I held him up. “Come before someone catches us.”
“J. I have to go to Hope. Hope likes you.”
My heart tripled its beat. I had to save Daniel, not just for his reputation, but for Hope too.
Though the hall sounded empty, I knew this wasn’t over. “We have to hide.”
The room was small and smelled stale. Sheets covered the furnishing. The arrangement appeared to be a couch with a table behind it. A candelabra missing three limbs sat on top.
Using both hands, I held Daniel up. His head, his battered face rested on my brow.
“What are we doing?”
I covered his mouth. His voice boomed like it had in court.
“You are too loud, Daniel, like you tell me.”
“J . . . You’re not that loud. I said that to make you mad.” He chuckled. “It worked. But I don’t want you mad. I want you to like me. I want you to . . .”
“To what, Daniel?”
“Jemina,” his lips vibrated along my brow, “what are we doing?”
“We’re hiding until I can figure out how to get you back to Finchely.”
“Is that all? I thought we were liking each other.” He opened his arms wide. “Be my love.”
He started to sink, and I wrapped my arms about his waist.
“Jemina, dearest.”
“Yes?”
“Pantaloons, did you take ’em?”
“Don’t be concerned. Can you stay here and be quiet? Let me go get Patience.”
He swayed again. “She can’t see me. No pantaloons. Not prop-proper.”
There was no leaving him, not like this.
“I don’t feel so good, J.”
“Dance with me, Daniel.”
“Of course. That’s what a gentleman does.”
He straightened, clasped my palm in his, and spun me in a reel.
It was dizzying and we veered like a maddened top. Fast, then slow.
Part of me wanted to laugh. Maybe I did. Controlled, always in control, Daniel Thackery, was the madman earl.
No longer did I wonder why we ended up here. We were both balancing on the edge of crazy and joy.
His leg hit the sofa, and he fell over taking me with him.
Flat on the couch. Dust flew, and we both breathed heavily.
