He looked stung by her words. “I have little choice but to care when I observe a lone female of my acquaintance skulking off in the dead of night. Though you may not think it, I do have some sense of honor!”
Alex felt a sudden stab of remorse knife through her chest. She knew from Lady Ashton how much the earl had suffered from the vile rumors that had implied he possessed not a shred of honor. And as she met his gaze, she saw a flash of unfathomable pain.
A sob rose in her throat, and to her utter dismay, Alex felt tears welling up in her eyes.
Hells bells, she loathed ladies who turned into watering pots!
“I’m so, so sorry that you felt obliged to help,” she whispered. “It was never my intent to drag you into my eccentric family’s woes …”
Alex squeezed her eyes shut, but couldn’t seem to stop the tears from coursing down her cheeks. “Y-You must truly think me a donkey’s arse.” A humorless laugh. “Or worse.”
Silence.
Not a good sign, but she deserved no less.
Alex started to inch away but Branford placed a hand on her uninjured shoulder. “Actually, I think you are the most courageous, redoubtable lady I’ve ever met. A fraction of a pause. “Though I confess you frighten me half to death.” He drew her closer …
Was it merely her febrile imagination or was he pressing a gossamer soft kiss to her brow?
As if in a dream, she tilted her head back, only to find her lips a mere hair’s breadth from his …
Seeing the look in eyes—a haunting flicker of pain flashing through a swirl of other emotions that she couldn’t begin to decipher—Alex leaned in.
Their mouths touched.
She felt him shudder, which suddenly broke the strange spell that had held her in thrall.
With a faint cry, Alex recoiled?—
Only to be drawn back into an undeniable kiss.
The warmth of his touch sent shivers of fire and ice pulsing through every fiber of her being. Embracing the sensations, she joined him in deepening the embrace.
A moment passed—or was it an eternity?All sense of time seemed to drift into dream-like oblivion …
But then, Branford drew back with a harried sigh. “Ye heavens, forgive me, Miss Chilton—I should not have done that.”
“But I … I am glad you did,” she whispered.
His eyes lit for an instant, and then his gaze turned shadowed as he shook his head. “It was unconscionable of me to take advantage of your distress.”
“I think it wasmewho kissed you,” she whispered with a tremorous smile. “I-I wouldn’t mind doing it again.”
“As would I,” he replied softly. “But I am not so devoid of honor as to do such a thing. Not like this.”
The room was utterly silent save for their ragged breathing. With his body pressing against hers, Alex felt the thud of their hearts beating in tandem.
It was a strangely comforting sensation.
A breeze stirred, and she was suddenly aware that her gown was tugged down off her injured shoulder, the chill teasing against her bare flesh.
Branford, too, seemed roused to the realization that they were playing with fire.
“Imustget you home,” he said, and yet he paused for a moment to finger an errant curl that had pulled loose from its hairpin and had tumbled down over her shoulders.
“It’s like spun silk.” he murmured.
“It’s a dull mouse-brown,” replied Alex.
