And then Sophia laughed a little.
For spying them from just a few feet away, with only the bars to separate them, was the lion. “This lion is going to know all of our secrets, Captain.”
“Devlin — Dev.” His lips were only inches from hers.
Sophia’s heart raced, and the sounds of the carnival around them faded into a vortex of emotions.
Sophia had never felt so flustered in her life. “I do not expect, nor think you ought to be compelled to say such things merely because…” Did he feel guilt for kissing her when they had been trapped together?
“Not merely because.” He glanced over her shoulder at the lion and stared thoughtfully before pinning her with his gaze once again. “I want you to know, sweet Sophia, that you have choices. I am not wealthy, by any means…”
She looked up at him, pained despite her laughter mere moments before. “I am so confused, and yet I am not confused at all. I do know, however—” She took a deep breath. “—that I must return home soon. My mother is already going to be wondering...”
He watched her with an intensity that nearly caused her knees to buckle. But then, as though coming to some sort of a decision, he reached into his front pocket and removed a small pencil. Tearing a piece of paper off the pastry wrapper, he jotted down some scribbles and numbers. “These are my directions. If you have need. Promise me, if anything changes, you will send word. The top number is my place of lodging in England and the bottom my new residence in Surrey.”
She would cherish his writing forever. She handed him what remained of the pastry and tucked his note into her reticule. Did she, she wondered? Have choices? The idea provoked her.
Just as quickly as the thought came to her, she froze and felt all the blood drain from her face.
For across the corridor, in front of the cage that housed a black panther, her stepbrother, Dudley, stood watching. Shaking his head in disapproval, he met her eyes mockingly. He then pushed himself away from the display and disappeared into the crowd.
Dudley could be devious. If he were anything like a brother, he would come to her, advise her in kindness, that she ought not to be seen in public with a man who was not her fiancé. Even a stepbrother would want only to protect her and keep her from finding herself in a dangerous or upsetting situation. He would offer her his escort home, and perhaps chastise her gently.
Not Dudley.
No, Dudley would lie in wait, much like the panther he’d been standing near. He would wait until she was at her most vulnerable and then pounce, so as to create as much injury as possible. His reputation preceded him.
Is That Really Her?
It had not been an easy thing, Dev thought ruefully. He’d wanted to kiss her right there in front of the exhibit, where any passer-by could see. Her lips had been so close he could practically taste the sugar on her breath. And she’d been so yielding, so open.
She’d also obviously been filled with confusion.
So instead of giving into temptation again and nipping at the tender skin of her lips, he’d written down his direction for her.
The decisions as to what could, or could not be, between the two of them, was in her hands. For he would not step into such a sticky situation such as this without knowing she wanted it as much as he did. Breaking up a betrothal was not something a gentleman did.
It was unthinkable, really.
However.
However, if Sophia Babineaux were to say the word, he would do all sorts of things that gentlemen did not do.
But she must be certain.
And so, he’d handed her his address, scrawled on a sugar-covered pastry wrapper, and then escorted her back to his vehicle. She’d become as thoughtful and quiet as he.
This time, when he assisted her up, she did not lean upon him so easily. And as they drove, she sat straight and rigid beside him, only grasping his arm when they turned, or stopped abruptly.
Had he been wrong?
It was possible, he supposed. Perhaps the second thoughts she’d been experiencing about her fiancé were the typical, normal response all people have before committing themselves to a lifelong relationship.
But, deep inside, Dev did not think that was the case. He had a feeling about her, and his gut instincts were usually spot on. When he asked her address, she’d told it to him but then requested that he set her down at a nearby corner.
He understood.
This afternoon had been an adventure for her. Something of a last hurrah. As he reached their destination, he pulled the carriage to a halt and turned in his seat. Although she was impatient, it was her hand that covered his.
