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His hand circled the back of her neck, forcing her nearer to him. Heat radiated downward from his kiss. She moved her hands toward his cravat, only to have him grip her wrists so she couldn’t move. Feeling his erection, she rubbed herself against him.
With a groan, he pulled away. “Stand up,” he ordered roughly.
Assuming he wanted her to undress for him, she did as he requested. She attempted to reach the buttons on the back of her dress but was unable to grasp even one.
“Would you mind?” she asked as she turned her back.
The chair squeaked as he rose. “As a matter of fact, I do mind.”
He swung her around to face him. Sophie cringed as she noticed the anger emanating from his entire body.
“Don’t ever come to my house and play games like this again. I told you I have no choice but to go to this ball tonight. Your attempts at seduction won’t change my mind.”
Sophie blinked back the tears that flooded her eyes. Humiliation swept over her. She couldn’t ever remember feeling so foolish. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
He walked to the door and called for a footman. “See that Miss Reynard gets home safely.”
“Nicholas, wait!”
He paused for a moment before turning back to her. “What is it now?”
“I fear you may be in peril. Your life may be at risk if you go tonight.”
“I highly doubt Miss Littlebury is a killer.” He turned back toward the door and muttered, “Good evening, Miss Reynard.”
Nicholas watched with only a speck of regret as Sophie left the house. Turning her away had been the hardest thing he had ever done. But he couldn’t live his life around her intuitions—good or bad.
He patted his waistcoat to make certain the note to Lord Middleton was still there. Once he delivered the message, he would return and explain things to Sophie. She should understand that he had promised his father he would deliver the note tonight.
As he left the house, her words of warning wouldn’t leave him. He knew of no one who wanted him dead. While he had a cousin who would inherit the title should something happen to him, Peter never seemed the type who wanted to be duke. And why would Sophie connect Miss Littlebury to this? It made no sense.
Lord Middleton’s daughters were all married so Nicholas doubted this could be any type of attempt at finding him in a compromising position. So if not that, then what would cause Sophie’s reaction? He scarcely knew Miss Littlebury, but doubted the shy, retiring woman had any desire to become his wife.
Once he arrived at the ball, he waited for his official announcement before walking slowly through the crush. He asked a footman to give a note to Lord Middleton to meet Nicholas in the study at ten. Then he nodded to several acquaintances before finding Somerton who stood against a pillar watching the dancing.
“Good evening, Somerton,” he said as he approached his old friend.
“Nicholas,” Somerton said with a nod. “What brings you here?”
“Business for my father.”
“I was sent a note this evening stating that if you attended this ball, I was to watch your back.” Somerton sipped his whisky. “Any particular reason your back might need watching?”
“I have no idea. Some intuition nonsense.” Nicholas grabbed a glass of wine from a passing footman.
“It’s rarely nonsense,” Somerton retorted. “She tends to get it right most of the time.”
“Nonetheless, today she is wrong. I am only here to give a missive to Lord Middleton and then I intend to leave.” And then he would return to her home and apologize for getting angry with her.
Somerton smirked. “Sounds simple enough. Still, I believe I shall take her advice and watch your back.”
Nicholas shook his head. “I am to meet him at ten in his study. Alone.”
“Then we shall get there early and make certain the room is empty. And I will stand guard so only Lord Middleton enters the room.”
Nicholas blew out a breath. “As you wish.”
With a few minutes left before he needed to be in the study, Nicholas watched the couples dancing. Swirls of pale silks blended with the men’s darker clothing in the flickering candlelight. A stab of envy punctured him. He wanted to be on the dance floor with Sophie in his arms.
