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“I would have protested, but I know your brother well,” he told her. “There would have been no point in informing him that we should not be left alone together because he would then have proceeded to argue his case for far too long, and I don’t have time for that.”

“You don’t have time for this, do you?” Eleanor pointed out.

Gabriel took a moment. It was framed as a question, but really, she was telling him his time was better spent elsewhere.

“I have time for very little, but some things take precedence. Your brother is a close friend of mine, and he obviously loves you dearly. I agreed to the task, and I will do my duty.”

“You need not think of me as your duty,” Eleanor said, still holding his gaze. “I am no one’s duty.”

There was fire in her eyes. Eleanor was sure to be a handful. Gabriel understood that this would only make the task harder.

“You are not my duty,” Gabriel said. “Looking after you during your first London Season is my duty.”

“You won’t need to look after me,” Eleanor protested. “I am perfectly capable of looking after myself.” She folded her arms across her chest and then quickly unfolded them and dropped them to her sides, as if she didn’t know what to do with them.

He could deal with a feisty woman. He admired some fight in a lady, but Eleanor seemed dead set on doing all she could to annoy him. Still, there was a fight in her that made him want to fight back.

“It matters not what you think on the matter or whether you need to be looked after, Lady Eleanor. This is why I’m here, and I’m not wasting this trip.”

And now, I’m fighting with a woman!

“But you wish to waste your time by overseeing me throughout the entire Season?” Eleanor snapped.

“I will ensure it’s not a waste.”

“And how do you plan on doing that?” Eleanor challenged.

Gabriel didn’t have an answer in mind, but something within him stirred, and he stepped forward and spoke before he could stop himself.

“I will have to seek out something that makes this fun. For me. You can do as you please.”

Gabriel tightened his jaw. He wished he could take that back. He didn’t know what had come over him to say something like that to her.

Yet, Eleanor didn’t back away from him immediately. The fight was still in her as she stared at him. Gabriel wouldn’t be the one to back down from her, and his eyes flickered to her pink lips.

“I wonder where that maid is?” Eleanor asked quickly. She spun and marched to the door to look out.

A kiss would be the best way to win the argument. And for what? To prove a point. Only to prove a point and nothing more.

Eleanor turned her back on the door and stepped forward, but only a little, leaving more space between her and Gabriel.

She is attractive, of course, but that is not why I’m here.

“Time,” Gabriel said. “I may not have time to oversee you, but I have made an agreement. I really don’t have time to stand here and argue with you. I only wish⁠—”

“Is that all you mean to do?” Eleanor cut in.

You are the bigger person here, he told himself before taking a breath. Did she notice my moment of…weakness?

“We would be done with this already if you would stop constantly interrupting me. Besides, you didn’t protest very much when your brother left us alone. You could walk out of the room any time you like, but you are still here. Alone. With me.”

Eleanor placed her hands on her hips. “And what exactly is that supposed to mean?”

“You tell me,” he shot back.

Eleanor’s eyes widened. Her cheeks flushed, deepening her natural rosy complexion to almost scarlet. She bit her bottom lip, perhaps another subconscious action.

“I am only here because my brother told me to be here; the same reason as you.”