Page 9 of A Match Made in London
“I suppose. He seems decent enough.”
“And are they close?”
Rosalind stared at him. Where was he was going with this? The man looked as serious as she had ever seen him. He watched the other couple, a small frown on his face. Why, he looked almost concerned.
In a flash she recalled his peculiar tension with Mr. Marlow mere minutes ago, and she knew. Of course he would be concerned. If he had nefarious plans for Miss Gladstow, wouldn’t he see the sudden appearance of a new male in town, one who had a previous connection to Miss Gladstow, as a threat?
“You are jealous,” she blurted.
“What? No! Why on earth would I be jealous?”
“Please, Sir Tristan,” she scoffed, even as she tugged on his arm to get him moving again. Blessedly he did not balk, and they were soon following the other couple. “You needn’t play games with me. I know you mean to have your way with Miss Gladstow.”
“Have my way with her?” The words no doubt came out much louder than he planned, for he colored and glanced around before returning his attention to Rosalind. “Are you mad? What put such an outlandish idea into your head?”
She gave him a disgusted glance. “You must think me simple. Why else would you wish to seek Miss Gladstow out at every turn?”
“Miss Merriweather,” he chided softly, “that is positively unkind of you.”
It was Rosalind’s turn to flush. “I did not mean to imply that Miss Gladstow is unworthy of your attentions.”
“Didn’t you?”
“No! I like Miss Gladstow very much. She is a sweet girl.”
“Yet you do not think enough of her to believe I could wish to be in her company for honorable reasons.”
Rosalind dug her fingers into the wool sleeve of his leaf green coat and gave a small, unladylike growl. “You are putting words in my mouth.”
“You are doing a fine enough job of that, Miss Merriweather,” he murmured. “You certainly don’t need my help.”
Was that amusement in his voice? She shot a disgruntled look up at him. Sure enough, his lips were tight at the corners, as if he were fighting back a smile. “You are playing with me, sir,” she accused.
“I would never.”
“That is utter rubbish. I know men like you, Sir Tristan. Rather, I knowofmen like you. Playing with people’s emotions to make yourself feel superior, taking advantage of those less fortunate than you. Ruining lives along the way and not caring who you hurt.”
The amusement fell from his face as if she had struck him. His eyes turned somber and cold. “That is the second time you have disparaged my honor, madam, by implying I would hurt an innocent. That is not at all who I am and I would thank you to never again insinuate it.”
A trickle of trepidation worked up her spine. He was no longer the carefree rake, but a formidable man. She had never before noticed how large he was.
But, being Rosalind, she could not let the entire thing go because he happened to grow angry with her. “You realize, of course, why I must question your intentions.”
The most aggravated sigh she had ever heard issued from Sir Tristan’s chiseled lips. And that was saying something, as she had heard her fair share of sighs, of all types. He closed his eyes, his face tipping to the sky as if he were praying for divine help, before he leveled a weary look on her. “You really are not going to let it go, are you?”
“I’m afraid not,” she said with utter candor.
“Is that why you made your comment earlier about it being a ‘coincidence’ that I happen to be going to Lord and Lady Jasper’s ball tonight?”
Damn it, but she had forgotten about that ill-advised slip of the tongue. And of course the man would not let it go. She sighed in resignation. “Oh, I’m sure you heard me right. It is me, after all, with a tongue like a runaway horse.” She waved a hand in front of her mouth. “Nothing to block what comes out, I’m afraid. My lips are apparently utterly useless in that regard.”
It was several seconds before she became aware that he was uncommonly silent, and more seconds after that before she noticed that his gaze had gone intent and hot. And centered on her mouth.
Her entire body went warm, aching in the strangest places. Unnerved, she quickly looked away. There had been something in his eyes that had at once confused and excited her.
His arm was tense under her suddenly sensitive fingers. He cleared his throat several times before speaking again, though when he did his voice was oddly hoarse.
“You were saying about coincidences?”
