He brushed that away too.
“There,” he murmured.
Her eyes lifted to his then.
And then—far too knowing—her gaze dropped deliberately to the front of his trousers.
Ah. Well.
Gideon couldn’t bring himself to regret it.
Not with Beatrice looking at him like that.
Not when what had happened between them felt less sordid than sacred.
Her lips parted slightly, and for one terrible moment, he thought she might apologize.
Instead, she reached up and adjusted the front of his jacket. Smoothed one lapel. Tugged his cravat back into place.
A futile effort, perhaps. But a tender one.
And somehow that made it infinitely worse. Or better.
God, he no longer knew.
Her fingers lingered, oh, so briefly, against his chest before withdrawing.
When she looked up again, dignity had returned to her expression. Fragile, perhaps. But present.
“We ought to continue our walk,” she said with remarkable composure.
Gideon stared at her for half a heartbeat longer before offering his arm once more.
“Yes,” he said roughly. “We ought.”
She placed her hand on his sleeve again, and together they returned to the path beneath the trees.
For a little while, they only listened to their footsteps.
It was Gideon who finally broke the silence.
“I wish to speak about last night.”
Beatrice’s expression shifted almost immediately. Some of the softness faded, replaced by caution.
“What happened below the theater,” he clarified gently.
“You startled me.” She kept her gaze forward. “And you said you want me to protect myself.”
“I know. And I do. But...” Gideon kept his voice calm. He had replayed the scene over and over through the night. “You were angry. And not merely angry. You were…” He exhaled lightly. “Out of yourself.”
“I was using what I learned. From the lessons.”
“The lessons taught you escape.” Gideon slowed slightly beside her, turning to stare at her profile. “When I caught hold of you, you stayed. And you fought.” At that, her shoulders stiffened.
“You did not know it was me,” he said quietly. “Even after I called your name.”
She shook her head. “I did.”
