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“I….” Victoria shifted and realised she was lying on a chaise in the shop. She eased up onto her elbows, her head pounding and making things tilt. “What happened?”
“You fainted in the street,” came a pleasant-sounding voice from behind her. “My friend here was able to catch you before you ended up sprawled on the pavement. Could have been very nasty, Lady Victoria.”
Where had she heard that voice before? Looking around, Victoria focused on the man leaning against the wall with his arms folded, watching her with a blank expression. For a moment, her heart fluttered at the sight of him. Dressed in a dark green tailcoat and buff trousers, his attire didn’t match his unkempt state.
His hair was curly and unruly, and it looked like it hadn’t been cut in a long time. Same with the beard, which was thick and full on his face. He didn’t look like a regular gentleman in society.
But there was something about him that made Victoria feel lightheaded, and it wasn’t from her current state.
And she had seen him before. He was the one who had stopped her from falling off the cliff when his stupid friend had charged around the corner on his horse and almost lost control.
What was he doing here?
“I…I fainted?”
“You scared me, Victoria!” Lady Selkirk said, although she looked worried as she wrung her hands. “If these gentlemen hadn’t been around to assist….”
“There was no need…” Victoria began, but her mother waved her protest away.
“Darling, if it had been just me, you would still be out in the street. Consider yourself lucky that they were passing by. I’m glad we had some help. Did you hit your head?”
“I….” Victoria frowned. “I don’t think so.”
“I must say, it’s not often a lady falls at my feet,” the bald-headed man said jovially. “I could get used to it.”
Lady Selkirk’s mouth fell open even as she blushed a dark pink.
“That is not something to be amused by Mr Mayfield.”
“My apologies, my lady.” Mr Mayfield got to his feet. “Would you like a glass of water, Lady Victoria?”
“What?”
“Would you like something to drink? You still look a little pale.”
Victoria didn’t know what to say. Her mouth was too dry, and she was still coming to terms with the fact this man almost sent her plummeting to her death, and now he was here being a gentleman. His companion remained where he was, his gaze fixed firmly on her. Victoria didn’t look at him, but she could feel his eyes taking everything in. It was unnerving.
“I’ll go and talk to Mrs Lakewood.” Lady Selkirk headed towards the door. “We can’t have the dress-fitting today if you’re in this state. We’re going to have to arrange for her to come to the house so we can do the fitting.”
“But, Mother, I am perfectly fine….”
Lady Selkirk had already left the room, Mr Mayfield following her out. Then it was just Victoria and the other gentleman. They were in what appeared to be an office, and there wasn’t much room for the two of them. Victoria sat up and swung her feet around, putting them on the floor. She smoothed her skirts down.
“Mother must be in a lot of distress. She would never leave me alone with a man.”
“If you’re worried about me taking advantage of you, don’t. It’s not going to happen.”
He was so blunt about it that Victoria winced. She looked up and glared at him.
“Nice to know you have no manners, which are as unkempt as your appearance.”
He arched an eyebrow at her.
“And you’re just as fiery as you were yesterday. Are you normally so rude to people who stop you from falling over cliffs?”
“Only if they’re a part of me getting there in the first place.”
“I wasn’t the one who lost control of my horse. And I did try to warn my friend.”
