He hated to leave her, but at least she would be in good hands.He made his way back to the stranger.Thankfully the man hadn’t fled.
“If you think to separate us, you’re wasting your time.”His voice was strong, confident, but there was something in the slope of the man’s shoulders that gave him an air of wary resignation.
Everything clicked into place then.Why his brother hadn’t moved into his town house and gone along with their father’s plans to position Henry as the next viscount as he waited for his oldest son to die in battle.Why his mother and sister insisted Henry had never wanted to usurp Ashford’s place.Why his mother had insisted his younger brother wouldn’t be fathering the next heir.And most importantly, why she’d told him the future of the title depended solely on Ashford marrying.
“You are…”
“His lover, yes.”The man let out a resigned sigh.“We can leave for France by the end of the week.If you would turn a blind eye until then, we’d be forever in your debt.”
Ashford shook his head.“I’m not going to send you away.”
The man blanched.“So you plan to turn us in.”
“I was in the army.When you have that many men quartered together, you see all manner of things.So no, I will not be turning you in.”
The man nodded.“I’ll leave you to your entertainments then.I apologize for disturbing you.”
Panic took hold when this stranger—his last tie to his brother—began to turn away.He couldn’t help but fear that if this man left now, he and his brother could very well flee to France, fearing for their safety.
“Tell me where Henry is.I need to see him.To make things right between us.”
The man shook his head.
“Please.I give you my word that no harm will come to either of you.”
He waited, watching the silent battle that played out on the other man’s face.Finally the man reached into an inner coat pocket and pulled out a calling card.His jaw was tight as a handed it to Ashford.“If you hurt him, you’ll have to answer to me.”
Ashford nodded.“Understood.”
He stood there for several moments, watching as the man turned and then melted into the crowd.He hadn’t even thought to ask him his name.He’d have to remedy that when he saw his brother tomorrow.This man had been there for Henry when his own family hadn’t been, and for that Ashford owed him.
He made his way back to Mary, frowning when he saw that no less than three men were now hovering around her.They were speaking to Lowenbrock, but their attention was divided between Mary and Lowenbrock’s wife.
As though sensing his gaze, Mary looked his way.With a word to the small group, she excused herself and came to him.Three sets of eyes followed the sway of her hips.
She placed a hand on his arm when she reached his side.“How are you?Is everything all right?”
He wanted to draw her into a hug.Instead, he placed a hand over hers.“Not yet, but it will be soon.”
Her brows drew together.“Do you wish to speak about it?Amelia told me that you and your brother are estranged.”
He smiled down at her, touched by her concern.“I’d rather talk about you and me.I hate that we missed the rest of the waltz.”And just when it was beginning to get interesting.He didn’t say the words aloud, but it was clear she was thinking the same thing.
She glanced to the left.“There’s an alcove just over there that appears to be empty.”
He took her arm in his and led her in that direction.Restraint be damned.It had been a long week since he’d last kissed this woman, and he didn’t want to wait another moment.He drew her into the small, dimly lit space, and pulled the curtain closed behind them.A candle on a high shelf provided just enough illumination to keep the alcove from falling into darkness.
No words were needed.They moved into one another’s arms as though they’d done this a hundred times before.She rose onto her toes and he leaned down, and then he was kissing her.
Before he could get carried away, he pulled back and drew her into a hug.He needed this.He neededher, but he was not going to take her innocence at a public masquerade.
They stood like that, leaning against one another for comfort, for at least a full minute before Mary’s voice broke into the silence.
“Amelia and Lord Lowenbrock have a gazebo in their back garden…”