Page 41 of To Steal a Kiss

Nate caught her chin, making her meet his gaze. “You’re all I dream of, Alice. Never doubt it.”

She blinked up at him and then gave a slight shrug. “I’ll try.”

“You must promise me something else, though, darling,” he said, trying not to consider all the horrors that could have befallen her in Covent Garden among the cutpurses and scoundrels. It made his blood run cold even thinking of it. “You must never come here again.”

Her face fell in such dramatic fashion he couldn’t help but laugh, and he pressed a kiss to her nose by way of apology.

“I only mean before we are married. When we’re married,” he said, softening the blow a little. “I can accompany you, but never, ever come here by yourself again. It’s too dangerous for a woman alone. Promise me?”

To his amusement she glowered a little before huffing out words of acknowledgement.

“Very well.”

“Thank you,” he said, so adding, “My heart can’t stand that kind of worry, love. Be gentle with it.”

Once the tour was done, Nate smuggled Alice out of the club and into a waiting hackney.

“Go straight to the house. I’ll follow on in a little while and join you for dinner.”

Alice nodded and gave him a little wave. Nate smiled and closed the door on her, turning to give the driver the address. He watched as the hackney threaded through the bustling streets and tried to breathe. She’d come to him. Shy little Alice Dowding had faced her family’s rage and heaven alone knew what risks to come and find him at his club. Alone. The enormity of that wasn’t lost on him. Whoever had said she lacked courage? Besides his sister, he suspected she was the bravest person he knew.

Chapter 13

The strangest thing happened this morning. I was out shopping with Mama, and I swear I saw Alice walking alone through Covent Garden. Of course, it couldn’t have been. Can you imagine, dear little Alice alone in the big city? How absurd. I don’t know what I was thinking.

―Excerpt of a letter from Miss Ruth Stone to Miss Harriet Stanhope.

The evening of the25th June 1814. Half Moon Street. London.

“Alice!” Matilda beamed at her as she was shown into their elegant parlour. The young woman had the most exquisite taste, Alice thought, as she looked around the room. “How lovely to have your company. Have you had a restful afternoon?”

Alice bit her lip and was quite unable to hold back the fierce blush that scalded her cheeks. Matilda looked at her in surprise and they waited until the footman who’d shown her in closed the door on them.

“Why, Alice, whatever have you been up to?” she asked with a mixture of amusement and alarm as she crossed the room to take Alice’s hands. “You look thoroughly guilt-ridden,” she added, looking her up and down with a frown of consternation.

“I….” Alice began, wondering if it would shock Matilda. “I went to Hunter’s. To see Nate.”

For a moment Matilda just gaped at her, her hand covering her heart in shock. “You… went to Hunter’s. Alone?”

Alice nodded. “I did. I spoke to Nate. He said to tell you he’d be along presently.”

Matilda gestured for Alice to sit and did so herself, apparently too surprised to speak. Alice busied herself with taking off her gloves and avoided Matilda’s scrutiny.

“Why didn’t you ask me to accompany you?” Matilda said, once she’d found her voice again. “You ought never to have gone alone.”

Alice bit back a sigh. She knew that, obviously, but it rankled a little that everyone was so utterly dumbfounded, even though she didn’t know why it bothered her so. Apart from meeting a strange man on a moonlit balcony, it was the most daring thing she’d done in her life. That night had changed her, she realised. She didn’t want to be meek little Alice any longer. She wanted to know who she really was, and what she was capable of.

“I’m quite all right, Matilda,” she said, smiling at her friend. “And I didn’t plan it. I was on my way home and suddenly I… I just had to see him. I can’t explain it. I imagine you think me foolish, when it was only a few hours before he’d be here.”

“No,” Matilda said, shaking her head. Her voice was quiet, and she returned a look of understanding. “No, I don’t think you foolish, but I do think you must take a great deal more care, darling.” She sat forward then, fixing Alice with her gaze. “So, you saw Nate?”

Alice nodded.

“And?”

“And….” Alice shrugged, not entirely sure what to say. “And I asked him to court me, so that I may get to know him a little better before—”

“Before?” Matilda squeaked, sitting up a little straighter.