Albina shook her head.
“Excuse me. I have an urgent matter I must discuss.”
Without even thinking, she cut past him, turned the handle of the study door, and practically threw herself inside.
“Good gracious!”
Lord Addenbrook stared at her as she slammed the door closed and leaned against it, breathing heavily.
“Miss… Trean?”
“I beg your pardon, my Lord.” Her breathing was so ragged that she struggled to have push the words from her lips. “Lord Kingston is….”
She could not find a way to tell him what had just occurred, but Lord Addenbrook seemed to understand for he immediately came over to the door and turned the key in the lock.
Albina could not help but let out a long sigh of relief and slipped the hood from her head, still sagging back against the door.
“Lord Kingston is waiting for someone, I presume?” Nodding, Albina closed her eyes, aware of the tears which threatened to push themselves from her eyes. She had been quite justified in her opinion of Lord Kingston. There was nothing that drew her towards him now. “Is there a reason, Miss Trean, that you have flung yourself into my study with such abandonment?” Lord Addenbrook had not moved away but stayed close to her, his eyes searching her face. “That is not to say that you are unwelcome but –”
“I am certain that there was someone upstairs, my Lord.” Albina’s could hear the tremble in her voice and was actually relieved when Lord Addenbrook’s hand caught hers, finding strength in his presence. “I made certain that Henry was quite safe before I came to find you. I did not know what else to do.”
Lord Addenbrook said nothing, his jaw tight. His eyes searched her face and then, much to her astonishment, he leaned closer.
“Stay here.” His voice was low, his breath whispering across her cheek. “Lock the door behind me for I do not think that Lord Kingston is the most… self-controlled of gentlemen.”
She nodded, her throat constricting.
“Sit. Rest. I will return shortly.”
Albina shivered but she nodded. Lord Addenbrook gazed into her eyes for another long moment and, much to her astonishment, brushed his fingers lightly down her cheek for just a second before he turned, dropping her hand from his grasp, and then unlocking the door.
“Miss Trean.”
Hardly able to move such was the shock and the warmth that ran through her in equal measure, it took Albina all of her strength to stand away from the door. Lord Addenbrook held her gaze for one moment longer, then pulled it open and stepped outside, closing it quickly behind him. Albina’s fingers slipped as she turned the key in the lock, but it was soon done, leaving her alone in Lord Addenbrook’s study.
With the silence came a rush of emotion which she could not quite push aside. When the tears came to her eyes, she was unable to blink them away and thus, with a sob, Albina made her way to a chair, sank into it, and put her hands over her face. The tears ran freely but Albina allowed them to do so, overcome by all that had taken place. First, there had been her fright in hearing that person upstairs, then the dread at being discovered as she rushed to find Lord Addenbrook, and then the horror that Lord Kingston had found her.
“And then he stood near me,” Albina whispered to herself, her frame still shaking slightly as her tears began to subside. Lord Addenbrook had been so close to her, had taken her hand and had gazed into her eyes – and she had felt herself safe in his presence. When his fingers had grazed her cheek, she had barely been able to comprehend it, save for the heat that had poured into her face. Butterflies were dancing all through her and, despite her tears and her shock, a small smile was lifting her lips.
Lord Addenbrook had his faults, certainly, but the way he had gone to Henry without hesitation spoke well of his character. The obvious care and concern he had for the boy had touched her heart and, given the fact that she had the confidence simply to walk into his study and trust that he would not grow angry with her for doing so also spoke of his merits.
But am I truly allowing myself tofeelsomething for him?
Her silent question could not be answered. Albina lifted her head completely and dropped her hands into her lap. Lord Kingston was clear in his intentions towards her – thinking her only a governess – and Albina had never been so disgusted in all of her life. Lord Addenbrook, on the other hand, had drawn near her, had touched her cheek, and held her hand but had never made any attempt to take advantage of her and, for whatever reason, Albina was aware that she trusted him not to do so. It was, she presumed, because he had only ever treated her with respect and consideration in the short time of their acquaintance as well as the fact that the staff had never said a single word to her about Lord Addenbrook’s ways. She trusted him. But she knew now that she could never again trust Lord Kingston.
Her choice had been a wise one but there was no way for her to prove that to her father, not now that she had run away from home. If she returned, he would only seek to force her to wed Lord Kingston to save her from any whisper of scandal, and would not be willing to listen to a single thing she had to say. Her only choice for the present was to remain as governess.
The knock at the door startled her. It came once, twice and three times and Albina rose quickly, her heart beating furiously as she went to turn the key. Pulling it back, she stepped aside as Lord Addenbrook walked inside. He then closed the door and turned the key again before turning back towards her and grasping her hand.
“Are you quite well, Miss Trean?”
She nodded, relieved to see him again.
“You are uninjured, I hope?”
“I am quite safe.” He squeezed her hand and then released it gently. “Come, sit down, Miss Trean. I have sent three footmen to go over every room carefully, although I have warned them not to wake Henry with their endeavor.”
With relief, Albina took up her seat once more, looking back steadily at Lord Addenbrook. His brows were low over his eyes, and he was watching her steadily as if she held some answers to his as yet unasked questions. Albina’s stomach twisted but she did not speak, wondering suddenly if Lord Kingston had, in fact, recognized her and had gone on to tell Lord Addenbrook the truth. Her fingers twined together, her palms becoming sweaty and her breathing quickening. Still, Lord Addenbrook said nothing. Albina’s mouth went dry. Was he about to tell her that he knew everything?