Honoria drew herself up. "That's irrelevant. What is relevant is the fact that I'm not your wife."
Devil looked down. "A minor inconsistency time will no doubt correct." With a series of bold strokes, he signed his letter.
Drawing a deep breath, Honoria clasped her hands before her and addressed the air above his head. "I am afraid, Your Grace, that I cannot acquiesce to the present situation. It is entirely inappropriate." Glancing down her nose, she watched as he reached for another letter. "Any reasonable being would instantly see, and acknowledge, that fact." With unimpaired calm, Devil picked up his pen and dipped it in the inkstand. Honoria set her teeth. "I must request that you inform me of the total of Celestine's bill and allow me to recompense you for the sum."
Devil signed his name, blotted it, set the pen back in its rack-and looked up. "No."
Honoria searched his eyes-his green gaze was jewel-clear, hard, and uncompromising. Her breasts swelled as she drew a portentous breath; she pressed her lips tightly together, then nodded. "Very well. I'll send everything back."
She turned on her heel and headed for the door.
Devil swallowed an oath and came out of his chair. He was around the desk and striding in Honoria's wake long before she reached the middle of the room. She was reaching for the doorknob when he picked her up.
"What-!" Honoria batted at his hands, fastened about her waist. "Put me down, you arrogant oaf!"
Devil complied, but only long enough to swing her about so that she faced him. He kept his hands locked about her waist, holding her at a distance. For her own safety. The effect she had on him when in haughty mood was bad enough; haughty and angry together wound his spring far too tight. One unwary touch and he might unwind-which would certainly surprise her.
"Stop wriggling. Ca
lm down." That advice was greeted with a furious glare. Devil sighed. "You know you can't send Celestine's things back-as I've already paid for them, she'll simply send them back here again. All you'll achieve is to inform Celestine, her staff, and my staff that you're throwing some incomprehensible tantrum."
"I am not throwing a tantrum," Honoria, declared. "I am behaving with exemplary reticence. If I gave vent to my feelings, I'd be screaming!"
Devil tightened his hold. "You are."
Honoria's glare turned baleful. "No I'm not. I can scream much louder than that."
Devil winced-and locked the muscles in his arms. He was definitely going to put that claim to the test. Later. He trapped her irate gaze in his. "Honoria, I am not going to divulge to you a figure you do not need to know, and you are not going to attempt to return Celestine's gowns."
Honoria's grey gaze turned steely. "You, my lord, are the most arrogant, overbearing, high-handed, tyrannical, dictatorial despot it has ever been my misfortune to meet."
Devil raised a brow. "You forgot autocratic."
She stared at him; he could feel the frustration mounting within her, swelling like a barely capped volcano.
"You are impossible!" The word came out in a hiss-like steam escaping. "I bought those gowns-I have a right and a duty to pay for them."
"Wrong-as your husband, that right and duty is mine."
"Only if I request your assistance! Which I haven't! And even if I did need help, I couldn't ask you because" Honoria drew a deep breath and carefully enunciated, "we're… not… married!"
"Yet."
Capping that terse syllable should have been impossible; Honoria resorted to a seething glare of operatic proportions and carried on regardless. "If you have some vague notion that I'm unable to pay such an amount, you're wrong. I'm perfectly willing to introduce you to Robert Child, of Child's Bank, who handles my estate. I'm sure he'll be happy to inform you that I'm no pauper!" She pushed again at Devil's arms; frowning, he let her go.
"I didn't pay because I thought you couldn't."
Honoria glanced at him; his eyes declared he was telling the truth. "Well," she said, somewhat mollified, "if that wasn't the reason, what was?"
Devil's jaw hardened. "I told you."
Honoria had to think back, then, her own features hardening, she shook her head. "No, no, no! Even if we were married, you have no right to pay bills that are mine, not unless I ask you to. In fact, I can't think why Celestine sent the bill to you at all." She tripped on the last words, and looked up, directly into his eyes. Abruptly, she narrowed hers. "It was you, wasn't it? Who sent that note to Celestine?"
Exasperated, Devil frowned at her. "It was just an introduction."
"As what? Your wife?" When he didn't answer, Honoria ground her teeth. "What on earth am I to do with you?"
Devil's features hardened. "Marry me." His voice was a frustrated growl. "The rest will follow naturally."