Had she? Goodness only knew. “If I did, it’s because youdeserveit!”
Oh, dear. Her chest was heaving, her breath coming in great, panting gulps and the words were piling up behind her tongue, words she’d almost certainly regret.
She mustn’t become overwrought. Dreadful things happened when she became overwrought, and already heads were turning in their direction.
She turned on her heel, preparing to march off and enjoy her temper tantrum in private, but her tongue had got the best of her now, and before she could hurry away, it delivered a final parting shot.
“Lord Gilbert’s manners may leave something to be desired, Lord Fairmont, but so do yours, and it’s a far worse failing in you because youknowbetter!”
Chapter
Eight
Had Euphemia Templeton justscoldedhim?
It hadsoundedlike a scold, and given that she was marching off in what could only be described as high dudgeon, her skirts flying out behind her in outraged fury, he really could only come to one conclusion.
He turned to his aunt. “Euphemia Templeton justscoldedme.”
It had been a furious scold at that, as if he were a naughty schoolboy instead of the Earl of bloody Fairmont. No one had ever dared such a thing before, but Miss Templeton had stopped just shy of slapping his face with her glove, and challenging him to a duel!
“Honestly, James, it’s no less than you deserve,” his aunt snapped. “I swear, you could try the patience of a saint.”
“Me? What do you mean? What did I do?” He was perfectly innocent, by God. “I merely complimented her on her proficiency at bowls, and the next thing I knew she’d jumped to her feet, and was shouting at me.”
“Is that so? Because I would have sworn I heard you mention Lord Gilbert’s name. Something about recklessness, I believe, and broken fingers. Does that sound at all familiar, James?”
Was that what all the fuss was about? “Very well, then yes. I said he was reckless, and so he is! I’ll be damned if I’ll apologize for?—”
“Don’t make it worse by cursing, if you please. Your remarks about poor Lord Gilbert were uncalled for, James?—”
“Poor Lord Gilbert!” For God’s sake.
“They were uncalled for,” she repeated as if he hadn’t spoken. “Euphemia was right to scold you for it.” His aunt pointed a shaking finger at the retreating form of Miss Templeton. “Do you realize, James, how difficult it is to make Euphemia Templeton lose her temper?”
“No.” How should he? “I hadn’t the vaguest idea such a quiet little mouse as Miss Templeton was hiding such a sharp tongue. You never mentionedthat.”
His aunt snorted. “Euphemia Templeton is no mouse, James. If you imagine she is, then you’ve quite mistaken the matter. I thought you were more perceptive than that.”
“How could I have known? She hasn’t said more than two dozen words in my presence since we arrived in London.”
Then again, she’d had plenty to say to him last night, right before she’d trounced him at chess, hadn’t she? And he’d caught a glimpse of a temper simmering beneath her placid expression when he’d accused her of playing at matchmaking, as well. There’d been a flash of it in her eyes, like the blue light at the base of a candle’s flame.
What else was Miss Templeton hiding, behind those mild blue eyes and soft pink lips?
“It takes a great deal to rouse Euphemia’s temper. Allow me to offer you my congratulations, James, for having the dubious honor of being so provoking she’s unleashed it on you.”
“I still don’t know what I said that was so awful.” He’d spoken the truth about Lord Gilbert. The manwasreckless, and if he carried on in that unthinking way, it would be only a matter of time before he hurt someone. “You can’t deny Gilbert is thoughtless. Or have you forgotten about what happened in the Ring?”
“I’m not arguing the point. It’s true that Gilly would do well to pay closer attention to his surroundings. But one might say something true about a person, James, without it being the least bit kind, or helpful.”
That was… bloody hell, she was right, wasn’t she? Perhaps he had been rather hard on Lord Gilbert, who for all his bumbling, didn’t seem to mean any harm. “Yes, very well, but why should Miss Templeton have such a burning desire to champion Gilbert?”
He didn’t like it, somehow, that she should be so concerned for him.
“Because no one else is, James. No one who makes any difference, at any rate.” She gave him an accusing look. “I daresay she feels a kinship with Lord Gilbert because he’s an outcast, in much the same way she and her sisters have always been outcasts.”
“Outcasts? Surely, it’s not so bad as that? Her sisters arecountesses.”
