Mattie stood her ground, meeting his gaze with unwavering determination. “I am not ‘by myself.’ Grady is watching over me,” she argued, her voice laced with defiance.
“That isn’t enough!” Winston shouted, dropping his arm to his side. “Not any longer. Isaac is playing a game and is dangerous.” He turned towards the butler. “Bring a coach around for Miss Bawden, at once.”
White tipped his head in understanding before promptly departing from the entry hall.
Mattie placed a hand on her hip as she tried to keep her voice steady. “I am not yours to control,” she said. “If I wish to walk home, then so be it.”
“Why are you being so obstinate about this?” Winston demanded, his voice rising in exasperation.
“Perhaps it has something to do with youtellingme what to do,” Mattie countered. “You have no right to dictate my actions.”
Winston took a step closer to her, causing her to tilt her head to meet his gaze. “I am only trying to keep you safe,” he explained.
Mattie huffed. “By ordering me about?” she retorted.
“That was not my intention,” Winston assured her. “I simply cannot bear the thought of you getting hurt, especially through no fault of your own.”
Some of the fight drained out of Mattie as she listened to Winston’s heartfelt words. But that still didn’t excuse his behavior. She was so tired of people deciding what was best for her. Her father did it. And now Winston.
“You could have at least talked to me about it first,” Mattie said.
Winston bobbed his head in agreement. “You are right,” he admitted. “I was wrong to act so brashly, and I apologize.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of Mattie’s lips. “Is this the first time you have ever apologized to me?” she asked, unable to resist teasing him.
“Do not make this into a big deal, I beg of you,” Winston pleaded, his dark brows furrowing in mock irritation.
“Oh, but I think it is a rather significant moment,” Mattie said, her smile widening. “I have been waiting for an apology from you since you knocked me into the river all those years ago.”
Winston looked heavenward. “That was nearly ten years ago. You really need to let that go.”
Mattie couldn’t help but laugh at his words. “I should go home and write about this in my journal,” she said. “My posterity deserves to know about this exact moment.”
“You are rather impossible to be friends with,” Winston muttered, but there was a hint of playfulness in his voice.
White appeared once again in the entry hall and announced, “The coach is ready and waiting outside, my lord.”
“Thank you,” Winston acknowledged before turning back to Mattie with a faint smile on his face. “May I escort you to the coach?”
Mattie accepted his proffered arm. “This seems so unnecessary,” she said. “My cottage is only a short distance away.”
“Yes, but it will ease my conscience greatly,” Winston responded as he led her towards the waiting coach. “I shall see you tonight for dinner.”
With a glance at Brockhall Manor, Mattie remarked, “I should warn you that dinner is not as extravagant an affair at my cottage as it is here.”
“I assure you that our dinners can get quite lawless when we don’t have any guests,” Winston said. “Elodie has been known to throw rolls at us.”
Mattie giggled. “That does not surprise me in the least.”
Winston assisted her into the coach. “Good day, Mattie,” he said before stepping back. “I shall see you soon.”
The coach rolled forward, and Mattie realized that she was still smiling.
Chapter Thirteen
Winston stood back as the coach carried Mattie away, his heart heavy with conflicting emotions. Every moment spent with Mattie chipped away at his defenses, leaving him vulnerable. And that was a problem. He didn’t dare start feeling things for her again. He needed to move on, and that meant a life without Mattie.
From the corner of his eye, Winston noticed Isaac watching the coach, a smirk playing on his lips. It would have been wiser to ignore Isaac, but Winston found himself unable to do so. Acting on impulse, he closed the distance between them.
