His eyebrows lowered over his hazel eyes. “Very funny, miss, but I’m tired of jokes. Please go upstairs, or I’ll be forced to drag you.”
She balled a fist on her hip. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Challenging me is a very bad idea.”
“I do challenge you, sir. Now step aside and let me go.”
“I told you it was a bad idea.” He took her waist and lifted her as if she were a doll. His large hands covered her ribcage while her feet dangled over the floor. “You forced me, miss.”
“Put me down. This is most undignified.”
“I’ll put you down, but not here.” He went up the stairs flawlessly, despite the fact she wriggled and struggled in his firm grip.
She tried everything— shoving him, moving side to side like a snake to ease his grip, and squeezing herself out of his hands, but the man trapped her. He didn’t let her go, not even when they were in the upstairs hallway.
“What is happening?” A theatre host stared at them in horror. “Unhand the lady immediately.”
“He kidnapped me.” Angeline shrugged herself free from the man’s steely grip. Or rather, the brute let her go.
“I have orders,” the brute said. “His Lordship, the Earl of Havisham, ordered me to make sure this lady waits outside of his box. I’m only doing my job, sir.”
Oh, no. The theatre host lost his outraged air. Just hearing the name of an earl had been enough to change his demeanour.
“Well, in that case.” The theatre host moved out of the way. “Continue.”
“I can’t believe it.” The rest of her protest was cut off by the brute grabbing her by the waist again. “This is utterly… I can’t… I can’t…”
“Say something that makes sense?” Too much amusement rang in his voice.
“You’re incredibly rude.”
“You’re breaking my heart, miss.” He clicked his tongue. “You ran. What was I supposed to do? London is dangerous at night. You can’t leave unchaperoned.”
She scoffed once he put her down in front of His Blasted Lordship’s door. She folded her arms over her chest. “And now?”
He stood next to her, silent.
She paced around. “You wouldn’t have caught me if you hadn’t cheated. Obviously, I’m faster. You’re too big to be quick.”
He shot her a questioning gaze.
“People with a lot of muscles are slower than petite people. It’s science.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
“This is unfair. Only because a capricious earl gives an order, I must stay here with you.”
For the first time, his features softened a tiny fraction. “Those who hold the power can command us. I don’t make the rules. You don’t make the rules. Time will go faster if you accept this simple truth.”
“Absurd. Anyhow, in a fair race I’d beat you.” Her mouth twitched as a pungent smell like that of burning paint and fabric reached her nostrils.
He straightened, staring at a point over her head. “Run.”
“Do you want to chase me again? I’m game.”
“No, run. Fire.” He wrapped his arms around her again and moved away from the door before shoving it open. “Fire!” He let her go and disappeared inside.
Heavens. He was right. Dark smoke crept from the service stairs they’d just come from. Her eyes watered as the air turned acrid and grey.
