His brow wrinkled. “In what?”
She blushed a little at his entirely lost tone. “Boxing, silly. It seems a fascinating thing.”
His jaw set a little. “It’s a violent thing, Marianne. Not fit for a lady.”
“Is it not?” she pressed. “I thought I had heard told of female boxing clubs in the city.”
“There are those women who partake,” he said slowly. “But they aren’t…they aren’t like you Marianne.”
Now she drew back. After his earlier snide comment, she wasn’t sure of his tone now. “What does that mean?”
He let out his breath in a long, put-upon sigh. “I’ve been going to my boxing club for years without you paying any mind to it. So why is this coming up now?”
That was an excellent question and one she had no intention of answering truthfully. So she had to invent a lie that would make sense. “I…I only thought that perhaps I need to know how to protect myself.”
“From what?” he asked with a shake of his head. “Forgive me, but you aren’t exactly running around London.”
She folded her arms as her ire at his dismissiveness began to rise. “You think I couldn’t. Or that no one would ever think of me beyond a boring spinster who wouldn’t be worth troubling?”
As she said it, the words hit her and she felt like a balloon that had been deflated. It must have reflected on her face, for Finn reached across the carriage and touched her gloved hand briefly. “You aren’t that.”
She blinked at the sting of tears. “Of course I am,” she said softly. “I’m sorry. I was just being silly asking you such things.”
Finn opened his mouth like he wanted to say more, but the carriage slowed to a stop then and the doors were opened by the Nettlebaum staff. Marianne exited the vehicle first and Finn followed. He guided her to the door and through the greetings of their hosts, but he seemed distracted as he did. And once they entered the large parlor where the tea would be held, he gave her a small bow. “Forgive me, Marianne, I must excuse myself.”
He left her without waiting for her response and she stood staring after him, certain of her own reactions in the carriage, but confused about his. It seemed they each had their own secrets.
“Marianne.”
She jumped at the sound of Sebastian’s voice coming from just at her elbow. She turned to face him and covered her heart with her hand. “Gracious, you frightened me.”
“Yes, you were very focused, brooding off into the distance,” he teased. “I thought that was the purview of men.”
“Hmmm, it seems a great deal is that,” she said. “I’m surprised to see you here. I know you would be considered a catch by those like the Nettlebaums, but I cannot imagine you’d want tobecaught by Arabella of all people.”
He pulled a face. “She’s comely enough, but no. Not a brain in her head, it seems. I danced with her a fortnight ago at a ball and all she talked about was bonnets. The fashions of bonnets. She’s an expert on the subject and seemed to have no interest in any other I tried to press her on.”
“Oh dear,” Marianne said. “I’m guessing Arabella intends to get by on her looks and not her wit. Though she has a better chance using those tactics than I do talking endlessly about rise of the priestesses in the Roman empire or the latest book from Mr. Mattigan’s shop. So perhaps she has the better of it.”
“I’d much rather talk to you about priestesses,” Sebastian said with a smile that felt far more real than the one she’d received from him last week. She was glad of it. When she hadn’t seen him for so many days, she feared she’d spoiled their friendship with her forward desires for his help.
“You are the only one then,” she said with a laugh.
He tilted his head and explored her face closer. “Is something wrong, Marianne?”
She blinked at him. She didn’t feel like her upset was plain on her face, but somehow he could see it. She worried her lip slightly. “No. Yes. No.”
“That’s very confusing. Which one is it?” His tone was suddenly gentle.
She sighed. “I just had a bothersome conversation with Finn on the way here.”
“About what?” Sebastian pressed even as she saw him scanning the crowd for her brother. Of course he would. He might not have known Finn would be here and he’d obviously want to go spend time with him over her.
“I suppose I cannot shock you any more than I already have in the last week or two,” she said. “He mentioned he was at his boxing club today and I said I was interested in learning more.” She swallowed because Sebastian had jerked his attention back to her and was now staring. “For my own protection, you see.”
“You want tobox.” He opened and shut his mouth after he said it, as if he couldn’t fully process what they were discussing. It seemed this conversation was going to be as humiliating as hers with her brother had been.
“You needn’t bother telling me I’m too boring or plain or uninteresting to learn. Finn already told me that. And that the kind of woman who does do such a thing isn’t anything like me. I can see you think me as foolish as he did.” She pivoted to flee so she wouldn’t have to see his pity. “I’ll leave you to go find him and laugh at me together.”
