Royston squeezed her hand as the footsteps faded. He waited. She stood inches from him. His slow breathing fanned on her neck.
“I think the danger has passed,” she said, pretending not to notice his delicious, musky scent.
“I’m sorry you heard that,” he whispered.
“It doesn’t matter.” She cleared her throat.
“It does.” He stared at her with too much intensity.
She had to look away from him. “We didn’t need to hide.”
“Your reputation will be ruined if someone sees us here alone,” he whispered.
Ha! If he only knew what Mama had in mind. She would be delighted to know her daughter was hiding behind a curtain with a baron.
“What happened with Mr. North is enough for one night.” He moved the curtain aside and checked the corridor. “Come.”
The glow from the gas lamps cast deep shadows on his harsh face, giving him the look of a hardened warrior. He hadn’t asked further questions about her entanglement with Mr. North, and she was glad for that, but he must have understood the whole sad affair.
More footsteps approached. This time, it seemed that two people were in a hurry. There was a feminine chuckle, followed by a masculine growl.
“Quick.” Royston led her behind yet another set of curtains.
She stifled a gasp as she bumped against him in her haste to hide. Her back touched his chest in a more intimate pose than she’d imagined. His arm coiled around her waist and inched her away from the curtain.
“Where are we going?” the woman asked. Judging by her melodious voice, she had to be young.
“Where no one can see us.” That was the man. He spoke with a strong voice and had an accent, Cornish perhaps. “And where I can play the piano for you.”
Another pianist.
“My mother will look for me soon,” the woman said in a sophisticated lilt.
“We’ll be quick. I really want to play only for you. Even when I play on stage, I think only of you.”
Not simply a pianist but a performer. Not that the information was of any help to Angeline, but she needed to be distracted from Royston’s warmth.
She held her breath as the couple walked closer. The footsteps and giggles stopped on the other side of the curtains.Bother. The two lovers had decided to take a breather right there and then. A few inaudible, whispered words were exchanged. Smooching and kissing sounds filled the silence. A little moan came from the woman. The curtains were shoved inwards by elbows and shoulders.
Royston pulled Angeline further back into the nook. The two lovers kept kissing and whispering to each other while inching closer to the curtains. Royston’s warmth seeped into Angeline and reached her skin through the layers of fabric separating them.
The hug was lovely. Being held in a protective embrace while feeling his warm, hard body against hers had a calming effect on her heartbeat. A completely different experience from having Mr. North’s clammy hands on her.
A hand slid between the curtains, and she stiffened, pressing her body against Royston further.
“Let’s go,” the woman said, showing more sensibility than her pianist lover. “Anyone can see us here.”
Among loud kisses and chuckles, the lovers hurried away.
“Thank goodness.” Angeline sagged in relief.
Royston removed his arm. “I apologise for the liberty I took in holding you.”
Actually, she enjoyed the hug. “The circumstances were dire.” And she hadn’t minded.
“Still, I’ll be more careful.” He checked the corridor again before letting her out of their hiding place. “Quick now. The ballroom is close.”
Fortunately, or unfortunately, the rest of their walk to the ballroom was uneventful. No secret lovers. No hiding. No more pianists. No being held by Royston.
