“Really, I am fine. We do not—”
“It would be a pity for you ladies to miss the rest of the evening. I will be happy to escort Miss Russell back to your house,” Gareth said.
Sarah only hesitated a few seconds. “It would be nice to stay, and I have seen some friends I would like to introduce to Rebecca.”
“I can stay,” Eva objected. “I am not chilled at all. Truly, I am fine.”
Sarah felt her face again. “We dare not risk it, what with all the spring fevers. Your face is very flushed, too, Eva. You must accept Mr. Fitzallen’s escort, or Rebecca and I must take you.”
Rebecca tried to appear willing to go, but the option to stay, once presented, had her pleading with her eyes for that choice.
Eva stood. “This is ridiculous. I am not sick.”
“I fear you will be very sick by morning, unless you rest now,” Sarah said. “Get to bed as soon as you arrive back. And tell the cook to fix you some broth for supper.” She leaned closer. “Do not forget that little request I made about tomorrow, please.”
Gareth helped her to the aisle, his face a picture of solicitous concern. One would think she needed salts from the way he hovered and guided her out of the theater.
The night air felt wonderful. The theater had made her a bit warm, she admitted to herself. Or rather the man sitting beside her had.
She stopped and faced Gareth under a lamp attached to the theater’s façade. “You wicked, wicked man.”
“Delightfully wicked, I hope.”
“Annoyingly wicked tonight. You will not take me back to Sarah’s house. You will hire a carriage for me, and send me on my way.”
He sent one of the theater’s footmen to bring a hired cab. She looked out into the night and tried to ignore his presence while they waited.
When the carriage arrived, he held the door for her. To her dismay, however, he climbed in behind her.
“I will not have it,” she said. “Get out.”
“I promised to deliver you safely to your cousin’s house. As a gentleman, I will be good to my word.” He settled across from her. “See, you have nothing to fear from me. I do not importune women, least of all those who are ill.”
“How thoughtful.”
“Your cousin summed up my character quickly enough. She entrusted you to me, after all.”
“My cousin knows nothing about you. She merely did not want to leave herself.” Sarah’s willingness to hand her over to a stranger actually had another explanation. Much like the sistersNeville, Sarah assumed someone like Gareth would never have an interest in such as she. Not even for the basest reasons.
She supposed Sarah also assumed she would have more sense than to allow a man like Gareth to misbehave. That alternate explanation salved her pride a little.
“Youareill, correct? The warmth and shivering had no other particular cause, did it?”
“Not only am I ill, I am sure I am contagious.” She gave him Sarah’s address. He opened the window and called it to the driver.
Through the dark they rolled. She refused to look at him. She stared at the window beside her and hoped she appeared annoyed and unassailable.
He would probably try to kiss her soon. Who knew what scandalous things this man could do in a dark carriage? If she were not careful, she might find herself half-naked again. That would be a fine thing, arriving at Sarah’s house in such a state.
Her whole body waited for him to move. A touch on her knee would probably come first. Then he would sit beside her. Another half a block and the rogue would embrace her and force a kiss on her. In minutes, she would be fighting for her virtue.
She tingled as she imagined each step he would take. Anticipation filled the carriage. His presence seemed to grow until it invisibly pressed her. Her breasts swelled, betraying her resolve with their sensitivity.
Any moment now, she was sure. If he had teased her in the theater, he would be ruthless now that they were alone. She almost could not breathe from the suspense, and her mind lined up the words to put him in his place.
She sneaked a glance at him. Then she turned and stared at him through the dark. She squinted hard, to be sure she saw correctly.
He had fallen asleep.
