Page 26 of Surrender

It would shift the balance of power between them. At the moment, they were on equal footing, and she didn’t want to give that up. She stared at him for a long moment, her heart racing with trepidation. Resigned to losing the chance to speak to her brother, Genevieve shook her head.

“Nothing.”

The flat note in her voice made Theo jerk, and his hand tightened around hers. Dark eyes narrowing, he pinned her beneath his intense gaze. She met his eyes for a brief moment before he looked at the empty carriage seat beside her. Frustration furrowed his brow, and he shook his head.

“I don’t believe that,” Theo snapped with a vicious shake of his head, his gaze pinned on her.

“I don’t care what you believe,” she said in a stilted tone.

“No, I’m saying I don’t believe your brother,” he ground out between clenched teeth. “Peter thinks you’re afraid to talk to him because of me.”

At his statement, Genevieve flinched. It didn’t surprise her that Peter had realized Theo was the last person she was willing to bare her soul to. When she didn’t speak, Theo’s mouth twisted in a grimace.

“Perhaps you might be more comfortable if Aunt Constance or Aunt Lousia were conveying your questions to Peter. There’s also Jamie.”

“No,” she said sharply.

As she met Theo’s assessing gaze, she realized her hasty response had been too abrupt. No doubt the man realized she wanted to discuss their relationship with her brother. The truth was, there was no one in the family who could help her talk to Peter.

Even though Jamie knew the truth about her past, she knew he would find it difficult to help her speak with Peter. Jamie had been shocked and shaken to the core when she’d told him why her past made it easier for her to enter the East End than most of her cousins. The last thing she wanted was for him to be made even more uncomfortable acting as the intermediary between her and her dead brother.

Genevieve also had no intention of sharing anything with her aunts. The Rockwood penchant for meddling was a force not even she could withstand. As well-meaning as they might be, her aunts would ensure she was tied to Theo for the rest of her life. Surprisingly, the thought didn’t horrify her as it would have if it had been any other man than Theo. In fact, a sudden twinge of disappointment assailed her that his offer to marry her had been nothing more than a matter of honor, not because he cared for her.

The thought made her heart pound wildly in her chest. She didn’t want to consider what her unexpected reaction meant, and before she could contemplate the reason, she brutally squashed the thought. She could never marry Theo. He needed a wife without a dark past capable of giving him an heir. Theo’s voice broke through her thoughts.

“I already know about your past, Genevieve. There’s nothing you can say that will shock me. Ask Peter whatever you want. You can trust me, just as you did him.”

Reassurance filled Theo’s voice, but not even his sincerity, warm gaze, or the way he wrapped his hands around hers changed anything. She couldn’t bare her soul to him, no matter how desperately she needed her brother’s advice. Shaking her head, Genevieve eyed him steadily.

“It’s not a matter of trust.”

“Then what the devil is the problem?”

“Does he know what happened at the croft?”

At her question, Theo abruptly released her hands and recoiled back into his seat. A second later, he turned his head to glare at the empty seat beside her.

“That’s none of your damn business,” he snarled.

As Theo shook his head with a sharp jerk, Genevieve realized Peter had no knowledge of the fact that she and Theo had made love at the croft. The memory of their lovemaking sent a rush of heat through her. Those few moments in Theo’s arms had taught her that being with a man could be pleasurable, not degrading. With an abrupt wave of his hand, Genevieve saw Theo flush, his expression one of irritated embarrassment.

“Yes, I kissed her,” he bit out with a sharp note of anger in his voice.

“And I kissed you back, I was—”

“Shut up, Genevieve.” Theo snarled as his attention switched back to her.

Startled by his fierce command, she stared at him in surprise, and the guilt on his handsome features made her stiffen. Heat rushed over her cheeks as she realized either Peter had deduced what had transpired between them in the croft or he’d come close to the truth. Outrage replaced Theo’s look of guilt as he continued to glare at the man she couldn’t see.

“That’s between Genevieve and me.”

The moment Theo bit out the vicious words, she drew in a breath of chagrin. Peter had made some sort of accusation, and she wasn’t about to let Theo be blamed for her actions.

“Whatever accusation you just made, Peter Rockwood, you’re wrong,” she snapped with abrupt outrage she scowled at the empty seat next to her. “Theo’s innocent of any wrong doing. I was the one to make advances toward him.”

“For God’s sake, Genevieve. Stop talking.” Theo’s harsh words made her shrug.

“From your expression, I can only assume my brother accused you of attempting to compromise me. The three of us know that’s impossible, and I’m not about to let Peter think you guilty of anything when I’m responsible for what happened.”