Susanna felt an elbow poke her in the ribs. She turned from Stuart’s mocking gaze to glance at Clara. Clara’s gaze was on the doorway.
“Yes, hemmed in indeed.” Mr. Maddox raised his wineglass in a toast. “Good evening, Lord Hawksridge.”
Chapter Three
Clara leaned closeto Susanna’s ear. “Looks like your keeper is here.”
Susanna grimaced. Damn her mother. Why on earth did she always send Hawksridge after her? His glowering presence was the fastest way to ruin a perfectly pleasant evening. Susanna was more than capable of getting herself home. She had her driver waiting for her outside. She twisted around to find Hawksridge’s broad shoulders filling the doorway. His arms were crossed across his chest, his blond head only an inch from the top of the doorjamb. Even more than his imposing frame, it was his presence that filled the space.
“Good evening, Mr. Maddox, Mrs. Maddox,” Hawksridge’s deep voice intoned. His gaze swung to Susanna. He didn’t mince words. “Time to go.”
And there it was, the glower. Susanna sighed. She felt Stuart stiffen beside her. Her talk with him would have to wait. If Hawksridge was here it meant her mother knew she had fled the party. He was right, it was time to go. Susanna rose. “Thank you as always for an entertaining evening.”
Then she walked to Hawksridge, who stepped back to allow her to pass through the door. Impeccably dressed in his evening clothes, his hair tamed back neatly with pomade, he looked the epitome of a titled gentleman, cool and sophisticated. She couldn’t help but notice his mild sandalwood scent, spicy and warm, as it hit her nose.
Susanna didn’t wait for him but instead headed down the back corridor and giving the scarred wooden door at the end a shove she emerged out into the crisp night air. Hawksridge might be a friend but his new role this spring as her mother’s errand boy was damn annoying. She glanced down the street. Where was her coachman? Annoyed, she turned back to her bodyguard. “Why does she always send you?”
He sighed and tipped his head back to look up at the stars. “Because I know where to find you.” His gaze dropped to meet hers. “And because she knows if she sends a servant, you won’t heed them.”
Susanna put her hands on her hips. “I’m perfectly capable of getting myself home.”
He mirrored her pose. “As you have told me on many occasions. I gave your mother my word that I would find you and see you home.”
She huffed and glanced down the street again looking for her carriage. The only one stopped in front of the theater at this late hour was Hawksridge’s imposing town coach. “Where is Sam?” she muttered.
“I sent him home. I will escort you home.”
“Why are you so managing? Honestly, you have no right to tell my servants anything at all.” She turned to stalk down the street. The loud click-clack of her heeled slippers against the stone walkway making a most satisfying sound that matched her temper.
“Susanna,” an exasperated voice called from behind her. “Can we skip the theatrics tonight?” His footsteps echoed closer as his long legs ate up the distance between them.
She whirled around to glare at him. “Theatrics? Because I am a woman my opinions are theatrics?”
“Theatrics because you are you. Listen, it is half three in the morning. All I want is to sit by the fire in my bedroom with a glass of brandy in my hand and my slippers on my feet.” He crowded her, his face inches from hers. “But instead, I am fetching home naughty girls who like to run away.”
“I’m not running away,” she huffed again. He couldn’t have known that she had been planning to break things off with Stuart Kinrade. That she was trying to remedy a mistake. And she was not inclined to tell him. “Let’s walk a bit to the bridge. The water is pretty in the moonlight.”
She didn’t wait for him but continued down the street toward Westminster Bridge. She heard him sigh loudly. A couple minutes later, he fell into step beside her. Theclip-clopof horse’s hooves came from behind them. He must have told the coachman to follow.
When they got to the bridge, she crossed to the wide stone balustrade that ran its length. A cart rumbled past. Susanna leaned her arms on the cool stone and stared at the moon that hung low over the river. Damn him. It had been hard enough to escape the Ponsonby’s ball tonight. She needed to speak with Stuart and end things properly. Now she would have to create another opportunity to see him.
Hawksridge came to stand next to her, his legs wide and his posture straight, he clasped his hands behind his back. “Tell me, why are we standing on Westminster Bridge in the dead of night?”
“Because I don’t want to go home.” She slid him a sideways glance. “You know if I really wanted to run away, I would join Maddox’s circus this summer as they travel the countryside.”
“If you are not running away, then why do you come here to socialize with those people?”
Susanna rolled her eyes at his snobbery. “Those peopleare my friends.”
“You already have friends. What about Charlotte and Ellie and the rest of them?”
She shrugged and turned to face Hawksridge, leaning her hip against the balustrade. “They all have families of their own now to take care of. I guess I’m a bit lonely these days.” She quirked up one side of her mouth. It was so silly, but true.
Hawksridge studied her solemnly for a moment. The light from the gas lamp next to them flickered across his handsome features. Then a rare grin spread across his face wiping away his normally serious countenance. “You still have me.”
Susanna rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop herself from chuckling just a bit. “Yes, well, there’s that.”
He held out a hand to her. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
