His eyes met hers, but whatever emotion she might have found there, was lost amidst the black shadows of the night. “Richard.” His voice was a deep murmur filled with rich undertones.
Mary blinked, surprised by the familiarity with which he’d just introduced himself.
Warm fingers carefully curled their way around hers. “I have no title,” he said, closing the distance between them. He brought his other hand up against her cheek, touching her as if it were a marvel to do so.
Mary could only gaze up at him. She’d never felt like this before—as if she were the only woman on Earth, and as if he’d spent his entire life trying to find her. The company they’d enjoyed the day before had stirred to life an awareness deep within her soul, compelling her to seek him out again. It burst through her now—a flare of heat across her skin. “Then you must be either a second son or a member of the gentry?” If he would only tell her which, then it might be easier for her to discover his true identity.
“I am certainly one of those things,” he said, lowering his hand, “but I am afraid that I must disappoint you if you were hoping to discover more than that.”
His secrecy ought to have made her wary. Instead, Mary found that she was all the more intrigued. “Will you tell me why?”
A moment passed during which she reveled in the comforting feel of his hand holding hers. It was so inappropriate, and yet so right. “You may rest assured that I am a gentleman and that I will treat you with the respect you deserve. You need not fear me on that account.” He paused for a moment. “That being said, there are certain things that I would rather refrain from sharing with you at present. If you can accept that, then perhaps we can be friends. If not, I completely understand, as sorry as I would be to lose your company.”
Mary considered this briefly before saying, “I see no reason to intrude.”
He leaned back slightly. “I must confess that I am somewhat surprised to hear you say that.”
She shrugged. “You are not the only one with secrets. Suffice it to say that I understand your reasoning.”
A low chuckle vibrated around her. “Indeed? NowIam intrigued.”
She smiled. “Perhaps that was my intention.” Curiosity however, was a difficult beast to tame, so she couldn’t help but ask, “The mask... do you wear it because you do not want me to know your identity, or because you do not want me to see your face?”
“Both,” he answered gruffly. Stepping back, he increased the distance between them, turning slightly away in the process. “I am not...” His words trailed off in a blur of hopelessness.
“Not what?” she whispered, disliking the sudden change of mood.
Straightening himself, he turned back to face her. “It hardly matters. We should get back to the house before someone finds you missing, or worse, discovers you in my company.” He offered her his arm.
Mary stood as if rooted to the ground. Common sense told her not to pry. She’d always respected other people’s privacy, especially since she appreciated being allowed her own. But the manner in which he’d spoken told her that the words he’d left unsaid were of monumental importance. “I would like to know what you were going to say just now, before you changed your mind.”
“Correct me if I am wrong, Lady Mary, but did you not just say that you saw no reason to intrude?”
Mary cringed. “You are right,” she said. “I hope you can forgive my curiosity.”
He inclined his head. “Of course.” When he said nothing further, she stepped forward, accepting the arm he still offered. They started back toward the house at a moderate pace, neither one of them saying a word until they reached the side of the house and he turned toward her suddenly. “If you are hoping to discover a handsome gentleman beneath this mask, please stop, for I am anything but.”
“I am certain that is not true,” Mary said. “Your voice alone suggests—”
“Whatever romantic imaginings you may have, my lady, I encourage you to abandon them immediately. Not doing so, will only lead to severe disappointment.”
The bitterness with which he spoke told her that he hadn’t always felt this way. Something had changed, which could only mean that he no longer looked as he once had. A lump began to form in her throat. “Appearances are superficial. Until yesterday, nobody paid the slightest attention to me, but now that I have been noticed, several gentlemen have shown an interest. While I cannot deny that I appreciate their flattery, I would prefer it if their interest in me was based more on my character. In the end, that is what defines us. Everything else is inconsequential.”
He stared down at her for a long moment. “Do you truly believe that, or are you just saying it to spare my feelings? Because if you are, there is really no need. I have had a great deal of time in which to come to terms with my circumstances.”
“And yet you have not, or you would not need to wear a mask.”
Richard knew that there was a great deal of truth to be found in her words, which was why he chose not to argue the point. Instead, he led her toward a narrow doorway and produced the key that Lady Duncaster had given him upon his arrival at Thorncliff. Placing it in the lock, he opened the door and ushered Lady Mary through to a small antechamber. The lantern he’d brought with him when he’d gone after Rotridge, hung from a hook on the wall, producing a warm glow that seemed to wrap itself around them as he diligently closed the door. The effort seemed to make the space smaller and more intimate somehow.
“What is this place?” Lady Mary asked. “I was not even aware that it was here.”
“Few people have access to it.” Reaching up, he retrieved the lantern, moving it in such a way that the light spilled over the far-right corner of the room, revealing an opening. “There is a corridor there, and at the end of it, a staircase that will take us up to the second floor. If all goes well, you should be able to return to your bedchamber unnoticed.”
Tipping her head, she gazed up at him. “Thank you.”
Her words were filled with appreciation, prompting him to reach up and brush his fingers along the edge of her shoulder. She said nothing as he did so, though her skin quivered gently beneath his touch and her chestnut-colored eyes, so full of warmth, held his in quiet understanding. She was perfect in every way—a true beauty, both inside and out. Was it really possible that she might not care about his appearance? Or was she just being polite when she’d claimed that character was of far greater importance. It was too soon to tell.
Struggling against the temptation their solitude offered, he lowered his hand and moved past her with the lantern. “Come along,” he said, offering her his hand. “I will show you the way.”
