“I am taking air, my lord,” Sophie said, as if she were a bloody princess. “Pray do not ask me again, and please hold on to something before you fall. Your legion of admirers would be desolate.”
“But not you?”
“No one deserves to die that way,” she said.
She shivered, and he doubted what she wore offered much protection to the cool night air. He’d certainly be cold, too, if half his chest were exposed.And what a lovely chest it is.
“Come, enough of this nonsense. You are shivering and in imminent danger of falling. Place your hands in mine. I will bring you down safely.”
“Very well, but I am more than capable—” Her words ended in a shriek as he took the hands she held out to him and swung her to safety. He jumped down beside her.
Patrick waited patiently while she straightened her skirts and then patted her hair. When she could find nothing else to fuss with, she looked at him.
“Thank you, my lord, for your help.”
“Why were you on that ledge, Countess?”
“I am going back to the ballroom.”
He stepped in front of her.
“Move, please. Lady Carstairs will have missed me.”
“When you have answered my questions, madam, I will let you return.”
They stared at each other for long, heated seconds until finally her shoulders lowered, and he knew he’d won.
“The ladies,” she said and then clamped her bottom lip firmly between her teeth.
“The ladies what?” Patrick prompted, placing both hands on the balcony railing, effectively caging her inside his arms.
“I don’t have to tell you.” Her chin lifted, and he knew this for a defensive gesture.
“The ladies what?”
“If you must know, they were saying things I did not want to hear, so I left the room via the window rather than engage in an argument.”
He wanted to laugh at her defiant look, as if what she’d done was completely justifiable and the actions of a sane person. Butwhen he looked closer, he saw the worry in her lovely eyes. She was not as confident as she wanted him to believe.
“And why do you care what they say?” He leaned closer and caught her scent on the night air. Soft, subtle, with a hint of rose. The woman only had to be a foot away to ignite his body.
“I care for Letty, who does not need any scandal or gossip.”
“Your loyalty is admirable, but I’m sure Lady Carstairs would not have wished for you to take such rash actions to evade a bunch of gossiping women.”
“Let me go back inside.”
“You shouldn’t care what they say, Countess. Ignore them,” Patrick added.
“Spoken like a man who could never understand what it’s like to be on the receiving end of vicious gossip.”
“Don’t judge what you do not know, Countess,” Patrick said.
She surprised him by saying, “Forgive me. You’re right. I do not know that.”
“What is your story?” Patrick said. “Lord Monmouth was not married when I saw him just before he died, and he definitely did not mention a son. Then there is the fact you suddenly appeared in society and yet are not comfortable being here.” His words hit their mark because her face betrayed her. Shock had her eyes widening, and then she was struggling to get away from him.
“Tell me the truth.”
