Twin lines appeared on her brow. “Can’t? Of course, you can. I shall make aiding me in this easy for you.” A smile curved her lips. “And enjoyable.”
He stared at her, horrified he’d once loved the creature before him. “Leave me out of your mad scheme. Find someone else.”
Her lips flattened again. This time, she didn’t force a gentler expression. “I won’t take no for an answer, Robert.” She raised a staying hand when he opened his mouth. “Think on my request. That’s all I ask. We’ll speak again. Soon.”
Robert backed away, shaking his head. Perhaps she truly was mad, and bent on dragging him into insanity alongside her. “Let me answer you another way, my lady, for you are correct, I could.” He scoured her with his gaze, took in every perfect feature. “But I won’t. I don’t want to. Not anymore.”
She jerked back. Her features pinched into sourness. “We’ll see, Robert.”
He shook his head again. “If you’ll excuse me, my lady, as I said, I have somewhere to be.”
“I do excuse you, for now.” A new smile reached her lips, but stole even more beauty from her face than her sour expression had. “By the by, you should know that your new little amusement accepted a rather expensive pendant from Dunreid this morning. I’m sure she’ll look lovely wearing his gift.”
Robert retreated another step. She may as well have struck him.
“When will you learn, Robert?” she asked, her look pitying. She yanked the curtains closed. Dunreid’s coachman flicked the reins and the carriage eased around his vehicle.
Robert stood, unable to force movement into his limbs, and watched until the coach turned down the side street out of view. The sun no longer appeared bright. The sky was not blue, but a dull grey. In fact, he was sure the heavens would spew forth rain at any moment. He pivoted on his heels and jogged up the steps. His butler opened the door.
“Tell them to put the curricle away, Edwards,” Robert said as the door closed behind him. “Send for my carriage. I’ll be in my study.” He yanked off his gloves and hat, and proffered them.
His butler excepted the items with the slightest frown. “Your carriage, sir?”
“Yes, my carriage.”
“Not going to the park, then, sir?”
Robert didn’t miss the regret in the man’s tone. He passed a hand over his eyes. He was aware his staff had been worried about him for quite some time. “No. I’m going to my club. Send word to that finishing school, Lady Peddington’s. Tell one of the maids to inform Miss Glasbarr I shall not arrive. Something came up. Perhaps tomorrow.” Robert was struck with the unexpected—and unwelcome—thought that she would be disappointed. “Rather, tell her definitely tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll see to it.”
“Thank you. Let me know when my carriage is ready.” Robert accepted his butler’s nod and headed toward his study. He was sure he had at least one decanter of whisky there.
