Chapter Nine
Wayne was grateful his father didn’t ask more questions.
It was bad enough that he and Regina were almost caught in a passionate embrace.
Yet his father knew well what Wayne and a secretive woman would be doing tonight but didn’t try to talk some sense into him.
Then again, Father had never convinced Wayne to follow the right pathways in life.
“Son,” his father said as they stopped by the door, “I have a feeling your lady friend is already here.”
Heat crawled up Wayne’s face, and he nodded.
Scrubbing a hand over his chin, his father shook his head and frowned. “Unless she is a woman of ill repute, you can ruin her name.”
“Father, I’m well aware of that. However, things are complicated, which I told you earlier. You must believe me.”
His father arched an eyebrow. “I believe you, and I trust you know what you are doing. I just do not want to see you get tangled up in a scandal that could ruin your name, as well.”
Wayne nodded. “I’m being very careful, I assure you.”
“Being careful would mean you and the lady would meet in public and not in private.”
Sighing in frustration, Wayne folded his arms. “Yes, Father. You’re not telling me anything I don’t already know.”
“Son, because of who you are, your decision will affect both families.”
“I know that.” Guilt crept into Wayne’s chest. His father always knew how to do this.
“I understand that you enjoy being a Bow Street Runner, but your duties as my son—”
“Father, please,” Wayne interrupted. “I beg you, do not try to talk me into coming back. I do enjoy my job, and I wish to stay as a Runner.”
His father expelled a deep breath and nodded. “Then I shall let you attend to your lady friend. But please, make certain she gets home safely and that nobody spots her with you.”
“I will.”
Once his father walked out the back door and closed it, Wayne sighed and rubbed his aching temples. He truly didn’t want to ruin Regina’s name or cause humiliation to his family, but discussing what had happened between him and her was imperative. It couldn’t be put aside.
He moved back to the lobby and around the counter. Regina was still crouched low and had a slight shake to her body. His chest squeezed with guilt again. He truly hadn’t meant to put her through this.
“My father is gone.”
She swung her attention toward him with wide eyes. He reached out his hand, and she grasped it as he helped her stand.
Being this close to her again, he studied her lovely face. What had his father seen to make him think Wayne had given her his heart? Was it the sparkle in his eyes? Or was it his relaxed stance? Perhaps it was the desire he was certain was written all over his expression whenever looking at Regina.
“Wayne?” Her throat jumped. “Do I need to be worried about what your father said?”
She referred to what his father said about giving his heart to a woman. Wayne grinned. “Fathers believe they know everything.”
She narrowed her gaze on him. “You didn’t answer my question.”
He rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. “I think we need to get you home before anyone else decides to check on my father’s jewelry store.”
Without waiting for her answer, he kept hold of her hand and pulled her around to the lobby again. As he passed the hearth, he lifted her hooded cloak and wrapped it around her body. The warmth from the material would keep her comfortable during her journey home.
“Wayne, I hope you are not planning on taking me home.” Her voice trembled.
“I will follow you to make certain you get there safe.”
Releasing a sigh, she nodded. “I thank you for thinking of my safety.”
Her sweet words melted his heart. Tenderly, he caressed her cheek. “I cannot think of anything else right now. Although I’m glad you met with me tonight, I fear we cannot meet like this again.”
Disappointment filled him after the words left his mouth. He had never been a scandalous man, but heaven help him, he wanted to see her again, like this. He wanted to hold and kiss her until they fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Sadly, his father was correct. Wayne’s selfishness would ruin both families, which meant he and Regina could never do this again.
*
Wayne bundled his thick cape around him as he rode behind Regina on their way to take her home. He tried to make certain it appeared as if he was not following her, just in case someone noticed. But he didn’t want to get too far behind and have something happen to her.
Although they had nearly been caught together this evening, he couldn’t remove the wide smile from his face. His body still hummed with excitement as he thought of their passionate kiss and the words exchanged between them.
It hadn’t been the poison. He just knew it. The things they had shared tonight had come from the heart. If only he knew how to convince Regina of that. And once that happened, would she still want to be with him?
He was now more determined to find the proof required to arrest the earl so that Wayne could end things with Jane.
Regina Taylor was the only woman he wanted now.
The only woman he had ever wanted. Of course, he hadn’t realized this until earlier.
No other woman had stayed in his thoughts like Regina.
The rain didn’t seem as heavy this late at night, which relieved him. He didn’t want Regina catching a chill just because she’d ventured out into the night to meet him. But the cool air would certainly threaten to make one of them ill if not treated properly.
As they rode up the drive to her home, he noticed it wasn’t as luxurious as the earl’s estate. But money didn’t matter to Wayne. It never had. Baron Fraser’s home was well taken care of and appeared very welcoming. Wayne was certain the atmosphere inside reflected the outer appearance.
Regina neared the stable, and Wayne stayed back, hiding behind a large tree. He noticed that when she entered the barn, no servant came out to help. Guilt filled him. He didn’t want her to ready her mare for the night by herself, especially since it was his fault she was out so late.
Without another thought, he urged his horse closer to the stable and dismounted. Once he had the steed tied to a post, he hurried inside. Just as he suspected, she was trying to remove the saddle by herself.
She must have seen him out of the corner of her eye, because she whipped her head around and looked at him with wide eyes. He smiled and stopped on the other side of the horse.
“What are you doing here?” she whispered.
“I have come to help.” He motioned his head toward the animal.
“There are some things a woman just should not do, especially when she’s damp and cold.
” He touched her hand, stopping her from trying to unhook the reins.
“Please, Regina. Allow me. You go inside and get warm, and I shall finish this for you.”
She shook her head. “What if you are spotted by one of the servants or my father?”
“Did your father have something planned tonight that would keep him out late?”
“Not that I know of.” She switched her attention to one of the other stalls. Seconds later, she sighed, and her shoulders relaxed. “His horse is here, as well as the coach. Both of my parents are in the house.”
“Then there is no reason for anyone to see me.” He took her hand and lifted it to his mouth, brushing his lips across her gloved knuckles. “It was a pleasure to have you with me tonight, but please, go inside.”
Her cheeks turned pink, and she smiled softly. “Wayne, you must leave.”
“I shall as soon as I’m finished with your horse.”
Slowly, she pulled her hand away and stepped back from the animal. “Be careful going back home.”
“I will.” He grinned. “And you be careful as well. We don’t need your parents to ask questions as to why you were out by yourself tonight.”
“I plan on sneaking in through the servants’ doors. My parents won’t see me, I assure you.”
He leaned on the horse and watched her take slow steps toward the stable doors. He loved how she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off him, either. He also loved the sparkle in her eyes and the bashful smile touching her tempting mouth.
“Mr. Worthington,” she said with laughter in her voice, “will you stop watching me?”
Shrugging, he grinned. “I cannot, my lady. There is nothing else I would rather look at.”
She stopped and stood akimbo. “I told you to stop calling me lady. That is not my title.”
“But you are a lady to me, Regina. Don’t ever forget that.”
Her expression softened. “If that is what you want to believe.”
“It is.”
“Just make certain that nobody else is around when you say that to me.”
“It will stay between us, I assure you.”
He enjoyed the fast rhythm of his heart as she watched him instead of turning and heading for the house. However, if she didn’t move after five more minutes, he would again take her in his arms to show her that their passion was real.
“Regina?” he asked in a deep voice.
“What?”
“Will you meet me somewhere tomorrow?”
Her eyes widened, and she shook her head. “I dare not. One of these times we will get caught, and I cannot allow that to happen.”
A question swam around in his head, and although he should keep his mouth closed, he couldn’t. Not this time. “Regina? If I withdraw from my proposal with Lady Jane, will you… Can we…” He sighed. “I cannot stop thinking about you. I have never thought of Jane the way I think about you.”
She gasped and rushed to him. At first, his hopes rose in anticipation, but when noticing the way she looked at him with sadness in her eyes, he realized she wasn’t coming toward him to be in his arms.
“Absolutely not, Wayne.” She grasped his hands tightly. “Jane has been my friend since we were children. If she knew you wanted to start seeing me, she would never forgive me. It’s bad enough to know what the two of us have done behind her back. I don’t know if I can ever get rid of this guilt.”