Leonora’s mouth felt dry as she stared at him. Could it have been him? Had he been the one to attack her the night of the masquerade? Had he sent her notebook back to her after she had refused his kiss? Was he not the man she had thought him to be?
For a long moment, he simply looked at her, confusion etched into his eyes and a measure of uncertainty upon his face. “Perhaps I better go fetch one of your sisters,” he said abruptly, taking a few steps away and toward the terrace doors. “You seem deeply upset.”
“Wait!” Leonora called, surprising him as much as herself. Yes, she could no longer bear this uncertainty. It had been her constant companion these last few months, and she needed it to end.
Drawing to a halt, Lord Sedgwick turned back to look at her.
Gritting her teeth, Leonora fought to remain in control. “I need to ask you something,” she willed herself to say, balling her hands more tightly to stave off the jitters that had seized her. “Was it you?”
His brows drew down even farther, a deeply puzzled look coming to his face. “Pardon me, my lady?”
Leonora’s fingernails dug into her palms. “I…I lost my notebook,” she said, reminding herself that if it had not been him, she ought not reveal too many details. After all, if the truth came out, she would be ruined. “Were you the one…who sent it back to me?”
“Your notebook?” Watching her, he shook his head, the look in his eyes suggesting that he did not know what she was speaking off. “What notebook? I’m afraid I don’t quite know what you—” He broke off; then a measure of understanding came to his face. “Oh, yes. I do remember now. You used to carry a notebook around with you, did you not?”
Leonora nodded, her arms moving to cross in front of her chest.
“I have not seen you with it in a while,” he continued on, his posture more relaxed now. “You lost it?” He shook his head. “No, I’m afraid it was not me. But I’m glad to hear that you were able to recover it.” For a moment, he looked at her, perhaps waiting for her to reply. When she did not, he swallowed, something contemplative coming to his eyes. “I actually came out here to apologize.”
Leonora tensed, not certain what to make of him. The look upon his face seemed sincere; yet, she no longer trusted her own judgment in this regard. “Apologize? What for?” Indeed, she could not imagine the man who had attacked her the night of the masquerade to simply step forward and apologize for doing so.
Lord Sedgwick inhaled a deep breath. “For the day I called upon you.” Something resembling remorse darkened his eyes. “The day we walked in the gardens of your father’s townhouse.” He swallowed hard. “The day I tried to steal a kiss.”
Leonora backed away until she felt the hard stone balustrade cut into her lower back.
Lord Sedgwick lifted his hands in a placating manner. “Please do not be afraid. I know I overstepped, and I came here to apologize. I am most deeply aggrieved to have acted in such a callous way. You have nothing to fear from me, my lady. That is what I came here to say.”
Leonora stared at him, still uncertain what to believe.
Giving a quick nod, Lord Sedgwick retreated his steps. “I better go fetch someone. You look awfully pale, my lady.” He turned and stepped toward the door, which flew open in that moment, revealing Louisa as well as her husband hastening toward her.
“Leo? Are you all right?” Quick steps carried Louisa forward, her eyes wide and fearful.
“What happened here?” Phineas snarled as he blocked Lord Sedgwick’s path. “What did you do?”
“I’m fine,” Leonora stammered as her sister’s arms wrapped around her. “Truly, I’m fine.” She glanced at Phineas and Lord Sedgwick. The young man seemed completely taken aback, eyeing Phineas with a hint of caution. “It wasn’t him.” She shook her head, then turned to look at Phineas. “It wasn’t him.”
Why she had come to believe so, Leonora did not know. There’d been something truthful in the way he had spoken, and Leonora desperately wanted to trust her judgment. She wanted to be able to put her faith in people based on what she saw and felt. She wanted to trust herself again.
With a gruff nod, Phineas told Lord Sedgwick to leave. He cast her a last glance, then took his leave, no doubt confused about what had happened here tonight.
Leonora looked after him, and as he stepped away, she saw Drake standing not far from the terrace doors, hands balled into fists and eyes narrowed, deep concern in them as they looked into hers.
Chapter Thirty-Two
The Threat of Another
After alerting Phineas and his wife to the scene on the terrace, Drake forced himself to remain behind. After all, it was a family matter and he did not wish to draw unwanted attention. Leonora was on edge enough without more people’s eyes drawn to her.
Yet, he could not help himself. He stayed close by and watched as Phineas turned dangerous eyes upon Lord Sedgwick. The young man flinched ever so slightly, and Drake wished he could hear what was spoken.
To his surprise, Phineas soon after dismissed Sedgwick, who retreated back inside, a look of confusion upon his face.
Drake redirected his gaze out the terrace doors where it clashed with Leonora’s, the force of it almost making him rock back on his heels. It was the strangest sensation, and though he had felt it before, he was not prepared for it.
He could feel her even from far away, her thoughts and emotions so visible in her wide blue eyes. It was almost as though he could read her thoughts, wondering if he was mistaken when he saw her all but beckoning him forward. Did she want him by her side? Even though her sister was pulling her into her arms, Leonora still wished for him to come to her? Was she so afraid? Or…was there another reason?
Moving into the still open door, Phineas beckoned to him, and Drake strode forward without another thought. He stepped outside and then closed the door, the chilled night air swirling around him, seeking to cool the burning rage in his veins. “What happened?” he asked looking at his old friend.
Phineas shook his head. “I don’t know. She said it wasn’t him.” Both strode over to the two sisters, holding each other tightly. Phineas stepped up to his wife and placed a hand on her shoulder. Drake wished he could do the same with Leonora. Her eyes still held his, all but oblivious to the other two with them.
“Leo, what happened? What did Lord Sedgwick want?” her sister asked, giving Leonora a bit of a shake to jar her out of her trance.
Leonora blinked, momentarily taken aback before her gaze cleared. “He…he only wished to apologize for…”
“For what?” Drake growled, feeling his blood begin to boil again. His gaze burned into Leonora’s and he barely noticed the curious glances his friend cast in his direction.
Leonora shook her head, her eyes full of memories. “Not that,” she stammered, her voice trembling with the effort to speak. “For…for that…that kiss.”
Drake inhaled a sharp breath, unable to block the memory of what he had overheard.
Phineas nodded, his posture still tense. “And you’re certain it wasn’t him at the masquerade?” he asked Leonora before exchanging a concerned look with his wife.