Page 61 of The Heiress in Disguise
If only he could have simply stolen the papers! But he was glad he hadn’t. Angelique had seen him moving throughout the housein a manner he shouldn’t have been able to, using a passageway he shouldn’t have known existed, and wouldn’t have known about if he hadn’t used the masquerade party to watch the comings and goings of the servants extremely carefully.
It was only the fact that he’d seen that passageway used that had let him know it might be of help to him. And he’d been right. But if Angelique had seen him moving about the house that way, anyone else might have caught a glimpse as well. He didn’t think anyone had, but if something had gone wrong, if he had been noticed and then something important had gone missing, it would have been obvious who was to blame.
Even if they were never able to prove it, “Philip” wouldn’t have been trusted again. He would probably never have been let past the front door. It would cost him too much of his advantage.
In fact, he thought now, perhaps it would be best to get out of the house while he still had the ability to do so. He knew Angelique had seen him moving about the place. She might decide to confront him, though he didn’t think she would. But if she did, he wasn’t sure how he would handle that conversation. Better to go now before he was forced to account for his actions, and before everyone became too suspicious of the fact that he kept losing the card games.
He rose to his feet. “It was lovely to meet you all this evening,” he said, “but I’ll be expected home soon. I’d better be on my way.”
Angelique’s head darted up at that. She looked as if there was something she wanted to say, but she didn’t speak.
He dared to make eye contact with her for a moment, then glanced toward the door, hoping that she would infer that he wanted to be followed.
She set the spoon she was using to mix the stew on the counter, wiped her hands on a towel, and moved toward the door. Antoine walked out quickly before it could become too apparent to anyone else that she had moved because he had.
He went outside, then turned to wait for her. A moment later, she appeared in the doorway. She gestured with one hand toward the footpath that led toward his home. Antoine nodded. Once they were on the path, no one would be able to see them from either house, and that was safest.
He led the way onto the path. Once they were safely away from the house, he turned to face her.
And, almost at once, he found that he didn’t know what to say.
Whatcouldhe say? What words would be suitable to deal with the situation in which they had found themselves? He couldn’t tell her about the documents of her uncle’s that he’d located. Hecouldn’t even refer to half of the times the two of them had spent together, because she didn’t know of his other identity.
“I had a lovely time tonight,” he said quietly.
“Did you enjoy getting to know everyone?”
There was the slightest hint of something unpleasant in her voice, and he knew why. “Do you mean Jane?”
“You seemed to get along well.” She wasn’t angry, he could see that. She seemed more hurt than anything, and it pained him to realize it.
“She’s friendly,” he said. “Perhaps a bit overly friendly, but I appreciate kindness. I try to return it when it is shown to me. I hope I didn’t give her any false impressions about my interest in her, though. I liked her well enough, but that’s certainly as far as that goes.”
Angelique seemed to relax slightly. “Jane is a dear friend,” she said.
“I’m glad to know that you have such friends in your life.” He reached up and touched a lock of hair that had come loose and hung beside her cheek, tucking it gently behind her ear. He longed to tell her of his feelings for her, to let her know that Janepaled beside her light, but he didn’t dare to say it. The time had not yet come.
And yet—standing here in the woods with her—he felt an irrepressible desire to kiss her.
Who knew how many opportunities there would be for something like that? Perhaps this was a moment that ought to be seized at all costs. She could leave London any day now. He couldn’t confide the truth of his identity to her, as much as he would have liked to do so, but a kiss, stolen in the dark where no one could see…
He found himself leaning toward her, waiting to see whether or not she would pull away from him. Hoping that she wouldn’t.
And indeed, she seemed to be leaning closer as well. She seemed as if she was willing to accept the kiss he wanted to give her, and for a moment he wondered. Was this the moment it would finally happen?
He could hardly breathe. If he kissed her now, he might not be able to bring himself to send her back into that house. He might feel compelled to take her away with him here and now. It wasn’t a good idea, and he knew it, but how could he resist? How could he let her go back to that place after coming clean about his feelings for her? He couldn’t.
How had he let her go back there every time he’d seen her so far?
He knew it was for the greater good, but nothing felt good about it. All he wanted was to sweep her up in his arms and carry her away to a life where she would be appreciated. A life where she would be valued.
All he wanted was to kiss her…
“Ella! Ella, are you out here? Where have you gone? Everyone is looking for you?”
He jumped back from her as though he’d been scalded at the sound of Jane’s voice. Angelique looked guilty too. “I have to go,” she murmured, her eyes wide.
Antoine nodded. “Go,” he told her. “I’ll see you very soon.”
