If he’d been a different sort of man—a marrying sort of man—he’d have carried her away when he left, but he wasn’t Prince Charming. He wasn’t a knight in shining armor, and he wouldn’t pretend to be.
Might she still be awake? Might she be glad to see him? He’d warned Blake to keep away from Janet, but Blake had ignored him. Apparently, Caleb wouldn’t behave any better than his wastrel brother. They were both Miles Ralston’s sons and that tainted blood made them reckless and ridiculous.
He went up to the next floor and wound down the deserted halls until he came to her room. He paused for a moment and inhaled a deep breath, needing to calm himself, needing to be sure he should proceed.
Why not?
Why not sneak in? Why not have a poignant parting?
His way clear, he reached for the knob, spun it as quietly as he could, and. . . ?
The door was locked.
He gaped at it for an eternity, wondering if he dared knock, if he dared murmur her name, but the manor was filled with guests. The rooms surrounding hers were occupied by people who might peek out to discover who was there.
Was this a sign that their relationship wasn’t meant to be? Was it a sign that they’d been destined to cross paths, but that Fate had no plan beyond that? It hadn’t occurred to him that he wouldn’t be able to slip in. He’d thought she’d be up and staring out at the stars, an insomniac waiting for a visitor.
He smirked with regret. He was an idiot, and the lock had saved him from doing something stupid. For he had no doubt, had he entered, he would have engaged in conduct he shouldn’t have.
He crept away and returned to his own bedchamber. He pulled a chair over to the window, and he gazed out at the sky, watching the moon glide toward the horizon, counting the minutes until morning arrived and he could leave Grey’s Corner forever.
Janet woke with a start. She’d been fast asleep and a noise had roused her. Her heart was pounding, and she stared into the dark, overwhelmed by the strongest sense that she wasn’t alone.
“Who’s there?” she whispered.
“It’s me,” Blake whispered back.
She blew out a heavy sigh. “You scared the life out of me.”
He came over and rested a hip on the edge of the mattress, then he leaned down and kissed her.
“What are you thinking?” she asked, feeling a tad irked at his brazenly entering her bedchamber. “What if someone saw you?”
“The halls are empty, and everyone is in bed but me.”
She yawned and sat up, and with her wearing just her nightgown, the air was chilly. She shivered and pulled the blankets up to cover her bosom. She didn’t want to seem too prim and proper to him, but she was prim and proper.
“Why are you still up?” she inquired.
“Your brother and mine were gambling. I was there to guarantee there wouldn’t be any trouble.”
“What kind of trouble might there have been?”
“I could tell you stories that would make you faint.”
“Did Gregory lose again?”
“He lost plenty, but then, he’s awful at wagering.”
“I wish I had the power to stop him, but he’d never listen to me.”
“Have you ever wondered if you’re safe around him?”
She scowled. “Safe? What do you mean?”
“He’s so reckless. He owes Caleb a fortune, and Caleb is tired of fussing with him, so he plans to call in Gregory’s markers. Gregory could never pay even a small portion of what’s due, so he’ll probably end up in debtor’s prison.”
She snorted out a laugh. “Will I sound like a horrid sister if I say I don’t care if he’s arrested? It would serve him right for being so stupid.” Blake had a strange look on his face, and she asked, “Why are you warning me about him? Why are you so worried?”
“A man like your brother—one who’s trapped and has nothing left—can be very dangerous.”
“Other than frittering away all our money, how could he imperil me?”
Blake pondered what to reveal and finally settled on, “I’d rather not provide any details. Just watch yourself with him. Don’t trust him and don’t believe him.”
She scoffed. “I figured that out on my own.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
Their conversation dwindled, and she smiled at him, riveted by how handsome he was. There was a hint of moonlight shining in the window, casting him in a silver halo. He was like an angel sent down to Earth to tempt mortal women.
She was definitely tempted, and he was spurring her to consider conduct she shouldn’t be considering. She hadn’t thought she would ever wed, but when she gazed at him, her modern ideas flew out the window. She caught herself contemplating how marriage to him would be perfectly lovely.
“There’s a reason I snuck in to talk to you” he said. “It couldn’t wait until morning.”
“Why not?”
“Your father kicked my brother out.”
Her jaw dropped with astonishment. “Will you obey him and slither away?”
“It’s pointless for us to stay. Caleb is here to attend the wedding, but the wedding is off.”
“But. . . but. . . why do you have to go? No one’s kicked you out, have they?”
“Not yet.” He grinned a wicked grin.
“Why don’t you tarry then?”
“I better not. Your father would eventually notice me lurking and demand I go too. Besides, I’m on furlough from the navy, and I’d like to spend the rest of my holiday with my brother.”
“Will you ever come to Grey’s Corner again?”
“I can’t imagine why I would.”
Her heart literally skipped a beat. “Are you sure? I could have sworn you were enjoying yourself.”
“I always like to dawdle in a fancy house, but I detest your brother. I’m not in the mood to ever bump into him in the future.”
“What about me? Would you ever be keen to bump into me?”
“I’ll always hope we cross paths.”
Her mind whirred frantically as she struggled to deduce how she could keep him
