Dibble protested the entire time as the constables replaced her meager bindings with iron manacles and chains around his wrists and ankles. None too gently, they hauled him out. When they were gone, Matthew looked back at her. “You’re trembling.”
“I’m just cold.”
He closed the door, bolted it, strode over to her, and wrapped his arms securely around her. “It’s all right, sweetheart. It’s all right. You’re all right. Let’s get you up to your rooms.”
“I have his chin.”
Matthew went still for a heartbeat before tucking his finger beneath said chin and tilting her face back so he could gaze in her eyes. “Your chin is far more lovely, far cuter than his.”
“Why would he come here and say what he did? Why would he claim to be my father if he’s not?”
“Perhaps he’s a swindler. What did he want?”
“Money. Money not to show up at a ball and tell people he sired me.”
“Your family has been making a name for itself with their success and their marriages into the nobility. From time to time they make the gossip sheets. A couple of years back there was that article in theTimesabout your brother’s hotel. A family of by-blows. The man was playing the odds that you might not know who your father was.”
“I think he might have been telling the truth.”
“Will you tell your mother about him, ask her?”
She nodded. “I’d planned to see her in the morning, to tell her about the ball. Mick’s carriage will be readied for me.”
“Shall I go with you?”
His kindness was her undoing as tears threatened. “No, it’ll be best if I see her on my own. But I appreciate the offer.”
With a nod, he dipped down and lifted her into his arms.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to carry you upstairs.”
“I can walk.”
“I know, but if I’m holding you, I can start warming you.”
She settled her head into the curve of his shoulder as he began striding toward the stairs. “You’re stronger than I thought.”
“It doesn’t take much strength when I’m carrying a cloud.”
“I’m heavier than that.”
“Not by much.”
When they reached her rooms, he carried on through to her bedchamber—which was easy enough to determine as it was the only other room—and set her gently on the bed. With tenderness, he removed her slippers. “Will you trust me to loosen your lacings?”
She nodded. He came around behind her, and she was very much aware of his fingers working along her spine, not stopping with the gown but loosening the lacings on her corset as well. When he was done, he urged her to lay down and draped a blanket over her. He stretched out beside her, wrapped his arms around her, pressing her face to his chest, and began rubbing her back through the blanket and her clothing.
“I’ll have you warmed in a jiff.”
Her teeth were clattering from a cold deep within her that was threatening to turn her blood into ice. “I can’t seem to stop trembling.”
His lovely ministrations ceased briefly as he unbuttoned his waistcoat and shirt. “Slip your hands in here.”
“I can’t do that to you. My fingers are like ice.”
“I can bear the momentary discomfort. What I can’t bear is your suffering.” Taking one of her hands, he guided it between the parted cloth, settling her fingers against his smooth, heated skin. She heard his sharp intake of breath, felt him stiffen.
