Chapter 11

Where was Theodore when she needed him?

The men were closing up on her, she didn't have much time.

She moved backwards slowly and when she thought that she could escape, she tried to run, but the large man caught up with her easily and put his grimy paw on her.

Rosalyn tried to tug her hand free but to no avail. He was too strong.

"Stop trying to escape, lady. There ain't no use," he chortled.

"Let me go, you brute," Rosalyn screamed, struggling against his ungainly body.

"If ya think that I'm gunna letchu go, yer highly mistaken," he grinned.

"And if you think that I will let you live if you don't leave the lady alone this instant, you're highly mistaken," Rosalyn heard another voice from behind her.

It was Theodore.

Oh! Thank god.

The short man seemed to blanch, intimidated by Theo's threat and bolted. But the large man was clearly foolish because he made no move to let her go.

"Is she yer lady?" He asked.

"Yes, mine," he said dropping down the bucket of water he'd brought and discarding his jacket.

Rosalyn was struck by the possessiveness and raw anger in his eyes.

"Well then come get 'er," the brute goaded him on.

Rosalyn saw that he was almost as tall as her villain. But while Theodore was all muscles and sinew, the brute was simply fat.

Oh this was not going to go well. For the brute.

Theodore came at him without any hesitation. The brute let her go, preparing to fight.

For her apparently. Rosalyn tried to swallow the bile rising in her throat.

And then they began to brawl. It was clear to see who had the upper hand.

Theodore.

The brute fought without technique but put all his energy into it while Theodore fought methodically, cleverly dodging his attacks and hitting him where it hurt the most.

A few minutes later, the brawl was over.

"Common," Theodore said, bending to pick up her hat and discarded greatcoat. He then proceeded to wrap it around her.

His tenderness never ceased to astound her. He was so angry just now and yet he was so gentle with her.

Taking her hand in his, he began to lead her to their carriage, leaving the swearing, partially conscious brute there.

Once they were inside, Theodore sat opposite her. She was fidgeting with her sleeves. He put his hand under her chin and raised her head.

"Are you alright?" He asked, looking worried, gazing into her eyes.

"I'm fine, really. You're the one with a torn lip."

"Yes, but that man was far more injured than I am," he bragged.

Rosalyn resisted rolling her eyes.

She sat up straighter, using his handkerchief to gingerly wipe the blood on his lips and then to tie it around his scratched knuckles.

He sat there silently, watching her attend to him. She tried her best to avoid looking at his exposed chest.

The intensity in his eyes did something to her.

Theo was watching Rosalyn carefully. She looked so tiny in his greatcoat. And the magnitude of what could've happened today hit him.

Hell she could've been raped. And he would've been responsible.

There was an ugly feeling gnawing at him, one he couldn't shake.

She leaned closer now, poking around his eye, trying to gauge his pain.

"I'm sorry," she whispered when he flinched, her voice small and fragile.

That was his undoing.

He put his hand behind her head and pulled her to him, attaching his lips on hers. He waited for her to push him away, but she didn't. He went stock-still when her hands tentatively snaked up on his lapels, holding onto them.

Theo kissed her then. Really kissed her.

She gasped at his ardour and he groaned at how sweet she tasted. It felt like finding clean, cool water in a desert.

"So sweet," he murmured, pulling back.

He groaned at the dazed look on her face and kissed her again, pushing her hat off her head.

"What would I have done if something had happened to you today?" He whispered, kissing her eyes close. The thought was too painful to even contemplate.

And then a single tear slid down her cheek.

"Don't cry, my sweet," he cajoled, hugging her close. She merely buried her face in his chest and began to sob.

"I'm sorry I'm so weepy," she murmured.

"Are you serious? After handling all of this so bravely, you deserve to be a little weepy," he grinned, but he knew it didn't reach his eyes.

Her lips lifted in a tremulous smile.

Lips he'd just kissed.

Good god, he finally knew what heaven tasted like.

"It's a good thing we aren't doing this again."

"Doing what?" her brows rose in confusion.

"Attending horse races alone," he clarified.

And the soft, weepy woman turned into a fire breathing dragon. Oh lord.

"Just because this happened today doesn't mean that it's going to happen again," she snapped.

"It's not safe, Rosalyn," he sighed, drained.

"We'll just have to be more careful the next time," she tried to persuade him.

"No."

"Alright. I don't need you to come with me anyway. I can manage well enough on my own."

"Don't start this again," he said, his voice rising.

The carriage stopped then. Rosalyn threw the door open and hopped down before Theo could help her.

She had to be the most maddening woman he'd come across.

He marched to her and turned her around, holding her arm.

"Don't do this," he grated out, conscious of his footman standing there.

He dragged her to a secluded corner.

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you," he whispered.

"You did protect me, what are you talking about?" she asked, her mouth falling open.

"I should've been there."

"You came. At the right time."

"Look Rosalyn, I put you in danger. What would I have told to Ralph?"

"Is that what this is about?"

"Partially, yes."

"Look Theodore, I've always been this way– finding trouble. Ralph wouldn't have held you responsible for this," she sighed.

"What about our kiss then?" He questioned.

"What about it?"

"Rosalyn..."

"Look Lord Fortescue, you were angry and overwrought. I was scared and emotional. You don't need to make a mountain out of a mole hill."

Oh, so he was Lord Fortescue again?

"Is that why you think I kissed you? Because I was overwrought?"

You couldn't be more wrong, my lady. I've been wanting to kiss those rosy lips for a very long time now.

"Well, yes. Besides, we belong to the modern world, my lord. Surely a rake like you realises that kisses like that are very common," she shrugged.

She was trying to appear worldly and unaffected by their conversation, but Theo could see it all in her eyes. The confusion, the pain...

"Are you saying that you've been kissed before this?" he raised his brow.

"Of course," she lied easily. He knew it was a lie and yet it made him angry.

"I don't count."

"Of all the arrogant things to say...I'm not counting you," she muttered.

"Who else has kissed you?" he growled, clutching her shoulders.

"A few men. Remember, my lord, the men in our society feel like they don't need a Lady's permission before they kiss them. You should know," she said disdainfully.

It felt like a bucket of ice cold water was poured onto his head.

Theo didn't think he'd ever been so ashamed of himself.

"I'm sorry," he murmured.

And then the anger on her face was gone, replaced by something else. Guilt? She had no reason to feel guilty. He deserved to hear this.

"Please don't take it to your heart. If it means anything to you, I didn't find your kiss repulsive like I did the rest of them. And you didn't force yourself on me."

"Thank you but I assure you, I won't repeat this again. I want you to feel safe around me. I don't want you to see me as a predator, you know?"

"I see you as my friend," she smiled hesitantly.

Theo smiled back, not knowing what else to do.