She leaned up, one hand coming to Henry’s arm as she brought her mouth to his ear. “Do you know that man?”
He gave a tiny shake of his head, but she thought his breath stuttered slightly.
“We must get closer.”
Henry’s grip on her tightened, and he turned his face half into hers. “If we approach, they’ll see us. As it is, there’s no assurance that man won’t enter through this door.”
“He would have a hard time doing so, considering it’s locked.”
He made a tiny sound of acknowledgement in the back of his throat, though it sounded more as though he was in pain. She, too, was uncomfortably aware of all the places their bodies were touching. Her hand on the taut muscles of his arm; his fingers around her elbow; his hip pressing against hers. There was nowhere for her to go save the rough brick at her back, and he seemed disinclined to give her more room.
Her heart pounded helplessly, and she despised that even here, even now, even bathed in darkness, she was thinking about all the ways his body had changed since she had last known him. Then, he had still been developing and growing. Now he was full man, broad and muscled.
Ahead, Knight finished his conversation with the man, who set off along the road with that odd slouching, ambling gait.
Whatever the reason, her ploy had failed, and now Knight had returned, she would have no way of entering the house. All she could do was follow this man and see if he held any answers. If nothing else, perhaps she could get a name.
“Louisa,” Henry said, but she had already freed herself and was following the man, keeping to the other side of the road and ducking her head. After a second, Henry caught up with her. “Where are you going?”
“Well, that depends entirely on where he’s going.”
His jaw snapped shut in palpable frustration. “I could follow him for you.”
“Why would you do that?”
“To find a way to prevent Knight from threatening you.” He hesitated before adding, in a low voice, “I know he has demanded something from you.”
“Is that so?” She glanced at him, but the darkness was complete enough she could not see his expression.
“Why else would you be here?”
“To protect my reputation?”
“The scandal would be large at first,” Henry said, extending a hand in front of her so they slowed as the man ahead did. “But it would blow over in time. Is it worth endangering yourself over?”
She scoffed under her breath. “Oh, sonowyou think scandal is endurable?”
His steps faltered slightly. “That was different. We would have been destitute.”
“Please, tell me again all the reasons you refused to marry me.”
“Louisa,” he said, half annoyance, half frustration. “You already know my reasons.”
She concentrated on keeping her steps light and silent. Although it was unlikely anyone would recognise her here, she did not want to give them the opportunity. “Yes, I believe so.”
He made a sound of irritation. “And you know how deeply I regret the outcome.”
“Do I? How gratifying.”
“Louisa—”
“Admit it. You were afraid of the scandal.”
“Onyourbehalf.”
“Yet I am expected to passively endure ruin. Your double standards astonish me.”
They passed under the flickering light of a lamp. The further they travelled, the less salubrious the neighbourhood, until she wondered if following the manhadbeen a mistake after all.
