“And run as soon as I leave you alone,” Joseph said, dismounting. He lifted her down. “Come.” He took her arm and led her inside, where he removed his outer clothing and then waited until she had done the same.
“We will eat and put on dry clothes. I will tell my brothers what I am about, and then we will leave.”
“Will you tell them about me?”
“Rory knows, so I will tell him. Charles will not wake until after we have gone, so I will leave it to Rory to tell him what he will.”
“I will wait here.”
“Stop being foolish. The game is up, now come along.” Joseph led her to the stairs.
“You think this was a game, Lord Ellsworth? The foolish carrying on of a silly woman? That I would leave everything I held dear behind in London just for fun?”
Warmth greeted them as they walked into his study, the fire crackling cheerfully in the grate.
“I don’t know why you did what you did,” he ground out, releasing her arm to face her. “I know there was danger, but nothing more. Tell me, so I will understand.”
She backed away from him. Suddenly the fire inside her had burned out, and she was once again contained. Joseph wanted to shake her... hard.
“I would like to wash, please.”
“Of course.” Joseph put his head outside the door and shouted for his butler.
“There is no need to roar at him because you are angry at me.”
“Don’t tell me how to speak to my staff!”
“Don’t be nasty, and I will not need to.”
He stormed back to her side.
“I don’t remember Lady Millicent giving a damn about the way I spoke to servants.”
“She did not give a damn about many things she should have.”
“My lord?”
Joseph dragged his eyes from Milly to speak to his butler.
“Bailey. Lady Millicent has need of a room to wash. Have a bath drawn and bring her a tray. We will also be leaving for London. Please prepare for my departure as soon as possible.”
“I will see to it at once, and return for Lady Millicent when everything is ready for her.”
Joseph handed her bag to Bailey and then shut the door behind him. Milly had moved to the fire, and his eyes fell on the ugly cap.
“Remove your disguise, if you please.”
“I don’t take orders from you, my lord.”
Before she could stop him, he had reached her side and removed it himself, hurling the offending cap into the fire.
“Good God!” Her hair was a dark muddy brown. It was hideous, and made her skin look sallow. “What the bloody hell have you done to your hair!”
“How dare you!” She looked at the flare of flame as the ugly cap burned. “You had no right to destroy my clothing.”
“It was hideous, as is the color of your hair!” Joseph wasn’t sure what had gotten into him, but his skin suddenly felt too tight, and his breathing was rapid.
“I’m sorry it does not please you, O great and noble lord!”
