“Lessons? From whom?” And what type of lessons would have taught her how to take a man down in that fashion? Not fencing and certainly not boxing.
She shrugged, the movement casual. “The Countess of Brantford and her sister-in-law, the Duchess of Castlefield. They’re providing private lessons to women on how to defend themselves when faced with unwanted advances. It’s not widely advertised. Women are passing along the information to others.”
He supposed it made sense. Brantford had a formidable reputation. Before he’d married, everyone had called him the Unaffected Earl. That moniker had lost favor over the years when it became obvious that he was utterly devoted to—and affected by—his wife.
Some thought he was a spy, but others called such speculation nonsense since he spent most of the year in London. But whatever the truth, it was evident the man had seen to it that his sister and his wife could handle themselves when faced with danger.
And apparently the two women had gone on to teach others how to do the same.
“Who told you about their lessons?”
“Charlotte has been attending for a couple of years. I’ve only just started. I don’t think Mr. Larson expected me to defend myself or he would have been able to stop me. Thankfully, men are notorious for underestimating women.”
Holbrook dragged her into his arms, hugging her to him for almost a full minute. When he finally collected himself, he stepped back but still held on to her hands. “Well, I for one am very thankful to the duchess.”
With reluctance, he dropped her hands and offered her his arm. “Shall we return to the ball, my lady?”
She smiled up at him, a gleam in her eyes. “Or perhaps we should head into the gardens for a few minutes. Since we’re already here, it would be a shame not to enjoy them.”
It was sorely tempting. The Lord must have put Lucy Mansfield in this world just to test his willpower.
He held out his arm for her, intending to return to the ballroom. Eyebrows would rise when the two of them entered together, but as a widow, Lucy was free to spend time alone with a gentleman. He no longer cared that people would talk. She wouldn’t be ruined, and there was no danger of her being ostracized by society.
When she tucked her hand into his elbow, he saw the slight tremor she was trying to hide. His eyes narrowed as he looked down at her, but she wouldn’t meet his gaze. She was taking deep breaths, and he realized she was shaken by what had just happened.
Of course she was. He cursed himself and changed direction, taking them deeper into the garden. He took a few turns, glancing about to ensure there were no other couples looking for a few moments of privacy in the gardens. The last thing he needed tonight was to interrupt a clandestine tryst.
Not when he wanted nothing more than to be engaging in one himself with this woman.
He spotted a bench in a secluded bower and headed in that direction. He glanced at Lucy when they reached it, and she was smiling at him again. His heart turned over.
“You’ve changed your mind,” she said as she settled onto the bench.
He sat next to her and placed an arm around her shoulders. She leaned against him without a word of protest.
“I realized you might need a few minutes to settle your nerves before returning to the ballroom.”
She shuddered. “I’ve practiced that move so often but never thought I’d actually have to use it. I didn’t think, I just acted.”
She needed to process the encounter in her own time, and so he didn’t say another word. But he wanted to chase the youth down and smash his hand into his face. Perhaps he should call him out after all.
He was brought back to the present by her gloved hand settling against his cheek. “You’re angry.”
He pressed a kiss into her palm. “Not with you.”
“Of course not. But you needn’t worry about Mr. Larson. I doubt he’ll trouble me again.”
He forced his tense muscles to relax. “I hate that you were put in the position of needing to defend yourself against him.”
She took hold of his hand, twining their fingers together. “It is the way of the world.”
He raised their joined hands and turned them so he could place a kiss on the soft skin of her wrist above her white glove.
Her breath hitched and he looked up, meeting her gaze. Unable to resist, he licked her skin.
“Holbrook…”
He was only human. The hitch in her voice as she said his name on a soft breath had him hardening instantly. He reached for her shoulders and turned her carefully until they were facing each other. His eyes roamed over her face.
