Free Kiss the Earl by Gina Lamm Page B

time for us to depart.”
    He heard a grumble from above, something that sounded suspiciously like a threat to jump down on his big fat head. Patrick fought the curl of his mouth as he looked up at her.
    â€œI have you. Let yourself down slowly.”
    â€œI can’t. I’m afraid of heights and my arms are stretched as far as they can go.”
    He blew out an exasperated breath. “Then grip the bricks on the outside of the window. They held my weight; they will surely hold yours. Trust me.”
    â€œUm, okay.”
    Patrick stole another glance toward the stables as a horse whinnied. He’d arranged for a carriage to be waiting for him and Amelia to take them to Gretna Green. He and Miss Briley would simply have to use it to locate his friend instead. Patrick shook his head. Of all the harebrained schemes for him to have agreed to—
    â€œOof!”
    He blinked up at the gray clouds for several seconds not realizing why, exactly, they seemed to be spinning around like trained monkeys at Astley’s. A warm, soft weight was pressing him down into the earth, and when he could open his eyes, he looked down.
    A pair of very shapely legs seemed to be straddling his torso, blue gown racked up much higher than was decent. A groan came from somewhere near his knees.
    â€œI told you it was too high, Patrick.”
    His voice was more grunt than anything else. “So you did. Are you hurt?”
    â€œJust kind of winded. You broke my fall.”
    â€œExcellent.”
    He really shouldn’t take advantage of the view their indelicate position afforded him, not as a gentleman. But really, what could he do? Not a damned thing until she clambered off him, which she finally did, hobbling on her apparently still-painful feet.
    â€œAre you okay?”
    He rose, knocking as much dirt as possible off his clothing. “I am uninjured. Do not worry.”
    â€œSorry about that. I slipped.”
    â€œNo matter.” And it didn’t matter. Not really. He was fine, she was fine, and now they must depart before someone noticed.
    Patrick pulled his father’s gold watch from his waistcoat pocket and flipped it open. The stones surrounding the face caught every weak beam of light, making the jewels gleam. Half seven. They must make haste.
    â€œNice watch,” Ella said in a dry tone. “Did you BeDazzle it yourself?”
    â€œI beg your pardon?”
    She shook her head as he tucked it away.
    â€œCome with me. We must hurry.”
    She slipped her hand into his as they hurried toward the stables. He started to pull away, but before he could, he glanced at the bright-blue paint on her fingernails and remembered.
    He could not abandon her. If her story was true, she’d come into contact with a force that he remembered all too well. She needed comfort, more than likely, and it was his responsibility.
    So, for that reason, he laced his fingers through hers and kept her close to his side as they rounded the back of the large stable where the carriages were kept.
    â€œDamn,” Patrick swore in a low whisper as he ducked back behind the corner, praying he hadn’t been seen.
    â€œWhat is it?” Ella’s whisper was much too close to his ear.
    â€œThere’s a man watching the coach. One of Brownstone’s. We won’t be able to use it.”
    â€œThen how are we going to get out of here?” Her eyes were wide, worried. For some reason, he longed to reach out, touch her cheek, comfort her.
    He didn’t.
    â€œCome on. We’ll hire horses. It will be much faster, in any case.”
    â€œHor-ses?”
    He left her alone on the side of the stables as he conducted a hushed conversation with the stable lad. He had to pay quite a bit to ensure the man’s silence on the matter, and a good bit more to hasten his movements. But the man was as good as his word, and within minutes he had two horses saddled and waiting.
    Patrick went around the corner to