The path led back around towards the open doors again, and—in his frustration—Edward stepped off the path and began to look about the rest of the gardens, seeing a small arbor and then a fountain. There did not appear to be any sign of Miss Wells, although there certainly were one or two couples hidden in the shadows.
And then, the sounds of a scuffle met his ears. Hurrying back towards the path, he heard a slight scream and then a shout of pain. His heart turned over as he ran back towards the townhouse, almost running directly into Miss Wells.
“Miss Wells,” he gasped, seeing her half fallen, half sitting on a bench just by the side of the path. “Good gracious, wherever have you been? What happened?”
A gentleman and a lady whom Edward did not recognize hurried towards Miss Wells, their faces lined with concern.
“Oh, do forgive us, Miss Wells,” the lady cried, coming to sit by Miss Wells. “Lord Doncaster and I were so caught up in conversation that we quite forgot you were with us.”
Edward frowned, seeing the way Miss Wells tried to sit up and attempted to reassure the young lady. Even in the dim light, he could see that her face was terribly pale and that her hand was clutching at the side of the bench. He reached for her hand on instinct, grasping it tightly and hunkering down beside her.
“I am quite all right, I assure you,” Miss Wells said breathlessly, her fingers tight on Edward’s as she addressed the young lady. “That gentleman, whomever he was, must have thought that I was someone else entirely.”
The young lady gasped in horror, one hand to her mouth, whilst Lord Doncaster muttered under his breath about what he should like to do to such a fellow.
“I do not think that this needs to be talked about however,” Edward interjected, just as the young lady began to fawn over Miss Wells again. “We should not like to bring any suggestion of wrongdoing onto Miss Wells’ head.”
The young lady gasped again, as though shocked by the suggestion. “Oh, indeed not!” she exclaimed. “You are quite right, my lord.”
Edward looked all about him, his eyes taking in everything. “I do not think that many others have seen what has occurred,” he said by way of reassurance. “Miss Wells, if you would sit here until you regain your strength, then mayhap Lord Doncaster and…” He gestured towards the young lady. “Might you go in search of Miss Wells’ sisters or her mother, Lady Whitehaven?”
“My sister Merry,” Miss Wells said quickly, her voice already sounding a little stronger. “She will be looking for you, but I pray, Miss Smythe, do not send for my mother.”
Miss Smythe, the young lady in question, seemed to understand this at once, giving Miss Wells an encouraging smile. “At once, Miss Wells,” she said, glancing towards Edward. “And you will sit with her, will you not?”
“Of course,” Edward replied, coming to sit by Miss Wells, whilst ensuring that a good distance was kept between them. “And there is a footman approaching, whom I shall hail to stand opposite in order to further ensure Miss Wells’ reputation remains untouched.”
“I shall speak to him as we pass,” Lord Doncaster replied, holding out his arm to Miss Smythe. “Do excuse us, Miss Wells. We shall return as quickly as we can.”
Miss Wells murmured her thanks, holding herself straight as she sat until Miss Smythe and Lord Doncaster turned away. The moment they did so, she slumped, her heart sinking low as she looked down at her hands.
Edward did not know what to do. He could not tell if Miss Wells was crying or if she was merely gathering her strength. The urge to put one arm about her shoulders grew steadily, but with determination, he held himself back.
“I am sorry about that fellow,” he murmured, as the silence grew steadily between them. “He must have been in his cups.”
“It was not as I said to Miss Smythe.”
Edward’s breath caught, his whole body tensing. “What do you mean, Miss Wells?”
She lifted her head and looked at him steadily, her breath shuddering out of her. “I mean, Lord Carroway, that a man attempted to haul me from this path and out into the darker part of the gardens.” She shook violently, her eyes closing for a moment. “I do not know what it was he intended to do, but I am certain that it was not simply to steal a kiss. One hand covered my mouth, but I bit at him hard and he ran from me once I screamed.” Opening her eyes, she looked at him again, showing such courage and fortitude that Edward found himself filled with admiration for her. “And then I saw that you appeared by my side not moments after this man ran from me.”
The question in her voice made Edward wince inwardly, knowing that he would have to confess the truth to her.
“I was seeking you, Miss Wells,” he admitted softly, finding that he was reaching for her hand in the gloom. He rested his fingers upon hers, and after a moment, he felt her take his hand in hers. Something like relief curled up within him, bringing with it a good deal of delight. “I have been watching you this evening in order to ensure that you have been kept quite safe.” Clearing his throat, he looked away feeling shame cover his heart. “Except I lost you after the waltz.”
There was a long silence, and Edward could find nothing more to say, looking back at Miss Wells and seeing her eyes searching his face.
“There was a man,” she whispered. “A man by the house some nights ago.”
“Yes,” Edward said, knowing of what she meant. “He was there to seek you out, I believe.”
Miss Wells’ eyes flared wide. “You were present.”
“I chased him from the house,” Edward replied honestly. “I wanted to discover what it was that he needed from you.”
“And did you discover it?”
“Titania!”