Chapter Seven #2
Time seemed to pass too quickly, and soon, he was cleaned up and inside his father’s jewelry store.
Out of all the stores his father owned, this one would eventually become Wayne’s.
His father promised that Wayne could take control of this store once his Bow Street days were over.
Although this was his inheritance, he didn’t want the humdrum life. He enjoyed being a Runner.
As the minutes ticked by, Wayne became restless.
He paced the floor, wringing his hands in utter frustration as guilt grew inside him.
Why had he asked Regina to meet him in private?
Mistake number one! He could have just met her behind the hedges of the Meyers estate after leaving earlier today.
The earl had a grand backyard, and Wayne was certain nobody would see them meet there.
So, why did he want to meet at his father’s store?
The simple truth was that Wayne’s body and mind still experienced everything that had happened between him and Regina.
Earlier today in the coach, while waiting for Harold, Wayne had enjoyed sitting so close to her with his arm around her shoulders.
He enjoyed gazing into her amazing eyes and feeling himself sink with every breath.
However, he needed to determine if this effect was from the poison or if the lovely woman made him feel this way. He had never taken opium, but from the things he had heard, not once had people said it had stayed on their mind all day. He realized it had almost been twenty-four hours now.
He stopped pacing long enough to peer out the front window.
The drapes had been closed, but he pulled back the material just enough to look outside.
Being this late at night, the street was empty, and an occasional carriage passed on the road.
The light sprinkle of rain and cooler temperatures also helped keep people at home or at their nightly functions, and he prayed it wouldn’t keep Regina from coming.
Finally, a horse and rider trotted under the streetlamp not far from the shop. The rider wore a fur-lined hooded cloak and gloves. Immediately, he lost his breath.
She was here!
*
Why am I doing this?
Regina’s heartbeat hammered so fast it violently shook her body. How could she rein in this out-of-control feeling rushing over her? Answers were what she sought, and yet how could she do anything if she acted this way in front of him?
And to make it worse, she had changed into a different gown for tonight’s meeting.
She had chosen a baby-blue dress with white trimmings and overskirt.
The white sleeves hung slightly on her shoulders, but she wore her elbow-length white gloves so that her arms were completely bare.
She finished her accessories by wearing the pearl choker her grandmother had given her when Regina had her coming-out ball a few years ago.
Her maid had styled her hair, pulling back most of it into a loose coil at the back of her neck, but left a thick, curly lock to hang over her shoulder.
Regina didn’t know why—she hadn’t even dressed this nicely for the ball last night.
Yet she’d gone the extra mile to make certain she appeared elegant tonight.
She should turn her horse around and return home. If she had a lick of sense, she would. After all, she had escaped from being caught in a scandal last night, only to tempt fate once again this evening. Indeed, she had no sense at all.
Perhaps her need for answers was more important. She hated to believe it was the handsome man with the melting kisses that she had come to see.
She guided her horse to the back of the jewelry store. It surprised her to know that Wayne’s father owned this place, only because she knew how well business was, and to think there were three other stores in Britain—perhaps Wayne Worthington wasn’t as poor as she first thought.
She dismounted and tied her horse to the post before hurrying to the back door.
With a trembling hand, she knocked. Wayne opened the door seconds later.
She quickly walked inside before she changed her mind, even though she doubted that was an option at all, since she continued to go forward with this soon-to-be scandal.
Wayne closed the door and motioned toward the corridor. “There is more light up front if you would rather talk there.”
She nodded and walked toward the light. Although he was correct, the light still wasn’t as bright as she would have liked. However, she was certain he was trying to keep the scandal from happening.
She licked her dry lips and turned toward him, lowering the hood of her cloak.
He stepped closer to her and helped her remove the garment.
Although there was no fire in the hearth, the coals were still red, which helped keep warmth in the room, which was what her garment needed, since the weather had decided to sprinkle after she was well on her way.
“Why don’t you place my cloak over there?” She pointed toward the hearth.
“Indeed. We must keep your garment warm and dry.” He gave her a smile before leaving her side to stand by the hearth as he adjusted her outer garment on a nearby chair.
She gazed at his attire, realizing he had also prepared for their meeting tonight.
He looked dapper in his gray suit jacket, waistcoat, and trousers.
The white of his cravat made his skin appear as if the sun had baked it.
She loved the way his dark hair waved back on his head, not leaving anything to hide his incredibly handsome face.
He finally faced Regina, and his gaze moved slowly over her. It was a struggle not to lose her breath or sigh heavily with pleasure. She wished she wouldn’t enjoy the way he studied her, and especially the way her body reacted so quickly.
He took one step closer and stopped. “I’m glad you came.”
She shrugged. “I had no other choice. Either I come and get some answers or remain at home feeling as though I’m insane.”
“Indeed. This whole incident has been very confusing for both of us.”
He was too close. Putting space between them was what she needed right now. She stepped to the hearth and stopped near her cloak. “I hope you can provide me an explanation of last night.”
Wayne leaned back against the jewelry counter, crossing one ankle over the other. He held on to the ledge of the counter, drumming his fingers on the wooden frame. “I’ll do my best to answer your questions.”
“This afternoon, you made it sound as though you didn’t remember much.”
His wide shoulders drooped as he released a sigh. “That is correct. I only recall moments from when we were in the coach. I don’t even recall leaving the tavern where the earl had taken us.”
Regina frowned. “Jane’s father took you to a low-down tavern? That’s odd.” She shook her head, knowing that didn’t have anything to do with the matter at hand. “However, earlier today, you mentioned that it was too coincidental. What did you mean?”
Wayne shifted, crossing his arms over his wide chest. “When I asked you about getting intoxicated, you said you hadn’t. The truth is, I didn’t either, especially so badly that I don’t recall what happened the night before. I had only one drink at the tavern before my thoughts became foggy.”
She shook her head, remembering how she had felt dizziness entering her head, too. “I wish more things made sense. I, too, couldn’t think straight, and I had only one glass of wine. How can one get intoxicated on only one drink?”
“I don’t believe we were drunk. I think we were poisoned, but not enough to kill us.”
She kept silent as she allowed his comment to process in her head. Poisoned? Impossible, since they were both in different places and yet suffered the same effects. Perhaps he was foxed now, because his answer was ridiculous, and she couldn’t stop the laugh that sprang from her throat.
He scowled. “I don’t see the humor in this, Regina.”
“Forgive me,” she said, trying to keep a straight face.
“However, your theory doesn’t make sense.
How could we have been poisoned? And why?
You were with the earl, and Harold is a very influential lord.
Not only that, but you will soon be his son-in-law.
Harold is a man who protects his family.
He would have made certain that nobody caused harm to come to his family and friends. ”
Wayne straightened. “Then can you tell me why I woke up this morning with a scattered memory? I felt fine when I arrived at the tavern with Lord Penrose, and not long afterward, I apparently walked out of the establishment and came home. Then I somehow ended up at the Montagues’ ball, but I don’t recall doing that, either. ”
She shrugged. “I don’t know.” Immediately, she recalled something he had said, and all humor left her. “Wayne? Do you honestly believe I was poisoned, too? Is that why you said this situation was too coincidental?”
“That is what I believe, but why would somebody want to harm you like that?” He paused briefly. “Was someone doing it for revenge? Or perhaps you have a suitor who wanted to get you in a compromising situation.”
“I don’t have a suitor, and I’m certain most gentlemen wouldn’t even think of doing that.
” She sighed heavily and walked to one of the pictures on the wall, pretending to study it.
Her mind fought to make sense of the confusion filling her head, growing cloudier by the minute.
She gingerly ran her finger across the bottom of the picture frame.
“Wayne? Suppose we were indeed poisoned. Are you certain it wouldn’t kill us? ”
“If we were given enough to bring death, someone would be digging our graves by now.”
That made her feel slightly more relieved. “How long would the concoction stay in our bodies?”
Through the glass on the frame, she saw him move away from the counter and stop behind her. “Why do you ask?”
She hesitated in facing him because he was so close, but she couldn’t very well talk to him this way. She turned and leaned back against the wall. “Because, if by chance we were poisoned and it is still in our bodies, would we be able to feel it?”
His expression relaxed when a grin touched his tempting mouth. “You know, Reggie, I have the same thoughts. It was around this time last evening when I started feeling off.”
“And how do you feel now?” she asked.
“My head isn’t foggy, and my memory of what is happening now is very clear. Yet…” He shrugged. “I do believe part of the poison is still inside me.”
“Why?” she asked, feeling intoxicated by his nearness.
“Because I experience this vulnerability when I’m around you, which is something I haven’t experienced before.”
She inhaled sharply as her heart raced. This was exactly how she felt right now, too.
Did she dare mention it to him? After all, she didn’t want to give him the wrong impression.
She also didn’t want to do something this evening that she would regret, and talking about her feelings might push her in the wrong direction.
His gaze moved slowly over her face, hair, then down the front of her dress. The heated look of desire in his expression ignited burning deep inside her soul, making her legs weak. Once again, she cursed her body for responding to him this way.
He took a lock of her hair in his fingers, and her body shivered. She should push him away and tell him to stay at least six feet from her. Yet she couldn’t deny the warmth filling her whenever he was so near.
“Regina? I feel I should apologize for last night. I wasn’t in my right mind, and neither were you. However, I pray that I didn’t force unwanted attention on you or hurt you in any way.”
She shook her head. “I don’t remember much, but I know you didn’t force me.” She chuckled. “In fact, from what I recall about our moments in the coach, I believe I was the one taking advantage of you.”
“Why do you say that?”
Her throat turned dry, and she tried her best to swallow.
“I made the mistake of climbing into your coach, thinking it was my father’s.
We had argued for several minutes. I knew I should leave, but my headache and the dizziness accompanying it made me want to stay.
” She paused briefly. “You were charming and seducing with your words. Once you had taken me in your arms, I should have pushed you away, but I didn’t.
I was weak, and I allowed your attention.
Being with you was something I had never done before, yet I hadn’t thought of the consequences until later, after we had awoken.
So, perhaps I should be the one to apologize.
It’s as you suggested—neither of us were in our right minds. ”
His breathing had increased, which only made hers match the speed faster. Oh, heavens! Why was she saying these things? She was only making things worse. What happened to her taking control of the moment and staying away from him? Obviously, it wasn’t working.