“What do you mean?” she asked, her heart in her throat.
Suddenly, she felt the handle of the door turn, and terror struck her.
“Damn it,move,” he whispered, then grabbed the handle to open the door in such a way that she was behind it.
“Madame Bernard,” he said, a hint of surprise in his tone. But he quickly seemed to adjust. “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. I came looking for Giselle’s reticule, but though I have searched this room over, I have not found it.”
“She left it with me, of course,” her mother said. “I wonder that you didn’t notice, monsieur.”
He headed out the door, pulling the door shut behind him. “Surely you realize that men don’t notice such things as their fiancées’ reticules. Why, even Giselle couldn’t remember where she’d left it.”
Must he make her sound like anidioteto her own mother? She made a vulgar gesture at him through the door.
Meanwhile, Heath went on. “We were in here earlier speaking to an old friend from Verdun who then asked her to dance, so she thought she might have left it in here. I came to check while she went to check the ladies’ retiring room. She said she’d meet us in front.”
Their voices began to trail off down the hall, but not before she heard Maman ask, “Then why was the door closed?”
She had to strain to hear Heathbrook’s answer. “Do you think I wanted people to see me crawling about the floor on my hands and knees to look for a reticule? I would be the laughingstock of Society.”
As her mother’s chuckle wafted back to her, she sank against the wall. Lord, but how smoothly that man could lie when he had to.
She would have found that more disturbing if he had not been doing it to protect her reputation. Or rather, to protect her from her mother’s disapproval. That seemed to say he cared for her.
But if so, why only show it when he was kissing and caressing her in secret?
No, that was not fair. He had also entertained her throughout the procession and had been kind to Maman in many ways. He had even defended her cousin when Sir Percy had maligned her.
To be honest, with every day that passed, Giselle had less and less idea of where she stood with him.
I go to sleep wanting you, Giselle. I wake up wanting you. I sit in my lawyer’s office unable to think of anything but you,ma chérie,and how very much I want you!
The thrill that coursed through her made her roll her eyes at herself. In that, at least, she knew where she stood. He’d madethatperfectly clear tonight.
But in everything else he confused her exceedingly, and that gave her pause. Notwithstanding his struggles to gain custody of his brothers, an Englishman like him held all the power … especially in England. She could not afford to be lulled into complacency with the Earl of Heathbrook until she knew what he was about.
Very well, she would simply have to keep her feelings for him safely locked away until she knew what he was up to … or not up to, since he certainly was not up to marriage. She could be friendly—they had been friends of a fashion before, after all—but she must proceed more cautiously when he started to flirt.
And the next time he said such luscious sentiments and gave her such passionate kisses?
She would hold his feet to the fire until he confessed why he continued to toy with her.
Chapter 10
The morning of Heathbrook’s court appearance dawned cold and rainy, not unusual for autumn, but he still hoped it wasn’t a bad omen. He was still kicking himself for his lapses in judgment at the Lord Mayor’s Show celebration. What had he been thinking, touching Giselle as he had? With one word from her to the judge, he would lose custody of his brothers for good. And if anyone had seen them …
He shuddered. That, too, would hurt his chances, even if he went on to marry her. Scandal of any kind had to be avoided. Hemustbe more circumspect. He could no longer afford not to be, if he wanted to save his brothers from Yates.
After dressing, he headed downstairs early, pleased to find his friend Scovell waiting for him when he entered the breakfast room. He could use a friend just now.
And Captain Scovell was a good friend, indeed. The chestnut-haired naval officer had a way of spreading calm wherever he went. Nothing ruffled his proverbial feathers. Heathbrook could use that sort of even temper himself today. He was agitated enough about the court appearance as it was.
“Stealing my food again, I see,” he joked as he caught Scovell helping himself to shirred eggs and rashers.
Scovell offered him a wan smile and put his plate on the table. “Your cook is much superior to my brother’s. Besides, you won’t let me steal your fiancée, so what choice do I have?”
Heathbrook groaned. “So, you know about Giselle, do you?” he said flatly. He should have told his friend right away, but he hadn’t wanted to bother Scovell while the man’s brother was dying.
“How could I not? The servant gossip network has spread the news far and wide.”