Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Until a shrewish voice cut between us. “Well, isn’t this not a surprise!”
Oh, bloody hell, please no.
I wished her away.
But when I broke the kiss, Angeline Potter stood before me and Sarah.
Twenty-Eight
SARAH
Itensed against Theo at the sight of Angeline Potter.
Angeline was a long-standing member of Ardnoch. A bit of a British rom-com sweetheart, the world would never guess that she was so horrible.
I’d never complained about her to Mrs. Hutchinson, even though my boss had seemed to sense I was always a wee bit off-kilter after an encounter with Angeline.
I should have complained. Lachlan didn’t put up with members who behaved abhorrently.
What did she want?
Theo’s hand flexed on my lower back, and I felt the tension in his body as he stared at Angeline with a blank expression.
A dreadful knowing settled nervously in my stomach.
“I wondered if you’d be here tonight.” Angeline flicked me a look before turning back to Theo. “Though I rather hoped you’d be alone.”
I stiffened, the heat rushing out of my body.
Theo must have sensed it because he pulled me even closer. “I can’t imagine why.”
It was difficult for me to look at her and see beauty, but she was considered very attractive. A tall, leggy brunette with a big white smile and “adorable” brown eyes. Tonight, she wore a red dress that showcased her slender curves and ample bosom. Of course, Theo had found her attractive. Hadn’t he?
She threw my date a dirty look. “I suppose it’s true what they say about you, Cavendish. You never come back for seconds.” She looked at me pointedly. Then her eyes narrowed in thought. “Have we met?”
I didn’t reply, too busy trying not to imagine Theo in bed with this awful human.
“Didn’t we work on Much Ado together a few years back?”
Swallowing hard, I lifted my chin. “No. I used to work here at Ardnoch.” The fact that she couldn’t remember me after the way she’d treated me … I didn’t hate many people. But she was one of them.
And Theo had obviously slept with her.
Instinctually, I withdrew from him.
Theo’s hand tensed on my back, trying to pull me to him, but I stepped out of his touch.
Recognition lit Angeline’s eyes. “You’re that mousy little housemaid. Does Lachlan know you’ve crashed his party?”
“Unlike some people, Sarah was invited because she’s liked, not because she spends so much money here, it’s hard to turn her away. Even when she’s not particularly wanted,” Theo drawled pointedly.
Angeline blanched, gave Theo the middle finger, and stormed off, almost going over on her spiked heels in her rush to leave.
I stared blindly after her, unable to look at Theo now that I knew he’d been with Angeline Potter of all people. It brought back to harsh reality how much of a player he’d been.
Theo suddenly stepped in front of me, a dark scowl marring his handsome face. “Sarah—”
“Did you have sex with Angeline?”
“Yes,” he gritted out without hesitation.
I flinched, looking down. There were people around us, laughing, talking, drinking, eating. Christmas songs played. It all blurred and fell away.
Theo gripped my upper arms, forcing me to meet his gaze. “It was before you,” he explained impatiently. “So get that wounded look off your face. I won’t apologize for having a sex life before you, Sarah. You know who I was. We can’t keep going back there.”
Fury rushed through me. “I don’t need you to apologize for having a sex life before me, Theo. But I can judge you for having no discernible taste whatsoever and putting your cock in anything that offered itself up.” I yanked my arms out of his hands in disgust and marched away. I needed space—and I needed a drink.
Is this what it would be like with him?
Bumping into women he’d fucked every five minutes? Women I despised.
I knew it wasn’t rational or fair, but this hurt.
Grabbing a glass of champagne off a passing server’s tray, I threw it back as I hurried out of the dining hall. Maybe I’d find Aria and North. They were kind. A shelter among these people.
The music was so loud, I didn’t hear the footsteps behind me. Suddenly, a strong, familiar hand gripped my arm and I looked up to find a furious Theo. He tugged me toward the library and my champagne spilled out of the glass with the movement.
“What are you doing?” I hissed.
Two men were enjoying a whisky in the library.
“Gentlemen, apologies, but I require the room for some privacy.” Theo gestured to the door with all the imperiousness of the son of a viscount. “If you please.”
The two men shared a look and then smirked at me as they passed us.
I trembled with fury.
Theo shut the library door behind them and turned to me.
“You know what they think we came in here to do, don’t you?” I cried in outrage. “Let me out of here!”