Fletcher shot Theo a scathing look. "Bollocks," he muttered, but that was the end of his protest. Instead he watched the two perform their strange, stiff dance of make-believe affection, careful to hold his disinterested expression steady. Already, though, that smugness rose in him again. He's mine, he thought as he indulged in a memory or two of the night prior. He thought of the ball, too, and how he'd been so rotten with envy at what he'd seen. And now... He's really mine.
He snapped back to the present as Edwina sighted the bait and now watched her with keen interest. Your moment to shine, Sparkles, Fletch thought. Sure enough, Neal rose to his feet, hands clasped behind his back, the picture of a gentleman. "Neal Truckett, Miss. I'm a bodyguard to Master Theodore. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Fletch begrudgingly admired the way he said it: with just enough of a note of warmth to hook the girl while passing it all off as professional. Theo could hear none of it, of course, but Fletch knew the sound of a flirt working his magic. Maybe he'd chosen well after all, in spite of the many risks.
"Just hired him on," he added gruffly, still playing his part and more than happy to throw a measure of his disregard for her into his tone. "You'll be seeing him around on shift, I expect, as we fit Mr. Truckett into the mix."
