Peter’s smile widened. He backed her up against the balcony, pinning her there, and Prudence saw the lady’s eyes widen in fear as she looked over her shoulder.
Suddenly, Prudence couldn’t stand it. She couldn’t seem to help picturing one of her sisters entrapped by this horrible man. Both Caroline and their eldest sister, Arabella, had looked after Prudence all her life, and the idea of either one of them being treated so horribly made her blood boil.
And this lady might be someone’s sister too.
Before she could properly think about what she was doing, she hurried toward them. “Stop that!” she shouted. “Stop that immediately.”
The man—Peter—turned to face her. “Who are you?”
“Unhand her.” Prudence was shaking with righteous indignation. “She told you to stop.”
“This has nothing to do with you. I’d advise you to mind your business.”
“I’m making it my business. Take your hands off that woman.”
He leered at her. “What are you going to do about it, little butterfly?”
Whatwasshe going to do? He was obviously much bigger and stronger than she was. “I’m going to… I’m going to fetch my brother-in-law,” she said. “He’ll sort you out. He doesn’t hold with men who bother ladies against their will.”
That was probably true. It wasn’t likely that Levi would have much patience with this behavior, and he’d certainly want to intervene. He was a good man. But Prudence didn’t know where he was. How long would it take to get him and come back? She would have to hope that the threat of him was enough to scare Peter off.
He didn’t seem frightened. His grin faded slightly, but he didn’t run off as Prudence had hoped.
Instead, he turned and stepped closer to her.
Her heart raced. She recalled, suddenly, how frightened she had been in the pub at the sight of these huge men. How physical things had gotten. He could hurt her if he chose to. She had been unwise to get involved—and yet, how could she have done anything else? How could she have left that poor lady?
The lady, meanwhile, had seen her opportunity. She gathered her skirts in her hands and bolted like a hare. Prudence was momentarily glad to see her escape.
Then she realized that she was now alone on the balcony with a man. A man who had already shown himself twice to be dangerous.
She stepped back quickly, but he was quicker. He grabbed her by the wrist.
“Let me go,” she said, but her voice was far less powerful than it had been. Her confidence had completely evaporated, and all she wanted was to get back inside and find her sister. She wished she had never come out here at all.
Peter leaned close. She could smell the alcohol on his breath. Fear coursed like acid through her veins.
“Who are you?” he asked, his voice low.
She shook her head.
He reached up, and she thought he might be about to hurt her—she tugged wildly to free herself, but his grip was too strong. His hand traced her cheek, and she shivered.
And then he took hold of the ribbon tied behind her head, gave a tug, and the mask fell away.
He stared at her.
She felt heat rush into her cheeks.
“I know you,” he said. “Prudence Wetherby, isn’t it? You were supposed to marry the Duke of Mowbray before you ran off.I see you haven’t lost your proclivity for dramatics, have you? Interrupting a tryst that was none of your business…”
“Hardly a tryst,” Prudence said, summoning her courage. “The lady wanted nothing to do with you and said so. I was right to intervene.”
“Perhaps,” Peter mused. “Or perhaps you were hoping to take her place. Is that it? You saw something you liked?”
Shocked, Prudence raised her free hand and slapped him sharply across the face.
He released her, his hand going to his cheek, his eyes blazing. “You are a firecracker,” he said, voice low in his throat. “I admire that in a lady.”
