Page 79 of A Deal for the Duke’s Virgin

Laura folded her arms. “That is not your concern.”

He let out a harsh laugh. “So that’s it, then? After all the effort I have gone through to find you. After your mother and I have worried so much we were almost ill, you simply encounter us in a pub of all places and refuse to explain why you have disappeared.”

Laura’s face twisted briefly. “I will explain in time, but not yet. I cannot.”

“Oh, you cannot?”

“No.” She tilted up her chin, meeting her brother’s gaze squarely.

Thalia glanced uncertainly between them. In the past, she had never quite understood the resemblance between Laura and her brother, but it was plain now. She could see it in the sharp, furious eyes, the tight jaws, and the lifted chins.

For a moment, the air sparked between them. Laura did not glance away, and Christian certainly did not.

“You’ll tell me what this is all about,” Christian gritted out. “And you will tell me now.”

“I can’t,” Laura insisted, a tinge of desperation creeping into her voice. “I will tell you, Christian, only not now. You will have to trust me on this.”

He stared at her, furious, and raked a hand through his hair. Then he turned to Thalia.

“Does your brother infuriate you as much?” he asked, teeth clenched.

“Yes, I suppose so,” she murmured.

Before the conversation could go further, the door slammed open, and all glanced up to see none other than Lady Pembroke standing in the doorway.

Thalia’s heart sank again.

I thought she’d left. But apparently, she only left to regain her composure. Wonderful.

The woman strode across the pub towards them.

“Well,” she began, “imagine my shock, Lady Thalia, to look over and find the woman promised to my son kissing another man. Your brother will hear of this, I can assure you.”

“I’m sure her brother will be happy to discover that she is engaged to a duke,” Christian snapped. “We, of course, have obtained his permission.”

That was a lie.

Thalia glanced up at him uncertainly. Lies made her uncomfortable. They were too easily unraveled.

Lady Pembroke narrowed her eyes. “Is that so?”

“It is so. And what are you doing here, Lady Pembroke?”

She was clearly prepared for the question. Puffing out her chest and throwing back her head, she met Christian’s eyes with steely determination.

“I traveled to meet an old friend. They have just left, or I would have introduced you to them.”

“A gentleman friend?”

“Naturally not.”

Thalia bit her lip. If Lady Pembroke was lying, there was no way of proving it. She suspected that the ever-helpful Hobbses would suddenly become mute if they were asked too many questions about their customers, especially if Lady Pembroke was sensible enough to tip generously.

So, that left her with the moral high ground. Judging by the way she folded her arms and glared defiantly around at them, she knew it, too.

“This is rather improper,” she added, then her gaze fell on Laura. “Good heavens. You are recovered, then? I heard that you were sick or traveling or perhaps both at once, My Lady.”

Sarcasm dripped from her voice. Apparently, Lady Pembroke had not believed the rumors spread about to explain Laura’s departure.