He’d give anything to take away the circles beneath her eyes. But touching her now, while she was still skittish and raw, would be a mistake.
And if he touched her, he might never let her go.
“I’ll stay if you like.” The offer was no sacrifice. “I’ll keep watch all night if that would make you feel safe enough to sleep.”
“Thank you.” Her eyes softened. “The duke has footmen on watch. And I—I know you must be worried about your brother.”
“I am, though with Temperence found—Temperance is the young woman who made the accusations—my hope is that the nightmare will soon be over.”
“You’ll need more than just a young girl’s word to bring an earl’s son to justice.”
“I know,” he admitted.
She looked down at her hands. “I will do whatever I can to help.”
A dizzying wave of warm relief followed a split second of surprise.
“If,” she eyed him, “youwantmy help.”
Want?He’d take anything she wished to offer him. “Before tonight I thought… I believed protecting those in my care meant I must shoulder every burden myself.”
“I cannot say I am surprised,” she replied with the barest hint of an understanding smile.
“Isolation is not strength,” he murmured.
Immediately, he regretted the words he’d chosen. He hadn’t meant to cut to the heart of her reasons for refusing him, but he could tell by her face that he had. After an excruciating moment of silence, she answered.
“No,” she agreed. “Isolation is not the same as strength. How many people were involved in getting me away from the theater?”
He smiled halfheartedly. “Enough to make a proper cricket team.”
“I’m glad you were there.” Briefly, she touched his shoulder.
Toobriefly. His shoulder burned where her fingers had brushed.
“I’m glad I was there, too.” If she’d let him, he’d be there for her always. “And I promise to gladly acceptyourhelp. I failedJohn in so many ways. I wasn’t there for him. I didn’t accept help. I gave in to my pride. I vow I will not fail you in the same way.”
Something flickered in her eyes. Something he hoped might become trust.
“I will help you in any way I can.” She held his gaze. “But I cannot promise my answer to the question you haven’t asked will change.”
“I understand.”Not promisingwas further still than her earlierno. “Go in, go upstairs, sleep for a while.”
“And you?”
“I have some things I must discuss with Harbury.” Even then, however he knew he could not leave this house. Not until the haunted look had gone from her eyes. “After, I will set up my watch.”
“Why?”
He swallowed roughly. He had thought to protect her from his problem, not involve her in its solution. They were, however, deep in the muck together. He needed her sharp mind. He needed her reassuring touch. He needed to know that it would be them against the world, always.
But he also didn’t need to frighten her away.
“Because I won’t be able to sleep knowing you do not feel safe.” He gave her a simpler answer. “Because I can’t leave without knowing your answer to the question I haven’t yet asked.”
Slowly, she nodded. Then, she turned away.
She disappeared into the shadows, and with her, the light from his heart. No matter what her answer when he finally did ask, he now knew the truth.