Page 26 of Heart of Iron
“I’m sorry,” Lena said.“I was looking for my friend.”
Aramina’s eyes narrowed.“You’re Barrons’s ward, aren’t you?”
And too late, Lena remembered the blood feud between her half brother and this woman.“Yes.”
“A girl like you shouldn’t be out here alone.It’s dangerous.”
“I know.I couldn’t find my friend… And I won’t go back without her.”
Consideration lit those brandy-brown eyes.Then the duchess’s ruby-tinted lips thinned.“I’ll look for her.What’s her name?”
“Adele Hamilton,” Lena said, collapsing against the wall in relief.“She’s wearing white.”
The duchess paused with her hand on the door handle.“The name is not unknown to me.Wasn’t she the girl caught with Lord Fenwick last year?”
“Not by choice,” Lena admitted, wondering whether the duchess would care.
Theyallknewaboutit, after all.
After a long stare, the duchess slipped through the door.“I’ll find her.Stay here; it should be safe.”
Lena fanned herself furiously.Of all the things to happen, she would never have imagined that the Duchess of Casavian would help her.She was notorious for her cool demeanor and frigid temper.
And her hatred of all things of the House of Caine, Leo included.
Why help the ward of her enemy?
Unlessshewasn’t really going to search for Adele…Lena’s black lace fan slowed.The duchess had told her to stay here, not return to the ball, where she might be safe.It was highly unlikely a blue blood lord would stumble into the powder room, but it was also the perfect place for an ambush.Dark, secluded… Far enough away that nobody would hear her screaming over the music.
All the duchess had to do was find one of the more dangerous young bucks and whisper in his ear.Then Lena would be ruined—just another pawn lost in the game between the duchess and Leo.
She couldn’t stay here.
Bolting for the door, she slipped out into the darkened corridor.Was it her imagination, or had the gaslights been turned down?Heart thumping in her chest, she hurried toward the ballroom.
Too late, she saw shadows shifting in the corner of her eye.Someone moved from behind the statue of an angel and a large bronzed hand clapped over her mouth.No!Lena’s eyes shot wide as she was dragged back into a man’s solid chest.Then, feet kicking uselessly, he dragged her into the darkness of one of the many rooms.
***
Lena screamed against the flesh of his hand, her slippered feet kicking at his shins.Will’s predatory smile slipped.He’d meant to startle her, but the terror emanating off her roused all his dangerous instincts.
“Hush,” he whispered against her ear and she shivered.“Lena, it’s me.It’s Will.”
The tension drained out of her so absolutely he had to catch her up against him.With a sob, she turned toward him, tucking her face against his chest.Each small gasp strained her corset, and her fingers fisted in his shirt, dangerously close to the area over his heart.Will froze, his hand hovering over her hair.
What had frightened her so badly?Somehow he didn’t think it was his own actions; from the way she’d relaxed into his grip, she’d been expecting someone else.The thought raced through his mind, bringing with it a wave of red.The hair along the back of his neck rose, a growl consuming his vocal cords.
“Lena?”
“I’m fine,” she snapped.Balling her other fist, she punched him in the arm.“Were you trying to frighten ten years off my life?”
He barely felt the blow.“What’s got you so scared?Who’s huntin’ you?”
Lena froze.Her other fist unclenched from his shirt and she took a step back, her skirts rustling loudly.“Nobody’s hunting me.”
Lie.
“Nobody except you.”Her eyes narrowed.“What are you doing here?Are you insane?They’ll tear you apart!”
