“A moment of your time,” Neal pressed. “That’s all I ask.”
“A moment is too much,” she answered.
Her tart reply ignited Neal’s own temper. “Every inch the duke’s daughter, aren’t you, Lady Thea? Well, think about your sons and don’t be foolish. I need your help and you need mine. Let’s keep the past behind us.”
The lines of her mouth flattened. “Your request is impossible to honor. That talk about a curse—”
“It’s true.”
She rolled her eyes and reached for the door to close it.
Neal blocked the action with his arm. “I know it sounds impossible,” he said, “but I’m not known for being a frivolous man. Why would I make such a thing up?”
“I haven’t a notion, my lord. Now, if you will please go?”
“Once you’ve heard me out.”
For a long moment they were at a standstill. The set of her mouth told him she would like nothing more than to push him down the stairs and out of her life.
Well, he wasn’t going, and he didn’t know why, but it was now very important thatshehear his story.
She sighed her capitulation. “All right. Explain yourself, although I’m not in the mood for explanations. You would be wise to postpone this conversation.” She turned and walked into the apartment.
“Why are you so angry with me, Thea?” he said.
She looked back at him with suspicion and then frowned. “You really don’t know, do you?”
“Know what?” Neal asked, closing the door behind him. Her sons still stood together, the oldest watching him warily. The youngest yawned.
Thea set the box on a wooden table. There were three chairs around the table, an unfortunate-looking settee, a serviceable cupboard. Everything was clean and neat and, in spite of the scant furnishings, it felt like a home. There was a stack of books on the cupboard and a slate board withchalk. Two horses carved out of wood had been placed there as well. They had leather saddles and bridles and appeared to be cherished toys.
She removed her gloves and started untying the ribbons of her hat as she said, “You disappeared on me years ago. I went to the stream, and you didn’t show—without any explanation, my lord. You stopped coming, and I didn’t know if it was something I said or did. I feared you had taken ill, until the servants said they had seen you out and about.”
“It was the curse,” he said.
“The curse? What, you’ve been cursed so that you cannot act politely to your friends?”
Her barb stung. “You’ve developed a sharp tongue, my lady,” he said.
“It’s the consequence of marriage, my lord,” she shot back. “I’m not as gullible as I was when we were younger.”
“Then hear me out. I don’t ask that your mind is open, Mrs. Martin, but I’d like to finish a thought without your ‘wisdom’ being tossed at me.”
She didn’t like a touch of sharpness tossed right back at her. She placed her hands on her hips, her hat still on her head, the ribbons hanging down. “I don’t have time to dally, my lord.”
“Then let me pay you for your time,” he challenged. “Provided you will let me speak.”
“I don’t think you could afford me,” she answered. “Furthermore, after all this time, I truly am no longer interested in your excuses.”
“For a woman without a shilling to her name, you are very proud.”
“I’m still the daughter of a duke,” she replied tightly.
“I am a wealthy man,” he returned. “I want what I want and will settle for no less.”
“And you must havemyhelp?” she said, her disbelief clear.
His gaze drifted to the boys, who listened attentively to all that was being said. Did they understand? Could children understand the arguments of adults?