Page 50 of Her Scandalous Pursuit

“Good. Then we are agreed.” Thisbe went back to his side, linking her arm through his, and finally let herself look at Desmond.

He was still standing in the same spot watching her, his eyes avid on her face—or, at least, one eye, for the other was rapidly swelling shut. The skin around that eye was red, and there was another spot like it near his mouth; they would both soon be black-and-blue. His lip was split and trickling blood, but it was the cut by his eyebrow that had streamed blood down the side of his face.

Thisbe’s stomach clenched, and she had to fight back tears at the sight of the damage Theo had done to Desmond. She wanted to tend to him, to wash away the blood and fuss over him. At the same time, she was stabbed by a longing so fierce she could hardly bear it. His tousled dark hair, his long lean frame, his face, so familiar and yet so lost to her. And the longing in his eyes as he looked at her... How could he have cut himself off from her?

She willed him to come forward, to reach for her, even to take one step toward her. She waited for one long, aching moment, then said hoarsely, “I’m sorry, Desmond. I apologize for my brother.”

He shook his head. “I understand.”

“Come on, let’s go.” Theo turned away, pulling Thisbe along with him, and she didn’t resist.

The crowd melted back as they walked up the aisle between the tables.

“The bloody bastard wouldn’t even fight back,” Theo grumbled.

“Perhaps he has more sense than you.”

“I doubt that, or he wouldn’t have given you up.”

Thisbe smiled and gave his arm a little bump with her shoulder. “Thank you for that.” She gestured toward the partially hanging curtain between the shop and the back. “I take it you’re to blame for that.”

“I was in a hurry.”

A man stood blocking the front door, arms crossed and a long carriage whip resting inside his elbow. “I want me money, missy. First ye run out in front of me and scare my team half to death, and then ye bolt without paying.”

Theo raised a sardonic eyebrow at Thisbe, and she echoed, “I was in a hurry.”

Theo looked coolly at the man, who began to fidget under his gaze. “I trust you were not planning to use that whip on a young lady.”

“What? No. I just... I mean...” He began to stammer.

“Never mind.” He waved the man out the door. “Take us home, and I promise I’ll make up for your troubles.”

The driver doffed his hat to him and hustled back to his coach. Theo climbed into the hack after Thisbe and settled down beside her. “Where’s the carriage? Did you send it home?”

“No. Thompkins wanted to take me, but it would have taken too long, so I got the address from him and took a hack.”

“How did he know this address?”

Theo shrugged. “He sent me to the laboratory, and they told me where Harrison was.” He paused. “They’re an odd bunch, aren’t they?”

“You think all scientists are odd.”

They rode in silence for a moment, then Theo sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. It just creates more of a stir.”

“I wish you hadn’t,” Thisbe agreed. “But I don’t blame you. I’d feel like hitting any girl who hurt you. The person I blame is Grandmother. She should have waited and let me tell you.”

“Is all that true? Did she scare him off with her stupid prophecy?”

“I don’t know. He said he was doing it to protect me. But it doesn’t seem very likely, does it? That he’d believe the dowager duchess can see death? Or that he’s cursed?”

“Well, she can be pretty convincing—she could have made a living on the stage if she hadn’t married our grandfather. Even a rational man can believe in something he fears.”

“So you’re saying it’s just that he’s a coward?”

“I don’t know. He wouldn’t fight me, but he didn’t try to run, either. He didn’t seem afraid. He seemed... I don’t know, resigned, I suppose. And sad.”

“I’d be sad, too, if you were pounding on me.”