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His smile broadened, sending a burst of warmth in Theo’s direction, eyes lingering over her face where her hated spectacles, in all their metal and glass glory, sat on her nose.
“I realize you aren’t good at subtle hints to leave, my lord. So, allow me to be blunt.” She pointed at the door with her paintbrush. Theo really wasn’t in the mood for Haven’s dubious charm, not after suffering through the evening at Lady Molsin’s and the delightful small items printed about her in the gossip columns since then. She wondered if he’d seen them.
She returned her attention to the park.
This morning’s paper had contained a simply delightful item about Theo and provided all the proof she needed that Lady Molsin’s efforts had been in vain. Among the reports of gowns and balls, there had been a mention of the reckless nature of Theodosia Barrington. A girl who had gotten exactly what she deserved after her brazen pursuit of Lord Blythe. Accompanying this thinly veiled attack on Theo’s character had been a satirical drawing depicting Theo popping out from behind a potted fern to surprise Blythe, only to find herself faced with Haven. Piles of gold coins were falling from beneath Theo’s skirts as Haven salivated.
The artist hadn’t even been very good.
Silly. Frivolous. Reckless. Brazen. All things Theodosia had never thought would ever be said about her. It was humiliating and made Theo wish to stow away on the first ship to America and beg sanctuary from Leo, who was still in New York.
“I’m surprised Pith let you into the house,” she said as he took a spot near the window. “Or showed you up to my studio.” Theo turned to face him. “He doesn’t like you. Nor does my brother. I’m sure we’ll be adding to the list as time goes on.”
The late afternoon sun sifted through the russet waves of Haven’s hair as he came closer. The color was like maple leaves in autumn that had fallen to cover the ground, tickling your ankles when you rushed through them. The urge to paint him became stronger. Her fingers twitched against the brush.
“Your butler is a menace. Phaedra let me in.”
Theo considered her younger sister nothing short of traitorous. Phaedra had formed an attachment to Haven, informing the family over dinner just the other night that he had promised to practice fencing with her once she’d taken proper lessons. Not one to be put off the slightest that the daughter of a duke shouldn’t be fencing, Phaedra had requested that Tony find a fencing instructor for her as soon as possible. And she was giving up the violin. A collective sigh of relief had flooded the table. Phaedra’s playing of the violin tortured the ears. She’d started out well enough, but instead of improvement, her mastery of the instrument had gone in the other direction.
Theo supposed the Barringtons all owed Haven some thanks for his intervention.
“If she runs off to become a pirate, we will all blame you.” Her reply was sharp. She was still thinking of that blasted drawing in the papers. Had Haven seen it? Maybe that was what had finally made him come to see her. Mutual embarrassment.
“You’reincrediblyhostile this afternoon,” Haven said quietly. “More so than usual.” He was standing several feet away from her, facing the view of the park, and made no move to come closer. “I should have called sooner.”
“It is of no consequence, my lord. I’m hopeful our marriage will continue in much the same vein. Avoidance. If only you had ignored my miniature that night in Blythe’s study, we could continue to be nothing more than passing acquaintances. Think of how lovely that would have been.”
“We’ve never been just passing acquaintances,” he said. “Not when I kissed you at Granby’s house party. Not in Blythe’s study. Certainly not now.”
“Compromised by a marquess of questionable reputation. Had I known during that stupid house party what my future would be, I might have avoided you altogether. At the very least, when we played bowls, I might have tossed one at your head.”
“Bloodthirsty.” He watched her closely. “I agree on the impoverishment, Theodosia. You behave as if it is some great secret. And my reputation may yet survive marriage to you.”
Theo couldfeelher nostrils flare. That had never happened to her before. “You would have takenanychance to compromise a girl you came acrossifher dowry was rich enough. I fell into your lap like a ripe plum.” She pushed the hated spectacles further up her nose, wanting to rip them from her face.
“But not a spoiled one.” The sides of his mouth lifted. “Is there a point to this conversation?”
“Does my humiliation amuse you?”
“Dramaticandhostile today.”
Theo jerked back, irritated beyond belief. He behaved as if her life were all some great joke. “And you wonder why I prefer Blythe.”
“Actually, I don’t.” His jaw hardened at the mention of Blythe.
Theo traced the line of his torso, her gaze moving over the broad chest to the worn leather of his riding breeches. The corded bands of muscle in his thighs were visible, rippling beneath the surface of the leather, leaving little to the imagination. And Theo’s imagination was already quite vivid in regards to Haven. She took in his boots. Old. Scuffed. Worn. Somehow that only enhanced his appeal.
Her stomach made a soft flip, muddling her insides. Exactly what she wished to avoid.
Focus on your anger, Theo.
“If you are done assessing me—”
“I was not. Assessing you, that is. I’ve seen you more than enough, my lord.”
Haven cocked his head and turned to her, the moss green of his eyes contrasting dramatically with the coat and russet hair. There was a roughness to Haven, a sense of something dark and barely contained, waiting to burst forth. Theo could feel it coiling around her.
“You are put out, Theodosia, because I haven’t called upon you since Lady Molsin’s.”
