Page 24 of When the Rogue Returns
“But the second act is about to start,” Rupert said peevishly. “We have to find them.”
“Well, you can hunt for them if you must. I’m going back to the box.”
“I’ll meet you there.”
Alarm seized her. She didnotwant Rupert speculating about her association with Victor, a supposed stranger. “I have to go,” she murmured, turning for the door.
Victor caught her by the arm and lowered his head to whisper in her ear. “Tell me where you live, and I’ll come to you later tonight. We have to talk.”
“That’s not what you want, and you know it.” He wanted to kiss and fondle her to distraction, to slip back into her life so he could get her to make more imitations.
Youwere the one who called our marriage a mistake.Youwere the one who said you wanted more than I could offer, who said you were going off to find a better position.
She swallowed hard. He’d spoken the words with such conviction. But she’d never said any such thing to him! His memory was playing tricks on him.
Oh, why was she even listening to him? Sheknewwhat sort of man he was. She must hold fast against him. If he came to the cottage he would find out about Amalie and use her against Isa, too.
“Tell me, damn you,” Victor hissed. “You can’t keep running from me.”
Rupert was calling her now, and the longer she waited to answer, the more curious he would become.
She stared up at Victor. “Tell me whereyouare staying, and I’ll come toyou.”
He froze. Then, with a foul curse, he glanced away.
Anger seared her. He was hiding his purpose here, whatever it was. “That’s what I thought.” Wrenching her arm free, she headed for the door.
“We are not done, Isa,” he growled.
“For now, we are.” She called out, “I’m here, Rupert!”
The door opened, and Rupert thrust his head inside. The clear suspicion on his face made her stomach roil. Could Victor be right about him? Was the baron not as oblivious to her feminine attributes as she’d assumed?
“What are you two doing in here alone?” he demanded.
“The best view of the theater is from this box.” Better to lie to him than risk hurting him. “And since it was empty, we thought to take a look.”
He seemed to accept that. “Well, you’d better come along. The second act is about to begin.” His gaze flitted behind her. “You too, cousin.”
She could feel Victor’s presence like a hot brand against her back, and for half a second, she feared he would say something to ruin everything.
Then she heard Victor release a breath. “I’ll be along presently. I want to enjoy the view a moment longer,” he said in that husky voice that made her stomach flip over.
That was the trouble. He could still reduce her to mush with just a word, which made him dangerous. Because once she let him into her life, once he knew about their daughter, there would be no going back.
Rupert whisked her from the room. “Are you all right?” he asked as soon as they were in the hall. “You look flushed.”
She resisted the urge to press her hands to her hot cheeks. An idea struck. “Actually, I’m feeling unwell. Would you mind terribly leaving the play now and taking me home?”
“I’d be happy to,” he surprised her by saying.
She eyed him skeptically. “Are you sure?” Rupert tended to follow rules slavishly, and one of those rules was that people did not leave theaters before the performance was finished.
“Of course I’m sure,” he said resentfully. “What sort of gentleman would I be if I forced you to stay here and suffer?”
“Thank you, then. It’s very kind of you.” She tamped down a niggle of guilt at deceiving him.
Tomorrow she’d take Amalie to Carlisle on the mail coach, and her daughter would be safe. Then, and only then, she could concentrate on finding out why Victor was so determined to invade her life.
