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Yet as more heads bowed together and bodies leaned to the side, her breath quickened and her heart began beating furiously in her chest. Georgiana stood as panic suddenly seized her. The men stood as well, and she mumbled some excuse and forced herself to exit the box as slowly as possible. Not that it mattered much now. She was already a spectacle.
Georgiana entered the hallway, still teeming with guests more interested in socializing than the performance, and headed for the powder room. It was nearly as crowded as the hall, but she took the opportunity to sit before one of the mirrors. By then she had calmed down considerably.
It was just the champagne, you goose, she silently reasoned to her reflection as she applied a bit of powder to her cheeks and checked her hairpins.It always does this to you.
And whathedoes?
Georgiana shook the intrusive thought away and left the room. She had taken only a few steps before someone appeared beside her.
“Lady Arlington.”
She swallowed a curse. “You shouldn’t be here.”
If he were anyone else, she would have sworn hurt briefly flashed in the captain’s eyes before he assumed his usual expression of stern disapproval. “Your brother sent me.”
No, she most certainly had imagined it. He would only come after her if ordered to do so. “Of course he did,” she muttered.
He raised an eyebrow. “And I was also concerned.”
She laughed at his stilted tone. “You don’t evenlikeme,” she blurted out before pressing a hand to her mouth. Perhaps the champagne did still have a hold on her.
Captain Harris did not look amused. He quickly glanced around before he wrapped his hand on her upper arm and pulled her into a darkened alcove. It was slightly more private than the hallway, but not by much. As he loomed over her, his eyes took on an unnatural glow in the dim light. Like a wolf on the hunt.
Georgiana shivered again, but this time it wasn’t from a chill. Quite the opposite. His hand still held her arm, his touch warm and sure. And distressingly familiar, as if he held her this way often. But then he had always felt unaccountably familiar to her.
The heat from his palm slowly sank into her skin and trailed down her arm. She leaned in a little closer, her senses drawn to the heat radiating off him, lapping at her edges. It had been so very long since she had been this close to a man. Even longer since it was a man she actually wanted.
Captain Harris must have read something in her expression that signaled her desire and quickly stepped back. Georgiana felt the loss of his heat immediately and her throat tightened. She was destined to be forever rejected by this man.
“I came tonight because I am concerned for your welfare.”
“A concern that is paid for by my brother.”
This appeared to catch him off guard. He opened his mouth, then promptly closed it. Georgiana’s heart sank. He wouldn’t even try to deny it.
But why would he?
She let out a sigh. “While you and Reggie may think you being here is sending a message, it is also creating gossip. About me.”
Captain Harris lowered his head. “You’re right,” he admitted. “I hadn’t considered that. Again. I suppose I’m not used to being the one who is watched.”
“Really?” Georgiana raised an eyebrow. “You’re one of the most talked about men in the country. You’ve become a regular fixture in the society pages.”
“I never read that rubbish,” he said dismissively.
“That hardly matters, as its existence is not contingent upon your attention. Many people do read them—and are interested inyou.”
His expression turned wary. “I can’t imagine why,” he demurred.
A smile tugged at her lips. This display of humility was unexpectedly charming.
“Some people find heroic actions a source of intrigue,” she said dryly.
Captain Harris gave her an arch look. “Do they?” His voice noticeably deepened, and the words skated across her skin.
She cleared her throat and looked toward the hall, where plenty of people were still milling about. “I should return to my seat,” she said, turning back to him. “I did actually come here for the music, you know.”
“I do,” he said softly.
