A few seconds passed, and then a figure emerged, striding forward with hunched shoulders and a deliberate stride. Ravenworth. He hadn’t sent a footman or some other servant out to look for her. He’d come to find her himself. She was mortified by the prospect of having to face him after the trouble her leaving had caused, but she was too grateful to care about any of it at the moment. Instead she waved her hand to make sure he’d seen her.
It wasn’t until he was almost before her that she could see his face and the furious expression he wore. “You…” Whatever he meant to say was snuffed out by a misty puff of air. He bent down beside her, studying her appearance. His eyes met hers in an unyielding stare, forcing her to shrink back a little. “Are you hurt?” he asked.
Nodding, she told him about her ankle and how much it pained her to move.
His nostrils flared, and then he reached out, sliding his arms beneath her and picking her up. “We’ll discuss your stupidity later.” He turned and headed back toward the house. “For now, the most important thing is to get you dried off before you catch your death.”
Knowing nothing she said would erase her error in judgment, Eve held her tongue and settled against him. He might be angry with her, but that did not diminish how safe she felt in his arms. His strength seeped through her. It lifted her spirits and offered a welcome sanctuary where the wet and the cold were swiftly forgotten. All she could think of was him, the firmness of his chest and the way water clung to his hair. His jaw, set in a strict line, was rough with day-old bristles, affording him with a rugged look that made her heart beat even faster.
Dipping his chin, he glanced down at her. His eyes narrowed. “What is it?” he asked in a tone of undeniable irritation.
Smiling, she nestled her head against his shoulder. “Nothing,” she murmured. “I think I rather like you, that’s all.”
He said nothing by way of response, but she felt his chest vibrate with a guttural sound to match his unkempt appearance. Pressing her cheek to the place where his heart resided, she could feel the vital organ drumming a wild tattoo. It warmed her to no end, because it suggested that in spite of his stern expression and the clipped tone with which he’d spoken, he would eventually forgive her for doing what she had done, even if he did mean to chastise her first.
* * *
Pushinghis feet through the snow, Bryce marveled at how Miss Potter had managed to walk as far as she had. It certainly proved how determined she’d been to leave his home in favor of Amberly Hall. But when he’d finally happened upon her, the gratitude lighting her eyes had made his heart swell with something surpassing the attraction he had toward her. Relief had been one emotion, brought on by the fact he’d actually found her. Anger had also been prevalent, inspired by the fear of what might have happened if he hadn’t. But there had been thankfulness too, the kind that made him realize he cared a great deal about her well-being.
And then she’d smilingly told him she liked him, and he’d been lost lost in the feel of her trembling form pressed up against him and lost in the startling awareness he would never again let her go. It shocked him to think of it, all things considered. The irrationality of it could not be denied. And yet, the idea of losing her, of worrying where she might be in the world and of what might be happening to her…
He shook his head. He didn’t even know her given name. To imagine building a future with her made no sense whatsoever. Except it made perfect sense. And although he might not know much about her, he knew her character.
She was fiercely determined, loyal toward her sisters, intent on doing her duty, and daring too. Embarrassed as she had been when she’d realized he’d seen her naked, she hadn’t crumbled in a fit of hysterics, but faced him and given him a proper set down to boot. Which meant she wasn’t a coward but rather…a perfect match.
Setting his jaw, he pushed back the thrill that threatened to give him hope, and focused on getting her home instead. She liked him. That was surely a good beginning. Whether she would continue to like him later when she discovered what he’d been accused of was a different matter. He would not think of that now. But he would take advantage of their situation. While the weather remained what it was, she was his guest. Which presented him with a wide variety of possibilities, most notably the chance of endearing himself to her even further.
* * *
Awoken by whispering voices, Eve kept her eyes closed and strained to listen. It sounded as though they were far away and muffled. A door creaked open. The gentle tread of approaching footsteps brought someone closer, shifting the air around her. Peeking beneath her lashes, she spied a man’s jacket and opened her eyes more fully to find the earl standing over her bed with a grave expression. It softened as he watched her come more fully awake.
“I hope I didn’t disturb you,” he said.
His voice was gentler than usual and his eyes… Eve caught her breath. “You look worried.”
Grimacing, he pulled up a chair and sat down beside her. “A willful woman determined to brave the elements at her own peril is presently in my care. What reason do I have to worry?”
“I’m sorry,” she said, not shying away from the turbulent look in his gaze. “I just…I was sure you wanted me gone, and I also feared what might happen the longer I stayed. But it was foolish of me to attempt to reach Amberly Hall in this weather. Especially after being told doing so would be dangerous.”
“At least you’re owning up to your mistake.”
She winced. “I believe I’ve been punished with an ankle that hurts like the devil.”
Tilting his head, he raised his eyebrows as if to say, “You’ve only yourself to blame.” But he didn’t. Instead, he told her something completely different. “I treated you unfairly yesterday. Avoiding your company was inexcusably rude and inconsiderate. So I’m not surprised you believed you were unwelcome here. For that, I am truly sorry, Miss Potter.”
“Eve.” She didn’t know why she felt compelled to share her name with him, but since he’d saved her from the elements and was showing nothing but kindness when what she truly deserved was for him to be vexed with her, it seemed incredibly right.
His eyes widened, the pupils dilating while tiny flecks of gold popped into view. “Eve.” He spoke her name on a whisper of breath, and with such reverence, she almost melted right then and there. “What a lovely name. It suits you tremendously.”
Smiling up at him, she didn’t quite know what to say besides, “Thank you.” But she could sense something had shifted between them, as if they’d crossed a wide expanse to meet in the middle. It felt incredibly good and right, better than anything else ever had.
His eyes drifted down the length of her duvet-covered body before returning to her face. “Your foot will require a few days’ rest. If you need help with anything, simply ring the bell-pull here.” He gestured toward the velvet rope hanging beside her bed. “Day or night, it doesn’t matter, Eve.”
“I’d hate to bother anyone.”
“No arguing,” he told her sternly. “You are not to leave this bed without assistance. Is that clear?”
“You’ve shaved,” she said, not answering his question.
