"I do understand." She could restrain herself no longer. "Allow me to assist you in your decision. Take me off your bloody list, you insufferable stuffed shirt!"
She stomped past him and down the steps into the garden. Seething, she headed into the dense maze of bushes. How could she have made such a cake of herself over that self-important prat?I wish I had never met Portland. I hate him, and I hate the ton!
"Having an interesting night?"
She jumped around, her hands flying to her bosom. To her shock, Gavin stood there, his black evening attire blending with the shadows. The moonlight glazed his thick hair, turned his eyes to gleaming gold.
"What in heaven's name are you doing here?" she gasped.
"Waiting for you."
She blinked. "You are waiting for me. In Lady Lipton's garden."
He smiled faintly.
"However did you manage to get in?"
He shrugged. An off-handed gesture.
She gave a bewildered laugh. "Alright then. Will I get an answer if I ask you why you've come?" Even in the dimness, she caught the flicker in his gaze. And suddenly she understood. "You came tospyon me, didn't you? Because of Portland?"
He didn't bother to deny it. "I wanted to be here in case you needed me. Which you clearly did not." In spite of her indignation, her belly quivered at the appreciation in his deep voice. "You handled him with finesse, buttercup."
For a moment, she teetered toward annoyance... but she blew out a breath. He wasn't the one she was angry at. "What I did was seal my fate," she said with a grimace. "Before the week is out, Lord Portland will have all the tongues wagging. I'll probably be labeled a jilt."
"I doubt it."
She frowned. "Why do you say that?"
"Because the bastard is leveraged up to his eyebrows in bad investments. 'Tis a little known fact," he said when her jaw slackened. "And if he doesn't want it to become common knowledge, he'll keep his mouth shut."
"You'reblackmailingPortland?"
"Not me personally. But the man he owes happens to owe me a favor." Gavin gave her a satisfied look. "Portland needs his reputation, so he'll stay quiet."
Percy gawked at him. She didn't know whether to be annoyed at his high-handedness or grateful that he'd taken such pains to protect her reputation. "Why would you do such a thing for me?" she managed.
"I protect what's mine," he said.
No poetic flummery, no pretense—just a statement of fact, thrilling in its primal promise. Yearning blossomed within her as she stared up at his strong, scarred face. What would it be like to truly belong to this man? Dare she trust him—and her own feelings?
Another thought hit her. "Is it safe for you to be here like this?"
His large palm cupped her cheek, the graze of his rough skin making her tremble. "I have everything in hand, sweet, and men posted nearby. There's nothing to worry about."
"But what about that Lyon fellow—"
"I've my eye on him." Gavin shrugged, as if the threat to his life was inconsequential. "Trust me, I can take care of myself."
"No man is an island," she said. "You mustn't think yourself invulnerable. Isn't there anything I can do to—"
He put a finger to her lips, halting the flow of words. "There's no need to fret, sweet." The golden flames in his gaze entranced her. "I've dealt with such matters before. Trust me?"
She nodded reluctantly, and he gave her one of his rare smiles. Her heart did a flip.
"Tonight, I don't want to think about such things," he said in a husky tone. "Not when the stars are out and we have this garden all to ourselves. Will you walk with me, Percy?"
Her gaze darted from the arm he offered back to the townhouse glowing in the distance. Once, she'd thought that her future lay in that latter direction. A respectable marriage, a fine house. A lifetime of sensible choices ahead of her. Now, looking into Gavin's burnished eyes, she realized fate had something more compelling in store. Something mysterious—and with no guaranteed happy ending. Was she brave enough to reach for it?
