to become...this. The ogre in the corner who chastened and lectured like some pious old matron.
He wasn’t the man she fawned over. No. He was just the one she blamed for ruining her fun.
Twice now he’d stopped her from completely destroying her life. And for thanks, what did he get? The full force of her wrath.
“Your responsibility?” Her voice was rising and several members of the staff stopped to watch. She had that knack. Drawing attention to herself. Which was why she needed to be watched over.
That was when he realized he still rested his hands on the lapels of his own coat, which, of course, draped over her shoulders. It meant that the heels of his hands pressed against her breastbone. Heat radiated from the spot where they touched.
He nearly removed them but to do so would outwardly show that she affected him. A fact he was trying very hard to conceal. “Yes. My responsibility.” He pressed his lips together to keep more words from bubbling forth. Words like, since you insist on being so foolish. But they’d only irritate her further.
He drew in a steadying breath.
By any standards, he shouldn’t be in charge of playing nanny to a lady.
First and foremost because he had a less-than-stellar reputation himself. But also because he likely shouldn’t be in charge of anyone’s future. He hadn’t exactly made the best decisions in his life.
Still. Max was the best friend he’d ever had and so, if he asked a favor, Theo would try. It made him tired just thinking about his own wayward past. Who was he to tell Sarah that she was making a mistake? Except the consequences were so much more dire for a woman.
“I don’t know what my brother said to you, but I can assure you, I don’t need his concern, and I certainly don’t need yours.”
She reached up to grip his wrists, his hands still on the collar of the coat, locking them together. Why did he have the distinct urge to kiss her? He pulled away a bit, weariness stiffening his limbs. This was the one woman in England he needed to leave alone.
Because she was Max’s sister and because she had no sense in her head and because...well. She was dangerous. “Really, Sarah? Because from what I can see you could use the help of an entire regiment in the British army.”
She huffed, her hands tightening on his wrists and her eyes scrunching as though he’d caused her actual pain. Regret lanced through him. “That isn’t true. Despite what everyone seems to think, I am old enough to care for myself.”
He sighed. Because watching her made him a bit tired.
Not her…but her situation. One where he could see her walking down the wrong path. Chasing a man who would never return her affection. Not really.
There was part of him that wanted to tuck her under his arm and send that rake back to India or wherever he’d surfaced from.
He knew Stallworth’s type. He’d been Stallworth’s type.
Any woman who showed an interest was fair game. He was a flirt. And when another woman came along, Stallworth would give her just as much attention as he’d given Sarah. But how to explain that to someone as sweet and innocent as Sarah? He cleared his throat. “Perhaps when you stop chasing that complete wastrel—”
She dug her fingers into the soft side of his arms. “How dare you call him that?”
“I’m telling you the truth.” He ground between clenched truth. Why didn’t she see what was so plain?
“I can’t believe you are such an elitist snob,” she fired back. “Oh, what am I saying? Of course I can believe it. I wouldn’t expect anything less from the great Earl of Everly.”
Anger rumbled in his chest and he leaned closer, his face dropping close to hers. Which was a mistake because her honey scent wafted up to his nose, making his thoughts unfocused.
“Did you just call me a snob?”
She sniffed, her gaze narrowing. “If the Hessian fits…”
Just like that, he backed up, breaking her grip and swirling his coat off her shoulders and onto his arm. He might have looked like a conquistador except for that just behind him was one of the infernal crates littering the kitchen and as his calves bumped into it; he lost his balance and started to fall back.
That was what he got for trying to be suave in his rejection. He was going to look like a complete fool.
But then, Sarah’s hands shot out and