He dropped his head forward, touching his forehead to hers. All around them, their audience was cheering, jeering, or simply making ribald comments that were getting more and more obscene.
“We need to get you home,” he said to her softly.
Her eyes had widened at some of the things being said. No more sexual daze. Just a growing pinkness in her cheeks and not from his attentions. “Can you walk?” she asked.
He nodded. “It’ll hurt like the devil, but I think I can manage it.”
“Should I send for the carriage?”
“Heavens, no!” The last thing he wanted to do was sit in here in the muck waiting. “If you support me—”
“Of course. Lean on me, Mr. Anaedsley. I’m a great deal stronger than I look.”
He squeezed her fingers, only now realizing that he was holding her hand. “I’m beginning to realize that, Mellie. Indeed, I wonder at how blind I’ve been.”
Her mouth opened in surprise at his words, and this time he knew that the pink in her cheeks was because of him and not the buffoons around them. He meant to keep it that way. The more he distracted her from everyone else, the less mortified she would feel.
“Yes, cousin,” pressed Ronnie. “Do get up. This is most unseemly.”
She shot the man an irritated look. “You wouldn’t say that if I’d been kissing you.”
Trevor didn’t think it was possible for Ronnie to look like an offended princess. The buffoon was too big to pull off the dainty, nose-in-the-air look. Apparently he had a little dandy in him. Ronnie pranced backward, stepping on his tippy toes as he gasped at the insult.
“You wound me, cousin. I have thought nothing but for your happiness. I only wonder what this roué has said to sway you from your normal common sense—”
“Oh, owwwww!” Trevor groaned loudly as he pushed to his feet. In truth, it wasn’t that bad, but he would play a dying invalid if it shut up Ronnie.
Mellie scrambled to help. “I’m right here. Lean on me.”
“Oh, for goodness sake—” Ronnie exclaimed.
“No, no!” he said over her cousin. “I can manage it.” He’d made it to his feet, then leaned his weight onto the bad ankle. He wasn’t faking his gasp when pain shot like fire all the way up his spine.
“Don’t be foolish!” she snapped as she quickly pulled his arm around her shoulders and bolstered him. Damn, she wasn’t lying. She was strong, sturdy enough that he didn’t fear he’d break her. Made a man think of all sorts of potential acrobatic feats.
“Damn,” he muttered. “I’m getting my stink all over you.”
She chuckled. “I’ve been in worse, I assure you.”
He glanced at her, wondering how that was possible.
“When you’re not here, whom do you suppose helps my father with his experiments? Who holds the sheep while he applies his tick cream? Who—”
“Good God,” he exclaimed, truly appalled. “I’d assumed it was the servants.”
“Only sometimes. He says I have the keener eye for detail—”
“But—”
“And a scientific mind to help him analyze the progress of his work.”
She sounded proud of the fact, and well she should. After all, praise from her father was rare indeed, and he recalled beaming for a whole month after one of the man’s compliments. “But he still should hire someone else to hold the sheep.”
She chuckled. “He shall have to now, if I am to head to London with you.”
Trevor smiled, liking the idea of her in London with him. He wanted to see her in silks and jewels. And he should like very much introducing her to the many entertainments offered in London. “I shall take you to the Royal Theater. You will love—”
“London!” squeaked Ronnie from a step behind them. “Whyever would you go there?”