“Planned by yours truly, of course.” He gave her a small bow as if acknowledging a hand well played. “Are you close with Comerford?”
“That,” Henry said pleasantly, “would be me.”
No, Louisa had been wrong: Knight was not the only gentleman she knew who could hide murder behind a smile. Henry was doing it too, the threat so subtle in his voice that it could have almost passed for warm.
“This doesn’t have to be unpleasant,” she interjected, placing a hand on Henry’s arm in quiet warning. His gaze flicked down to the contact, but he said nothing. “Unless you would like to revoke your claim on my money, Mr Knight, now you see how well connected I am.”
His sneer became rather more fully formed. “Was that your intention? Yes, I know you have no doubt won the hearts of half the gentlemen here, but that is not going to be enough for me to change my mind. As for him”—his gaze flicked to Henry—“I suspect he could benefit from your fortune just as much as me.”
Henry tensed under her fingers, and she tightened them. Not here and not now. That was Knight’s intention, to make them forget themselves and cause a scene. But she would not fall for it, and she certainly would not let Henry make a fool of herself.
“Yes, indeed,” Knight said, glancing at the contact. “Put your dog on a leash. I admire the control you have over him.”
To her surprise, Henry smiled, showing a few too many white teeth for the expression to be anything other than mildly dangerous. Another thrill ran down Louisa’s spine. She had changed, a product of the things she’d had to do to survive, but so had he, and although naturally she still despised him, she could admit that the changes sat well on him.
“You were not a member of thetonthe last time I was in London,” Henry said. “Newcomers are not often accepted, and easily removed if they are not to taste. You may have a hold over Lady Bolton, but you have none over me. I am the Viscount Eynsham and my father is the Earl of Shrewsbury. Pit yourself against me and see who will win.”
“Don’t worry,” Knight said with deliberate slowness. “I fully intend to.”
At the first opportunity, Louisa dragged Henry through Worthington Hall. They were both familiar with the house and their host, and she had no compulsion in leaving them behind. Henry was quiet as she led him through a side door and out onto a lawn.
The sun was misty overhead, small clouds floating past on a soft breeze, and there was still enough of a chill to the air that she wrapped her arms around herself as she made her way towards the small lavender maze. Soon, the purple buds would bloom and the garden would be awash with bees, but winter still held its grip on the countryside, and only the occasional daffodil dared defy it.
It would be a beautiful scene to paint. She had, albeit reluctantly, left her paints at home, but she had brought her sketchpad. At some point during the proceedings, she would have to come here to sketch. For now, however, she led him through to the maze where they would be concealed from the house.
His eyes lit with wry amusement as he took in their surroundings, so like the first time they had met.
And yet so very different.
“Are you cold?” he asked, and shrugged out of his coat, placing it over her shoulders. Shewascold, but the spontaneity of the action, along with the burst of his scent that accompanied the wool, left her momentarily speechless.
She ought to give it back. Instead, she tugged it closer and glared up at him. “When I said I would accept your help, I did not mean I needed you to defend me at every possible moment.”
“Would you have preferred George?” he asked. “He would have joined you if I had not.”
“George—” She was not entirely sure where she had contrived to find such officious and interfering friends.
“From what I understand, he doesn’t know the whole,” Henry continued as though she hadn’t spoken. “I thought I would spare you from the inevitable explanations. Besides, he seemed comfortably ensconced with your friend.”
“Caroline.”
“Quite.”
“Do you disapprove?” she challenged.
“Of Caroline?”
“And George.”
“What business is it of mine?”
“I hardly know, but you have no compunction about involving yourself in my business.” She scowled, disliking the slight feeling of gratification that unfurled in her stomach.
“Youare determined to dive headlong into danger. All I’m trying to do is protect you from yourself.” For the first time, he seemed frustrated.
“Do you expect me to thank you?”
“I would not be so deluded,” he muttered.
