She frowned slightly. ‘Because you know I can’t be talked out of it, or because you believe those boys need to learn what they did was wrong?’
He couldn’t say if it was the yellow dress or the matching hat sitting atop her head that made her look so charming. Either way, she was adorable, inside and out. ‘Both,’ he admitted. ‘Let me know if I can assist you in any way.’
‘Thank you. I will.’ She twisted to watch as Hugo stood up. ‘Have you seen any of the newspapers?’
‘I have not, but am assuming that you have.’
‘Fresh off the presses. Hugo’s picture is on the front page of two of them.’
‘And your name is listed.’
‘Much to my brother’s chagrin.’ She flashed a smile his way.
‘You appear to be enjoying that.’
‘I am. You were the one who once suggested that I not let him win, and I appreciate how you’ve enlightened me.’
‘Enlightened you?’
‘Yes. I’ve not only decided to be happy, I’ve decided to be my own person.’
He was beginning to wonder if he’d been a bad influence upon her. ‘What does that mean?’
‘Simply that I’m not going to be nothing more than the baby of the family any longer.’
‘I see,’ he said, although he had no idea what she meant, and if he should be worried about it.
She held up a small pad of paper and pencil. ‘I’ve already spoken to Mr Andrews and have a meeting with a gardener of the park to assess the damage done last night, so that I will have a complete accounting to present to the boy’s family, and…’
‘And?’ he asked, growing even more concerned about what he might have unleashed.
‘And I’m going to the public house after that, to find out how much it will cost to replace the wine that Hugo drank.’
‘Oh, no, you’re not,’ he said. ‘That’s not a safe part of town for you to visit by yourself.’
‘I’ll have a driver.’
He shook his head. ‘That’s not sufficient.’
Folding her arms, she stared at him.
He stared back, despite the way Hugo’s trunk blocked his vision every now and again as the elephant sniffed at the silk flower on her hat.
‘I need that information in order to complete a full list of damages.’
Grasping hold of Hugo’s trunk, Drake held it away from his face. ‘Let someone else complete the list.’
‘No, this is something I will do.’
‘Have you always been this stubborn?’
‘Probably.’
‘Probably?’
She nodded. ‘I’ve never wanted to do something as much as I want to do this, so I truly don’t know.’
Stubborn and honest. No wonder he liked her so much. She reminded him of himself.
