If she were Theo, she may well have slapped him, or at least demanded in a loud tone that he keep his hands to himself. But she was helpless, encouraging him by her silence, and she despised herself for it. Nausea rose up her throat and her head throbbed and she wished, shewished, that she could tell him where to put his unwanted attentions.
The dining room came into view—had they really only been walking for a few minutes? It had felt like hours—and that was Annabelle’s moment to escape. His grip on her arm loosened, sensing victory, and she took advantage of his lapse in awareness to yank her hand free.
“Excuse me, my lord,” she muttered, turning away and practically running blindly through a nearby door. Although her stays were loose, her chest felt constricted. She couldn’t breathe.
Out. Away. The library was out of the question, given what had occurred before, so she made the only choice she could: outside. The house was both cavernous and unfamiliar, so when she saw a small side-door leading into the garden, she took it.
Cool air chilled the damp sweat on her skin. Panting, disgusted with herself and with her skin shuddering from Lord Helmsley’s touch, she wandered off the patio and onto the lawn. The grass was wet, soaking through her slippers, but she hardly cared. Cloaked by darkness, she moved through the garden like a shadow, a wisp of thought.
She had almost made it to the end of the garden, where fruit trees loomed above her, when she heard it.
“Lady Annabelle?” It was Lord Helmsley, his words sliding together like pebbles down a hill. “Are you waiting for me, sweetness?” His laugh was unsteady, and she shrank back into the shadows. “Fear not, I shall find you.”
She surveyed the tree to her left. It was large and well-established. Perhaps she could climb it and escape that way.
“I wouldn’t recommend it,” a voice drawled from behind her. “You’ll quite ruin your dress.”
Chapter Six
Annabelle whirled, reticule dangling from one wrist like a feeble weapon. Her eyes widened as she took in the man standing before her, a black armband on one arm—the final signs of mourning.
Lord Jacob Barrington, the new Marquess of Sunderland, smiled down at her. There was something restless in his eyes, caught by moonlight, like he was on the verge of turning into a wicked fae prince. Despite everything, she was captivated—and she shook herself. This man was just as dangerous as Lord Helmsley. Perhaps more so.
If only she had climbed the tree earlier.
“I see I am not alone in seeking the obscurity of the night,” he said, giving a mocking bow. “A rendezvous or an escape?”
Annabelle stood frozen, trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea, knowing that she was in danger no matter where she turned.
“Don’t worry,” he all-but purred as he stepped closer. “I don’t bite.”
Thatshe didn’t believe.
“What are you doing here?” she asked in a whisper, finally finding her voice.
“I could ask you the same question.”
She winced as Lord Helmlsey called her name again. “You know why.”Escape.
“Well, then my reasons are similar to yours, although perhaps for different causes.” He glanced over her shoulder towards the house and Lord Helmsley. “Tell me, little bird, is that bumbling idiot after you?”
“What gave it away?” Annabelle asked, her heart pounding even as her tone was unusually dry. “The fact he called me by name and is visibly searching for me?”
“Ah, so the catdoeshave claws,” he murmured, one hand coming to touch the same cheek that she had slapped all those months ago. “I remember now.”
“Leave me alone.”
“The temptation is there, believe me.” His smile dropped as he looked down at her, eyes glinting with more of the wild danger she’d seen in them before. “Why are you running from him?” he asked, his voice low. “Did he touch you?”
As though you are one to talk. She held the words back. Somehow, there had been something different about the way he had touched her. Less invasive, though it had been a kiss. “What do you mean?”
“Lord Helmsley, your illustrious companion.” The Marquess’s lip curled. “I presume that is the reason you fled him so abruptly.”
“And if he did?”
“No need to be coy with me,” he said sardonically. “I have no interest in compromising you tonight.”
“How reassuring.” Annabelle shrunk back into the relative safety of the trees. “Can you distract him?”
