“You needn't enjoythis quite so much, Gen,” Flint rasped, his stomach still sore as he straightened in time to hear the door slam three stories down.
“Oh, yes I do,” she answered, patting him on the shoulder like a child. “I don't believe I have ever seen you treat a woman in so cow-handed a fashion.”
He glared down the stairs, as if he could conjure the little termagant. “I have never been so provoked. What could ever make her think I was making a maygame of her?”
Gen turned a startled gaze on him. “Oh, my dear. She said she was an orphan, did she not? A poor one who managed to secure a position in a lady's academy? And you pulled her from her place of employment to leave her languishing for four days without explanation before laughingly telling her that she will marry you. What could possibly compel her to think you might not be sincere?”
Bracken closed his eyes, mortified. Furious. Resentful. Damn his father for demanding this of him.
“She might have learned if she'd stayed around.”
“And she might have stayed if you had used just a bit of your legendary charm. Instead you seem to have taken out the anger that should be directed at your father on an innocent young lady.”
He sighed. “I still have to figure a way to get her back here. Whether I like it or not.”
Again, Genève smiled. “Well, I do believe you have met your match, my love. She will make an excellent wife.”
“That termagant? I should say not. She belongs in Bedlam.”
“She belongs on the throne. Don't you think, Higgins?”
Higgins was still standing like a statue at the edge of the stairs, his forehead beaded with perspiration, his eyes wide. “I think we have just suffered a close call, madame.”
Gen's laugh was delighted. “Oh, how I wish I could stay and watch this play out. I suspect it will be a more delicious battle of the sexes than anything Shakespeare could come up with.” Fluffing her hair a bit and straightening her signature pink roundgown, she stepped past Flint toward the stairs. “Sadly, I would be grosslyde tropin the courting.”
“Courting?” Flint snorted, rubbing at his middle. “I'd rather catch a tiger by the tail.”
Still grinning, Genève offered her hand. “I suspect that will be an apt comparison.”
Finally pushing himself forward, Flint held out his elbow for her and accompanied her down the stairs, followed by the still-affronted Higgins.
“Why her?” Gen asked as they descended. “There are certainly more acceptable females out there. Do you even know who she is?”
“A classmate to my cousin Pip at that academy where she caused so much trouble.”
“An orphan.”
He shrugged. “Evidently.”
“But attending Miss Chase's. Not exactly a workhouse.”
“Not at all.”
She shook her head. “You have to admit that it does sound suspect.”
“The duke did not bother to over-explain himself. Simply reminded me of my promise to wed by thirty, a certain indiscretion which will not be mentioned before ladies, and gave the chit's name and direction. I suppose I should be endlessly grateful he stumbled over a candidate with all her teeth.”
Although there had been that one tooth that was just a little crooked, which only served to made her look charming. Even with her face puffy and tear-stained, she was rather a pocket Venus, with thick mahogany hair, a pugnacious little jaw, and great brown eyes that snapped fire when she was angry. And that tooth he suddenly wanted to run his tongue over. Definitely not a blond, but suddenly Flint thought she would have been wasted as a blond.
What she didn't seem to be was underhanded or sly. If she had been, instead of slapping him like a villain in a melodrama, she would have stayed right here to attract his full attention. And if his father was correct, that didn't make any sense.
“And no explanation as to why you are to marry her?” Genève asked.
Flint shrugged. Oh yes, there was an explanation. Not one he could share with Gen, though. “He says all will become clear.”
Gen chuckled, her voice thrumming up and down his chest. “That is what I'd be afraid of. You have to admit that even for the duke this is just a mite eccentric.”
Flint rubbed at his forehead where he thought a headache might soon make an appearance. “I'll have to go after her and drag her back.”
