Earl of Sussex (Wicked Lords of London 0.50)

Tabbie blinked, trying to understand her sudden change in fortune when the man who had been attempting to pull away her reticule, pulled a knife from his waist and waved it at Luke. “That’s enough of that.” He gave Luke a hard eye.

“I disagree,” a man spoke behind her, his voice as hard as stone that had both her and Tricia jumping in the air before they turned. New fear trickled down Tabbie’s back. Who else had joined this menagerie?

He gave a curt nod, to acknowledge her. An elderly looking man, impeccably dressed, he stepped next to her, holding out two pistols. She recognized the Earl of Coventry immediately. “I’ve sent a man to collect The Bow Street Runners. You may as well have a seat, gentlemen.”

Two other men came out the door, Lord Gracon and another. For the first time since this began, a blush heated her cheeks. She’d be ruined for this. As if reading her thoughts, the elderly gentleman turned to Luke. “Take the ladies home. We’ll not speak of this to anyone.”

Grabbing her arm, Luke guided her and Tricia to the now infamous alley where a carriage s

at unattended. Luke opened the door and she and her sister climbed in. “Where did you leave your carriage?”

“The ribbon shop on Regent Street,” she croaked, her voice cracking.

He gave a curt nod and then made to climb in the driver’s seat.

“Luke?” Her voice was desperate, she knew it. She’d made a terrible mistake and she’d have to answer for it.

He gave her a hard look, his usual soft demeanor gone. “What, Tabbie?”

He’d used her given name at least. “I’m so sorry.”

His face softened and he pulled her against his chest, his cheek pressed against her hair. “You frightened me.”

“I know. It was a foolish, silly thing to do.”

“We’ll talk about it later. Right now, let’s get you home.” And then he pulled away and handed her into the carriage. She missed his heat. More than anything she wanted to press close to him where it was warm and safe.

Tricia sat in the seat across from her, eyes as wide as saucers. “He saved us.”

“I am so sorry I put you in that situation.” Tabbie looked at her sister who then launched herself across the carriage and into her arms.

“It’s all right. I understand. I know you are trying to figure out if he is the right man for you, but after all of that, don’t you think you’ll marry him?”

She took a breath, after what she’d put her sister through, she owed Tricia as much of the truth as a sixteen-year-old could hear. “Part of me wants to. He is so handsome and brave. When he looks at me, it is like the sun shining upon me.” Tabbie took a breath. “But I am afraid, after I give myself to him, he will grow tired of this little wallflower, and turn his sights elsewhere.”

Her sister patted her arm. “I know you are afraid. But you won’t know for sure until you give yourself to him.”

She blinked three times. “What?”

“You have to give him your heart to know if he’ll take it and keep it close to his.” Tricia smiled up at her.

Tabbie nodded. For a moment, she thought her sister had been advising her to give Luke her chastity. The trouble with just handing over her heart was that they would be married by the time she would understand if he truly meant to keep it.

But if she gave him her innocence… Well, she’d have a chance to see if, after they were intimate, he turned his eye to another woman.

Her leg twitched under her gown. It was so risky. If discovered, they’d be married. Her father wouldn’t allow her to be ruined.

She pushed down the voice of dissent that told her she was using this as an excuse to be with him without waiting for marriage. He did make her feel things no other man had.

But wouldn’t it be better to know if he’d move on to another woman before she tied herself to him forever?

Chapter 7

Nerves fluttered in her belly as she made her way toward the dance floor. Her trembling hand reached up to adjust the domino mask on her face for the hundredth time in the last half hour.

Luke was late. But rather than irritation, a small smile touched her lips. It was a trait she found endearing rather than annoying, a little window into who he was. A man who rarely followed social convention.

But all the same, she hated these events and it would be so much more bearable by his side…in his arms.