Free Her Impetuous Rakehell by Aileen Fish Page B

paths.”
    “Then we must follow.”
    “I can’t take you away from the crowd. I don’t care if you are unconcerned about your reputation, but I am.” He ran a hand through his hair.
    “You have little choice. If you take me back to Lady Bridgethorpe, you might arrive back here too late to prevent anything. Just the fact of our returning without them will be bad enough.” She looked back the way they’d come. “Lady Hannah mentioned she hoped he would propose tonight. Perhaps that’s the reason he’s sought seclusion.”
    “A man like him doesn’t seek seclusion to do the honorable thing.”
    “Then we must continue searching.”
    Laurence couldn’t hide his astonishment at the girl, but there was no time to think on that. They turned down the first path they reached. Moonlight allowed them to see where they walked, but the trees were in shadow here. Lady Susan pressed closer to his arm as if the darkness frightened her. He placed his hand on top of hers where it rested on his sleeve. “Fear not. I won’t compromise you.”
    She squeezed his arm. “It’s not you I’m worried about. There could be footpads or all sorts of miscreants lurking here.”
    When he noticed a larger shadow than one tree should cast, Laurence slowed. “I believe that’s them. Will you feel safe here while I confront them?”
    “Yes, do what you must.”
    Fully aware he could be interrupting a pair of strangers, Laurence tried to make is footsteps loud enough to carry. He called out, “Lady Hannah? Is that you?”
    She answered with what sounded like a sob.
    “Hannah?” He ran the last few steps.
    Downham ran away in the opposite direction. Laurence was torn between giving chase or helping Hannah, but her quiet sniffle told him which choice was the right one. He gathered her in his arms. “Are you all right?”
    Hannah brought her hand to her neck and nodded. “I am now. Thank you.”
    “Lady Susan, will you come?” he called out.
    “You brought her here? No one must see me like this.” Hannah pulled away and her hands moved to her hair, her bodice, her hair again, then one hand remained pressed against the neckline of her gown.
    “What did he do to you?”
    “Nothing, truly. He tried, and my gown was torn when I pulled away, but what you interrupted was a disagreement, not a seduction.” She sniffled again and wiped one cheek.
    “A disagreement wouldn’t leave you in tears.” Anger burned inside him. His hands shook, itched to punch something. Someone.
    Lady Susan came to Hannah’s side. “You poor dear. You must pull yourself together so we may return to our table and Lady Bridgethorpe won’t suspect anything.”
    Hannah hugged the other girl. “Mama will be so disappointed in me. I should never had allowed Downham to leave the main path.”
    “Did he make an offer?” Lady Susan asked.
    “A request is more what I’d call it. Nothing was said of marriage.” Hannah sniffled.
    “I’m so sorry, you must be heartbroken.”
    Laurence stepped back and let the girls talk. He would swear Lady Susan had joined the crying, as her voice wavered slightly. She seemed to know just what to say to calm Hannah, though. The older girl smoothed Hannah’s hair, adjusted some hairpins, and pronounced her fit for rejoining her mother. How she could see well enough to be certain Laurence wasn’t sure.
    They faced Laurence, and Lady Susan asked, “Shall we continue our walk?”
    He held out each arm and the three of them walked in silence back to the lighted path.
    When he was able to see Hannah more clearly, he cringed, and the urge to pummel Downham surged. A few of the curls had fallen from her hairstyle, making her look thoroughly kissed. The lace on her neckline was torn loose on one side.
    Passersby ogled the three of them and whispered behind their hands. Laurence couldn’t bring Hannah out in the main area looking this way. He remembered Lady Susan wore a shawl and realized what they must do. “Lady Susan, may Lady