Page 106 of Catching Lady Theo
Even though it was still light, the gardens were decorated with lanterns. A great many people were strolling around. Lady Giselle was there with one or two of her friends. Chandos was speaking with St. Albans. She did not want to see him before she had got herself under control. Especially now. She took a step forward to turn down another path, when she felt a shoe on her leg. The next thing she knew she was falling forward, then strong arms caught her, bringing her to a hard chest. A scent of clean man and lemon filled her senses.
Chandos! No!This could not be happening.
Gasps sounded from ladies who must have been nearby.
He shifted her so that she was by his side. His arm still tightly around her. Binding her to his side. “Excuse us. Lady Theo has just agreed to become my wife.” She tried to wiggle free, and his breath caressed her ear. “Stop. We don’t want a scene.”
He was right. The only thing to do was to come up with a way out of this. Theo stood straighter, turned toward him, but could not look at his face. She patted his chest. “Do not worry. I know you do not wish to wed. I will think of a way out of this.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Not wish to wed! All Leo had been doing this Season was trying to work out a way to marry Theo. Any brief thought he’d had that this would make taking Theo as his wife easier died a swift death. Bloody hellhounds. He’d been certain, more than certain, convinced that Theo loved him. He was going to ring Lady Giselle’s neck. First, she tries to compromise him, now this. What he didn’t understand was why trip Theo? Didn’t the stupid chit know he would save her from falling? Or hadn’t she seen him? “We can discuss this later. Let’s go back inside.”
“I want to go home.” Her tone was suddenly shaky, as if she was close to crying.
Something was wrong, but what? “We must wait. Let’s go find Worthington and your sister.”
Theo nodded. He led her back to the ballroom. As soon as he joined her family, he told them what had happened. “Naturally, several ladies came upon us just after I caught Theo. I declared that we were engaged to be married.”
“She tripped Theo near the fountain?” There was a sense of urgency in Worthington’s tone.
“Yes. If I hadn’t been there, she could have been badly hurt.” Leo swore to himself.
“This is not the way I wished for this to happen.” Worthington’s countenance was a mask of politeness.
“You’re not the only one.” He glanced at Theo, who was with Charlotte and Alice. “She told me that she would think of a way for me not to have to marry her.” Leo had to find a way to change her mind.
“Of course she did. She doesn’t think you want to wed,” Kenilworth said.
“It was that stupid remark I made about not wanting to meet young ladies.” Leo had been berating himself for saying that ever since he’d done it. “I think she had been crying. But I don’t know why or actually when, except that it was before she was tripped.”
“We’re going to have to find out what, if anything, is wrong,” Worthington said. “Theo rarely cries.”
“She wants to go home.” Leo wanted to accompany her, but she did not want to have anything to do with him.
“I doubt she’s going to be able to do that now.” Worthington raised a brow. “We’re about to have company.”
Leo glanced in the direction in which Worthington was looking to see Lady Howe bearing down on them. “Damn. She’ll want an announcement.”
“She will,” Worthington agreed.
“I’ll get her.” Kenilworth turned and walked to where Theo was with her sisters.
“My lady”—Sarah Pettigrew, who had been standing nearby, drew Lady Worthington aside—“there is something I must tell you.”
“Come over here and we can speak,” her ladyship said as she and Sarah started to walk away. “In the ladies’ room there were two …”
Sarah’s tone dropped and Leo couldn’t hear anything else. He would have to discover what she’d said to Lady Worthington. It might have something to do with Theo’s reaction to him just now.
Kenilworth returned with his wife, Alice, and Theo.
“My lady.” Lady Howe smiled broadly at Theo. “And your grace. I understand there is an announcement to be made.”
Theo assumed a polite mask. Yet, Leo could see the tension in her shoulders.
“There is.” Worthington smiled easily.
The rest of her family gathered around them. Lady Worthington finished speaking with Sarah and joined the group. She also wore a polite mask.
