The King of Threadneedle Street by Moriah Densley Page B

business interests? What you desire for yourself doesn’t matter. You are bound to your duty and are no more free than I am.”
    He went silent. Only his rough breathing against her neck indicated he had any reaction to her words.
    Her anger ebbed, leaving guilt in its place. “I am sorry, Andrew, that was unkind. I was retaliating and didn’t speak the truth. You have at least ten years yet before anyone besides your mother pressures you to marry.” Grazing her fingertips on the back of his neck raised little bumps on his skin. “It won’t be easy to find someone who deserves you, but I believe you shall.”
    The persistent silence meant he was too upset to argue. Granted, she had given him a lot to take in. “I suppose we have what people recall later in life as their first romance. We will recover from it, as does everyone else in the world.”

Chapter Four
     
    Love is too young to know what conscience is.
Sonnet 151, William Shakespeare
     
    Andrew remembered their worst fight. He sat behind the waterfall after Alysia left, thinking about it. Their argument moments ago paled in comparison; at least she hadn’t broken his nose. Andrew smiled, reliving the time that had happened, and he had deserved it. It had been in this very place.
    “Andrew,” she said in a falsely sweet voice, “Why did Lord Graham behave the way he did today at the hunt?” Her voice turned up at the end of the question, and Andrew knew she was baiting him, and he was in trouble.
    “Behave how?”
    “Oh, I suppose I mean the bit about how he thought I would toss more than my hat for you, that I should be too sore to manage sitting in a saddle. And whether you thought I howled louder than the hounds. You know, that sort of behavior, Andrew dear.”
    “Hmm? Oh. Yes, Graham does get a bit raucous. It’s no wonder you hear such things when you ride out with the gentlemen.”
    “I wouldn’t object to riding with gentlemen, Andrew. I have never seen you and your friends act like cavemen before. What I want to know is, why Graham had such ideas about me. It was news to me, Andrew, that my respectability was in question.”
    He knew he had best confess. “Well, Alysia.” He fidgeted in place and stuck out his toes to interrupt the falling water. “You are much admired, Lisa. I should tell you, my friends are fearful envious.”
    She grimaced. “Envious? Of what?”
    “Hmm.” He bumped his fists together, stalling and trying to find words that wouldn’t anger her even more. “Well, naturally, since we are such good friends, they think we are, well, you know…”
    “No, Andrew, I do not.”
    “Lovers. They think we are lovers.”
    She scoffed, sounding outraged or disgusted? He pushed away the rush of defeat threatening to heat his ears.
    “And you of course defended my honor, and have a very good explanation why Lord Graham is still under such an impression?”
    Andrew shrugged and cocked his head in apology.
    “You did correct that false assumption, Andrew?”
    “Hmm.”
    “Andrew?” She seemed like a volcano about to erupt. When he didn’t answer, she gasped, wide-eyed. “You let them think it’s so?” Her voice shot through an octave. “You let them believe I am your tart? Your strumpet? That I toss my skirts for you!”
    “I didn’t exactly refute it.”
    She made an angry sound half like a shriek. “Why? Why did you ruin me?”
    “I did no such thing. If anything, the rumors should improve your reputation.” Immediately he realized his mistake.
    “You arrogant, egotistical, pox-ridden swine!” Alysia rammed headlong into his chest. The force of her attack caught him off guard and sent him sprawling sideways onto the mossy rocks at the mouth of the cave.
    He grabbed at her wrists, trying to contain her wild jabs. His eyes watered as her right hook found purchase on the bridge of his nose. She scrambled for his throat and straddled him. He could see by the fire in her eyes that she sincerely wanted to strangle