“My lady?” Millie asked uncertainly. “Should I call for help?”
“Heavens no,” Phaedra quickly said. “Do not worry, Millie, I’m acquainted with the gentleman. Stay on the lookout for Mama and let me go see what he wants.”
Millie nodded, and Phaedra hurried over to the window. Her gaze locked with startlingly vivid green eyes, and for a moment, Phaedra forgot to breathe. If she could say one thing about the man... he was handsome as sin. He had that look about him that could make a woman question her morals—both powerful and wicked. Much too dangerous for comfort.
Sin was a bad thing. She had to remember that.
“What are you doing here?” she asked in a low voice.
“Open the window.”
“Why?” When he narrowed his gaze at her snippy reply, Phaedra sighed. “Oh, very well.” She cast a quick glance over her shoulder to confirm Millie still stood at her post by the door before pushing the window open. “This is highly irregular, Deerhurst, not to mention suspicious.”
“And here I thought I was doing you a favor.”
“A favor?” Lord, help her. Could this morning become any more bizarre? “What favor would that be?”
“I’m rescuing you.”
Phaedra gave a startled laugh. Marcus Lawson, the Earl of Deerhurst,savingher? “Whatever gives you the impression that I’m in need of rescuing?”
“Then you don’t have over a dozen men waiting to vie for your attention?”
She raised a brow. “Hardly a scene to be rescued from.”
“Why are you hiding, then?” He craned his neck to peer into the room. “Not the best spot you chose. It’s only a matter of time before you’re discovered.”
“Howdoyou know about my callers?” Phaedra countered. The earl hardly struck her as one of those people who spied on their neighbors through the slits of their drapes.
“One has to be blind to miss all the gentlemen piling into your house.”
“And you thought to save me?” Phaedra crossed her arms over her chest. “Why? We are not friends.”
“Think of it as me making amends for my behavior.”
Phaedra considered him. “I can manage quite well on my own, thank you very much.”
“My apologies, then. I did not mean to imply that you were incapable. Since you do not require my rescue, I’ll take my leave.” He backed away from the window.
“Wait,” Phaedra called in a loud whisper. She pinched the bridge of her nose. Accepting his offer would not be the worst thing in the world, would it? Perhaps she might even ease her curiosity about the man a bit.
“How were you planning on rescuing me?”
A slow grin spread across his face.
“I thought to whisk you off for a drive through Hyde Park.”
Public. Pleasant. Safe.
She still couldn’t quite make heads or tails of the earl’s bizarre actions, but why not embrace it? He hadn’t been wrong. She’d be discovered one way or another. It was just a matter of time. Plus, the earl seemed sincere. Although she knew better than to fully believe in his sincerity...
Sixteen versus one. The decision seemed clear. Phaedra could handle one man.
“I suppose I could tell Mama I accepted your offer before any of the callers arrived.”
“Or you could tell her after you return and come with me now.” He held out his arms.
“You want me to climb through thewindow?”
