She was far more daring than he. On the chessboard, in the bedchamber. Dazzling Phoebe.
He sighed.
He had made so many mistakes along the way. He should never have let her touch his cock on Monday. He should have restrained himself as he had planned. He should have let that be the carrot for future lessons.
A carrot. For his mare.
A wild panic rose up in him.
“There must be something wrong with him,” he announced loudly. “There must be something wrong with Thornwick.” He thought of Thornwick and Phoebe’s future wedding. “After all, he wants to marryyou.”
There was a sound then.
A quick, painful inhale of breath.
As if a knife had just been sunk in someone’s chest.
The sound had come from Phoebe.
Only then he realized what he had said. What he had voiced. It wasn’t what he had meant. Of course, it wasn’t. Didn’t he want her for himself?
But from the look on Phoebe’s face he knew he had blundered. Badly.
“I mean to say—” he started. He looked to Alice, hoping stupidly for help. Alice’s face was a thundercloud.
“You’ve said quite enough, George,” Alice spat.
He looked again at Phoebe. Her eyes. Oh, my God, her eyes. Filled with what? Not tears but he could see those were coming. Her eyes were filled with the most incredible sadness. As if he had confirmed some long-held belief she had about herself.
But she met his gaze without blinking and managed to stand.
“Yes,” she said. “Yes. He wants to marry me.”
“Phee—”
“Alice,” Phoebe said and left the room.
Alice followed behind her but at the doorway, she turned. “You damned fool.” Then she disappeared, running after Phoebe.
He paced and waited for Alice to come back so she could bring him to Phoebe and he could apologize.Yes, I am a damned fool. Why did I belittle my Phoebe?
He had not quite anticipated how badly a damned fool he had been until Andrew came to the drawing room ten minutes later.
“I’m afraid you’re not welcome in this house, Lord Danforth.”
Andrew had bumped into several pieces of furniture just coming into the room which showed he was rather distraught and had forgotten what room he was in. Also, he seemed to have forgotten George’s first name. And that they were neighbors and friends. And that George was actually a good fellow. Sound and sensible.
“You have upset Phebes a great deal.”
“Andrew, it’s all a mistake—”
“Still, you’ll have to leave.”
“You have to go to Lady Phoebe and tell her—”
Andrew took a wide stance and faced George. “I don’t have to do anything but tell you that you have hurt the most precious person in the world to me and you have to leave.”
“I tell you it’s a damnable mistake—”
