He was wearing a white cotton shirt which the laces were undone to reveal a good amount of his chest.
And his long hair was packed upwards, leaving a few wispy tendrils dangling over his smoky eyes.
Her eyes drifted down to his dust-coated, snug-fitted breeches and the work boots he was wearing.
His hands were dark with grime and there were splotches on his face and neck… but it only seemed to make her mouth water.
“Maltreating me?” He remained at the threshold and held her gaze.
“I sent for you to break your fast at the dining in the gardens… and you declined.
Instead, you prefer to stay here and endure the noise.” She folded her arms across her chest.
“Are you concerned about my welfare now?” His left brow arched up smoothly as if such a thing could never be possible.
Her hands clenched.
“I am perfectly fine.
You can return back to your duties, Sir Theodore.” He took a step into the room, crossing the threshold, then stopped.
“I am in charge of looking after your well-being on my brother’s account.
Should anything happen to you, I will be to blame.
And I must add, I am also your self-appointed doctor-” “Which I never agreed to having.” She cut him off to say.
“Whether you agreed to having one or not was out of the question.” Her lips thinned.
“And your point is?” “I am in charge here and you have to do as I say.” She glanced around the room in an attempt to hide how much she was seething.
Her face was gradually growing hot.
“Is that how you were taught to treat women in the army?
To impose your authority on them?” He took two more steps into the room and stopped.
She followed his movements like a prey would follow that of its predator.
“I am being far too polite with you.
In the army, I would have thrown you over my shoulder and taken you down the stairs with me.” Her mouth rounded into a circle.
“You would not dare.” Then something sparkled in his eyes.
He moved quicker than she could evade and picked her off the ground effortlessly.
All she felt was hard muscles as she tried pounding into his back.
The bloody man didn’t even flinch.
Her dizzy spell returned as she hung upside down while he trotted down the unending stairway.
Then he turned towards the back entrance and entered the garden path.
She could hear gasps from the working servants but couldn’t manoeuvre herself to see their faces.
When they reached the lawn table, he set her down none-too-gently on the beautifully crafted stone seat.
“The biggest mistake you can ever make is to dare a military man.” A military man?
What happened to the civil and polite Theo she always knew?
But part of her liked how unconventional he was… he was unpredictable.
“You are no longer in the army… as a peer of the Realm-” “I stopped being a peer of the Realm the day I joined the army, Lady Whitmore.” She arched her brow, careful not to let her gaze linger on his skin that glistened like bronze under the golden glow of the morning sun, or the way his dark hair shone like falling silk.
“I think your father, the Duke, would disagree, would he not?
And what happened after you left the army?” A servant approached with a tray of food.
Her head was cast down and her hands were trembling.
As soon as she dropped the tray, she literally ran back to the house.
The only thing Eve caught was the dark wisp of hair that poked out underneath her cap.
What was all that about?
“A soldier never really leaves the army.” She followed the girl with her eyes until she disappeared from view.
Without looking at her, he said, “You and her have a lot in common.” Then he slowly met her gaze, catching her expression of shock before she could mask it.
“And why do you say such?” “I found her going through my things in my bed chamber.
Does that sound familiar to you?” Then he slid into the seat across from her.
“Familiar?
I have never been to your bed chamber!” Eve eyed his movements, shocked when he picked up a fork from the tray.
“What… what are you doing?” She hadn’t even noticed that there were two servings in the single tray.
He wanted to dine with her?
“You seem to have an aversion to eating alone and I would not be faulted if you starve yourself to death.” She folded her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes at him.
“How do you know that?” He picked up an apricot from the plate and popped it into his mouth.
Then he licked his lips.
She felt warmth course through her entire body.
Blinking, she forced herself to look at the beautifully embroidered table cloth, then the surrounding daffodils and white roses… anything but him and his sensuous lips.
“You ate very little the previous night and…” He slid another one into his mouth still without looking at her.
“This morning, you asked if you would be dining alone.
It was quite obvious – but my servant noticed it, not me of course.” Oh.
He wasn’t the one who noticed.
And he was only eating with her out of duty… Her heart sank.
She unfolded her hands and placed them on the table.
Then she met his gaze.
“Why did you join the army?” He paused, stopping his chewing midway.
“My life is none of your business, Lady Whitmore.
You should be more concerned about your betrothed.” She said nothing, only holding his cold gaze.
There was no smile, no hint of warmth, nothing.
“Your life is the only business I live for, Sir Theodore.” He blinked.
She blinked as well, colouring sheepishly.
What in the world was she thinking?
Instead, he just picked up his upturned goblet, poured ale into it and took a sip.
“I must inform you, it is a very dangerous thing to reveal your intentions before you strike.” She blinked.
“Why?” “Because you will become predictable.
And predictable means that you cannot win against your opponent.” “Opponent?
Is that what I am?” “Anything or anyone that threatens your peace is your enemy, Lady Whitmore.” A soft gasp escaped her lips.
“How can a harmless woman like me threaten your peace, Sir Theodore.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Maestrofunzi_07 Oh please…