Wicked in Your Arms (Forgotten Princesses #1)(52)

“Mr. Hadley.” Trevis dipped his head, greeting her father with the confidence of a man accustomed to getting his way. Not always. He couldn’t get me. “A pleasure, sir. I’ve heard a great deal about you.” He had? Liar. “So glad to finally make your acquaintance. I hope you do not mind me tracking you down like this. I called upon you in Town and they told me how I might find you.”

“My staff told you where I went?” He frowned slightly. “Seems my people aren’t as loyal as I thought.”

Trevis cleared his throat awkwardly. For the first time, unease flickered over his face. His hand slipped back on her arm as if seeking to reclaim his confidence.

Grier shook her arm free from his grip, beyond irritated. “What are you doing here?” She did not bother to hide her annoyance. Or bewilderment.

He turned his attention back to her and gave her a slow, deep smile, followed with a quick, smug wink.

Grier blinked, her nerves bristling with agitation. She remembered that smile and that wink, remembered how they had affected her before. And how they failed to affect her now.

She shook her head once, wondering what had ever possessed her to think so highly of Trevis.

Instead of answering her question, he turned back to her father, “Mr. Hadley, might we have a word in private?” He slid Grier a knowing look as he said this—and again that infernal wink. She frowned, utterly baffled. Why was he here? Why would he want to speak with Jack?

For a moment Jack looked as though he might demand an explanation right there and then, but then he glanced around at their captivated audience. “I suppose so,” he said gruffly. “I’m sure we can find someplace private to talk.”

Jack motioned a servant forward and spoke to her in low tones. Grier could only stare at Trevis, grappling with the collision of past and present before her very eyes.

Suddenly Jack and Trevis were moving. Not about to let them depart the room without her, she lifted her skirts to follow.

Jack hesitated, gauging her with a look. She lifted her chin and gave him a very determined stare, conveying that he would not be conversing about her with Trevis while she was not present. She would know what was afoot.

Jack motioned for her to precede him and she fell in line behind the maid leading them to the small back parlor. It took every ounce of will not to look behind her for a glimpse of Sev.

Was he still watching her? Watching Trevis with that killing gaze? She imagined he was. Thanks to Trevis’s mysterious arrival, every member of their party watched her. She shivered. Attention she did not want or need.

Arriving in the cozy parlor, the maid left them alone, closing the door and closeting the three of them in.

Crossing her arms, Grier faced Trevis. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here for you, of course.”

She dropped her arms and looked at him in utter incredulity. “What for?”

Trevis looked uncertain. “Grier,” he said softly, sounding pathetically hurt. “I thought you would be glad to see me, my love.”

She cringed. “Don’t call me that.”

He pouted as though her words wounded him.

“What makes you think I would want to see you? I left home. Did my resignation not convey that I wanted nothing more to do with you?”

“Will someone tell me what this is all about?” Jack blustered. “I’ve a fine bowl of venison stew growing cold as we stand here.”

“Jack, this is Trevis Powell. You may recall that when your man located me, I was working on his estate as his game master.”

“Oh. Powell. That’s right.” Jack grunted, thoroughly unimpressed as he looked Trevis over. “Thought the name was familiar.”

Trevis snapped his heels together, standing tall and erect as though he faced a firing squad. “Yes, Mr. Hadley. I quickly realized my mistake in letting your daughter go. I should never have let her leave my life.”

“You didn’t let me do anything.” Her hands opened and shut into fists at her sides. “I chose to leave because I had no wish to remain on as your mistress. You do recall that, do you not, Trevis? You refused to marry me, but wished to take our relationship to a more intimate level.”

Faint color stained his swarthy cheeks. His eyes darted nervously at her father. “That was wretched of me, I confess. My apologies.”

Jack snorted. “You’ve gall calling upon me after you propositioned my daughter. I should put a bullet through you.”

Trevis visibly swallowed.

Grier rolled her eyes at what sounded like actual fatherly protectiveness . . . and for Trevis doing nothing more than what Jack did to her own mother. Still . . . the notion did curl warmly around her heart.

Trevis held out his hands in supplication. “I’ve come to make amends.”

Grier crossed arms once again. “Is that so? And how do you intend to do that?”

“By marrying you, of course.”

Grier dropped her arms. “Marry me?”

Jack laughed roughly, shaking his head side-to-side. “Too late on that score, lad. Grier’s destined for bigger fish than you.”

Trevis’s features reddened. “I’m considered quite the catch back home.”

“Aye, back home. You’re in a different pond now.”

Trevis slid angry eyes from her father to Grier. “This is up to you, Grier. We don’t need his approval.”