Chapter 15 #2
Having grown up in the slums of the East End, Vincent knew how to fight dirty if necessary, and he was exceptionally good with a knife.
As if the slums hadn’t been enough of a trial for his cousin, Vincent had been thrown from his horse a few years ago, taking a severe blow to his head.
Knocked unconscious, his cousin had awoken the next day to find himself almost completely deaf.
Although his speech was unaffected, Vincent’s hearing loss was substantial, which the doctors said would most likely worsen as he aged until he could hear nothing at all.
For the moment, his cousin’s hearing in quiet environments allowed him to hear someone if they spoke loud enough.
But in crowds such as this, his hearing was non-existent.
Despite the stigma of using sign language in public by the Marlborough Set, the entire family had learned how to use sign language with discretion to make it easier to communicate with his cousin.
Theo glanced at Genevieve on the dance floor, then turned back to Vincent.
“I don’t recognize him. Do you?” Theo signed the question, and his cousin nodded. Bending his head slightly, Vincent murmured.
“Fielding said he’s the Duke of Mowbray’s nephew, and goes by the name Arthur Warrington. But by all accounts, gossip says he’s the Duke’s bastard grandson. ”
“Grandson,” Theo exclaimed softly, before remembering it was unlikely Vincent could have heard him in the noisy ballroom, and repeated himself in sign language. Vincent’s brow furrowed with worry as he nodded.
Tension tightened Theo’s muscles. Alarmed, Theo jerked his head toward the dance floor.
The Duke had ruined a number of young women in his prime.
If Warrington was anything like his grandfather, no unmarried woman was safe.
Even though all the male members of the family stood guard over Genevieve and the other unmarried women in the family at events, there were still a number of disreputable men whose attention could do harm to their reputation.
Theo knew Genevieve was more than capable of avoiding any appearance of impropriety when in polite Society.
But if Warrington was wily enough, he might take Genevieve by surprise.
His gaze searched the crowd of dancers, and his heart slammed into his chest when he didn’t see her.
As if aware of Theo’s concern, Vincent nudged him a few seconds later.
“There she is.”
His cousin bobbed his head toward one side of the dance floor where Theo caught sight of Warrington guiding Genevieve around the floor. Relieved, he relaxed slightly.
“If the man is anything like his grandfather, we don’t want to let him create any appearance of impropriety where Genevieve’s reputation is concerned. She might be able to take care of herself, but Ansbach caught her by surprise a few weeks ago,” Theo signed.
“Agreed. It’s my fault I didn’t escort her out onto the patio that night,” Vincent said with more than a hint of remorse and frustration.
“You’re not to blame for Ansbach’s behavior, and we all know how persuasive and stubborn Genevieve can be.” Theo met his cousin’s gaze steadily. A look of gratitude swept across Vincent’s face as Theo gave his cousin a gentle, reassuring pat on the back.
“Jamie and Charles are here tonight. I’ll find them and sound the alarm as to the potential threat Warrington poses to Genevieve and other ladies in the family.”
“While you’re doing that, I’ll see to it our willful cousin knows Warrington might prove to be more dangerous than her other admirers.”
The moment Theo finished signing his reply, Vincent bobbed his head and one corner of his mouth tipped upward.
“I don’t envy you that task. She’s been hell bent on avoiding you for the past couple of weeks, and when she is forced to speak with you, it’s like a winter day at Callander Abbey,” Vincent murmured with a hint of speculation in his voice.
“I’ve no idea what happened between the two of you, but good luck getting her to even listen to you. ”
With that final observation, Vincent turned away and set out to find their cousins. The music rose toward a rousing finish, and Theo made his way to the edge of the dance floor, timing it so he could claim Genevieve as his partner for the next song.
As he stepped forward, he heard Warrington invite Genevieve to enjoy the cooler temperatures on the patio. Theo sucked in a breath of outrage and stepped forward to counter Warrington’s improper invitation.
“I believe that would be inappropriate, and could damage Miss Rockwood’s reputation.” Theo made certain his voice was cold and ruthless as the man’s head turned to meet Theo’s icy glare. With a slight bow, Warrington offered him a polite smile.
“But of course. Forgive me, Lord Selbourne,” the man apologized, although Theo saw the calculated gleam in Warrington’s eyes. “I wasn’t thinking straight. Miss Rockwood has bewitched me with her beauty and charming personality.”
“Of that I’ve little doubt, Warrington,” Theo said with frigid politeness.
“You know my name,” the man said as his eyebrows arched with what might have been surprise. Theo suspected otherwise the moment Warrington narrowed his eyes in assessment.
“The Rockwoods are familiar with every man seeking the company of any unmarried ladies in our family.”
“I see.”
“I’m glad that you do,” Theo’s low response held a menacing note the man could only take as a threat of retribution if he chose to ignore the warning. “If you’ll excuse us, Genevieve owes me a dance.”
Theo offered his hand to Genevieve, who eyed him with cold antipathy as she placed her hand in his.
Electricity shot up along his arm. The strength of it ignited a fire along every nerve ending in his body.
He swallowed the knot that was trying to close his throat.
The moment Theo pulled Genevieve into his arms, he felt her shudder, and he looked down at her, but she avoided his gaze, a blasé expression on her face.
“Warrington’s dangerous. You’re to stay away from him. And I don’t ever want you to be alone with him. Is that understood?” At his harsh order, Genevieve grew ridged in his arms, and scowled up at him.
“Is that because he’s truly dangerous, or is there some other reason for your autocratic command.” The sarcastic reply made Theo grunt with irritation.
“Vincent says he’s the Duke of Mowbray’s bastard grandson.
We both agreed that if Warrington’s anything at all like his grandfather, ruining a woman is the least harm he can do,” Theo bit out in a grim voice.
“And if he’s involved in Peter’s death, that makes him all the more dangerous. Now then, do I need to repeat myself?”
“No, I’ll be careful to avoid him.”
Genevieve’s placid agreement sent a rush of relief through him, and he closed his eyes for a brief instant, thankful that she hadn’t argued with him. Theo skillfully guided her past a couple in their way, his gaze returning to her face to see her blasé expression had fallen back into place.
Despite her chilly manner, holding her in his arms again made Theo feel as if he’d been given an unexpected gift.
Soft curves warmed his body, and unable to help himself, he pulled her closer.
She stiffened, but didn’t protest. Silence weighed down the air between them as Theo guided Genevieve around the floor in time to the music.
When it was apparent she wasn’t going to initiate the conversation, Theo cleared his throat.
“You’ve been avoiding me.”
“One cannot avoid that which doesn’t exist, Lord Selbourne.” Cold, abrupt, and emotionless, her words were as sharp as a knife slicing into him. It was as if they were strangers, and Genevieve had taken an instant dislike to him.
“In other words, you’re trying to convince yourself that you don’t love me,” he murmured, hoping to rattle her.
“I’m not trying to convince myself of anything.”
Genevieve’s indifferent shrug of her shoulders called his bluff. Icicles could have been hanging in the air between them. Once more, he pushed to get a reaction from her.
“So, you’re not denying you love me.”
“I never loved you.”
Ice coated every word falling from her lips, and the chilly indifference on her face made her lie sound far too much like a harsh, genuine truth. Pain slammed into him as Genevieve’s denial caused an invisible band of fire to wrap around his chest.
If hurting him had been her intention, she’d succeeded. The strength of Theo’s reaction made his fingers unintentionally dig into her waist at what he knew was a lie. The moment she winced with discomfort, he relaxed his hand.
“It's now obvious we need to have a private conversation.” The grim note running through his words caused Genevieve’s impassive mask to slip for a second before it was in place again.
“We’ve said all that needs to be said, Lord Selbourne.” Her frost-filled words angered him as he stared down at her.
“No, there’s a great deal more to say, and I’ll be damned if I do it in public.”
“I told you we were done, my lord. I suggest you accept that fact, because I want nothing more to do with you.”
The cold, icy finality in her reply chilled him. He studied her features for a long moment, trying to see beneath the polite, composed mask she wore. Even her gaze was one of detached interest, and it was almost as if she were looking straight through him.
He could have been dancing with an automation for all the enthusiasm she displayed.
Theo’s mouth tightened with angry determination.
She was running again, and he didn’t know why.
But he wasn’t about to let her run from what they shared.
Somehow, he needed to crack her icy demeanor and reach the woman he knew existed behind the cold facade.