Page 46 of Pursued Beyond Treachery
“I will.” Susannah smiled at him. The discomfort written across his handsome features after his sister had so abruptly ended their visit lifted.
She could not blame her for wanting to leave. John’s uncharacteristic glower would have set even the stoutest heart to trembling. What was wrong with him?
Miss Wallace curtsied and Mr. Wallace took hold of Susannah’s hand. The pressure of his fingers on hers chased away a bit of the pressure weighing on her chest. At least one man appreciated her. The knowledge soothed her wounded pride and aching heart.
Johnathan clenched his teeth. Blast Mr. Wallace and his nicely sculpted face, for it seemed to be the only thing Susannah had eyes for at the moment. When the man took her hand and kissed it, Johnathan wanted to throttle him.
But the light in Susannah’s eyes had a completely different effect, sending his heart into his shoes.
“Until we meet again, Miss Wayland.” Mr. Wallace backed away slowly, then turned and followed his sister out.
Susannah’s eyes followed him, adding so acutely to Johnathan’s pain that he was tempted to leave with the others. It was evident she held some regard for Mr. Wallace, far more than she’d ever shown for him. Who was he to stand in the way of her happiness?
As soon as the doors shut she turned on him. “Could you not have been at least a little more hospitable? The way you glowered at everyone; it is no wonder they left in a hurry.”
If she only knew his reasoning. But he could never tell her of his astonishment at finding Mr. Wallace at tea with her. The man who had stolen his dance and, it seemed, was in the process of stealing Susannah’s heart.
Regardless of his reasons he could not tell her the source of his upset. With her hands on hips and eyebrows slammed down over flashing brown eyes, she would never accept what he had to say. She might even scold him for such nonsense. Even worse, she might laugh at him.
So he chose a different truth. “His sister insulted Javenia.”
“And that gave you permission to stare her brother down like he was the one who uttered the words?” Her arms came down to her side, hands balled in fists.
“He should have kept her in check.”
Her voice rose. “Like a recalcitrant puppy. Women speak for themselves, Lord Newhurst. No one can stop that, not in the moment.”
His mind caught on the word recalcitrant, loving the way it slipped off her tongue, but her accusation hit deeper. She knew him to be a fair and compassionate man. He’d not speak ill of women, nor expect them not to speak for themselves.
He matched her volume. “Yes, but Javenia has been my friend since as early as I can remember. I will not stand by while someone demeans her and neither should Mr. Wallace. He could have corrected his sister after her first insult, but he did not.”
“And what of Mr. Roberts’s insult when he arrived?” She stepped closer to him.
“That is different.” He leaned forward.
“I understand that, but they did not.”
His breath came out quick and short; she too seemed to be struggling for control. They were standing so close he could reach out and pull her to him, and it finally occurred to him that he’d had a whole conversation without once stumbling over his words. Was frustration all it took to loosen his tongue?
One of his hands began to move forward of its own volition, the urge to hold her so strong it verged on desperation. Even in anger she was beautiful; the flash of fire lighting her cheeks and brightening her eyes.
The door opened, drawing their attention.
Eddie, Nate, Al, and Javenia walked in, then stopped. No one seemed to know where to look, their eyes landing on him and Susannah in turns.
“Are we interruptingsomething?” Eddie grinned.
Susannah skittered back.
John wanted to wipe the grin right off of Eddie’s face. The man meddled too much in affairs that weren’t his own.
“No,” he finally said. “I have business to attend to at home.” With purposeful steps he strode toward the door in a path that led him around everyone. It was not a lie. After coming acrossthe boy in the street he had a new proposition to put before Parliament.
“John, wait,” Eddie said, chasing after him.
He tried to ignore his plea, but when he stopped to collect his coat and hat, Eddie caught up with him.
“Hey, what happened back there?” He gestured with his head to the sitting room.
