Page 151 of Pride and Prejudice Resolutions

"I beg your pardon?"

"No." He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Categorically. Unequivocally. Not happening."

Her eyes narrowed to slits. "You do not have the authority to refuse. You offered to help me find a husband. Lord Fawlton is a Marquis. He is wealthy. He is titled. He is—"

"A disaster in breeches," Richard interrupted. "Fawlton is Robert's friend, which should tell you everything you need to know about his character. He has the morals of a tomcat andthe attention span of a gnat. He will ruin you before dessert and move on to the next conquest before the scandal sheets dry."

"I am not so easily ruined." Caroline's chin lifted in defiance.

"Fawlton specialises in women who believe they are immune to ruin," Richard countered. "It is one of his primary talents, second only to losing at cards and fleeing his creditors."

Her jaw clenched. "He is still a viable prospect. And I demand an introduction."

"I will not introduce you to a man who will hurt you." The words came out harsher than he intended.

Caroline blinked. "Hurt me? Colonel, I am not some wilting debutante. I can handle a rake."

"You think that now. And then you will find yourself compromised in a garden with a man who has no intention of marrying you, and I will have to call him out, and it will be a tremendous inconvenience for everyone involved."

"Call him out?" She let out a laugh so sharp it could have cut glass. "Why would you do that? I am not under your protection, Colonel. If I require a duel fought on my behalf, I have a brother for that."

"Bingley? Bingley who cannot win a battle with a poodle?"

"He will defend my honour, Colonel, I have no doubt."

"I would rather do it myself."

She studied him, the noise of the rout fading into a dull hum. For a moment, it was just the two of them, standing too close, surrounded by the wreckage of their mutual insults.

"Why are you acting so strangely?" she asked, quieter now.

"I am not acting strangely."

"You complimented my lack of orange. You refused to introduce me to a Marquis. You look as though you are in physical pain. What is wrong with you?"

Everything. Nothing.The fact that he had spent the afternoon discovering she was secretly kind and generous, and it had upended his entire worldview like a poorly balanced teacup.

"I met your maid today," he blurted.

She went very still. "Schmidt?"

"At a tea shop. I bought her lemon cakes."

"You what?"

"She was carrying parcels. I offered to help. We talked." He watched her face carefully. "She told me about her nephew. Thomas."

The colour drained from Miss Bingley's face, then rushed back in a wave of mortified crimson. "She told you?"

"She did."

"She had no right—"

"She was defending you. Quite passionately, in fact. She said she would give an arm for you."

Caroline's hands clenched at her sides. "It is none of your concern, Colonel."

"You pay for his schooling."