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Braden laughed coarsely. “I’m afraid there has been a slight problem with your dress.”
“What do you mean?”
“I believe it fell into the fire.”
“What fire?” Her voice rose higher.
“The one in the kitchen.”
“You, sir, must have the most incompetent servants ever. How could a person ‘accidentally’ drop a dress into the fire? I knew that Mrs. Abbott didn’t like me, but this is uncalled for. I demand you do something about it.”
He moved away from the door and walked past the tub. As he did, he couldn’t help but smile when she attempted to cover herself with her hands. He sank into a chair near the window, but just far enough away that he couldn’t quite see her naked body. “I don’t believe I said it was an accident.”
“So she did it on purpose and you knew that?” she sputtered. “That woman needs to be sacked.”
“No, I told her to burn your clothing.” The poor girl slipped deeper into the water until it lapped against her chin.
“Why would you do such a thing?” she whispered.
“Lice and fleas. I will not tolerate them in my house.” While he had no reason to believe her clothing might have carried the vermin, he’d still ordered it burned. That mousey gray dress was the most hideous gown he’d ever seen on a woman.
“I do not have lice or fleas!”
He shrugged. “I wasn’t about to take the chance after seeing the conditions you were living in. I thought you were supposed to be staying with a friend.”
She looked down at the water and shook her head. “They were evicted for not paying their rent a week before I arrived. The landlord had no idea where they went.”
Braden crossed his arms over his chest. “So instead of returning to the safe
ty of Middleton Hall, you decided to stay at that disgusting inn. And in one of the most undesirable areas in London to live.”
He attempted to keep his anger under control, but her utter lack of sense only frustrated him more. How could an intelligent woman make such a foolish choice? Love, of course, he reasoned. There was no other reasonable explanation.
“I couldn’t return to the estate until I had finished what I had come here for.” She lifted her head and stared at him.
“And what was that?”
“I am done speaking of this matter. My bathwater is cooling and I would like to finish bathing before my teeth start chattering. Please leave this room.”
He rose slowly, but not before admiring her body in the tub for a brief second. “Your towel and dressing gown are on the table next to you. I will have a tray sent up to your room. Tomorrow after the dressmaker brings something she can make work for you, we shall depart for Middleton Hall.”
“I am not leaving London yet.”
“Yes, you are. I will make sure of it.” He opened the door before she could retort and walked to his room. His valet Wilson was already there, getting Braden’s evening clothes ready. The last thing he wanted to do was attend a party, but as long as he was in town, he had to try to find Jonathon. His brother loved to be around the ton.
Between Tia and Jonathon, Braden felt as if he was the only person with any sense. He understood Tia’s motivations far better than Jonathon. She thought she was in love with his brother. If she only knew him for what he truly was, she might think differently. The two months Jonathon spent at Middleton Hall this summer, he’d been a man anyone could love. But his brother couldn’t maintain that façade for long. He always returned to the habits that were ruining his life.
After dressing, Braden headed for Berkeley Square and the crush of people that even the late summer couldn’t keep away. Most of the landowners headed out to their estates to escape the heat and foul odors of London in the summer. Those who remained tended to run in a fast set, something Braden had finally outgrown.
Walking up the steps of Lady Hargrove’s town home, he wondered who the young widow had taken to replace him in her bed. Not that he cared. It was strictly a morbid curiosity.
“Well, this is quite a surprise,” she drawled as he strolled into her salon.
“Lizzie,” he said with a nod, before seizing a snifter of brandy from a passing footman. “How have you been?”
The elegant blonde strolled closer. “I have been wonderful.” She leaned in closer. “But no one can ever truly replace you in my bed. I would be more than happy to kick a young pup to the street if you wish to return.”
“I believe I will pass on that offer,” he said with a hint of disdain.
