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She took the breath, but couldn’t force her gaze from his chest.
“Another, my sweet.”
She did as he commanded. “I am not your sweet.”
He laughed. “Good. You are feeling better. Now look at me.”
She lifted her gaze to his steady green eyes. “I will not allow you to fall.”
“How can you pre—”
He put a finger over her lips, silencing her. “I simply will not allow it.” His hands slid down her arms and closed on hers. His skin felt warm and his hands covered her small cold ones. Gently, he tugged her forward, walking backward toward the stovepipe he had pointed out earlier. The man truly had no fear.
When they reached the pipe, he pointed over the edge of the roof. Honoria’s stomach lurched when she looked down, but she took another deep breath.
“Do you see the ledge?”
It was a wide ledge, almost a balcony, except it had no railing. “Yes. There is some sort of wire on it.”
“Yes, a coil of wire. Avoid it. Climb down and scoot around it. You should be able to reach the drain pipe.”
“Climb...” Her teeth began to chatter, and her whole body shook.
Montagne took her by the shoulders and turned her so her back was to the drop. “Down on your knees,” he ordered. “Hurry, now my sweet.”
She got to her knees before him.
“Climb down backward, like a child learning to navigate the stairs. I’ll be right behind you.”
Shaking and all but panting, she scooted back until her feet touched air. Then she lowered to her belly and pushed off the side, holding on until she felt the wall of the building with her feet. Her hands, slippery with sweat tinged with blood, slid down until she held on to the edge of the roof. A quick look down showed her the ledge was just an inch or so beneath her feet. It also showed her the street below was much further.
Finger by finger, Honoria released the roof and slid onto the ledge. She pressed herself against it, hugging the building as tightly as she could. A moment later, Montagne dropped beside her. She sobbed his name, and he put a finger to his lips. Dipping close to her, he whispered in her ear, “They’re climbing out the window. We have to be quiet.”
His hand rested on her back, and she needed the security of his touch.
Then his breath was on her ear again. “The drainpipe is just past the wire, on the side of the building. Take hold of it and scoot down. You’ll reach the side yard of the house. No one should see you there.”
“You go first,” she told him, unwilling to release the wall.
He paused and she thought he would object, but then he let out a breath. “I’m heavier than you, so it probably is best if I go first. Promise me you will follow directly.”
She nodded.
“Honoria. Promise me.”
“Fine. I promise.”
He lifted her chin with a finger. “If you don’t come down, you force me to come up after you. I won’t leave you here.”
She stared into his eyes. “Why not?”
He locked his gaze on hers, and for a moment her stomach flip-flopped, not due to the height, but because of the way he looked at her. “Because I need you to forge those documents.”
She almost laughed. She was still a little fool. Had she actually believed he might say that he cared about her?
“Watch me and do what I do.” He moved around her, maneuvering skillfully around the large bale of wire. Then, pressing his body against the wall of the building, he put one hand, then one foot on the side, presumably hooked around the drainpipe. He made an adjustment and then released the wall. Honoria scooted over and looked down. The marquis looked up at her from the drainpipe, his mouth curved in a grin.
The man actually seemed to be enjoying himself.
