CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Bethcouldn’t swallow; her throat was so dry the effort made her cough. Leo was here!Stay calm, he knows nothing. She needed to get him out of here before the blackmailer came for the money.
“Is there so little to occupy you in your life that you must spend your days following me about London, Lord Vereton?”
“Actually, I was coming to visit you and saw you walking, so I decided to walk with you, but your step is swift and I did not catch you until now.”
“You are lying!” Beth decided her best defense was attack. “I insist you release me at once from this foolish betrothal, as I have no wish for you to continue to hound me day and night! My sympathies go to your future wife, for she will surely need them if this is how you behave during a fake betrothal.”
He simply smiled at her, flashing those white teeth.
“I do not have the time now for your silly games, my lord. Please step aside, as my maid waits for me outside.”
“No, I’m not going anywhere and neither are you until you give me an explanation for your odd behavior. The man in the street, the note last night, and now your brief visit to St. Mathew’s, which I happen to know is not your church.”
“You are quite mad, my lord, and I have no wish to spend a further minute in your company. Now move!”
“I think not, and if you have no wish to talk here, then we shall go to the park.”
“Admit you followed me,” Beth said, trying to throw him off-balance. The man was far too ready with his words, and rarely unsettled, which seemed unfair as that was her constant state at the moment, especially around him.
“Yes.”
He showed no remorse. Beth tried to free her arm, but he was not letting go.
“How dare you!” She went for outrage. She needed to get him outside quickly, and away from here. “You have no right to do so!”
“But we are betrothed, surely that gives me some rights,” he drawled.
Beth curled her fingers into a fist to keep herself from slapping him. No one could antagonize her like this man.
“You will hurt your hand more than my face, plus you are wearing gloves so the impact will be lessened.”
“Damn you! We are not betrothed, and I wish for you to end it at once!”
“No, and no amount of cursing on your part will change my mind.” The smile on his lips did not reach his dark eyes. Those were deadly serious.
Beth gave her arm a tug and managed to free it. She dodged around him and toward the door.
“Nice move, but you will not escape me.”
“Go away, Lord Vereton.”
“Why are you here, Beth?”
Her heart thudded faster.
“I told you why.”
“And you were lying, so let me tell you what I think. Of course it is just speculation, and yet I am very good at that. My instincts, so I am told, are second to none.”
“I doubt that, as you were taken in by Harriet Hyndmarsh, but then I have often found that men become addled by a pretty face.”
“She caught me at a weak moment.” The words came from over her left shoulder.
“Weak being the most important word in that sentence,” Beth said, taking the stairs with more haste than care. She started for the park with him now at her side. His stride was equal to two of hers, damn his long legs.
“Surely I am allowed one lapse.”
