
“I am glad that the doctor said that Tim will make a quick recovery,” she said in as calm a voice as she could manage. “Maisie’s ever so relieved. Her brother’s a brave lad for standing up to those villains and protecting the younger larks.”
Sinjin stared fixedly at the corner of the carriage, his arms crossed, a booted ankle resting on one knee. His dark energy filled the carriage, yet his lips remained firmly sealed.
Her frustration building, she tried again. “You and Mr. Hunt were heroes as well. From what I understand, Mrs. Hunt is going to try to convince the mudlarks to come to the school, although Mr. Hunt says the boys are too feral to stay anywhere long.”
His response? Silence.
Her temper snapped. “Dash it all, Sinjin, Iknowthat you’re upset. You might as well stop sulking and talk about it.”
“Youknow howIfeel. Are you a mind reader, then?”
His scathing reply churned her stomach.He’s too close to the truth…
“N-no, of course not,” she stammered. “What I meant was… I can, um, sense the tension between us. Why can’t we just talk about it?”
“What sweet nothings did you share with that prat?”
She blinked in confusion. “What prat? What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play stupid. It doesn’t suit you, my clear-eyed goddess.” He sneered—actuallysneered—at her. “You and Theodore made a cozy pair. What were you two whispering about that you didn’t want me to hear?”
“You cannot be serious.” She stared at him, dumbfounded.
Whowasthis man sitting across from her? Because he surely wasn’t the sensual, affectionate husband she knew. In fact, he evenlookeddifferent: his pupils edged out the blue in his eyes, toxic energy rushing like ink into his blue glow, creating an ominous and murky state.
“As death, my love,” this stranger ground out. “So tell me: was it a tryst you were planning?”
“I was inviting yourbrotherto come spend time withyou,” she exploded. “He longs to be closer to you, the only sibling he has left. He’s not like your stepmama.”
“And you say you can’t read minds,” he mocked.
Fear warred with anger. Should she keep pushing ahead? She was flirting with disaster.Don’t take any unnecessary risks. Don’t expose yourself further.At the same time, she couldn’t allow his utterly unreasonable behavior to go on.
She drew an unsteady breath. “Look, Sinjin, it has been a trying day. For both of us. Perhaps we should continue this discussion at another time—”
“I didn’t want to talk in the first place,” he thundered. “You’re the one who forced this conversation between us. You’re the one who’s violating the goddamned rules we set for our marriage!”
“I’m not the one acting like a blessed child!”
“Yes, you’re perfect, aren’t you? Perfect Polly.” With his jeering tone, he might as well have been calling herPeculiar Polly, and, indeed, that was what echoed furiously through her mind. “You always know what’s best.”
“Ineversaid that I knew best. What’s the matter with you? Why are you being so dashed unreasonable?”
“Maybe that’s just the way I am. Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think.”
“Well, I don’t like this you,” she shot back.
“Then maybe you shouldn’t have bloody married me,” he snarled.
The words hung in the air. Their gazes locked, chests surging in unison.
A knock cut into the charged silence like a blast of artillery.
