He remained rooted to the spot, his hand itching at his side. “I am not leaving until you answer my questions.”
“Then we are at an impasse, for I have no desire to speak with you any further.” Turning her gaze to Mr. Crosby, she asked, “Is your companion always so ill-tempered and tiresome?”
To Richard’s annoyance, Crosby actually chuckled. “He is.”
“How unfortunate,” Miss Theodosia said, her lips curving into a faint, mocking smile. “Still, for your sake, I shall indulge a few inquiries. What would you like to know?”
Richard opened his mouth to demand answers, but she cut in sharply, “Not you, my lord. I’ve heard enough of your blustering.You,” she said, looking at Crosby, “may ask.”
Crosby, still grinning faintly, inclined his head. “My condolences, Miss Theodosia. I understand your father passed away?”
She sobered. “Yes. Over a year ago now.”
“Did he leave behind a son?” Crosby asked.
“No. Only me and my elder sister.”
Crosby nodded thoughtfully. “Earlier this morning, a man was seen leaving your property. Can you tell us who he was?”
A slight line formed between Miss Theodosia’s brows. “You must be mistaken. No man departed from this house this morning.”
Richard stiffened, his patience evaporating. “Stop lying,” he ground out.
Miss Theodosia leaned back in her chair, regarding him as one might a particularly irksome insect. “You are a bothersome man, indeed. Pray tell—what offense did this mysterious figure commit against you that you are so determined to hunt him down?”
“I intend to kill him,” Richard said, his voice unflinching.
In a calm, expectant voice, she asked, “And you expect me to assist you in your murderous intent?”
“I expect you to tell me where to find your brother,” Richard demanded.
“I have no brother,” she repeated. “Only an older sister.”
“Then who,” Richard began, “was the man who left your house this morning?”
She gave a delicate shrug. “Perhaps you saw our gardener or one of our tenants leaving for their day’s work. We do keep early hours here in the country.”
Her eyes danced with a hint of mischief, as if daring him to accuse her further. She was either the best liar he had ever encountered or she was telling the truth. And Richard hated the gnawing uncertainty clawing at his gut.
Theodosia wasn’t entirely certain whether she ought to laugh at the absurdity of the situation or weep from sheer frustration. It took every ounce of restraint instilled by years of genteel breeding not to reach for the pistol discreetly hidden in the top drawer of her desk. Of course, brandishing a weapon at a marquess—even one as arrogant and insufferable as the one presently standing before her—would likely end poorly.
Still, the temptation lingered.
She regarded the lord with a critical eye. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with strikingly dark hair that curled just enough tosuggest it defied control. He was impossibly handsome with his chiseled jaw and straight nose. However, all that physical perfection was marred by the thunderous scowl etched onto his face and the scorn in his voice. He radiated entitlement, as though the mere act of questioning him was an affront punishable by death.
Theodosia hadn’t spoken a single untruth since he’d stormed into her study, but that didn’t seem to matter to him.
“I know the difference between a gardener and a gentleman,” he said with no small amount of derision, as if her refusal to tremble under his gaze somehow proved her guilt.
“How very clever of you,” she said sweetly. “Do tell, my lord—can you also distinguish between a goat and a vicar? Or perhaps a duchess and a dairymaid?”
His eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. “You are an impertinent thing.”
“And you seem to forget,” she countered, “that you forced your way into my home and are now accusing me of harboring a brother I do not possess. As I’ve told you—twice now—I have only an elder sister.”
The second man took a step forward, his demeanor less hostile than that of his companion. “Is your sister here?”
Theodosia gave a polite shake of her head. “I’m afraid not. She departed last night to visit friends in Essex. I seldom see her, to be frank.”
