Waring shifted his stance, widening the brace of his feet just slightly as he replied, “I’m not afraid of a little blood.”
There was a heavy pause, then a harsh whisper, “Your lady might be.”
The viscount tensed to stone as he took a step forward, carefully pushing Eleanor behind him while keeping his arm around her waist. “Don’t you fucking dare,” he growled, his tone suddenly hard as stone with a sharp and jagged edge that made her shiver. “She’s got nothing to do with this,”
The voice laughed. Even in her fear and shock, Eleanor could tell the sound was coming from farther away. Was the man retreating?
“She’s got more to do with this than any of us.” The last words were barely heard as the voice faded into the forest.
The viscount remained alert and unmoving but for the slight turn of his head as he continued to scan the woods around them. Eleanor remained against his back, feeling oddly safe with his arm curled back around her and his broad shoulders blocking any threat. She probably should’ve been more frightened than she was. The formless voice had directly threatened her. But along with whatever fear she was experiencing, there was also a calm certainty.
There was no longer any point in denying that she trusted Lord Waring. His intentions. His ability. His purpose.
She’d been right in her decision to tell him what she knew. But something inside her suggested that telling him might not be enough. She was a part of this. She’d known it before the man in the forest had even said so. The connection had been forged the instant she’d seen the viscount’s drawing at Mr. Mishra’s shop. Before that, even. In truth, it had started when she’d been a small girl, awed by the illustrations in Nani’s book.
It was a few more minutes before the viscount seemed to believe there was no further threat. Slowly his body softened and his arm started to loosen around her. Enough for Eleanor to take a step back, suddenly very aware of how intently she’d pressed herself to him.
After the menacing intrusion.Andbefore.
Chapter Sixteen
Confident the dangerhad passed—for now, anyway—Phineas released the ready alertness from his body. His hand stopped aching to reach for Claudia, tucked in his boot, and his ears stopped twitching at every sound. The heat of fury that had roared through him in response to the threat against Lady Eleanor had only slightly dissipated. Whoever had approached them was gone, but his words lingered like a promise.
It would need to be dealt with.
Feeling Lady Eleanor pull away from him, Phin turned around. He felt compelled to keep her near—within reach. Obviously, to keep her safe but also…because his body seemed to crave her presence. His fingers tingled with the desire to drift across her skin again. His blood thundered delicately with the need to feel her pulse.
He immediately sought her gaze, needing assurance that she was all right.
She did not look as frightened as he would’ve expected. There was some attentive trepidation in the dark stare she directed back at him. But also, a steady self-assurance.
Apparently, though London high society had the power to throw her into a near panic, being threatened by a formless voice from the dark merely strengthened her poise and confidence.
The thought amused him and he smiled.
The woman immediately lowered her brows in a frown. “You findthis humorous?”
Phin shook his head. “Overall? No. But I am pleased to see you faring so well. It is not every day a young lady is confronted by such an experience.”
Her expression shifted into a look of subtle embarrassment as her gaze slid to the side for just a moment before returning to meet his. He got the distinct impression that she was thinking more of their almost kiss than the encounter that followed. His blood immediately warmed and the desire that had been flowing through him returned with full force.
She cleared her throat and lifted her chin. “I suppose it’s something you experience on a daily basis.”
Her tone was both curious and accusing.
Again, Phineas had to wonder what exactly she was referring to.
He took a step toward her. Though her lashes fluttered, she did not step back. And since she had been close already, his approach brought him to within a breath of her body. Unable to keep himself from touching her, he lifted a hand to brush his knuckles along her jaw. His focus may have dropped to her lovely rose lips when he spoke in a low voice. “I told you the situation was getting dangerous.”
As soon as he spoke, he realized his words were just as ambiguous as hers had been.
Holding his stare, she whispered, “It would seem you weren’t exaggerating.”
He smiled again. “I never exaggerate,” he replied in a way that suggested he might do exactly that on occasion.
A soft sound of amusement slipped from her throat as her eyelids lowered just a little.
Phin’s muscles tightened. She was so indescribably beautiful.
