He had to smile at her worry over his finances.
“It was worth it.” He held up his right hand and then stuck up his thumb in triumph. Upon the pad was the smear of raspberry sauce, which he now licked clean, feeling like a lion after it had hunted.
He was losing his mind!
And clearly, Glynnis Talbot thought so, too. She gawked at him, from the hand still hovering near his mouth to his soiled clothing.
“Have you been drinking?” she asked.
“I assure you, I haven’t. Not a drop since last night.”
“Then what has got into you?” she demanded.
“You,” he said truthfully and with utter abandon for propriety.
“Me?” Her lovely brown eyes grew larger. And then her cheeks went red, not with a delightful blush, but if he were to guess, he would say with anger.
Her next words, spoken harshly, proved him correct.
“I think you’re merry about the gills from swiving last night. Your entire temperament has changed. I’ve read that sexual release is good for a man, curing him of nervous tension and soothing his violent tendencies. But I didn’t know it caused near insanity. You sent my breakfast up to me, as if I were yours to care for. And now you lunge into my lap like a ... like a cock-a-whoop lad!”
His mouth had dropped open during her tirade. He snapped it closed when she finished.
“Being considerate with a breakfast tray is hardly madness,” he pointed out, not liking the warm tea-soggy areas he could feel. “Are you saying I should have let you starve this morning because you were too stubborn to come downstairs and be civilized?”
“Civilized!” She rose to her feet, and he quickly did the same. “Is it civilized to stagger off with a whore, letting everyone know your business?” She was seething now, and he had a good view of her lovely breasts rising and falling.
“Besides, the Lord Hargrove I know, who didn’t even pay for his own sandwiches, certainly wouldn’t have considerately sent up a breakfast tray, not unless you were feeling tip-top satisfied and fine as five pence. And I attribute such a mood to your recent sexual conquest.”
She was being unfair. He’d already apologized for not paying the bill in the teahouse. Yet before he could defend himself, she raged on.
“I suppose the wordconquestgives you too much credit since you paid the trollop. It’s not as if you had to win her over, or that she had any choice in the matter.”
In high dander, Glynnis took a few steps away from the scene of destroyed crockery and toward the door.
“Next time you want to put your face in a woman’s lap, I suggest you go back to the Steyne and find your blonde blowsabella!”
She stomped from the room.
