Page 31 of A Scandalous Bargain
“I told you to call me Beatrix,” she murmured.
He leaned down and whispered next to her ear, “After you,Beatrix.” He felt the shiver that raced along her neck as she gently twitched. Her scent filled his nostrils once more, and he briefly closed his eyes, savoring the moment of closeness.
She turned her head as he opened his eyes. Again, she licked her lips. He nearly groaned.
Tossing him a saucy stare, she went out onto the balcony. Before he had the door closed, she was over the railing and on her way down. By the time he reached the trellis, she was staring up at him, her arms crossed with mock impatience.
Smiling, he grabbed the trellis and swung over the side of the balcony. The iron moved in his grasp, urging him to descend quickly even if he hadn’t planned to. He took only a few steps down the trellis before letting go and dropping to the ground.
“No fair, you’re much taller than me, which makes you able to go faster.” She made a tsking sound with her tongue. “It’s a good thing I didn’t take that bet.”
He strode toward her. “That depends on what you would have wagered. Some bets are worth losing.”
“I’ll remember that.” Her eyes danced in the meager light shining from the house as she turned and led him through the garden.
Thomas kept up with her, impressed at how quickly and deftly she moved. “You’re quite familiar with my garden. Perhaps more than I am.”
She opened the gate and slipped through it before he could hold it open. He closed it after he was through and caught up to her. “You aren’t even letting me be a gentleman.”
“You have nothing to prove to me. I already know you’re a gentleman.” She flashed him a smile. “Keep up!”
He chuckled. “Your legs are perhaps half the length of mine.”
“I’m notthatshort! When it isn’t dark, perhaps I’ll challenge you to a footrace. And we’ll have a proper wager.”
“I look forward to it.” He leaned close to her and whispered, “Because I’ll win.”
She ran ahead and turned, sticking her tongue out at him. Damn, she was quite fast. He picked up his pace, but she rounded the corner of Duke Street before he could catch her.
He reached the intersection and turned, only to nearly collide with her as she jumped into his path.
She made a sound that startled him, which was followed by her joyous laughter.
He clasped her elbows, and she tilted her head book to look up at him. “Don’t scare me like that. And I don’t mean jumping out, I mean leaving my sight. What if a villain grabbed you?”
“He’d be quite sorry.” She grabbed his hand and turned with him toward Oxford Street. Unfortunately, she let go after just a moment.
They walked in silence for several paces. He thought back over their earlier conversation. “Beatrix, what will you do after you settle things with your father?”
“What do you mean?”
“Will you be content to have a relationship with him, or will you look for something…else?”
“Such as marriage?”
“You did go to Almack’s and you danced with several gentlemen, did you not?”
“I did.”
“You will be seen as desiring marriage, and I can’t imagine you’ll be on the market long.”
She made a choking sound. “You make me sound like a cut of prime beef or produce. Or perhaps a broodmare.”
He grimaced. “Forgive me. That was not my intent.”
“To answer your question, Iwouldlike to marry. Eventually. The security and warmth of a family appeals to me.”
Security and warmth. He couldn’t have chosen two more perfect words. “Yes, exactly.”
They’d reached Oxford Street, a wide thoroughfare that was mostly quiet at this late hour. Still, there was the occasional vehicle. Thomas looked in both directions before taking her hand and guiding her across the street.
They turned to the right, and this time, she didn’t take her hand from his. With each step, he was more and more aware of her, of his growing attraction to her, of the absolute bliss of this night.
He was so focused on her that he didn’t see the movement to their left. The man was already on her before Thomas knew what was happening. He launched himself toward them, fearing he reacted too late.
