She looked over at Sin. “I’ll do my best. And I mean that.” She bent down. “Women need to protect little girls.”
Exile pulled her back up to standing, his large hand gentle under her elbow. “Yer sisters and yer cousins, they’d protect ye no matter what.”
She flushed. She knew what he was referring to. Her secret. The one she hadn’t shared because it filled her with shame. She looked over at him, her heart beating wildly again. She did love him. She ached with it. And while he’d confessed his feelings for her, he hadn’t made any sort of commitment. Diana didn’t blame him but what she wanted to do tonight, this was her penance, she supposed.
“Of course we would,” Minnie answered. “Which is why I want to go in Diana’s place. She’s been in enough danger for one night.”
“No.” Daring replied before Exile could. “Absolutely not.”
“Besides.” Diana reached over and touched a lock of Minnie’s hair. “You’ll never pass for me with that wild mane.”
Minnie clucked her tongue. “Don’t be silly. I’ll wear a cloak.”
But it was Exile who answered. “Diana will go.” Then he turned to her. “But only if ye let me come too.”
She could only nod, the words sticking in her throat. He did care about her and he understood her too. She suddenly didn’t care about whether or not he proposed marriage. This man was everything to her.
“I ken ye’re strong.” He raised his hand to her lips, giving the back a light kiss. “But promise ye’ll hide behind me if ye need to.”
Her mouth opened and then closed. “I will.” Some of the tension relaxed out of her shoulders. Odd since she was about to go into the most dangerous situation in her life. But Callum knew her strengths, her weaknesses, her greatest secret. She could just be herself with him, and she loved who she was when he was around. “And Callum…”
“Yes?” he whispered.
“I love you, too.” The future didn’t matter to her in this moment. Her feelings were what was important.
Without another word, he leaned down and kissed her. Minnie gasped, but Callum paid her no mind.
It was a short kiss but somehow full of the emotion passing freely between them. Then he raised his head. She stared up into his eyes. “I can’t believe you just did that.”
“Believe it,” he answered, cupping her cheek. “I’ll take Sin’s place. The only challenge is that she might spot either Vice or myself and then the jig is up.”
Diana twisted her mouth. “Let’s hope Bad and Vice can find the driver. His cloak would really come in handy.”
“We didn’t find him but we located a cloak exactly where Diana said it would be next to a pool of blood,” Bad called from the terrace doors. “Lady Diana, remind me not to anger you.”
Diana frowned at the cloth in Band’s hand. Was that the cloak? She’d only seen it and the man for a second before she’d knocked him with the stick. It would have to do. “Well, we’ve got the cloak at least.”
Daring cleared his throat.
Diana shivered and Callum pulled her closer. The man had a point. She’d just had everyone agree to a terribly dangerous plan. “I suppose I shouldn’t change. I rather look like I’ve been kidnapped.”
“I want to go too,” Sin said from his seat on the bench.
“What?” Daring turned to him. “Out of the question.”
“Please,” he begged. “I swear on all that I hold dear that I will help you. I should have come to you to begin with instead of going along with Abernath’s plan. I can pretend to take Diana to her and then she won’t be as suspicious. Exile can be in the carriage too. I’ll get my daughter and Exile can spring out and capture Abernath.”
Vice curled his lip. “You’ve lied to your own flesh and blood and tried to hurt someone we care about.”
Sin looked up at his cousin. “It’s Anne. Vice, please. After my wife’s death, she’s all I have. If something happened to her…” his face crumpled.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Vice grabbed Sin by the shirt.
Sin swallowed his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “I was afraid.”
Diana, deep in her heart, believed him. “We’ve all made mistakes.” Then she touched Callum’s shoulder. “I think it’s time we forgive ourselves, don’t you?”
He gave a stiff nod. “I hope ye’re right to trust him.”