Page 42 of The Heiress in Disguise
“You haven’t answered my question,” he pointed out.
“I don’t owe you any answers. You owemeanswers. You answer none of my questions. Tell me why you came upon me like this while I was sleeping.”
The smile he’d worn dropped ever so slightly. “You were sleeping in the garden,” he said. “You were all alone, unattended—that’s a dangerous position for a young lady.”
“I’m not a lady!” She felt near tears. Everything he said to her made her feel so vulnerable, so exposed, and it was so unfair. She spent so much of her time trying to forget the life she had once had, and she was good at being happy in the live she lived now.
She was proud of her ability to find happiness in what she had, and not to look backward at the things she had lost. But now, with this stranger coming around and forcing her to think about who she should have been, everything was made difficult.
“Youarea lady,” he told her quietly. “But it doesn’t matter—I would have intervened if I had found any woman alone in the garden like that. It was unsafe for you. Besides, you looked uncomfortable.”
“I was,” she admitted cautiously.
“Why were you sleeping outside? I’m sure you have a bed here.”
“Yes, but—I didn’t mean to fall asleep,” she said. “I shouldn’t have done it. I’m supposed to be working. I’ll be in trouble if I’m found out.”
“I don’t think anyone else knows you’re here,” he said. “And you obviously needed the rest, so I’m glad you were able to get a bit of sleep. I’m sorry if my presence was alarming to you, but I stand by what I did. I couldn’t have left you out here on your own. It would have gone against my conscience.”
“Very well,” Angelique said. Her anger was beginning to settle, and common sense was returning to her. And she knew, though she hated to admit it, that he was right. Shehadbeen unwise to fall asleep out here. It had been a dangerous thing to do. And she was lucky that the man who found her had been such a respectful one. “In that case,” she added, “I thank you for your assistance.”
“There’s no need,” he said.
Angelique nodded. “I must return to the house before I’m missed,” she said. “I trust you’ll tell no one what happened here?” She took off the cloak he’d placed around her and held it out to him.
“You can keep that,” he said.
“No, I can’t,” she countered. “People will want to know where I got it, and that’s a question I don’t wish to have to answer. You take it.”
“Very well.” He held out a hand and allowed her to return the cloak to him.
Their fingers touched as she passed it to him, and they both lingered for a moment. Angelique’s heartbeat raced. She wished she knew why this man had such a powerful effect on her.
She wished she knew who he was.
But she couldn’t afford to let this take up too much space in her mind. She had to get back inside, and quickly, before her absence was discovered.
***
“Here you are.” Molly was flustered and unhappy as Angelique hurried over to her. “Your aunt has been looking for you.”
“Oh no,” Angelique said. “Is she angry? I’m sure she is.”
“I think I may have stalled her anger,” Molly said. “I told her that you were making up beds for some of the guests who wished to take a nap. She made a comment that you’d better not be napping in one of those beds yourself, but I think it was just one of her usual remarks—I don’t think she actually believed you were.”
“Where is she now? I’d better go and see what she wants with me.”
“I think she’s in her private parlor. Lady Angelique—is everything all right? You haven’t seemed yourself tonight.”
“I have a lot on my mind,” Angelique admitted.
“I’m sure that’s true. Perhaps we can find some time to talk about it all tomorrow.”
“Yes, maybe we can,” Angelique said. She trusted Molly above anyone else in the world. If there was anyone she could speak freely to about what had just happened in the garden, she knew that Molly would be that person… and she would be grateful to get her old friend’s thoughts about everything that had happened that night. “But for now, I must make sure Aunt Wilhelmina isn’t too upset with me.”
Molly nodded. “Take care,” she said.
Angelique hurried up to her aunt’s private parlor and knocked at the door.
