“No,” Enid responded.
“No?”
Enid squared her shoulders and hoped that her voice was somewhat confident. She wouldn’t stand here and let Lord Rushcliffe tell her what to do. She had a voice and she intended to use it. “You have no right to dictate my actions, my lord.”
“I am trying to help you.”
“It feels like you are trying to control me,” Enid said.
Lord Rushcliffe looked back at her with a scowl, which in no way intimidated her, or her position. “Why are you being so stubborn on the matter?”
“Because, my lord, someone needs to advocate for Lady Eugenie,” Enid replied.
“Why does it have to be you?”
Enid offered him a bright smile that she hoped rather perversely would grate on his nerves. “If not me, then who?”
Without waiting for his response, she started walking down the path towards her townhouse. There was no point in continuing to argue with him. They would never see eye to eye.
ChapterFive
Greydon knew the best course of action would be to let Lady Enid walk away and not engage her any further. But he was unable to do so. He didn’t know why it was so important to him, but he needed her to see reason.
“Do you want to know what your problem is?” he shouted after her.
Lady Enid stopped and slowly turned around. Her expression was tight, giving nothing away. “I suppose you will tell me,” she said dryly.
It was evident that Lady Enid was angry, but he decided to press forward. Whether that was a smart choice or not, he knew not. “You think you know what is best and you will fall on the sword before you admit you are wrong.”
“Pardon me, but I find that a little hypocritical of you to say, my lord,” she said as she closed the distance between them. “You won’t even consider the possibility that Lady Eugenie is innocent.”
“Andyouwon’t consider the possibility that she is guilty,” he countered.
Lady Enid came to a stop in front of him. “Quite frankly, I do not think you are thinking rationally on this case.”
“Me? You think I’m the one that is acting irrationally?” Greydon asked. How dare she say such a thing! Enid was only going off her feelings and not facts.
“I know you want the person who murdered your brother brought to justice—”
He spoke over her. “I do, and she is residing in jail.” He leaned closer to her, making their faces inches apart. “Where she belongs.”
Lady Enid’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I daresay it isyouthat is impossible.”
“I have been called worse,” he said, using her own words against her.
Greydon was close enough to Lady Enid that he could see that her eyes were flashing with anger. He hadn’t set out to upset her, but he couldn’t just let bygones be bygones.
Lady Enid didn’t shy away from him, but she stood her ground. “I will prove to you that Lady Eugenie is innocent.”
“And how will you do that?” he mocked.
“I don’t know yet, but do not underestimate me.”
“I have never, and I will never, underestimate you, my lady, but you are on a fool’s errand.”
“Then so be it.”
Greydon’s eyes roamed over Lady Enid’s face. He noted the long lashes that framed her blue eyes, her flushed cheeks and the gently defined jawline that was quite firmly set. Why did she have to be so contrary about this? Or so blasted beautiful?
