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Theo glared at him "I most certainly can Maydrop, if you would have one of the footrateful"

"Don’t be foolish," James said "They’ll put out special editions just to discuss your cruelty in leaving ht in London Not to mention the fact that they’ll follow you to the theater like a flock of crows descending on a dead cow"

"A dead cow," Theo repeated

"I must concur with His Grace’s appraisal," Maydrop put in "Any glimpse of either of you would exacerbate this unfortunate state of affairs I’ve had to post a footman in the attic to make certain that no one climbs down into the servants’ quarters from the roof"

Theo sed She suddenly felt as if it was all too ht," Ja, he scooped her up in his ar up the stairs

Theo opened herabout being carried up the steps that felt very safe "You mustn’t think you canthat she ought to protest

"I will if I wish," Ja hard

"I’ into life again "You hat if you want? Toss me around like a sack of flour? Stroll back into the house and act as if you left a week ago? What makes you think that you can treat me so cavalierly?"

He looked down at her with a steady, unreadable gaze

"I’ stupid

He nodded "Theo May I just mention that I do not find it pleasurable to address my wife by a man’s name?"

"No, you may not," she said James pushed open the door to her bedchamber with his shoulder, and then put her on her feet

Then he backed up and gave her an easy sown to dinner?"

She narrowed her eyes "Why?"

"You look ravishing" The coave her an odd twist in her stomach How could this man, who looked like a barbarian, be so urbane?

She hated it

But she ht wear the dress to dinner

Twenty-six

James walked downstairs, but he couldn’t make himself return to the library He didn’t want to write letters; he wanted to throw his wife onto the bed and slide a hand under the shi and

He shook his head and readjusted his breeches All things considered, he’d ed a decent i that he felt like a ragingly possessive pirate without a shred of sophistication to his name