“Look, Samantha, what I said may have come out wrong—”
“Which time?”
“What do you mean which time?” He sounded testy now.
“You are constantly saying things to me wrong. Constantly rebuking, teasing and haranguing me. I don’t want to listen to you anymore.”
“I don’t harangue you.”
“Do you know what, I no longer care. From now on, just keep your opinions to yourself. I have more than enough people in my life willing to offer me advice. I no longer wish to solicit yours.”
Before he could stop her, she’d walked around him and back to their families.
“That went well,” he muttered, following. But then perhaps her wanting him to stay away from her was a good thing because it meant he didn’t have to be near her. He could keep his distance and be polite when they saw each other.
His eyes ran down the line of her back, and he felt that spike of heat.
He was fooling himself.
“What is going on?” Wolf said when he returned to his family.
“Nothing.”
“You and Samantha have been like bristling cats since you returned. Why?”
“Wonderful. The show has finished. Ready to go, Jaccob?” Warwick took the child back and made for the door, ignoring his cousin’s question.
They all piled into carriages, and this time, he found himself wedged between Rose and Maddie, with Harry, Daisy, and Fleur across from them. At least he wasn’t with his siblings or Wolf for that matter.
“Well now, that was wonderful, don’t you think, girls?” Harry said. “Did you enjoy it, Jaccob?”
Happy messing with Warwick’s necktie, the boy ignored his father.
“Is Samantha all right, Warwick?”
“Why wouldn’t she be?” He looked at Rose, eyes narrowed. If they started in on him, he was stopping the carriage and walking.
“I’m not sure, but she seems preoccupied since her return.”
Harry and Maddie were watching him.
“Ask her what’s bothering her then, as I have no clue.”
“James said she was awake coughing last night again,” Maddie said. “But she refuses to speak to Essie about it.”
“What? Why not? For pity’s sake, she has been unwell. Make her talk to Essie. You are her siblings,” he snapped.
Harry smiled gently, which had the hair on the back of his neck standing. Harry never smiled like that at him.
“Perhaps you could talk to her,” Rose said.
He narrowed his eyes.
“When has she ever listened to me?”
“Well, you did save her—”
“She is not my Raven,” he said, forcing a laugh out of his mouth. “I saved her because she is family, and there is no more to it than that.”
