That firm tone made her realize that Lord Stoneleigh was not willing to let her refuse to answer.
One shoulder shrugged.
“My mother has always told me that I am much too inquisitive,” she replied feebly, looking down at the ground. “I have embarrassed myself in front of you, repeatedly, since our meeting, first behaving as a poor dance partner, then speaking of you to my friend and asking questions which I ought not to have even considered – and then last evening, in the hope that we might dance together again, I grasped your arm in the ballroom and mortified myself all the more. I have been so eager to make amends – and perhaps in the hope that you will not think badly of me - that my mind has been filled with that single determination, to the point that I have been unable to help myself.”
Lord Stoneleigh considered for a moment but when he spoke, his voice was a little quieter.
“You admit, then, that your furious desire to find answers to questions that you have no need to ask is what has placed you in this difficult position, Lady Sara?” Dropping her head, Sara nodded, coupling her fingers together. There was every truth in Lord Stoneleigh’s words. There was nothing she could say to disagree. “I must return you home. Where is your carriage?”
Much to her surprise, his hand touched her arm and when she lifted her head, he was looking directly at her. Something warm began to pool in the depths of her stomach. It was such a strange sensation that it took her some moments to respond to his question, with his hand on her arm heightening those unusual sensations that she had never before experienced.
“Pray, do not tell me you have forgotten where your carriage is, Lady Sara? Else we shall have ourselves an even greater difficulty!”
For whatever reason, something had shifted in Lord Stoneleigh’s manner, for a slight quirk tipped at his lips, which in return allowed her a small smile in response.
“No, I have not forgotten.” Turning, she gestured back along the street. “It is there, Lord Stoneleigh, just at the corner. My maid stands nearby also, as you can see.”
Wincing at the sight of the poor girl who was standing right beside the wall, tucking herself into it as if she wished to hide herself away, Sara’s smile shattered. Perhaps the maid had a better understanding of the dangers that this area presented than Sara did herself.
“Come. With your maid with you, I hope that you will not be disagreeable with the idea of my accompanying you.”
“No, certainly not.” His hand fell from her arm, and a light shiver ran over her skin, although she could not explain the reason for it. “I am more than grateful for your consideration of me in these present circumstances.”
“Of course. I am a gentleman, and would not leave you here alone, Lady Sara.” A quick smile brushed across his mouth, but it faded almost immediately as he turned back towards her carriage. “You must never return here. I did not bring a carriage with me. I took a cab, knowing that it would be best to remain as discreet as possible. Many things could have happened to you. Please do not underestimate the severity of the situation.”
It was as if a dark shadow loomed over her, and Sara swallowed, nodding as she did so. The carriage was where she had left it, the driver muttering something under his breath as one of the horses pawed the ground nervously. He had said something to her about this being a rather dangerous place for a young lady, but she had paid him no heed. Now, Sara realized, she would have been better to do so.
“As quickly as you can, Lady Sara.” A gentle hand encouraged her into the carriage before Lord Stoneleigh climbed inside after her, rapidly followed by the relieved looking maid. Closing the door, he rapped sharply on the roof, but the horses were already in motion, pushing forward along the road and back towards the safety of her father’s house. “I must have your word, Lady Sara.”
She looked at him uncomprehendingly.
Reaching out, he grasped her hand tightly, his thumb running back and forward over her knuckles. His eyes were locked upon hers, an unrelenting darkness in his deep brown gaze.
“You must give me your word that you will never come back to this place alone again.”
The gentle touch of his hand on hers was pulling any coherent thoughts from her mind. She nodded clumsily, her head feeling overly heavy. The moment she did so, however, his hand lifted from her, and he nodded in return.
“Good.” Heat burned in her face.He must think me the most ridiculous creature.“I think you are quite extraordinary.”
Sara blinked in surprise, looking back at him in confusion and wondering if he had somehow been able to read the thoughts in her mind.
“That could be taken either as a compliment or a criticism, Lord Stoneleigh. Which do you mean it to be?”
Trying to keep her voice light, Sara struggled with the latter thought, anxious that he would tell her that it was a good deal more a reproach than praise, even though she was fully aware that she deserved a reprimand, given how she had behaved.
Lord Stoneleigh’s lips lifted, and warmth came into his eyes, lightening them a little.
“I have not yet decided,” he told her, making her laugh despite her inner turmoil. “Why you should have any significant thought about me is something I cannot comprehend. I am not of interest to anyone usually. Perhaps that is why I think it extraordinary.”
“That I am sure, cannot be true.”
Thinking that perhaps a gentle compliment in return might soften his opinion of her a little more, she tried to smile.
Lord Stoneleigh chuckled and looked away.
“I am a very dull gentleman, unfortunately. I am not worth your curiosity nor your time, Lady Sara, I can assure you of that.” She opened her mouth to argue, but he shook his head. “Believe me. I can say nothing which would garner your interest even more. In fact, I am certain that you will be quite disappointed.”
Sara tilted her head, studying him. His eyes no longer met hers and, as she watched, he turned his head away from her entirely. Her suspicions suggested that no matter what it was he told her, he would not be speaking the truth. His desire was to push her far away, so that she would not find herself in such a position as this again. That meant that she could not be entirely assured that he would tell her the truth. In fact, it suggested that he would do precisely the opposite.
