James’s duty was first and foremost to Croft.He’d neglected his obligations toward him, for which he deserved to be flogged.
Had James been there, the fire might not have gotten out of control.
Susie might have lived.
There was a chance that his absence – the lack of that extra awareness – was what had caused the tragedy in the first place.
His hand closed tightly around the bucket handle.Tension settled within the span of his shoulders, tightening the muscles in his back.
By the time he returned to the room he’d rented, his mind was made up.Even though one look at Lady Edwina’s sickly features made it hard for him to follow through on his decision, he forced himself to say, “Something has happened.”
She flicked her eyes open and made him witness to her suffering.“What is it?”
He winced in response to her frail voice.“A fire broke out at Croft House.I have to return in order to help.”
“But… if Croft sees me, he’ll alert my brother.”She drew a ragged breath.“I cannot reunite with him in this condition.”
“Are you sure he wouldn’t be pleased to see you?”James set the bucket aside near the bed.
“That’s not what concerns me.It’s what he will surely know as soon as he lays eyes upon me.”She extended her hand and waited for James to take it, as though requiring his strength to keep talking.“There’s no hiding what was done — the fact that I was drugged.For which he’ll blame my foolish decision to walk about London unchaperoned.I cannot fault him for that any more than I can allow him to shutter me away from the world out of fear.As I’m sure he shall.”
“There’s no guarantee this is how he’ll respond.”
She struggled to swallow.“What would you do if you were in his position?”
James expelled a deep breath while doing his best not to think too much about the touch of her hand in his.She was right.Any man would feel compelled to protect a woman in his care by all means necessary.More so after she’d recently been taken advantage of and nearly ended up enslaved.
“I can help you get to an old acquaintance of mine,” James told her.“You’ll be safe with him until I’m able to come for you.”
She curled her fingers more tightly around his.“Please don’t leave me with a stranger.”
An uncomfortable knot materialized in his throat.Broken as she was, he hated having to do this.After all she’d endured – after placing her trust in him – he now planned to deliver her into someone else’s care.And walk away, perhaps never to return, depending on how things played out.
But what choice did he really have?
“Nigel Fairborne is a good man, my lady, and I…” How could he explain the conflict playing out inside him?“Croft is like family.I owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude, and rather than do what he asked of me, I trampled all over his trust for a woman I did not know.”
It was madness, truth be told.And yet while he tried to tell himself that he would have acted differently if he could go back and do it all over, he knew deep down he’d be lying.Somehow, Lady Edwina had won him over.Walking away from her would not be easy.
Instead of saying any of that, he asked, “What would you do if you learned right now that your brother or sister were in dire straits?That they needed you?Would you remain here with me, or go to them, no matter the cost?”
She inhaled deeply.“I’m in no position to help anyone at the moment, but I understand your meaning.Once I’m better, I intend to return to Faintree Hall directly so I can see Claire.”
“What of your wish to avoid your brother?”
“He always spends the entire Season in Town.Crossing paths with him will be unlikely.”
So she meant to continue avoiding him.Until when, James could only guess, since she’d made her fears clear.Lady Edwina would not be forced into marriage or confined to her brother’s estate for the rest of her days.That meant she’d have to find a way out from under his control, leaving only one option that James could think of: to marry the man of her choosing.
An odd sensation materialized in his gut on that thought.He withdrew his hand and turned away, adding distance.“We’ll have to be careful when we leave.There are Croft House servants staying here.In addition to which we ought to depart immediately after your next episode.”
“So I can make it to Mr.Fairborne’s house without incident.”
He met her exhausted gaze.“Yes.”
A small nod informed him she wouldn’t protest.Although she disliked his suggestion, she’d go along with it.Either because it made sense or because he was asking it of her, he wasn’t sure.And he didn’t for one second dare to admit that a small part of him wished it might be the latter.
27
