Now she was going to die.In this tiny catacomb below the place.With him.
Then a horrible realization descended upon her.
“Isthisthe dungeon?”
“Er, no.That is the next door over.This is just a—closet.”
“So, no one is comingherespecifically?”
“They will be coming to this corridor specifically.They will hear us.And good thing, too, because usually no one comes down here.”
“Dear God, what if you are wrong about the clue?”
“I am not.Beatrice can mean nothing else.I am surprised my brothers aren’t here already.”
Scarlett tried to breathe evenly, but she found it difficult.She truly might swoon.
“Oh, God.”
Strong arms steadied her again.
“I’ve got you.Here.Sit.”
He had managed somehow to pull out one of the less broken-looking chairs from the pile, but it quickly became clear that she would not be able to sit while he stood.
Her vision began to narrow.She placed her hand on the door to steady herself.Her knees had gone weak.
“Christ,” he swore, catching her.“Here.”
She found herself seated, then.She was on his lap.He had his arms around her.
“This is very improper,” she managed.
The truth was that his arms wrapped round her had a calming effect, especially when she felt so ill.
“Breathe.Someone will be down soon.It won’t be much longer.”
Nevertheless, the corridor outside remained silent.
But as he held her, she stopped shaking.Her pounding heart slowed.And she began to experience—other emotions.Besides fear.
She beat away those thoughts.This man did not think of her in that light.She needed to remember that.
“Perhaps you should stand,” he said, after a moment, in a strangled voice.
“Oh, God, I’m hurting you, aren’t I?”She knew, of course, that she wasn’t a small woman.
“No, no,” he said quickly.“It is not that.”
“I just… I still feel faint.”
It was true.She wasn’t sure if she had the ability to stand.Especially without the fortification of his strength.
“Of course,” he said, sounding slightly out of breath.“It is only—”
He shifted underneath her.And then she felt it.
It was unmistakable.She hadn’t spent much time in intimate embraces with gentlemen in her life.But even if she had been more missish than she was, she wouldn’t have forgotten what his hard length felt like underneath her.She had gotten a good sense of it two nights before, after all.
