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“It is not your place to fight my battles,” she said hoarsely. “Your temper must not be so quick and volatile.”
He rounded on her, his eyes flashing. “Who then?”
She gripped the edges of her gown. “What?”
“This bounder dared accost you like this because he believes you are alone and powerless. Do you have a father or a brother to defend your honor?”
Something ugly and painful stabbed at her heart, and she stuffed a gloved fist against her mouth. It took precious seconds before she could reply. “No, I have only myself…and my aunt to defend my honor if it is needed.”
“Then do not scold me for my actions.”
“You could have started another terrible scandal, and your family would be embroiled…”
He slashed his hands in a furious gesture, and her words trailed away. Despite the ugliness of the situation, there was a sweet feeling coursing through Mina. He had defended her honor without question. She had never had anyone but her aunt who had believed in her in such a manner. When it came to his family, Colin Fairbanks was loyal and protective to a fault. Had he somehow included her into his family? Oh, God, do not dream foolishly, Mina, she silently reminded herself.
Colin came over to her, cupping her chin between his hands. It was then she noted he wore no gloves. The warmth of his fingers against her skin sent wild pulses through her heart and down low in her belly. “Thank you for only punching him.”
“You said there should be no duels; and, although it confounds me, I find that what you want also matters greatly to me.”
Their eyes met and there was something fierce and complicated in his stare, and she felt it reflected inside her heart. What he wanted mattered greatly to her as well, but she did not voice it.
“Are you hurt?” he murmured.
“No.”
He lowered his hands. “The sleeve of your dress is torn.”
With a gasp she glanced down. When had that happened? “I…I am not sure what came over Lord Newell.” Yet she recalled another frightening evening when he had behaved in even a more beastly way.
“Do you know him?”
Fright constricted around her throat. “I…”
Colin patiently waited.
“I am not a lightskirt.”
“Only a bacon-brained fool would use such a word to describe a woman who is so confident in her sexuality.” His thumb swiped over her lower lip. “I never thought you were one. You are far too priggish.”
Mina huffed and he smiled, a smile that was altogether too charming.
“Your knuckles are bleeding.”
“I tore them on his teeth; I never expected them to be that sharp, but then he is a damnable hyena, isn’t he?”
“I should clean them for you,” she murmured, hating that her throat ached and was perilously close to tears. Mina did not understand why everything felt so out of sorts or why her heart continued to beat so fiercely still. Impulsively, she stood on tiptoe and brushed her mouth lightly and quickly across his jaw, clearly shocking them both with her actions.
Fighting the heat crawling up her neck, she said, “I do not know why you came out when you did—”
“I was following you.”
“Not very gentlemanly to admit it.”
“I thought we agreed I was a loveable rogue.”
“Evidently even the lovable ones need taming.”
His eyes glittered in the darkness. “Ah, my sweet, is that an invitation?”
