“There we are.” A face filled his field of vision. And it was a terrifying sight. Lady Redvers stared at him. “Come, Georgiana.”
“Mother, we can’t. We shouldn’t!”
“Right now. Stop snivelling.”
Royston gazed around. The lights were still blurring and shining like beacons. His spirits were still high, but Angeline was nowhere to be found, and he’d lost some of his pleasant mood. Lady Redvers and her daughter shouldn’t be here, interrupting his lovemaking with Angeline.
“Come on. This is perfect. He’s drunk. What a stroke of luck.” That was Lady Redvers.
Then a soft body bumped into him. A mop of brown hair came into view. Small hands pressed against his chest. It was Miss Georgiana Taylor, shivering against him. Or maybe he was shivering. He had no idea.
“Go away,” he slurred. He wasn’t sure she’d heard him.
“I don’t care if this idiot becomes a member of the House of Lords,” Lady Redvers said, “but compromising you, Georgiana, means Wharton Steel will be ours.”
“What?” he slurred.
“I’m sorry,” Miss Taylor said.
Either tears filled her eyes or… he wouldn’t know what else. But he wanted Angeline, not this trembling lady.
“What’s happening here?” someone asked.
“It’s not his fault. He didn’t do anything.” Angeline’s voice.
“What a scandal,” a woman said.
“No, he didn’t do anything,” Angeline said.
Hell, his stomach was really upset. Cramps made him gag. A bitter taste filled his mouth, and the sensation of floating and being light disappeared.
Flames filled the room. He had to take Angeline away. The blaze would kill her. Cold sweat soaked his shirt. His body convulsed, but he felt so cold his teeth chattered, which didn’t make any sense because the room was on fire.
