She'd underestimated the power of her cap.
It drew him like a lodestone. He cleaved through the crowd so efficiently that, once she realized she was indeed his target, she didn't have time to beat a retreat. He halted beside her.
Trapped, she raised her chin and fixed him with a glare. "Don't say a word."
His eyes held hers for a pregnant moment; she inwardly quivered, and told herself he couldn't see through her disguise. That he'd never see the woman who'd lain naked in his arms in the lady who now stood before him.
Lips thinning, Gabriel nodded curtly. "There's obviously no need, although I can't see why you bother-your hair will go gray soon enough."
Alathea's eyes flashed, but instead of ripping up at him, she smiled. Acidly. "I'm quite sure you'll have gray hairs aplenty if you persist in acting like a dog with a bone over your young cousins."
"You know nothing about the matter, so don't start."
"I know the twins are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves."
He snorted derisively. "Which shows how much you know."
"I would have thought"-her tone had him tensing-"that any females capable of routing one of the Cynsters, capable of detecting the chink in his armor and plotting and acting to press their advantage, and succeeding, would be thought capable of managing even the ton's most notorious rakes." Her gaze slid around to his face. "Don't you?"
Gabriel felt his eyes narrow; his temper surged. He would infinitely have preferred impassivity, but with her, that always seemed beyond him. He transfixed her with a glittering glance. "You told them."
He didn't need the artful lift of her brows to tell him that was the truth.
"They approached me with their problem-I merely made an observation."
"You are the cause of their current obsession with finding me a suitable bride."
"Now, now"-she wagged a finger at him-"you know perfectly well I couldn't be responsible for that. You're the one who's yet to marry. You're the one in need of a wife. The twins are merely trying to be helpful."
What he muttered in response was far from polite; Alathea merely smiled. "They're trying to be helpful in exactly the same way you're trying to help them."
"And what way is that?"
She looked him in the eye. "Misguidedly."
He blinked.
When he didn't immediately respond, she looked away. "I rather wondered how you'd react if the shoe was on the other foot."
"You knew damned well how I'd react." He gritted his teeth. "You only suggested it to plague me." Her lips quirked, very briefly but enough to set his temper soaring. "I know Lucifer attempted to explain the need for our watch on the twins-he clearly didn't succeed. So perhaps a demonstration's in order"-he lifted his gaze to the cap covering her soft hair-"to drive the point through your demonstrably thick skull."
Her head whipped around. She was frowning. He shifted closer, crowding her into the nook between the pedestal and the alcove wall. Clamping one hand on the pedestal's top, he caged her into the small space.
Meeting her gaze, fell intent in his, he was surprised to see her eyes flare-surprised to see how far into the gap between the pedestal and the wall she'd backed herself.
Her gaze falling to his chest, mere inches from hers, Alathea swallowed and wrenched her gaze back up to his face. She fought against the urge to press one hand to her breast in a vain effort to calm her leaping heart. Oh, God! In situations like this, she would customarily slap a hand to his chest and shove-she wouldn't hesitate, wouldn't stop to consider any possible impropriety. And although her strength couldn't possibly shift him, if she shoved, he'd move.
But she didn't dare touch him.
Couldn't guarantee what her hands would do if she did.
Gracious heavens! What on earth was she to do? She could already see puzzlement dawning in his eyes.
Senses reeling-he was far too close!-she stiffened her spine, drew herself up to her full height, and made a passable attempt at looking down her nose at him. "I do wish you'd think!" Her gaze locked with his, she did-frantically. "Protecting them from real threats-threats that actually materialize-is all very well, but in this case, your"-she gestured, using her wave to make him lean back-"constant hovering is actually limiting their opportunities. It's not fair."
"Fair?" He snorted. To her immense relief, he eased back, letting go of the pedestal and turning to glance to where she imagined the twins must be. "I can't see where fairness comes into it."
"Can't you?" Able to breathe again, she dragged in a breath. "Just think. You never used to stop me from… oh, riding neck or nothing with you and Alasdair-you wouldn't stop me doing it now."