“I do,” he said earnestly. “I know how hard you tried. How much you wanted to make a difference in his life.” His expression softened again. “It’s all right if you want to cry. It would give me an excuse to hold you a little longer.”
“No,” she answered, feeling stronger just talking to him. “I don’t want to weep for him again. I’m only sad I couldn’t help him and, maybe, I even have a little hope that he’ll come back and return what he took.”
“And you will forgive him if he does.”
“I’ll have to.”
The sound of a carriage rumbling down the streetcaused Hawk to move her from underneath the light and into the shadows. “You can’t be seen here.”
Hawk swung his cloak off his shoulders and wrapped it around her. Its warmth flooded her. He pulled the hood low over her face again and hooked the silver clasp at the throat.
“Does anyone know you’re here? Your maid?”
“I slipped out of the house after everyone went to bed. I kept my hood low. Only a hackney driver and your butler saw me. He thought I was—I was—anyway, he wouldn’t let me in.”
“Price was only following my orders. There are many people who come to my door seeking my attention. He has to be firm.”
“I understand.”
He looked down into her eyes and asked huskily, “Do you? Do you know now that you have come to me, I will never let you go?”
Loretta stiffened. “No. That’s not why I came to you. We have been over this, Hawk. I’m not free. You know that. I probably shouldn’t have come at all, but I had to let you know you were right all along about Farley.”
“I had an idea earlier tonight, Loretta. I was talking to Griffin and Rath and it came to me what needs to be done.”
She took a step back. “You were talking with the other two Rakes of St. James about this? Us? My oath?”
“Yes,” he said as innocently as if he’d just told her it was raining. Suddenly Hawk whipped his head around and looked down the street. “I know what we need to do,” he whispered, and then quickly turned back to her. “And because of my discussion with them, I know what to do.”
“Are you serious? Don’t you know by now that whatever you three rakes come up with is not going to end well?”
Hawk smiled and then blew out a soft laugh as he shook his head.
“I admit we’ve had our failures in the past, but not this time. I was going to wait until tomorrow to come see you, but it just so happens the perfect place is just down the street and around the corner. I don’t know why it wasn’t clear to me before, but for whatever reason, I now know the answer.”
“To what?”
“I’ll explain later. I’ve already sent my carriage to be put away for the night. I’ll have to send someone for it later and take you home. But there’s something we must do first.” He took hold of her hand and said, “Can you run?”
“Yes, of course,” she answered, confused by his question.
“Good. Hold the hood over your head.”
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see. Just keep up with me. We need to hurry so no one will see us.”
Hawk started pulling her along with him down the steps, into the misting rain. He rushed her along the walkway, and through the gates. At the pavement, he turned right and suddenly they were running in the rain, down the street past the dark houses, the tall hedges, and the flickering streetlamps.
Chapter 25
A gentleman should always understand what a lady needs, even when she doesn’t know what it is she wants.
APROPERGENTLEMAN’SGUIDETOWOOINGTHEPERFECTLADY
SIRVINCENTTYBALTVALENTINE
Loretta’s feet were freezing as they splashed in puddles. A steady light rain beat down on them. Hawk held one of her hands securely in his, and with her other hand she held the hood of his heavy cloak on her head. She had no problem keeping up with Hawk’s longer stride in her low-heeled satin slippers. She had no idea where they were going or why they were going so fast to get there. She only knew it was exciting and invigorating to run in the rain with Hawk.
