Page 77 of The Bachelor
As he slid the pistol inside his boot, a hollow fear built in the pit of his stomach. What if Gwyn and the othershadn’tgone to the opera or had already returned? The more he thought about Malet possibly hurting Gwyn, the more likely it seemed. Bloody hell, he shouldn’t have lingered so long looking for the bastard.
Because if he lost Gwyn . . .
He couldn’t lose her, simple as that. He had to make things right between them. If she didn’t want to marry him, so be it, but he had totry.The idea of not having her in his life was . . . was . . .
Unthinkable. He had to do whatever he could to keep her in it.
Chapter Twenty-One
Joshua waited impatiently for the hackney to reach Armitage House. After it arrived, he practically threw money at the driver before climbing the steps as quickly as any man with a cane and a bad leg could.
He had just made it inside and was trying to keep the footman from taking his greatcoat, which still had his pistol in it, when Gwyn came running down the stairs, her expression anxious. “Where the devil have you been? And why are you dressed like that?”
“I’ll tell you later. But first, has Malet been here?”
“Malet! Why would he be here?”
She looked genuinely confused. Thank God she was safe. For the moment anyway. Even now Malet might be making his way here.
Joshua forced a calm into his voice that he didn’t feel. “I thought you were at the opera.”
“Lady Hornsby and I waited for you to accompany us there, and when time went on and you didn’t show up, we realized you weren’t going to. She went home. Even Mama gave up and retired for the night. ButIhave been waiting for you ever since, sure that something awful had happened to you!”
She was worried abouthim? That was . . . faintly amusing. And gratifying, especially because she was dressed like a queen in the new opera gown she’d spoken of earlier. The quintessential white gown was cut quite low for evening, and only a bit of blue lace kept it from being outrageous.
Damnation. It showed far more of her breasts than anything should. Not that he wasn’t enjoying it. “Forgive me. I didn’t mean to worry you. I thought Lady Hornsby wasn’t going to the opera, so Grey and Beatrice were taking you.”
Reminding him a bit of his sister, she fussed over him and tried to take off his coat. “Just as you told me and Mama earlier, Beatrice doesn’t like the opera and Grey wasn’t going without her. But Lady Hornsby was quite keen on attending. Apparently, Mama was wrong aboutthat. Lady Hornsby was very disgruntled when you didn’t show up.”
He brushed Gwyn’s hands away and removed his coat himself, then draped it over his arm. “And you? Wereyoueager to go?”
“That hardly matters now.”
“It matters tome.To be honest, I don’t care how Lady Hornsby felt about it. But I would sincerely regret having kept you from any activity you enjoyed.”
That seemed to catch her by surprise. Damn, how was it that he always shocked her when he complimented her? Was he really so bad at showing the woman how he felt?
Apparently so.
Eager now to get her alone, he took off his hat unthinkingly and handed it to the footman.
Gwyn gave a little cry. “Something awfuldidhappen to you!” She reached up to touch the cut on his forehead, which had already scabbed over. “Does it hurt?”
“No. In truth, I forgot all about it.” Though his pulse was quickening at just the thought of her concern for him.
With an eye at the footman, she whispered, “Did Lionel do this?”
“In a manner of speaking.”
Her eyes widened. “Well, I should put some salve on it to make it heal faster. Give your coat to John and come with me to the kitchen.”
“I’d rather hold on to my coat, actually.”
“Don’t be silly,” she said, and grabbed it from his arm. “My word, it’s heavy!”
He took it back from her and urged her down the hall, away from the prying eyes of the footman.
“Good Lord, what is in your pockets?” she asked.
