She blinked. “Oh? Why then must I go?”
Because I want to keep you safe. He didn’t say it. She had pluck to the backbone, and there was no sense in inviting trouble. “Because the house will be full of men, and your presence will complicate matters.”
“You are ordering me to leave.” Althea dropped the uneaten toast back on her plate. “Haven’t I proved to be helpful?” She raised her chin. “Your subaltern, you said.”
He gazed at her imploringly. “You would be just one more thing for me to worry about. Don’t you see? Please don’t make this difficult.”
Her eyes grew shadowed. “As you wish. But I don’t see the necessity. I would prefer not to be stuck in London wondering what’s taking place here in my home. A home I love, Flynn.”
“Then you must trust me to take care of it,” he said.
Sally entered the room. “My lord, the carriage has arrived for her ladyship.”
“Thank you, Sally. Please ask Ben to take Lady Brookwood’s luggage.”
“When did you give instructions to your coachman?” She raised her eyebrows. “Yesterday?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You planned to pack me off and didn’t feel it necessary to tell me?”
“Guilty as charged.”
“Did you think I would cause a fuss? Refuse to go?”
“No,” he said carefully. “I was confident you would see the sense of it. You do, don’t you?”
She sniffed. “No, you didn’t. I find it decidedly sneaky. And I might not forgive you.”
He took her hand in his and kissed her palm. “I hope you will forgive me, Althea.”
She coolly withdrew it. “Mrs. Peebles will accompany me to London. There’s no longer any need for her to travel by stage.” She rose from the table and left the room.
Flynn sipped his coffee thoughtfully. She was angry with him, but it couldn’t be helped. He would deal with that later.
