“It could put you at further risk, Reggie.”
He sounded so deuced serious, and she knew he made a valid point, but at heart she was a writer, and she wasn’t going to grant Bremsford complete power over her life. “It’s mostly fiction, anyway. If I continue to publish as Anonymous, and the story has no basis in fact, perhaps that, too, will convince him that he’s barking up the wrong tree. But if I stop writing, cease doing something I so enjoy, then in a way he’s still won.”
“Well, we can’t have that. Giving him any sort of victory.” His grin was impossible to miss, captured by the light of the moon and stars. Of course, he had the power to command nature to illuminate him when necessary. “Tell me, do you grant Lord K at least one more night with the lady he wronged before you do him in?”
“Why would he want it?”
His smile diminished as he shook his head. “We should probably retire inside now. Do you have an available dance?”
She nearly scoffed. “They’re all available except for the last.”
“Then I’ll take the honor of the next waltz.”
“I’d rather you not.”
“Do you want to convince people the book has nothing to do with us? Besides, it’ll keep Chidding on his toes. Go on. I’ll meet you inside.”
She shouldn’t. She should declare she could avert disaster without his assistance, but her father’s son was hemming her in, threatening harm to the one person she held dear. She was willing to try anything to protect Arianna, no matter how abhorrent it would be. She suspected Knightly was very much aware of that. But she couldn’t imagine he was seeking to take advantage, because he couldn’t want to be with her any more than she wanted to be with him. “One dance,” she stated concisely.
“One dance.”
“This changes nothing between us.”
“You’ve made your position regarding me quite clear. I’m not likely to misinterpret it.”
“Very well, then. The next waltz.”
With a huge gust of a sigh, she headed back to the residence. How was it that a need for retribution had managed to so complicate her life? If she’d only realized before she submitted it for publication that Chidding had an interest in her, perhaps she wouldn’t have done it, would have viewed finding contentmentwith him punishment enough for Knightly. Or if she’d known about the blasted terms included in the trusts, perhaps she could have produced a tamer telling of the tale. But then it wouldn’t have been the story that had poured from her soul.
Bremsford would soon grow weary of the chase, however. She was rather certain of that. Her father’s son had never been faced with a challenge that tested his mettle. While Regina had survived numerous ones. She’d survive this one as well.
Knight had once considered love to be paradise. Now it was hell, plaguing him whenever he was in the vicinity of Regina. Plaguing him when he wasn’t.
He knew in order to win, often sacrifices were required. However, Christ, the ones he and Regina had been forced to make were too damned much.
Tonight he waited until the first notes for the waltz struck before approaching her and offering his arm. Her lukewarm smile was far better than the icier ones she’d been bestowing upon him. He wondered what it might take to be the recipient of the one that had always lightened his steps and his heart when in its presence. She was no doubt reserving them all for Chidding. As it should be.
Still, it didn’t mean he wasn’t experiencing a touch of envy. Although at least she wasn’t striving to undo his neckcloth with her eyes.
“How are you getting on with the puppy?”
Her face softened as he’d hoped it would. “Dare I admit that a certain girl was in need of a pet nowrather than when she turned six? They’ve become fast friends.”
“Well, I did have an advantage in determining that might be the case. From the moment she and I met, it was all that was spoken of. I don’t suppose she’s asked after me.”
“Every single day.”
“What do you tell her?”
“That you’re an extremely busy man.”
“I could make time—”
“I don’t think it would be wise.”
He nodded in understanding. With Regina’s marriage, the girl would acquire a father, and it wouldn’t be in Ari’s best interest for Knight to interfere, as he might very well be tempted to do.
Although a good many people were enjoying this dance, they never stayed long in the vicinity of anyone for even snippets of a conversation to be heard. However, he did glance around to ensure no one seemed to be paying attention to them before he said, “If only three people know the truth of Anonymous, I should think the author is safe from Bremsford’s machinations.”
