“His father....” Her words fell away again.
“Is, as you just saw, a fine upstanding citizen. Surely you can see Eric will be better with me?”
“Yes,” she managed a nod, but he could see she was still grappling with what he was about to do, just as he had with her. It seemed there was a great deal they did not know about each other.
“What’s it to be, Eric?”
“I’d like to go with you.”
“Do you have anything here you want?”
The boy shook his head.
“I will have you returned home anytime you wish it, Eric,” Leo added. He then picked the boy up and threw him on his horse. “We shall leave soon,” he said, handing him the reins.
He took Beth’s arm and walked to the carriage. It did not take her long to start speaking.
“But how can you simply take him?”
“Would you rather he stayed at the mercy of that man?”
“I would not, no, but are there not rules, or something that could stop you? The father, do you not think he will look for him?”
“No one cares about the likes of Eric, Beth. Unlike your maids and young women who are being mistreated, he is of no use to anyone. You know that as well as I. So if I can rescue one boy, then I should surely do so.”
“Have you rescued many before him?”
Uncomfortable with the question, Leo simply opened her carriage door, and urged her inside.
“Answer me.” She grabbed his hand when he would have stepped back.
“A few.”
He was close to her now, their eyes level, and he thought that Miss Elizabeth Whitlow’s lovely blue eyes looked beautiful at this time of the day. Leo could do nothing to stop leaning into her. He told himself it was simply to shut her up, as he wanted no more questions, but it wasn’t. He wanted to drink from her lips.
“Leo, no.”
He ignored her, and the small thrill of hearing her name on his lips confused him even more than the first touch of her mouth. Soft and sweet, he brushed his mouth over hers gently. His hand cupped a cool cheek, and as he wrapped his fingers around her neck to take the kiss deeper, his head spun, his knees felt week, and his body... Christ, his body wanted more of her, and that was enough to have him lifting his head.
“No!” She shook her head, and scrabbled backward a step. “Don’t touch me.”
Fear was etched in every line of her face.
“Beth.” Leo tried to step inside the carriage as he saw her distress, but she simply placed two hands on his chest and pushed. Off-balance, he stumbled. She then reached for the door, and slammed it shut. Seconds later he watched the carriage roll away from him.
What the hell had just happened?Leo’s eyes followed the carriage until it had disappeared. He’d kissed her, and what a kiss. He could not remember a woman’s lips creating such torment inside him so quickly. Then when he’d taken it deeper, she had panicked.
Because I know what it is to be scared and alone.Her words ran through his head.
“What the hell is going on with you, Miss Whitlow,” Leo muttered as he returned to his horse.
“She’s a nice lady.”
“She is, Eric, but be warned, women are extremely confusing.”
Leo headed back to his townhouse, trying to make sense of what had just happened. He’d kissed Elizabeth Whitlow, and he knew she’d responded, if only briefly, and then the fear had taken over.Bothering, bloody hell.Not only was he betrothed to the woman, but now he wanted her.
One thing he had learned today was that Miss Whitlow had secrets just as he did. Surprisingly, he wanted to learn each and every one.
