He pulled her farther away from the onlookers and up onto the shore. His boots were most likely ruined, and his clothing now nearly as wet as Cecily’s. Struggling to remove his jacket with only one free hand, he used his other to turn Cecily and press her face into his chest all the while mumbling reassurances to her. He didn’t want anybody else to see that she was crying. As if the altercation itself wasn’t enough, he knew she would be mortified for thetonto see that she had allowed the situation to reduce her to tears. Somehow, he knew this would bother her more than anything else.
When he’d freed himself from his jacket, he placed it upon her shoulders protectively and, with a slight jerk of his head, sent Salaam to retrieve the lady’s carriage. A companion he assumed to be Miss Cunnington’s stepped over to assist the other combatant.
The wet bedraggled form in his arms began shivering. Whether from the cold or the aftermath of released violence, he knew not. “Decided to take a swim, did you?” he cajoled jokingly. And then without thinking it over, he swept her up into his arms and carried her to the arriving coach. “Come along, let’s get you home.”
She wrapped her hands around his neck and clung to him, continuing to bury her head in his neck. “I didn’t start it. Oh, my God, what have I done?” She was apparently coming to her senses somewhat.
Realizing that the eyes of several bystanders watched them curiously, Stephen logically surmised that if maneuvered properly, this situation could be utilized to further Cecily’s campaign for Flave to divorce her. Again, without allowing himself to consider his actions further, Stephen turned his head so that he could find Cecily’s face.
And then he kissed her.
Stephen’s kiss wasdelightfully unexpected, but that didn’t stop Cecily from relaxing her lips and allowing him to carry on. She did not think about the people watching. She did not think about their bargain. In fact, she did not think about anything except that being held and kissed by this man felt utterly right. His taste was familiar and his embrace full of relief and protection.
He was a bedrock of security and comfort. She welcomed his kiss and his touch without any reservations whatsoever. Ah, to belong…
When Stephen ended the kiss, she realized that they had arrived at the street, and the carriage had been pulled around for her. Not revealing any emotions whatsoever, Stephen set her down on her feet and then assisted her in. The driver looked at them askance. Yesterday it had been the dog, and today it was this. Coachman John was never going to forgive her for getting mud all over the interior twice in as many days. The man was fastidious about his care of Flavion’s conveyances.
Cecily sagged into her seat and then watched as Stephen climbed in, closed the door behind him, and pounded his fist on the ceiling. Neither of them said a word until the carriage swayed into traffic.
“What about Salaam and Chadwick?” she asked, realizing they’d left her bodyguards to fend for themselves.
“They will find their way back to the house,” Stephen said in a clipped tone. “I need to ask you something.” His demeanor had turned quite serious, his brows beginning to furrow again.
Where was the man who’d just kissed her senseless?
Was he to blame her now for this confrontation with Miss Cunnington? “I did not push her in.” Cecily lifted her chin, ready to defend herself. “She slipped on her own, and when I went to assist her, she pulled me into the water. That woman belongs in Bedlam. She thinks I am a threat to her.I do not want him. Does she not realize that?”
More than a little suspicion was behind Stephen’s glare. “Are you certain that you mightn’t have… accidently pushed her?”
“Of course I’m certain! Why would you not believe me?” He was a most untrusting gentleman! She’d given him no reason not to trust her, and yet he persisted in questioning her motives at every turn. “If you don’t trust me, then come right out and say so.”
He leaned toward her, resting his arms on his knees, and looked directly into her eyes. “I. Don’t. Trust. You.”
With those words, Cecily leaned back into the plush upholstery and then folded her arms in front of her. The motion would have been a bit more effective if her arms didn’t make a squishing, bubbling sound as they pressed against her bosom, forcing water to gush outward and upward.
“Oh, holy hell,” she cursed. This really was too much! She tried to continue glaring at Stephen but felt a smile tug at her lips.
If she was not mistaken, a glimmer of mischief appeared in his eyes at the absurdity of her condition. And then one corner of his mouth pulled up to crease his cheek. He was laughing at her, the dratted man.
But he had said he didn’t trust her. The thought sobered her again. “Why not?” she said, pushing out her bottom lip.
He shook off his laughter and leaned forward again. “Flavion was set upon last night. Some thugs hijacked his carriage and roughed him up pretty badly. He’s at home resting now. In light of our earlier agreement, I am compelled to ask. Do you know anything about this?”
Cecily bit her lip. Was it possible?
“Did they shoot him? Did they use knives, any weapons whatsoever? Did they rob him of his belongings?” The answers to these questions were important. Her father’s employees had very specific techniques and adhered to them proudly. They did what was necessary while following their own tightly held moral code.
“No weapons. No robbery.” Stephen watched her closely.Oh, double drat and damnation! She needed to speak with Niles. But she had promised Stephen she would not allow her father to harm Flavion.
“I did as I promised. I posted a letter to my father yesterday.” Regardless of the relationship of sorts that had arisen between her and Stephen, she did not want either of them to know of her transactions with Niles Waverly. She could not be sure that Stephen wouldn’t assist Flavion in attempting to confiscate her personal funds — even though they were carefully tied up in trust for her by her father. Stephen was obviously very astute when it came to business and might be ruthless in spite of… whatever was going on between the two of them.
He continued to display an increasingly annoying level of loyalty to Flavion.
“I know of no plans to harm Flavion,” she said with as much conviction as she could muster. For in truth, she did not. She only suspected… In an attempt to change the subject, she looked down and pulled her water-laden skirts up and away from her thighs. “Oh, this is beyond the pale. This dress was only just delivered from Madam Chantal’s this morning.”
Stephen did not comment. He merely watched her suspiciously.
“Are you dissembling with me, my lady?” he finally asked.
