unnecessary. Thomas will complain to anyone within earshot.”
She fought the urge to pinch his arm where her hand rested. “You think so little of your family?”
“Might I remind you I never asked for this title. I went off to fight for our beloved Queen and came home to find my eldest and closest brother had mysteriously perished in my absence.”
For the first time this evening—possibly the first time in their entire acquaintance—his tone sounded serious. Dark. Perhaps even hurt. Her heart pinched at his words, but she found herself unable to offer him solace.
“What is it that you would have me do, then?”
She swallowed, her mind racing away from the new and uncomfortable sensation of having empathy for Sullivan. Chiding him was much more familiar and easier than trying to offer him comfort.
“You could be more active in politics,” she blurted. “You are in the House of Lords, in case you’ve forgotten. There are charities, among other activities. Not to mention all your land keepings and properties that must be attended to. I understand why Thomas took control of them in your absence after your brother died, but you’ve been back now long enough to have claimed the duties as well as the title.”
He chuckled low; the deep timbre of his voice tickled across her skin. What in the world was happening to her tonight? She’d danced with plenty of men, even handsome ones, on occasion. Sullivan should be no different. Yet, at the moment, all her senses were heightened as if her entire body was on alert waiting for something momentous to happen.
Perhaps she’d eaten some bad fish.
He leaned his head down slightly so he could speak directly into her ear. “I do like that you’ve obviously been spending time thinking about me, Freckles.” His hot breath moved over her like a caress.
She closed her eyes and leaned closer to him, her body making the motions of their own volition. At once, she snapped her eyes open and pulled back. “That is preposterous. I have not been thinking of you at all. Other than cataloguing your many failings.”
He raised an eyebrow. “No doubt you lull yourself to sleep counting them each night.”
“I—” Dear Lord. The idea that she fell asleep thinking about Sullivan of all people. The man was impossible! “I’ll have you know I’m working on an important assignment, as there are several of us trying to address London’s elite and bring to their attention the flagrant manifestations of the seven deadly sins. And you, sir, personify slothfulness.”
His brows rose and then he tilted back his head and laughed riotously. At her.
Once again, she felt her cheeks flame with embarrassment. “I find you vastly annoying.”
“This, I know,” he said. “‘Tis a source of great amusement, I promise you.”
She narrowed her gaze at him. “I amuse you?”
“Tremendously.”
She sucked in a breath, nearly trembling with indignation now.
This work she did with the Ladies of Virtue, it was the most important thing she did. It was her one chance to make a difference in the world. The one thing she was truly good at. And it amused him? As though she were a child, pretending?
Oh, the nerve of this man…
But before she could transform her outrage into words, he continued.
“I also know about this ridiculous challenge you and your little club came up with. Reforming lords of the Seven Deadly Sins. What’s the matter, Freckles, couldn’t think of anyone else to annoy? Or is this merely a ruse to get close to me?”
“Why on earth would I want to get close to you?”
The grin he flashed her was more than a little wicked. “Because I fascinate you. Admit it.”
“I will admit no such thing!” His smile widened and she realized she’d implied that he did fascinate her, but that she was simply unwilling to admit it. Of course he would think that. The arrogant ass. “You do not fascinate me in the least. There are leeches in the sewers of London that I find more fascinating than you.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “Truly, Freckles? Leeches? Surely, a woman of your wit and intelligence can do better than that.”
She felt her jaw clenching spasmodically. Perhaps it was not the finest example of wit. But she would be damned if she stood here—well, danced here—and let him insult her looks and her intelligence!
Through clenched teeth she hissed, “Yes. Leeches. They at least might one day serve some medical purpose. You, on the other hand, are nothing more than a selfish, lazy cad interested in