“Look at me like that.” Her blue eyes were wide, uncertain.
“I can’t help it. That’s the way I want to look at you now.” He kissed her again and felt her lean into him. It was with reluctance that he pulled back.
“Warwick.”
“Is right here, and not going anywhere.” He cupped her cheek. “Now, you need to focus because I don’t want you skewering me with one of those blades.”
“I don’t think I want to throw my knives at you, Warwick.”
“Why? Are you worried after the years of torment at my hands you may misdirect one?” He lowered his hand because neither of them were ready for anyone to see them like this.
“I never miss.” Her chin rose, and the tension between them eased but not completely. He didn’t think that would happen until they acknowledged what was between them.
“Well, let’s hope that doesn’t start now.”
Simon, his nephew, appeared at the top of the stairs just as Samantha poked out her small pink tongue. Luckily, he didn’t give in to the need to lean down and take it into his mouth.
“You are on now, Aunt Sam. I thought Mr. Blanchet was with you?”
“It’s me now, nephew.”
Simon glanced from him to Samantha and nodded.
“What do you think that look was for?” Samantha asked.
“There was no look. Now, relax. I have no wish for you to be anything but that from this moment until your last knife is thrown.”
“I have done so many times using Alice.”
“I know. I heard. She got a nick to her ear once.”
“Only because she sneezed.”
“Let’s go then.”
“You should have just let me throw them at Mr. Blanchet.”
“That man is not getting close to you again if I can help it, and don’t think I don’t know you told him you were going driving with him to annoy me,” he muttered. Warwick placed a hand on her back and urged her up the stairs.
“You have an inflated ego if you believe it was just to annoy you. I like him, he is a friend, and he also asked.”
“I take you driving now, not him or anyone else. You, Lady Samantha, are my Raven.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
Samantha’s legs felt wobbly as she walked out onto the stage and not only because Warwick had declared she was his Raven. She had never been one for crowds or standing out from them. Performing at her brother’s charity ball was something she’d always tried to avoid. This year Eden had said she needed her when another had pulled out. Samantha stopped as she saw the faces all looking her way.
“I’m here.” Warwick stepped to her side, his hand warm on her spine.
She exhaled slowly and smiled.You, Lady Samantha, are my Raven.
“Go and get ready,” he whispered out the side of his mouth. “Good evening,” he said to the audience.
Samantha got her knives out and placed them on the table and forced aside the emotions his words had created inside her. Now was not the time for that. She needed to focus.
“As you know, this is a special evening for my family, and we are all here for an important cause. So please dig deep and let us raise more than we did in previous years for those who need our support.”
She shot the crowd a look and noticed the young ladies hanging on Warwick’s every word. Phillipa Blake stood near the front with her hands clasped together, gazing at Warwick with stars in her eyes.
