He shuddered. “I never want that woman close to me again, as I have already told you, so you can stop whatever this foolishness is at once. Good Lord, do you really wish me to have a life with such a demanding woman?”
“Pffft.” Beth waved a hand at him. “How temperamental men are, when a few days ago you were distraught to see her again... so broken, I may add, that you grabbed the nearest woman, who unfortunately happened to be me, and declared our betrothal.”
She had him there.
“Yes, it was not one of my finer moments, however clarity soon returned, and I realized the woman was all you believed her to be.”
“How fickle you are, my lord. To carry her in your heart for six years, and suddenly you no longer care.”
Her chin was elevated and she was giving him a haughty glare, and he knew then exactly what she was about. Beth was attempting to throw him off the scent. She thought by bringing up Harriet, she could distract him from the church and his belief she was being blackmailed. How wrong she was.
“Well, I am not about to convince you here in the middle of the street, where anyone could chance upon us, my dear Miss Whitlow. However, I know where we can have some privacy.” Leo took her arm.
“Let me go. I have no wish for privacy with you!”
She tried to fight him, and stay where she was, but Leo simply started walking, so she was forced to go with him, or land on her face.
“I have a maid.”
“Congratulations.”
“Who is awaiting me!”
Leo looked behind him, and found the woman lurking.
“You may head home now, your mistress is safe with me.”
“Very well, my lord.” The maid bobbed a curtsey, sent him another look, then walked away.
“You have no right to dismiss my maid!”
Beth turned, no doubt to stop the maid from leaving, but Leo simply turned her back and clamped a hand over her mouth until the maid was out of reach.
“Wh-what are you doing?”
“Gagging you, and it is thoroughly effective. I shall have to remember the technique.”
Her mouth opened, and then closed again. Leo thought the silence would only be temporary.
“You cannot simply dismiss my maid, and... and abduct me.”
“Hardly that, and besides, I did not think you wished to discuss whatever that was back there in the church with her overhearing us.”
“There is nothing to discuss.”
“Au contraire,” he drawled.
They walked while she hissed vile threats at him, until he reached his favorite tea shop.
“In you go.”
“I don’t want to have tea with you!”
“Come now, you cannot speak to your true love in such a way,” Leo reached over her shoulder and opened the door. He then nudged her through, and again she had no option but to concede.
“Good day, my lord.”
He nodded to the proprietress.
