“Lieutenant Thorpe did nothing wrong.And I’d rather be a spinster than wed you.”
She wouldn’t simply stand here and become Belgrave’s victim.Good manners weren’t going to protect her virtue, only actions.
Hannah eyed the contents of the study, dismissing the books or the large globe in one corner.Where was a medieval sword when she needed one?
He sent her a thin smile.“Once you and I are married, no one will worry about the hours you spent with the lieutenant.”
“It was your fault,” she shot back.“All of this.And I know you’ve threatened to spread gossip about me.”
“Only the truth,” he said, with a shrug.“But if you marry me, I’ll forget all about it.”
“Do you honestly believe I would forgive you for threatening my family’s name?”
“How else am I to wed the daughter of a marquess?”he asked, his hand moving to her cheek.“The ends justify the means.Perhaps tomorrow you and your mother might begin shopping for your trousseau.”
That was it.Just being in the same room with Belgrave made her feel like insects were crawling over her skin.When his mouth lowered to kiss her nape, Hannah reached for the gleaming brass candlestick.Swinging hard, she struck Belgrave across the skull, and then another attacker hit him with a large dictionary.
The baron crumpled to the floor.
“That was well done,” Lieutenant Thorpe complimented her, emerging from the shadows.He wore only part of his slate-blue military uniform, while his jacket, shako and saber were missing.
Dear God, where had he come from?Not that she wasn’t grateful, but he’d scared the life out of her.
Hannah choked back her shock and stared down at the fallen body of Belgrave.Her heart was still pounding with horror at what she’d done.“Did we kill him?”
That was all she needed now.To be hanged for murder.
“I doubt it.”
She slumped into a leather chair, resting her forehead on her palm.Relief poured through her.“What are you doing here?I thought you’d wait a few days at least.”
Michael pulled a chair across from her and sat.“A soldier’s instincts.You asked me to prevent a marriage between you and Belgrave.I saw his carriage when I passed by the house.”
It was a mild way to state that he’d been spying on her.And yet, she was grateful.Knowing that he’d kept his promise to watch over her made her feel safe.“How did you get in here without anyone seeing you?”
The lieutenant pointed toward the window.“It’s not difficult.I thought I’d sneak in, see that you were all right and leave.”
Her breath caught for just a moment.He’d used a dictionary as a weapon.A choked laugh bubbled in her throat, but Hannah tamped it down as she studied Belgrave’s unconscious form.“I should probably get some smelling salts.”
“Leave him.He looks good on the floor after what he did to you the other night.”
She agreed with the lieutenant, but didn’t say so.“No, it’s really not a polite thing to do.I shouldn’t have struck him with the candlestick.My mother would faint if she learned of it.”
He turned serious, resting his forearms on his knees as he regarded her.“If you hadn’t done so, he would have forced his attentions on you.”The lieutenant’s words were brutally blunt.“And your parents could not have stopped him.”
Hannah’s hands started to shake.It was cold in the study, and she gripped her arms to try to warm them.
A squeaking noise caught her attention—the lieutenant was occupied with pushing the curtains aside and raising the window.“Come on.We’ll leave him here while you make your escape.”
“Not out there.”Anyone might see her, and it was impossible in her skirts.“I’ll just go back through the study door.”
“Do you plan to rummage through his pockets for the key?”he inquired.“Or will you shout for one of the servants to break down the door?”
Hannah winced at the thought of touching Belgrave.“There’s no other way, Lieutenant Thorpe.Even if I wanted to go out the window, my skirts wouldn’t fit.”
“You could remove some of your petticoats.”
“Never.”The thought made her ill.He might catch a glimpse of her ankle.Or worse, part of her stocking-clad leg.“It’s a terrible, ridiculous idea.”
