“Because they care,” she said.
“Yes.”
The night was reasonably bright. There seemed to be no clouds overhead. It was also crisply cold. She set her hand within his arm. Neither of them took up the conversational slack.
He could see the outline of the dower house ahead. It was, of course, in total darkness. He did not like the fact that there were no servants there waiting for her. But he could say nothing. She had made it clear that she would not tolerate his interference.
“Thank you,” she said, sliding her hand free of his arm when they reached the gate. “I appreciate your accompanying me even though it was unnecessary. I have done the walk many times alone.”
“I shall see you into the house,” he said.
“I have set a lamp just inside the door, as I always do,” she told him. “I shall light it as soon as I set foot inside to dispel the darkness and, with it, all the ghosts and monsters lurking there. You need come no farther.”
“You do notwantme to come farther?” he asked her.
Her face, turned up to his, was lit faintly by moonlight. It was impossible to see her expression, but her eyes were great pools of... something.
“No.” She shook her head and spoke softly. “Not tonight.”
Or any night?He did not ask the question out loud.
“Very well,” he said. “You see how you have quelled the naturally domineering male in me? Not entirely, however. I shall stand here until you are inside and I see the light from your lamp.”
He opened the gate as he spoke and closed it after she had stepped through.
“Very well,” she said, turning to look at him. “You may come and break the door down if the light does not appear and you should hear a bloodcurdling scream.”
And damn it, but she smiled again with what looked in the near darkness to be genuine amusement.
“Is it not customary,” he asked her, “to offer a kiss to the man who has escorted you home?”
“Oh, goodness me,” she said. “Isit? Times must have changed since I was a girl.”
He grinned at her, and she reached up both gloved hands to cup his face before leaning across the gate and kissing him. It was not just a brief, amused token of a kiss either. Her lips lingered on his, soft and slightly parted and very warm in contrast to the chill of the night air.
He leaned into her, his arms going about her to draw her against him, and her arms slid about his neck. It was not a lascivious kiss. It was something far more delicious than that. It was very deliberate on both their parts. Their mouths opened and he explored the moist interior of hers with his tongue. This time when she sucked on it, he enjoyed the sensation. It was a kiss curiously devoid of full sexual intent, though. It was instead... sheer enjoyment.
It was a totally new experience for him. It was a bit alarming, actually.
She ended the embrace, though her arms stayed loosely about his neck.
“There, Lord Hardford,” she said. “You have had your thank-you for tonight.”
“May I escort you homeeverynight?” he asked.
And she laughed.
He could have wept with happiness—to borrow a phrase from Lady Lavinia.
And then she was gone. He stood where he was, his hands on the gate, until she had opened the door with her key and stepped inside—without looking back—and closed it behind her. He waited until he saw faint light about the doorframe and then light moving into her sitting room. He turned then to leave.
And it was only as he did so that he realized Hector was at his heels. What was it about Hector and heels? WasheAchilles? And was Lady Hayes—Imogen—his Achilles’ heel?
Or his salvation?
Curious thought.
“Damned foolish animal,” he grumbled. “And howdoyou manage to get through closed doors? Andwhy? It is cold out here and there was no need for you to come too.”
