Page 29 of A Winter Scandal

“Ah. What happened in the entry. I see. You want an explanation?”

“No! There is no need for that. But I must point out that you seem to have acquired a very incorrect notion about me and my … my standards of conduct.”

The baby was squirming in his arms, and Morecombe lowered him to the floor, then turned back to Thea. “Indeed, Miss Bainbridge? And what notion is that?”

She glared at him. “That I would be open to—to your advances.”

Again that engaging little smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “I believe you were open to my advances … at least a bit.”

“My lord, I am not a woman of easy virtue. Doubtless you are so accustomed to being with such women that you do not realize the difference.”

“I never thought you a woman of easy virtue. Indeed, I suspect that your virtue is as hard as Cotswold stone. That does not mean I can’t choose to chip away at it.”

“This is not a laughing matter!” Thea’s temper flared. “My reputation may mean nothing to you, but it is very important to me.”

“Your reputation means a great deal to me, I assure you. I would never try to damage it, my dear—may I call you Althea? Miss Bainbridge seems a bit formal for two who have shared as much as we.”

“No. You may not.”

“You see? Hard as stone.”

“While you may not try to damage my reputation, you certainly have no care for it. A true gentleman would not go about stealing kisses.”

“Stealing? Seems fair payment for hanging the ornament, wouldn’t you say?”

“One does not pay for a favor. That is not the issue, anyway.”

“What is the issue? I thought we were talking about kisses.”

“We are! Or rather, we are talking about the fact that you acted in a way that was not only improper but quite reckless. It is the middle of the day, and we were standing in our entry!”

“Ah, I see. You prefer your kisses at night and in some more secret place.” He smiled, his eyes lighting. “Believe me, I shall be happy to oblige.”

“No!” The scraps of composure Thea had pulled together were rapidly slipping away. The merry gleam in his eyes, the tempting curve of his mouth, the sheer enjoyment that stamped his face, all beckoned her. She was aware of a rather frightening impulse to forget her upbringing and throw herself back into his arms. But that would be sheer madness. “I am not saying you should kiss me at some other time and place. I am saying you should not kiss me at all!”

“I don’t see why I would agree to do that. I quite enjoyed kissing you.”

“Anyone could have walked in on us at any moment! My brother. Mrs. Brewster. Sally.”

“I passed your brother on the street as I came over, so I knew he was not here. I could hear Mrs. Brewster in the kitchen. And I haven’t the slightest idea who Sally is or why I should worry about her.”

“She is the girl who comes in to help Mrs. Brewster, and she could have walked in on us.”

“But she did not.”

“That isn’t the point!” She looked down and found that the baby had managed to roll and squirm his way over to the footstool. “How in the world did you get over there? No, dear, don’t chew on the fringe.” Thea swooped down and picked Matthew up, relocating him on the rug a few feet away. Turning back to face Gabriel, she straightened her shoulders. Putting some distance between them helped, she found. “Never mind. I can see that it is useless to try to reason with you.”

“No doubt.”

Thea clasped her hands together and adopted a polite expression. “Now. What brings you here today? I presume you had some reason for calling.”

“Other than kissing you?”

“Lord Morecombe!” She gritted her teeth. The man was impossible. And it was difficult not to laugh.

“I apologize. I could not resist; I enjoy the sparkle in your eyes when you get in a temper.”

Thea crossed her arms and waited, her expression grimly patient.