“I want to see Venice before we leave Italy.”

“Absolutely not,” he barked, but Lottie was unruffled.

“I know it adds time to the return journey,” she conceded. “But this may be my only chance to see the place. I have no idea how long I will be in England. If Uncle Alfred has truly fallen ill, I’d like to help him. But if he survives, I foresee some objections should I try to leave again.”

“He can’t hold you prisoner, Lottie,” Alec scoffed.

Her eyes narrowed. “He can do any number of things, if his faculties remain. Do you doubt it?”

Alec was silent in the face of her hard stare. In his rush to rescue her from ruin, he had given no thought to what would happen upon her return to London. Yes, Sir Alfred had been angry, but he loved his niece and only wanted what was best for her.

Of that Alec was absolutely certain.

“I assume you haven’t sent word to anyone yet that you’ve found me. I’m willing to sacrifice a day or two, if you are.”

“That isn’t enough time to see Venice properly,” he grumbled. But it could be more than enough time to create complications. For them both.

“Oh, I quite agree with you,” she said. “But I’d rather see only a bit than nothing at all.”

Alec glowered. He refused to be guilted by her. She had put herself in this position. If Lottie had wanted to see Venice so badly, she could have gone with her chaperone.

Then again, after only an afternoon in that woman’s company Alec had been ready to head for the hills, and Lottie had endured weeks of her. Surely that deserved a stroll around Saint Mark’s Square and a damned gondola ride.

“Fine. We’ll go. But only for a day.” His heartbeat quickened as he said the words, and a droll voice suggested that he was not doing this merely for her benefit.

Lottie smiled in triumph and reclined grandly in her chair. She took a leisurely sip of tea and gazed at the horizon.

“Well?” he prompted.

Her eyes cut back to his. “Oh yes. The second condition.” She placed the cup and saucer down and folded her hands. “Once we leave here, your conduct must be as gentlemanly as possible. At all times.” Alec opened his mouth, but she pressed on. “That means you are not to use my Christian name.”

He kept his tone neutral. “I would never use it in public.”

“You may not use it in private, either. There is no need for us to be so familiar with one another. No one calls me Lottie anymore, anyway,” she added softly.

Alec gripped his thigh hard under the table. “My humblest apologies for my carelessness. I will address you formally from now on. And refrain from being too familiar.”

Lottie gave him an irritatingly beatific smile. “In that case, I will be happy to accompany you to England, Professor.”