“And?”
“And…” Pere paused, not wanting to reveal just how much of her time was spent here, and away from her mother.
The silence stretched, thick as honey, until even the clock seemed to hold its breath.
Lord Hawthorne’s eyes gentled slightly, and rather than carry his point, he answered her question.“I’m here to visit your brother.”
“Oh, well, he is seeing to Lady Anna.”
Lord Hawthorne’s eyebrows rose, and a surprised grin stretched along his face.“Is that so…”
“Good heavens, I can’t… no.Not.I will not continue just… no.”
“I see…” Lord Hawthorne frowned, then glanced to the door.
“If you wish to give me an indication of why you want to speak with my brother, I can inform him when Anna is… settled.”
“Settled?”
“For one who is not a family member, you certainly inquire a lot.To abolish all assumptions on your part, she’s feeling ill, and Henley is caring for her.Does that alleviate your curiosities?”
“I don’t remember asking.”
“Your face says what your lips do not,” Pere clipped.
“I didn’t realize I was so readable.”
“You are; I’d work on that.”
Lord Hawthorne chuckled, then glanced to the door again.
“The door is open, I practically live here currently, and my brother will likely be here soon, so… stop fretting.”
“Fretting?”He blinked.“I can’t remember when I’ve heard that word used before by anyone younger than a dowager.”
“I’m ancient at heart; it’s my secret.And the door is open—wide, I might add.Regardless, you aren’t going to compromise me.I am sure of that, and I’m not trying to trap you into marriage, so you’re safe.”
“Safe?”he asked, then grinned in a bewildered fashion.
“Old age catching up with you, Lord Hawthorne?You seem to be repeating everything I say.”
“No, no not at all, I’m merely… amused.You really are delightfully innocent.”
“Debutantes with brothers who can fell a man with one right hook tend to be that way.”Pere enunciated the words, raising an eyebrow.
Just why was he amused and why wasn’t he leaving?Though to be honest, it was a nice change of pace.
“All true, Lady Peregrine.Which I find problematic.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
“Do you realize that Ramsford has set his cap for you?”He stood then and slowly circled the table between them.“It would seem that your plan worked… only a little too well.Rather than reforming a rake, you merely made yourself easy prey for a fortune hunter.Tell me, was that your plan?Desperation never looks good on a lady, no matter what pedigree.”
Pere gasped, then stood.
Her heart hammered with anger as his words filtered through her mind.“Desperation?That was low, even for you.”
“Am I wrong?”
