And now to have the most beautiful woman, with the highest spirit and the cleverest mind, the woman he desired most of all, ask him to let it all go?
There was too much at stake.
They sat on the bed, not touching, side by side. The room was almost entirely dark. A chill set in, and she pulled his coat about her, snuggling. She reached for her shoes and slipped them on.
“How will we leave here?” she asked, ever practical. “Do you think the ball has ended?”
“Who can say? Obviously, we cannot go down. You are only half-dressed and I cannot run the risk of colliding with the duke.”
“What will you do about him?”
“I don’t know. My investigator should arrive within the week. Before I knew he was mybloody father, I’d hoped to make a charge to the police and walk away. But now—? It’s something to sort out, isn’t it?”
“Do you still believe you are in no danger?”
“No. But now that he knows I am in possession of a wife—”
“I believe the term he used wasdoxie.”
“A name by which you will never be called. I’ll kill him myself, if he insults you again. Now that he knows about you, I should like some security detail with you at all times, Sabine.”
“Not when I’m working on the smuggling investigation, surely?”
“Sabine—” he sighed.
“No.” She stood up. “Why should he send someone to kill me? Honestly? I’m not one of the richest men in England.”
“We will... come to some accord. Together. We will compromise.”
“No security,”she stated.
“That is not how compromise works.”
“Perhaps we can arrange somebarter, then,” she said suggestively, and he raised his head. She was padding across the room to the door, her long hair swaying down the back of his coat. He watched her move in the dark through narrowed eyes. A small pulse of fresh desire flickered in his belly, as he knew it would. He was afraid.Hopealways made him afraid.
She unlocked the door and cracked it, peering out. “I hear music,” she said. “Perhaps we can slip down the servants’ stairs?”
“I don’t want anyone to see you, including servants.”
“Doyouwant to see me?” she asked.
Always,he thought. He said, “You think I’m a prude,” and barked an ironic laugh.
“I think you aspire to prudishness.”
“Bloody hell, Sabine. You shock me with the things you say. Sometimes you are very wise. But sometimes—? You have no idea.”
“If you are not an aspirational prude, then take me out the window of this room,” she said.
“What?”
She walked to the window and shoved the drapes aside. Moonlight flooded the room. She squinted in the silvery light and peered out. The sight of her there, draped in his coat, with her hair down and the remains of her dress hanging about her, took his breath away. A wave of lust surged inside him. She glanced away from the window and caught him in the hot look. She smiled and swept her hair over her shoulder. She raised her chin.
“It’s only the alley below,” she said levelly. “We can steal away under the cover of darkness and send a boy from the mews for your carriage.”
“I’m not taking you out the window,” he said.
“Because your ribs are hurting?” She made a weak imitation of concern.
