Page 55 of Romancing the Rifleman
Once he reached the first floor, he went straight through to the back of the house and entered the servants’ stairs.He knew precisely where they were, as he and Diana had spent the past four days mapping out the house.Skipping the second floor, he went all the way to the top level where the servants had their rooms.The corridor was deserted, which made sense, as they were all busy performing their morning duties.
He went to the side of the house where he had last seen Diana and began trying doorknobs.The third one he twisted proved to be unlocked, and he slipped inside.
He didn’t bother to look around beyond ascertaining that the room was deserted.Peering out the window, he could see Diana’s golden head about six feet away.
He slid the window open, heart in his throat.“Diana!”he hissed.She turned but didn’t spot him right away, so he added, “Up here!”
She gave him a brilliant smile; how was it possible that she looked so at ease, standing thirty feet up in the air?His heart was pounding out of his chest as she picked her way along the cornice with small, confident steps, but she looked as cool as a cucumber.
Once she was in position below him, he hissed, “The second floor is crawling with housemaids.I’ll come for you as soon as I can.”
The wind picked up, tangling her skirts about her legs.She shook them free as if this were a minor inconvenience.“Can you reach me from there?”
He paused, measuring it up.The attic floor, which contained the servants’ quarters, did not have high ceilings like the levels below intended for guests.It just might be possible.
He took a firm grip on the windowsill with his left hand and hooked his left foot around the bedstand for good measure.Then, he leaned out the window from the waist, dangling his right arm down as far as it would go.
Diana reached up, and to his surprise, her fingertips brushed his.He felt vertiginous just watching her standing on that ledge without a grip on anything, but she looked unbothered.“I think I can reach you if I go up on my toes,” she said conversationally.“Lean down as far as you can.On three.One… two…”
“Three!”he said in unison with her, stretching down with everything he had.His fingers closed around her wrist, and he felt her return the gesture.“All right?”he asked tightly.
She nodded, and the trust in her eyes, the absolute confidence that he would not let her fall humbled him.And damn if he was going to let any harm come to this wonderful, perfect unicorn of a woman who actually seemed to likehim, of all people.
He tightened his grip around her wrist and, before he had the chance to consider the consequences if he were to fail, he hauled her up to his level.Once she was sitting on the windowsill, he wrapped her up in a bear hug and pulled her inside, his whole body shaking with relief.
Diana laughed and wrapped her arms around him, and they stood there, holding each other.
After a moment, Harrington chuckled.“Why am I breathing harder than you are?”
She smiled up at him, her eyes sympathetic.“Were you frightened?”
She sounded completely normal, but when he spoke, his voice was unsteady.“Do you mean to tell me that you weren’t?”
She shrugged.“The cornice is surprisingly broad.It wasn’t ideal, but I wasn’t in danger of falling.In better circumstances, I believe I would have found the experience exhilarating.”
He laughed, incredulous.“I’m glad one of us enjoyed it.Seeing you standing there probably took twenty years off my life, but you’re the perfect heroine, as usual.”He tilted his head toward the door.“Come on.”
She stayed him with a hand to his forearm.“Don’t you want to know what I discovered in Carl Frederick’s room?”
He bit back the words,not really.That bloody letter was the furthest thing from his mind.But, as Diana clearly cared, he asked, “What did you find?”
“Nothing.”
She looked disappointed about it, so he said, “Ah.That’s too bad.Well, thank you for looking.”
“I was able to search the most obvious areas, but didn’t have time to dig through his trunks.”She tapped her lip, lost in thought.“Perhaps I can sneak back in this afternoon, once the housemaids have finished making up the rooms.”
Oh, hell, no.“That’s not necessary.You’ve already checked the most likely places.There’s only so much we can do.”
She waved a hand, still not meeting his eyes.“Yes, but if a good opportunity should present itself?—”
“Diana.”He touched her shoulder, and finally she looked at him.“We’re not doing that again.”
Her expression softened.“You really were scared.”
“I was fuckingfrantic.That was a thousand times worse than having bullets whizzing past my head in Germany.If anything were to happen to you…” His throat constricted, which was probably for the best, as he didn’t want to think that particular thought through to its conclusion.
She stepped forward, wrapping her arms around his waist.“I’m all right.”
