Page 14 of The Right to Remain Single

“He won’t if Brother Antoine manages to exorcise him,” James said grimly. Stubborn woman. Since she didn’t want to be beholden to him, he would have to make it appear just the opposite.

“I’d rather not have to leave so soon,” he said. “I’m not welcome at home just now because I refused to court one of my father’s heiresses. It’s a chilly, two-day ride to Colin’s, and it’s almost Christmas. Kindly take pity on me and allow me to stay.”

Her expression made it perfectly clear that she recognized this tactic for what it was. “You leave me no choice.” Then she took a deep breath. “Thank you.”

Chapter Four

In the afternoon, Mick, the groom, and Joey, the footman went out to gather greenery to decorate the house for Christmas. “Let’s go help them,” James said to Thomasina.

She wrinkled her nose. “It doesn’t feel much like Christmas, what with Samuel here, and that monk determined to exorcise Max.”

“Forget them. We’ll do our best to bring the Christmas spirit into the house.”

She thought for a moment. “Martha should be safe enough, for Mrs. Day won’t send her upstairs on her own while Cousin Sam is here.”

This was exactly the problem he intended to discuss.

“I’ll fetch my cloak.” She hastened upstairs as if she were pursued. James kept an eye on Furbelow, making damned certain she wasn’t.

They took two baskets from the kitchen and stepped out into the garden. The snow had melted on the gravel paths, but judging by the leaden sky, it would snow again tonight. Ahead of them, Joey clipped boughs of holly, whilst Mick tugged long stems of ivy from the garden wall.

James came to a halt well out of earshot. “Mr. Furbelow has done far more than ogle you.” It was a statement, not a question.

She gasped, eyes wide and unhappy.

“I beg your pardon, Miss Warren, but considering our, er, discussion of many years ago, I think you and I need not bother with the usual niceties. We can speak frankly with one another, can we not?”

“He didn’t ruin me,” she whispered, turning away. “I swear he didn’t.”

“That’s not what I meant to imply,” he said. “But it was obvious to me that he has tried, and that you didn’t tell your father.”

Her throat convulsed. “I couldn’t risk upsetting him. His health has deteriorated steadily over the past several years. Now, he can’t breathe when he becomes enraged. I fear for his life.”

James nodded.

“I wondered if it was my punishment for asking you to ruin me,” she said.

“I beg your pardon?”

“When Sam tried to—to force me,” she explained. “I thought it was my fault.”

“What nonsense,” James said. “He’s an unrepentant lecher.”

“I know, but it was reprehensible of me to approach you that way. I thought I was getting my just deserts.”

He gazed down at her sweet, unhappy face, and his heart twisted. “Don’t ever let yourself think like that. What you deserved, and still deserve, is the right to make your own decisions about whether to take a husband, a lover, or neither.” He smiled at her. “I was greatly flattered by your offer.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You were?”

“A beautiful young lady wanted to go to bed with me. How could I help but wish to do so?”

She blushed. “But you looked so…so furious!”

“Because I couldn’t accept.”

“Oh.” That rosy blush deepened. “Whereas I thought that you—” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”

He didn’t need clarification. His refusal had hurt and embarrassed her. He was no stranger to such emotions, what with his father endlessly finding fault with him, usually in the presence of others.