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William made his way toward the side entrance using another stone path, so she did not detect his presence. Upon spying a footman, he beckoned him over. “My good man, procure me a bucket of ice and then discreetly set it by the stone bench by the maze.”
The servant nodded and beamed with pleasure when William tossed him a sovereign. He returned to the outrageous chit, almost laughing to see her gripping the viscount by the foot and tugging him with her strength. The man did not budge. With a huff, she dropped his foot with athunk.
“Have you ascertained he is really dead?”
A muffled shriek left her as she spun around to face him, stumbling back in her alarm.Bloody hell. She was…indescribably lovely. William’s heart kicked with a powerful lurch inside the cage of his chest, and he smoothed his expression into indifference.
“You startled me, sir!” she gasped, pressing a hand over her breast.
“I admit I could have been more obvious in my approach,” William murmured.
Her gaze roved over him as she took in the detail of his appearance. The soft hollow of her throat jerked, and he gathered her pulse was racing. She had a petite, dark-haired, wild beauty that would not resound with many who only considered those with pale hair and cherub rosy cheeks beautiful. Her eyes were the loveliest shade of blue…almost like lavender. She was also younger than he had first surmised. Her face was delicately carved, her mouth full, her nose dainty. Her hair was a rich, raven black twisted in an elegant chignon with loose tendrils softening her face. This chit could not possibly be over eighteen years.
A cold rage filled him when he recalled her accusation against the viscount.The damn blackguard. William then considered how his presence might seem to her, given he was larger and broader than the viscount, and they were very much alone in the secluded gardens. He took a careful step back. “It was not my intention to frighten you. I merely thought you might want help to hide the body.”
Her eyes widened so much he thought she might faint.
“Come now,” he murmured with some amusement darting through his chest, “You were so magnificent and defiant earlier. Never say you are about to faint now.Tsk.”
Her eyes accurately flicked to the darkened alcove to the side, and then the prettiest blush pinkened her cheeks. “Youeavesdropped, sir,” she said accusingly.
“Oh?”
“A gentleman would have removed himself the instant he happened upon a private meeting.”
“I’ve been sitting here for at least an hour, my good lady. I believe it was you who intruded on my privacy.”
She stared at him as if undecided. “May I ask who you are?”
He dipped into a brief bow. “Marquess of Trent at your service.”
She immediately dipped into a curtsy, and William could see the increase in the wild fluttering of her pulse at the hollow of her throat. How truly delicate…even ethereal she appeared. Astonishing that she had felled a man the size of the viscount and had done it with such admirable ease.
“My lord, I implore you to be discreet about what you…overheard and witnessed.”
“Of course.”
Relief softened her stance. “Thank you, my lord!”
“I do mean to help you get rid of the body. We can call this mutually assured discretion. Should I tell anyone after the fact, I would be a clear accomplice.”
A startled sound escaped her. “You would help me?”
“Yes.”
“There is no hesitation in you, my lord,” she said with a small frown.
William allowed a small smile to touch his mouth. “I am a generous man.”
She scoffed. “Does this generosity come without strings?”
“I have three younger sisters. I would hope should they so spectacularly defeat a dishonorable bounder and kill him in the process, someone would be kind enough to help them discard the bounder’s body and not call the proper authorities.”
“You thought it was a spectacular defeat?”
That was the last thing he expected from her. “You were brilliant.”
Her lips parted on a wordless sigh, and she stared at him. William said nothing, merely returned her regard, wondering at the insistent stirring in his gut. He did not engage with young chits like her—those who radiated sweet innocence and dreamed only of wedding alliances when they met a gentleman. He ruthlessly avoided those feverishly marriage-minded young ladies, for William owned no interest in marriage. Most of his relationships were with older ladies who were well-versed in romantic liaisons and discreet affairs. They understood what he had to offer, and he understood what they were willing to give.
