Page 44 of Honor Unbound

The hackney driver opened the door, giving her a concerned look. “Did you fall in?”

“Something like that.” She clasped her elbows. Her fingers touched thick cotton, and she looked down. Burton had draped a towel over her shoulders, covering her bosom. Well, that was one less thing for people to look at, but her gown was damp in other places. She quickly climbed into the carriage, for once enjoying the stifling heat.

Burton followed. He sat across from her, his knees bracketing hers, and took her hands, chafing them gently.

Marie took her first good look at him since the incident. He was without his jacket and neckerchief. His ivory shirt gaped open to mid-chest, exposing a thatch of dark-blond curls.

Marie swallowed. “Do you think it was the man you chased who did this?”

“I don’t know.” His voice was as stony as his face.

She turned her hand over and gripped his. “What’s wrong with you? Why are you acting so…cold?”

“Cold?” A muscle in his jaw ticked. “Cold?” He slammed the side of his fist into the carriage wall.

Marie jumped.

“What I feel now is as far from cold as I have ever been.” He picked up her hands again and dropped his forehead to them. “I almost lost you. Someone held you under water and tried to killyou. And I did nothing. I didn’t catch him, didn’t save you. So while I might not be able to name what it is I’m feeling, trust me when I say that cold is not it. There is a burning ball of rage in my chest that I fear will only disappear when I find the man who did this.”

She looked down at the top of his bare head, her chest going tight. Aside from her parents, she didn’t know that anyone would have cared so much about her life, not even Lady Mary. She squeezed his hands. “You pulled me out of the bath.”

He turned his head, one eye glowering up at her. He looked so peevish she couldn’t help but laugh.

“You fell into a pile of garbage chasing a man in a brown coat, then had to suffer the indignity of a woman saving me instead of you.” Marie clucked her tongue. “You are having a bad day, poor thing.”

He jerked straight. “You’re feeling badly for me? You’re the one half drowned.”

She raised one shoulder, the towel slipping off. “You shared your body’s warmth with me and now I’m only damp.”

His gaze dropped. He swallowed. “Sitting in damp clothes can’t be healthful, either. Perhaps you should take them off.”

Marie slid the towel back into place, but she took her time about it. “You yourself said how unseasonably warm it is today,” she said lightly. “My gown will most likely be dry before we reach Lady Mary’s.” But what if the day weren’t warm? What if she had to snuggle into his heat once more? She’d never been held by a man like Mr. Burton had held her in the bath. She’d been too frightened and cold to truly appreciate it. A pity.

She looked out the window. She had almost died, and yet here she was thinking the silliest thoughts. Something must be wrong with her.

Mr. Burton shook her hands. “It’s over. You’re safe. You will remain safe.” Determination laced his last words.

Yes, she was safe. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Safety, however, didn’t necessarily bring happiness. Lady Mary’s words rang in her mind. Change was uncomfortable. That didn’t mean it didn’t have value. She snuck a glance at Mr. Burton from the corner of her eye. His presence tended to bring her a sort of discomfort. He could make her feel unbalanced. Unsure. But perhaps that wasn’t a misfortune.

Mr. Burton raised her hands, kissed the back of first one, then the other. “However, if you ever require sharing bodily warmth again, I’m always available.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Clothing is optional.”

The muscles in Marie’s body released their tension. He could go from tender to outrageous in a snap of the fingers. Their laughter banished the remaining dark clouds the attack had brought.

Chapter Seventeen

Lady Mary

Istared atthe canning factory, waiting as a line of carts rolled down the street in front of me. “I wonder if he’ll admit to accepting a bribe from Mr. Gray.”

Mr. Burton flexed his hands as he stood next to me. “I’ll make him talk.”

I gave him an assessing look. I had debated whether to bring my under-butler along and I still questioned my decision. Though I would have been hard-pressed to keep Mr. Burton away. After insisting that Marie spend the remainder of the day resting, he’d further insisted on paying Mr. Fenton Hicks a visit. Burton had maintained no one had been following him and Marie until they’d left the home of Mr. Hicks. Burton hadn’t made the accusation outright, but I knew he also blamed the manager for the attack on my maid.

“You said the man you chased wore a brown coat.” A path opened, and we darted across the road. “The woman who saved Marie said the attacker wore black.”

“He could have changed his coat,” Burton growled. He pushed open the office door. It swung inward, bounced off the wall, and careened back. Burton grabbed the edge and pressed it open more slowly.

“Marie will be fine,” I said gently. I’d recognized the look in Mr. Burton’s eyes when he’d brought a damp Marie into the house. A shell of anger covering a lump of fear. “It musthave been terrifying for her, but she’s one of those women who bounce back quickly from adversity.”