Her mind skid to a halt.Edgar!How could she have forgotten about that rotten rat? “Oh, Vincent,” she gasped, and shook her head. “Things are worse, especially now. Earlier this evening, I overheard a conversation between him and Augusta.”
Concern replaced his pleasant expression. “Tell me.”
“Well, from what I gathered, they had some sort of plan figured out…even though I’m still stumped on the reasoning behind it. Nonetheless, Edgar wants to—”
The dance ended and couples left the floor. Ellie didn’t dare continue, not now. She would find another time this evening to explain things to Vincent. It made her heart light knowing that he still acted as though he wanted to be with her. She trusted him completely. Undoubtedly, he would help her tonight.
Chapter Eighteen
Vincent couldn’t believetheir poor timing. Her eyes pleaded with him for another moment with him, but he couldn’t dance with her twice in a row. Gossip would definitely spread like wildfire. But they were engaged. Didn’t that make a difference?
She seemed hesitant to return to her father, and he really didn’t want to let her go, either. She hooked her arm around his elbow, but instead of taking her back to her father, he led her out of the room and to the refreshment table.
He handed her a glass of punch before taking a glass for himself. He slid an arm around her back, resting his hand on her hip as he guided her toward a wall. They stood facing each other, but unfortunately, there were still people around who could overhear. That was what worried him.
“Vincent, I need your help,” she whispered before taking a sip.
He glanced around them again before meeting her gaze. “What does Edgar want to do?”
“I heard him say he was going to sneak into my bedroom tonight so that he could create a scandal. He’s desperate enough to doanythingto marry me.”
Hatred poured through Vincent like hot lava, and he tightened his grip on his drink. “Over my dead body,” he grumbled, but not too loudly. He didn’t want other people suspicious why he had suddenly turned angry.
Her face softened as a small smile bracketed her face. “I’ll doanythingto make sure that doesn’t happen to you.” She winked.
His heart grew light again. “Thank you for trying to be my protector, my precious Ellie.”
“Just as you are mine.”
His heartbeat quickened. “So tell me, how exactly does Edgar plan to accomplish this task?”
“Augusta is going to leave one of the back doors unlocked, since Father kicked him out a couple of days ago.”
“Can’t you just lock the door after she has unlocked it?”
She shook her head. “I could, but I don’t know the exact moment when she’ll unlock it, and when exactly he will enter.”
“Very true.” He sipped his punch, wishing it was a bit stronger right now. He couldn’t let Edgar win. Or Lord Calvin.
Earlier this evening when he’d had a talk with Lord Calvin, Vincent realized the man didn’t know if he wanted to marry Ellie or not because he missed the life he’d been leading for a few years. It was at that moment when something inside Vincent slapped him senseless, but woke him up to his feelings. He loved Ellie more than anything. He wasn’t about to lose her. Not to anyone.
And he would do everything in his power to win her heart.
She took another drink and then lowered her glass. “I don’t even dare go to my room this evening when we return home,” she whispered.
“Then don’t.” An idea took root in his mind, making his heart hammer faster than before. He scanned around him before moving closer to her. “Come home with me. I’ll always protect you.”
Her breathing grew faster, deeper—evidenced by the quick rise and fall of her bosom. In return, excitement grew inside him just as quickly. Indeed, he’d meant every word. And he wouldn’t back down. Not this time. Not ever again.
“Once you leave the party with your parents,” he continued in a whisper, “I’ll follow. I’ll be the one who meets you at one of the back doors. Not Stone.”
She smiled brightly. “Edgar will be going to the east door, so we can meet by the west door.”
He nodded. “Yes. Good plan.”
Her gaze moved slowly over his face, resting on his mouth. His heart jumped to his throat. Blazes, she was pretty, and right now if he kissed her, he knew the passion they had shared several times before would return, stronger than ever. Unfortunately, he couldn’t kiss her right now. Too many eyes. But it made him ecstatic knowing that she felt the same way. She couldn’t hide her happiness.
It also thrilled him to know she had askedhimfor help, even though she had danced with Lord Calvin already. Vincent had just entered the ballroom while they were dancing. It nearly tore his heart to pieces seeing them together, knowing that Adam had been the love of her life. But she hadn’t smiled so radiantly with Lord Calvin. Nor had she really conversed with the man during their dance.
