“That is terrible!”
“You don’t know all of the things he has done over the years. He is not an honorable man.”
“You do not need to concern yourself with me,” William said.
Miss Holbrooke appeared displeased at this. “You are right,” she said brusquely. “Do as you please.”
“I only want to help you.”
“If that is true, you will leave things be.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
William took a step closer to her, and she tilted her chin to maintain eye contact. “I can’t forsake you,” he said.
“This isn’t your fight.”
“You made it my fight when you came to work for me.”
Miss Holbrooke lowered her gaze. “I should have never come and put you or the girls in this position.”
William lifted her chin with his finger to meet her eyes with a solemn gaze. “I’m glad that you did come into my life.”
“But look at all the trouble I have caused.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “You did upend my life, but in a good way. It was far too boring and predictable.”
Her eyes searched his. “Do you mean that?”
“I do, but you must let me handle this for you,” William said. “I’ll go speak to your brother, and…”
She took a step back and shook her head, and William’s hand dropped to his side. “I can assure you that it will do more harm than good,” she stated. It was clear she firmly believed it.
“But I have to try to do something—for your sake.”
Miss Holbrooke was about to reply when Miss Ashmore’s voice interrupted their interlude. William took a step back.
“I have come on my aunt’s behest,” Miss Ashmore said. “She was worried that Georgie might have gotten lost on the way back to the drawing room.”
William cleared his throat. “I was just saying my goodbyes.”
“Apparently, your goodbyes are rather lengthy,” Miss Ashmore teased. “You might want to consider shortening them, my lord.”
“I shall take that into consideration.” He brought his gaze back to meet Miss Holbrooke’s. “Do avoid taking any unnecessary risks. I shall see you tomorrow.”
Miss Holbrooke bobbed her head. “You need not fear. I am safe here with Evie.”
William wasn’t fully convinced of that, but he could see that Miss Holbrooke was. “Then I shall bid you goodnight.”
Miss Holbrooke rewarded him with a tremulous smile. “Good evening, Lord Grenton.”
He left and stepped into his coach, only to find it already occupied.
“What are you doing here?” William asked Hawthorne as he sat across from him.
“I was on my way to White’s, and I saw your coach in front of Miss Ashmore’s townhouse.”
