Page 42 of An Affair with a Notorious Heiress
“They’ve a bit of the uncivilized in them,” Scout said.
Rexton certainly seemed uncivilized when he let his fist fly—and when he’d taken her mouth. She did wish she wouldn’t grow warm with the reminder of how soft but talented his lips had seemed during the short time they were upon hers.
“Well, if it’s not the Swindler twins.”
Tillie jerked her attention to the door, not at all pleased with the momentary gladness that swept through her at the sight of Rexton. She was angry with him, and yet his presence was a welcomed relief.
“Oh, Tillie!” Gina rushed past him and fell at her feet, with a swath of skirts circling her, and took Tillie’s hand. “I heard what happened. Are you all right?”
“No worse for wear.”
“Hello, Rex,” Scout and Skye said in unison. Obviously their relationship with Rexton was more intimate than she’d realized if they addressed him so informally. She didn’t like that she wondered exactly how intimate they might have been.
“What sort of mischief are you getting into now?” he asked.
“Just mending a frock,” Skye said, patting Tillie’s shoulder before moving away. Gina immediately replaced her, squeezing Tillie’s hand in reassurance.
“It was our pleasure to meet you,” Scout said.
“I appreciate your assistance,” Tillie told them.
“We’re sorry the assistance was needed,” Skye said. “Rest assured Drake Darling will not be at all happy there was an incident. Are you sure you don’t want to tell us who the fellow was?”
“I’m taking care of the matter,” Rexton said.
“I rather thought so,” Scout said. “I just wanted confirmation.”
“You could have asked me.”
“But it’s so much more fun to vex you.”
Yes, they certainly were more familiar with him than Tillie had thought. As they were leaving, they stopped and said something to Rexton which made him laugh easily. She wondered at the exact nature of their relationship, diligently fought back the envy that wanted to raise its ugly head. The two ladies quit the room, and Tillie took some unwanted and unwarranted consolation in the fact he didn’t watch them go, but rather returned his focus to her with an intensity that implied she’d never not been the object of his attention.
“Shall we be away from this place?” he asked quietly.
“Yes, let’s,” Gina said, jumping to her feet before plopping back onto the lounge. “If you’re up to it. We can wait a bit longer so you can recover.”
“I’m perfectly fine.” To prove her point, she rose to her feet. He stepped nearer as though to assist, and she held up a hand. “I don’t require your support.”
If she didn’t know better, judging by the sorrow that crossed his features, she’d have thought she lanced his heart. “Let’s be off then,” he said quietly.
He didn’t offer Gina his arm, and Tillie might have chastised him for it, but she saw no point in making him give her sister more reasons to believe he favored her. Not that Gina was likely to give up her stranglehold on Tillie’s hand. He escorted them to the door, swung it open, and led them onto the street.
A gentleman decked out in the Dragons’ livery stood there. Rexton spoke to him, and the man dashed off.
“He’ll fetch our carriage,” Rexton told them, his gaze wandering over her in search of evidence that she’d spoken false regarding her well-being.
“You seem awfully tense for someone who claims to be unharmed,” Gina said.
“It’ll be explained when we get home.”
“Has it anything to do with the fact Rexton isn’t courting me?”
She jerked her attention to Gina. “You know?”
She nodded. “He told me before we came for you. I’m all right with it, Tillie. To be honest, I figured out rather early on that his interest is in you.”
“He has no interest in me.”
