No, no, no! She wasn’t going to think of that now. Orever. Especially not at night.
“Your skull remains intact, my lord.” She raised her chin. “I’d say you came off rather well.”
“Mere details, Miss Templeton. But it makes no difference who’s to blame for the debacle in which we now find ourselves—”
“You are, my lord.You’reto blame.”
He waved an arrogant hand in the air. “What matters, Miss Templeton, is what we do now.”
My, he was grand, wasn’t he? With that arrogant wave of his hand, and that maddeningly imperious tone. He was every inch an aristocrat, staring down that absurdly straight Grecian nose at her.
“Now then, Miss Templeton.” He lounged back, resting his elbows along the balcony railing. “What do you propose we do about this inconvenient secret of ours?”
“Do? Why, I propose we do what one always does with an inconvenient secret. Keep it to ourselves. Really, my lord, you can’t mean to say you came here tonight and dragged me onto a balcony to warn me to hold my tongue?”
“Would you have held it otherwise?” He gave her a lazy grin. “Forgive me, Miss Templeton, but silence doesn’t seem to be a strength of yours.”
Oh, he was dangerous, wasn’t he, with those dark eyes and that teasing smile? She’d heard he could be devastatingly charming when he chose, and here was the proof of it, right here.
Not thatshewas charmed by him. Not in the least.
“You might have saved yourself the bother, my lord. I have a great deal more to lose than you do if that little tidbit reaches the ears of theton.” If Phee and Lady Fosberry found out she’d been alone in his cottage with him, they wouldn’t rest until they’d badgered her into marrying the man.
“What an unexpected relief to find that we agree, Miss Templeton. I trust I won’t find you wandering around my house uninvited at night again.”
Oh, for pity’s sake. “I didn’t choose to be there in the first place! I only came to fetch Lucifer, and he wouldn’t have been there at all if you hadn’t left your front door open. So you see, my lord, this really is all your own fault.”
“Ah yes, Lady Fosberry’s dog. You’re are aware, are you not, that his name isn’t Lucifer? It’s Lucius.”
“Yes, but Lucifer is a far more appropriate name for him.”
“I don’t think Lady Fosberry would agree with you,” he said, his grin widening.
Blast the man, he almost looked as if he were enjoying himself. “No, but Lady Fosberry doesn’t have to know of it, does she?”
“Another secret, Miss Templeton? You seem to have a great many of them.”
“What’s one more, then? Now, if you’ll excuse me, my lord, I’m certain my sister must be looking for me by now.” She glanced down at his hand, which was still wrapped around her wrist.
“Of course.” He released her at once.
She turned and peeked through the draperies, as it wouldn’t do to emerge when someone was watching. Thankfully, there was no one nearby, but just as she was about to slip through, she paused and glanced back at him. “Pardon my curiosity, my lord, but I don’t believe Lady Fosberry expected you in London.”
He shrugged. “Plans change, Miss Templeton. I’m here for the season.”
It was both an answer, and not an answer at once. Yes, he’d come for the season—he wouldn’t have bothered with the ball tonight if he hadn’t—but what could the season have to offer a rake like Lord Prestwick? Aristocratic gentlemen, for the most part, only participated in the season if they were in search of a wife, but he hadn’t come for that. What irresistible attraction, then, could have lured him here, against every expectation?
Unless…no. There wasn’t a single reason in the world she should assume he’d come for Harriett. Her imagination was simply running away with her, that was all.
Except hehadjust inherited the title. Earls were meant to take wives, and what better place to pluck a willing bride than from the family he’d known for years? Harriett was lovely, accomplished, and as sweet as a spoonful of treacle. Why wouldn’t he want her as his countess?
Her heart took up frantic rhythm in her chest, and her palms went damp inside her white silk gloves.
“You look distressed, Miss Templeton.” He straightened from the railing and took a step toward her. “Is something amiss?”
This was the point at which she should leave well enough alone, but she’d been plagued by that strange moment she and Lady Fosberry had shared in the carriage, after they’d spotted Lord Prestwick outside St. George’s.
I wonder, she’d said.I wonder…
