Page 11 of A Summer Romance
“Yes, yes,” Theo said.“I agree entirely.”
Maybelle huffed and subsided into her corner.
The coach clattered out of the gates of Barton Manor, and he sincerely hoped it would not be for the last time.If only his father had seen reason earlier, or he had been more forceful, or they had never fallen into this fix in the first place.
But there was no point in wishing for things that might have been.He had to deal with the here and now.
And the first thing he needed to deal with was Breana Starling.
Chapter six
SIX
Breana had been waiting for what seemed ages while Will paced about next to her impatiently.The coach was running late.She sat on her trunk, which lay at the road’s edge, tapping her foot.
Just then, she felt a rumble through the soles of her shoes and saw the coach looming out of the fading light.
“At last,” Will muttered.
The coach began to slow and then to stop next to them.Except it wasn’t the stage to London after all, but something smaller and with only the coachman on the box in front of the four horses.Will strode to the door as it opened.
“Theodore?”he said, surprised.
Breana felt a little jolt go through her.She took a step toward her brother as Theo’s large form descended from the coach.It was indeed Theodore Norris, complete with his usual frown.His gaze settled on Breana, and she could see once again that he was not happy with her.
“Will.Miss Starling,” he said sombrely.“I am on my way to London.”
Will glanced back at Breana.“My sister is catching the stagecoach to London,” he said.“It is running late, which is inconvenient for me.I had a meeting with some tenants about…” He shook his head.“Never mind.”
Theo gave her a searching look.“Miss Starling is going to London?”
“Yes, she is going to…” Will started to explain, but he was cut off.
“Perhaps I can be of service,” Theo said.“If you would entrust your sister to me for the journey?My vehicle is far more comfortable, and she will reach her destination much sooner.”
Will looked surprised, but no more than Breana.They exchanged a look.“Thank you, Theo, but I’m afraid I could not let her go without a chaperone,” he said awkwardly.
“My mother’s maid, Maybelle, is leaving Barton Manor.She is inside the coach and can act as chaperone.”
How fortuitous, Breana thought.But there was something about the way in which Theo looked at her that made her uneasy.As if she had done something wrong and he was waiting for her to admit it.
“Well then, that is a stroke of luck!”Will said, sounding relieved.“The stage is so late it may well have broken down.”
Breana wanted to tell him she’d prefer to take the stage, no matter how late it was, or how crowded and slow and rattly, but he was already shaking Theo’s hand.He returned to give Breana a stern look and said in a low voice, “Behave yourself in London.”
She found that insulting, but Theo was listening and so she had to pretend to be uncharacteristically subdued.Will climbed into the gig and headed back to Starling Hall, leaving her standing in the road, her trunk at her feet, and Theodore Norris holding the coach door open.
The coachman climbed down and was retrieving her trunk.There was nothing for it but to graciously enter the coach.But Theo stopped her in a gruff, angry voice.
“What on earth are you thinking?You are acting in the most reckless and foolish way imaginable.”
“W-what?”she managed.
“Francis told me about your plans.I was coming to Starling Hall even though I could not believe you would be sofoolish, yet here you are.Have you lied to your brother too?”
To her surprise, Theo’s harsh words hurt her deeply.Tears stung her eyes, but anger dried them up again.“You know nothing.I am not—”
“Get in, Miss Starling.I am in a hurry.”
