Page 35 (1/2)

"Because," he bit out, his temper badly strained, "you are now my responsibility"

"That is quite theI have ever encountered In my opinion--"

"You have too many opinions," he snapped

Henry's an to pace the room "Our situation cannot remain as such You cannot continue to carry on like a co to have to teach you some manners We'll have to--"

"I cannot believe your hypocrisy!" she burst out "It was all very well for e freak when I was just an acquaintance, but now that I'm your responsibility--"

Her words died a swift death, for Dunford had grabbed her by the shoulders and pinned her against the wall "If you call yourself a freak one erous tone, "for the love of God I will not be held responsible for ht she could see the barely leashed fury in his eyes, and she gulped with a healthy dose of fear Still, she had never been terribly prudent, and so she continued, albeit in a much lower voice "It does not reflect well upon your character that you did not care about my reputation up to this point Or does your concern extend only to your wards, not your friends?"

"Henry," he said, ain his neck, "I think the ti"

"Is that an order, oh, dear guardian?"

He took a very deep breath before replying "There is a difference between guardian and friend, although I hope I may be both to you"

"I think I liked you better when you were just erently

"I expect that will be so"

"I expect that will be so," sheto hide her ire

Dunford's eyes began to search the rooaze fell upon her bed, and he blinked, suddenly realizing what an idiot heon about propriety when he was standing here in her bedroom, of all places He looked over at Henry and finally noticed she earing her dressing gown--her dressing gown! And it was frayed and torn in places and showed altogether too aze to her face Her mouth was claht that he'd really like to kiss her again, harder and faster this ti for her, and he realized for the first time what a thin line there was between fury and desire He wanted to dousted with hiripped the doorknob He was going to have to get out of this house fast Yanking the door open, he turned to her and said, "We will discuss this further in the "

"I expect we shall"

Later Henry reflected that it was probably for the best that he'd left the roo her retort She didn't think he'd been desirous of a reply

Chapter 9