When the truth finally spilled out, Lady Louisa stared at Phineas in shock. All blood seemed to drain from her face, her eyes wide and disbelieving. “You didn’t! I trusted you.” Still staring at him she shook her head, her feet retreating, giving her the space she no doubt needed right now. “I never should have. I was wrong to think that you—”
In that moment, the young woman became aware that they were not alone, that Drake was standing only a few steps away, hearing every word. Instantly, she clamped her lips shut, glared at Phineas one last time and then spun around and rushed off.
Phineas instantly set off in pursuit.
Drake’s gaze moved from his friend’s receding back to the young woman who had remained behind. Her eyes, too, were directed at the two rushing up the slope toward the house. Then, however, they returned and settled upon his for a heartbeat or two.
That was when realization hit.
Drake could see it in her eyes. They widened in a way that was familiar to him. He had seen it before, countless times. He knew that she was not simply shy or disconcerted. After all, with Lord Archibald’s guests mingling around them, there was no threat to her reputation. They were not alone, not in a sense that could lead to her societal ruination.
Nonetheless, her breathing quickened. Drake could see her chest rise and fall with each breath, each one faster than the one before. Fear stood in her eyes, and she clasped her hands together in a way that had to be painful.
Yes, she feared him. Not him in particular. After all, they had not met before this day. However, something about him, something about the situation she found herself in, something about him standing right here with her, no more than a few steps separating them, upset her deeply. Terrified her even.
Anger surged through Drake, and he felt the sudden impulse to stride forward, to come to her side, to protect her from any threat that might be lurking nearby. It was a powerful emotion; one Drake had felt before. It was moments like these that gave him strength, a purpose, because here, now, his actions still mattered. He could still make a difference. His actions were not too late. Not yet. Not completely.
Lady Leonora had clearly suffered some horrible atrocity, and yet, her heart was still beating. Blood still flowed warmly through her veins, and she still drew breath into her body. Her eyes were wide and seeing, something equally weak and strong shining in their blue depths. She was alive. She was still alive. And here and now, for her, Drake could still make a difference. He could not undo what had happened, but perhaps he could even the odds.
Blinking, Drake found his gaze drawn back to the young woman, his inner reflections drifting away. Reality returned, and he noticed the deep apprehension upon her face. She did not retreat from him, though she clearly wished to. Perhaps fear was rooting her to the spot. Had it done so before? Drake could not help but wonder, a new wave of anger rolling through him.
Nevertheless, he could see that the outrage simmering in his veins did not go unnoticed by her. Her blue eyes widened, and her hands clasped more tightly about one another. She knew his feelings, could see them upon his face, yet, she was misinterpreting them, fearing his anger was directed at her.
Inhaling a deep breath, Drake sought to clear his mind, to will his emotions back under control. He remained where he was, careful not to appear threatening in any way, careful not to approach in the slightest, not even to lean closer. No more than a few paces separated them; it seemed like an insurmountable chasm.
For a long moment, Drake simply looked at her, his eyes holding hers as he drew one breath after another into his body, his chest rising and falling slowly, willing her to see that he had no intention of approaching, of harming her.
Her eyes remained wide, watchful, and as the moments ticked by, Drake noticed that the paralyzing fear he had seen there before was slowly retreating, partly replaced by something different. To his surprise, it was nothing else but the spark of curiosity. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly as though she was trying to look closer, to make sense of him, of what lay at the root of him.
Drake swallowed. Never had anyone ever quite looked at him like that before. He inhaled another deep breath, then glanced around, ensuring that they were indeed not within earshot of another. After all, no one could know what he did at night.
Still watching him, Lady Leonora slightly cocked her head to the side, a scrutinizing gaze coming to her eyes as though she knew that he was about to say something. Her hands once more tensed, and he noticed that a slight tremor traveled along the line of her jaw.
Linking his arms behind his back, Drake made certain he remained where he was. Only the look in his eyes belied his intention. She could see it. He knew she could. And thus, without another moment of hesitation, without thinking twice about what he would say, certain that on some level she would understand, Drake said, “Tell me who hurt you, and I’ll put a bullet between his eyes.”
Drake was not certain what he had expected. Of course, the widening expression in her eyes, the slight drop of her jaw, all spoke to a rather normal reaction to such a request as he had just made. Of course, he had shocked her. How could he have not? Yet, once again, what Drake saw on her face went beyond shock or fear or terror even. Indeed, there was something in her eyes that whispered of intrigue, of curiosity.
Drake had to admit that she was a rare woman, unlike any he had ever met before.
Chapter Three
More Than Meets the Eye
The moment Louisa dashed away, Phineas following in close pursuit, Leonora’s world turned upside down. Of course, she understood Louisa’s reaction. She knew that her sister had never meant to abandon her. She had simply reacted on impulse, overwhelmed by the fact that Phineas—in his thoughtlessness—had spoken to another about something deeply intimate between them. Leonora knew that her sister was not quite ready yet to share her secret with the world at large, and by speaking to his friend, Phineas had taken the decision out of her hands. Leonora knew equally well that he had not meant what he had done in a disrespectful way. He was an impulsive man, hotheaded and one who often acted before thinking things through. He had a kind heart, though, and she had seen with her own eyes how deeply he cared for her sister. Leonora hoped with all her heart that they would be able to make up and come out of this stronger.
If only she could also dash away, could simply dash away, Leonora thought the moment Louisa and Phineas disappeared, and she found her gaze returning to the tall, dark stranger standing only a few paces away from her.
Indeed, there was something deeply intimidating about him. It was not merely his tall stature or the breadth of his shoulders. Yes, he seemed strong, his hands so large that they would have no trouble at all breaking her arm in two like kindling. Still, it was not the physical threat that made Leonora’s heart beat wildly in her chest and send a fresh wave of panic through her body. It was that dark expression in his eyes, that tense set of his jaw. She could see powerful emotions simmering just below the surface, and she could not help but fear them.
It was an instinct of hers. A new one. One she had acquired nearly a year ago. One that now warned her of men who looked at her in a certain way. If that instinct was reliable or not, Leonora did not know. Nonetheless, her feet itched to carry her away; they would not move, though. No matter how much she urged them, they remained rooted to the spot, refusing to carry her to safety.