Hermasked stranger.
Here inherhouse?
Was it possible? A touch of awe and fear raced through her.
She had never seen the man’s face, not all of it anyway, but she recognized his voice. She’d never forget his tone barking orders at her to free him and then sayingthank youin the most sensual manner she could ever imagine. With a kiss that still took her breath when she thought about it.
The footsteps stopped close behind her. A dizzying wave of near panic swelled her chest. Her stomach quivered. As it had been in Paris, there was no escape for her. What was she to do? It was one thing to daydream about him, as she had, but quite another to come face-to-face with him again. Something she never thought would happen.
On the glimmer of hope she might be wrong, she turned. Their eyes met and held. It was him.
Merciful heavens.He was more handsome and powerful-looking than she’d remembered. Thick, black hair was combed away from his broad, masculine brow and fell to the top of his collar at the nape. His cheekbones were high and well-defined. His narrow, high-bridged nose added to the rugged look of his lightly square chin and jaw. The fit of his fawn-colored coat across his shoulders was exceptional and emphasized his broad, muscular chest. She was intensely aware of the strength and command that emanated from his body. Her pulse raced and her muscles coiled tightly at seeing him again.
In that moment, somehow she knew they’d been destined to meet again.
He nodded once. “Mrs. Feld, I am Blacknight.”
Her breath caught and swirled in her chest as she stood spellbound by who he was. The way his gaze swept down her face and slowly back to her eyes sent her senses reeling. It was almost too much to take in. Unbelievably so. She had rescued the man who was known far and wide as the black sheep of the Blacknight family.
She’d heard rumors of his wild escapades for years. His father had died when he was a babe and his mother and school masters had never been able to tame him into a respectable gentleman. Just weeks ago, he had become an earl and head of the family that had all but disowned him for his ruinous behavior.
Brina managed a belated curtsey as many thoughtsbecame an incoherent jumble in her mind. Had he known who she was that night in Paris or found out later? That was over three months ago. What was he doing at her house now?
“I have heard of you,” she said cautiously, not wanting to let on that she recognized him until she knew for sure whether he remembered her. There could be many reasons for his visit, and she didn’t want to presume anything.
“I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced.”
“No,” she whispered softly. “We haven’t.”
He tilted his head in question before a hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth. “But, you do remember me?”
Oh, yes.
She wasn’t likely to forget a man who was dressed only in his shirt and trousers and tied to a chair. Or his shocking embrace and unforgettable kiss once she’d freed him. And truth be told, she’d caught herself wondering from time to time if she ever crossed his mind the way he had hers since he fled the room.
It was best to start with the most reasonable question. “How do you know my name?”
“By chance,” he offered in a relaxing tone, while his gaze held tightly to hers. “I recognized you walking down the street with the girls this morning. I asked my uncle about you. I could never forget you, Mrs. Feld. Or what you did for me.”
The kiss he gave her came searing across her senses again as it had so many times. And then another horror struck her. What must he be thinking about her now? She was known throughout the ton as the widow who’d never given up her widow’s weeds. Yet, he’d seen her clothed in a voluminous pink satin gown. How had she lowered her defenses and allowed Aunt Josette to talk herinto wearing the lavish costume? Clearly the mask had not hidden her identity as her aunt had insisted.
“Should we talk about that evening in Paris?” he asked when she remained quiet.
“Why would we?” she answered quickly, gathering some measure of control. Lifting her chin and shoulders, she hoped she didn’t look as stricken as she suddenly felt.
“Perhaps because we both know why I was there, but I have no idea why you were at the ball.”
Brina didn’t want him to know her reasons. Motives that appeared logical at the time, now seemed foolish. But, what was he thinking? That she led two different lives?
“I don’t believe an answer to that is necessary.” She silently inhaled deeply to steady herself and took a step back from him. “We were at a masquerade. I trust the purpose of such evenings is things that happen there are not talked about later.”
His eyes narrowed but continued to hold steady on hers. For a moment, she thought he might question her further, but thankfully, he merely nodded acceptance of her statement.
“If you’re here because you fear I might tell someone about what I did for—what happened at the ball, you can rest assured I haven’t spoken a word to anyone about that night.”
He chuckled softly, and she found even that quite inviting. Every little thing about him made her take notice. How could that be? She didn’t want to be attracted to him or any man. She had helped him when he needed it and that should be the end of their association.
“I’m not worried about that, Mrs. Feld. You could tell the whole of London how you found me, and no one would be shocked or think it out of the ordinary that you stumbled upon me in such a compromised state.”
