Page 58 of An Extraordinary Lord

“Yes,” she bit out angrily, clinging to the sliver of pride she still possessed. “I’m very good at gathering information. Do not doubt that.”

He stiffened at the unexpected change in her. But what did she care if she’d offended him? He was lost to her.

“I’m not doubting you. I know exactly what you’re capable of.” The narrowed look he sent her was a reminder of all he knew about her—rather, all hethoughthe knew. He didn’t know half the truth! “But why would a mistress want to start riots, and where would she find the money to pay the men?”

“I don’t know,” she said in a hoarse whisper, trembling as shivers sailed over her skin. Being this close to him was unbearable, and she needed to leave.Now.“And I don’t care. I’ve done what you’ve asked of me. My role in this is over.”

She hurried away as quickly as she could through the crush of bodies, out of the ballroom and into the circuit of reception rooms that had seemed so magical to her before. Now she recognized them as nothing but hollow fantasy, and they closed in around her until she struggled to breathe.

Desperate for air and heedless of where she was going, she accidentally smacked into a man’s shoulder. She staggered back, mumbled an apology—

“Veronica.” Merritt grasped her elbow from behind to steady her. His mouth lowered to her ear, and she shook from the concern that filled his deep voice. “What is wrong?”

She didn’t dare look over her shoulder at him. “I’m—I’m—” she stuttered. Her mind whirled to latch on to any excuse to flee. “I’m not feeling well.”

“Did something go wrong with Lady Malmesbury?”

More than he’d ever know! Yet she shook her head and lied. “No. I just—I don’t feel well suddenly.” From the way she trembled uncontrollably and the pallor that surely gripped her face, he had no reason to doubt that. “The noise and heat, all the people… I need to leave.”

“Then you shouldn’t be alone. I’ll escort you home.”

She bit back a laugh.Home?She had no home! Not a real one. Fate had taken that from her, too. “I can make my own way.”

Yet the frustrating man didn’t leave her side, keeping his firm hold on her arm and his other hand at the small of her back as he guided her through the party toward the front entrance. “Then I’ll make certain you make your own way safely.”

They reached the entrance hall, and he requested her wrap from the footman, who hurried away to fetch it. An eternity passed until the man returned with the beautiful length of fur and velvet, an eternity in which Merritt stared at her with troubled concern and unwittingly grew the ball of pain that twisted like gnarled metal inside her belly.

When he took the wrap from the footman and placed it over her shoulders himself, she nearly burst out of her skin.

“I don’t need an escort,” she shot sideways to him as he persisted in following her outside into the night and down the wide front steps. Oh, why wouldn’t he leave her alone?

He kept pace with her as she practically ran alongside the line of waiting carriages, out of the courtyard, and into the avenue. “Dressed as you are tonight, yes, you certainly do.”

“It’s just a dress. I’m the same person beneath it as I’ve always been. The same woman who wears leather and steel to patrol the streets.” The truth of that stung.You can take the girl out of Saffron Hill…

“Only if you’ve got a sword hidden up your skirt,” he drawled.

“Wouldn’t you like to find out?” she grumbled.

“Wondering about that did make waltzing with you very intriguing.”

With a frustrated cry, she halted on the footpath just past the wrought iron fence and stared at the seemingly endless line of carriages that snaked out of the courtyard and spilled into all the surrounding streets. Her exasperation boiled over. How was she supposed to find a hackney amid all these? And for heaven’s mercy,whywouldn’t Merritt leave her alone?

She wheeled on him as her anguish bubbled to the surface. “You have to let me go—please.” Her voice choked in a plea for understanding. “I don’t belong here.”

In the darkness, she couldn’t read the emotions that flicked across his face.Thank God.This would be the last time she would ever see him, and she didn’t want her last memory of him to be colored by his pity for her.

“Veronica,” he whispered and reached to touch her cheek. “What is—”

“Major Rivers!” A booming voice rang out.

Merritt spun around to place himself in front of her, and his hand dove to his sleeve and the knife he kept there. But that protective gesture only clawed anguish deeper into her heart.

A large man swaggered down the footpath toward them. As he emerged from the shadows, Veronica saw his blood-red uniform and the glint of medals on his chest.

“YouareMajor Rivers, correct?” the soldier pressed. “Haven’t seen you in two years.”

Merritt relaxed slightly, yet his concern for her remained and was evident in the glance he sent her over his shoulder before greeting the man. “Yes, General, it is.” He held out his hand and corrected, “Or it was. I sold my commission after Waterloo.”