Page 12 of A Summer Romance
“Howdareyou speak to me in such an obnoxious manner!”
“And if you think Francis will be meeting you in London, you are sadly mistaken.He will remain at Barton Manor until his wedding, under lock and key if necessary.”
There was something about Theo’s angry, intractable face, and the raw look of pain in his eyes that hurt her so much and made her furious.He thought so little of her that he assumed the worst of her in any situation.He did not know her, yet considered her a failure in every measure.If that was how he felt, then she would not dissuade him.As illogical as it was, she felt it a way to punish him for his lack of trust.
“You can’t stop me from doing as I wish,” she blurted, “and you can’t stop Francis either!”
“So you admit I can’t trust you not to run off?And I know I can’t trust Francis.”He looked at her and suddenly smiled, though there was no humour or kindness in it.
“Get in the coach, Miss Starling.You are coming with me to London so that I can keep a close watch on you.”
“I will not!”
“If you don’t, then I will pick you up and place you inside.Believe me, at this moment I am entirely capable of it.”
She said nothing, standing stubbornly on the step.Theo made a move as if to carry out his threat, and Breana made haste to scramble into the coach with an unintended squeak of alarm.The maid, Maybelle, was in there, her eyes very wide, but saying nothing.Theo followed behind, and Breana sat down in the spot farthest from Theo.
Once he had made himself comfortable, and with barely a glance at her, he tapped on the ceiling to let the coachman know they were ready to depart.
The vehicle moved forward with a jerk, then the horses quickened their pace.Breana sat in silence, shocked at what had just happened and wondering how on earth she had gotten herself into such a situation.She comforted herself with the thought that when they reached London, Theo would learn how wrong he had been.He would beg her forgiveness.That would be satisfying.
But until then…?Was she really going to allow him to continue to believe her to be such an idiot?The sensible thing to do would be to lay the truth bare before him.And she might have done so if at that moment he had not insulted her again.
“I had thoughtbetterof you, Miss Starling,” he said.“I am very disappointed.”
The anger that had begun to subside reignited, and she felt her cheeks heat.“Not as disappointed as I am in you, Mr.Norris,” she retorted.
“Miss Starling,” Maybelle hissed.“You must not speak like that to Mr.Norris.He is on his way to London to save his family and the home they live in.He is a good man.”
“Well, he is not being very good to me,” Breana retorted.Then, to her horror, her voice trembled.“Heimmediatelythought the worst without even taking the time to ask me whether it wastrue!”
There was silence as she looked out the carriage window, ignoring them both.She risked a glance at Theo and found him frowning at her—of course he was!But there was something else in his expression that made her think her words had struck home.
She relented, just a little.“Are you really on your way to London to save your family and your home?”
Theo put his hands over his face and heaved in a breath.When he lowered them, he looked… shattered.Like a man who was at the end of a tether, desperate not to fall.
“I will tell you if you tell me truthfully whether you are planning to run away with my brother.”
Maybelle gave a squeal of shock, but they ignored her.
“Of course I am not!”Breana said, her voice ringing out.
Maybelle gave a gasp.
Theo seemed to relax a little.“I am glad to hear it, Miss Starling, because Francis is not the man for you.”
“That is not very complimentary to your brother,” she said mildly.
“I love my brother,” he retorted, “but I would not trust him to make you happy.Not even for a moment.”
“Oh?And whowouldmake me happy?”Breana asked.
Theo opened his mouth, and then he closed it again.
She sighed.“I am not running away with your brother.Quite the opposite.He asked me, and I have never been more insulted in my life.That you think so little of me that you would believe me capable of such…” She stopped and took a calming breath.“It just so happens that my friend Chloe Bennett has invited me to stay with her in London and that is where I am going.”
That frown was back.“You led me to believe… You wretch.”
