“I have news,” Leo said. “There is an injured man in town. The constable suspects him of being the one who broke in. I thought we could question him when he awakens.”
It was hard to focus when Leo clutched her so close. She wanted to drape herself over him, thrust her hands into his thick hair and lose herself in the pleasure of his kisses.
“What do you say?” Leo asked.
Saffron wrenched her mind back to reality. “I agree. As long as we set out when we will not be missed.” A sudden thoughtstruck her. “Should we be concerned that he might escape after he awakens?”
Leo shook his head. “Sinclair informed me the man has knocked his head and broken both of his legs. He will be abed for months, assuming the constable doesn’t send him to the gallows for whatever other crimes he committed.” The hand on her back tightened. “This is dangerous, Saffron. I am only asking you to come because I know if I don’t, you will find out and follow me anyway, as reckless as that would be.”
Saffron huffed. “You underestimate me, my lord.”
Leo smiled and his eyes crinkled at the edges in the way that made her heart flutter. When the music faded, he took her hand and put it on his arm.
“People are going to think you’ve taken special interest in me,” Saffron said. As they passed Mrs. Morgan, the woman gave her a frightful glare, then turned on her two daughters, barking like a seal.
“They can think whatever they want. After all, I have taken a special interest in you.” They approached the musicians, who had started up again, much louder than before. As if knowing that the sound was more than she could bear, he held her tightly and did not speak again until they were on the other side of the room.
“By the way, that gown is marvelous.”
“You can have it when I’m done with it,” she replied tightly. “Though I don’t think it would look as good on you.”
His strangled response was cut off by an ear-piercing scream.
Saffron spun and raced toward the source of the noise. Memories of her parents’ fevered cries in the night filled her thoughts. It couldn’t be Angelica. She had warned her sister countless times not to walk too close to the gaslights. And Rosemary’s bad hip made it unlikely that she had moved so far from her seat.
Still, her heart thundered as she pushed her way through the crowd, with Leo following behind her.
When she arrived at the scene, the worst of the damage was done. Lady Allen was bent over double, her hands clutching at her gown, still smoldering from where it had caught a spark from the fireplace.
Relief flowed through her like cool water on a hot day. Not Angelica. Not Rosemary.
Then she realized no one was helping. A ballroom full of men and women, and none stepped forward to aid Lady Allen. She shoved her way into the clearing and kneeled beside the woman, who sobbed loudly as two footmen stamped out the remaining flames.
“Come,” Saffron said. “Let me help.”
The woman lowered her hands and opened pale-gray eyes. “All right.”
The crowd grew louder, women muttering to their friends and husbands behind their fans as Leo attempted to move them away. To prevent her charge from further embarrassment, Saffron hurried her off into the retiring room. Only when they were safely within the small space did she examine the damage.
It was horrific. The smell of burning fabric filled the room, and small, blackened clumps split from the dress and splattered on the floor.
“How bad is it?” Lady Allen asked, tears forming in her eyes.
“I won’t lie to you. It’s unsightly. But if you would allow me, I think I can fix it.”
The woman let out a low moan.
Taking the sound as permission, she went to the door and asked one of the maids hovering outside to bring her a sewing kit. A young girl ran off and returned in moments with a bulging, cloth satchel.
Saffron withdrew a set of shears, as well as a needle and thread and set to work. It was not a simple task. Some embers were still fresh, singeing her fingers.
“I don’t know what happened,” Lady Allen said as Saffron snipped through the carnage with the shears. “One minute I was standing there, and the next, I could feel the heat of the flames licking my skin.”
Saffron mumbled an apology.
Lady Allen sighed. “I have suffered no significant injury, thanks to the footman who batted out the flames. But I still do not understand where the flame came from. I was quite a distance from the fire and any gaslights, I made sure of that. But at least your aunt was not harmed.”
Saffron’s hands stilled. “My Aunt Rosemary was near you?”
