“Why did you decide we would suit?” she repeated, her voice pointed and undeniable.
But of course that would be how she would ask it. There was nothing subtle or deniable about Eloise Bridgerton. She would never skirt around an issue when she could just walk right in and stick her nose directly into the heart of the matter.
“I ... ah ...” He coughed, cleared his throat.
“You don’t know,” she stated, sounding disappointed.
“Of course I know,” he protested. No man liked to be told he didn’t know his own mind.
“No, you don’t. If you did, you wouldn’t be sitting there choking on air.”
“Good God, woman, do you have a charitable bone in your body? A man needs time to formulate an answer.”
“Ah,” came Colin Bridgerton’s ever-genial voice. “Here’s the happy couple.”
Phillip had never been so glad to see another human being in all his life. “Good morning,” he said to the two Bridgerton men, inordinately pleased to have escaped Eloise’s interrogation.
“Hungry?” Colin inquired as he sat in the chair next to Phillip. “I took the liberty of having the kitchen prepare breakfast alfresco.”
Phillip looked over at the footman and wondered if he ought to offer to help. The poor man looked nearly ready to collapse under the weight of the food.
“How are you this morning?” Anthony asked as he sat down on the cushioned bench next to Eloise.
“Fine,” she replied.
“Hungry?”
“No.”
“Cheerful?”
“Not for you.”
Anthony turned to Phillip. “She’s usually more conversational.”
Phillip wondered if Eloise would hit him. It wouldn’t be more than he deserved.
The tray of food came down on the table with a loud clatter, followed by the footman’s abject apology for being so clumsy, followed by Anthony’s assurance that it was no trouble at all, that Hercules himself could not carry enough food to suit Colin.
The two Bridgerton brothers served themselves, then Anthony turned to Eloise and Phillip and said, “The two of you certainly seem well suited this morning.”
Eloise looked at him with open hostility. “When did you reach that conclusion?”
“It only took a moment,” he said with a shrug. He looked at Phillip. “It was the bickering, actually. All the best couples do it.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Phillip murmured.
“My wife and I often have similar conversations before she comes around to my way of thinking,” Anthony said affably.
Eloise shot him a peevish expression.
“Of course, my wife might offer a different interpretation,” he added with a shrug. “Iallowher to think that I’m coming ’round to her way of thinking.” He turned back to Phillip and smiled. “It’s easier that way.”
Phillip stole a glance at Eloise. She appeared to be working very hard to hold her tongue.
“When did you arrive?” Anthony asked him.
“Just a few minutes ago,” he replied.
