splattering on the terrace below. Would she have a better chance of living if she aimed for the shrubbery? How much blood did one body contain?
‘What are you waiting for?’
She jerked back and Hartwick grabbed her, pressing her cheek into a cold, wet windowpane. Her heart almost beat out of her chest.
‘Stop doing that!’
He let go of her. ‘If you plan to skulk about in the future, you need to pay better attention to your surroundings.’
‘I told you to find your own way down.’
‘I was, then I saw you mumbling at the window and decided you needed my assistance.’
‘I can do this myself.’
She went to push the bottom sash of the window up, but it wouldn’t budge. He went to have a go at it and she swatted his hand away. ‘I said. I. Can. Do. It. Myself!’
He held his hands up. A few leftover raindrops trickled down the brim of her hat. If he did anything to make her fall backwards off this roof, she was pulling him along with her. The pounding of her heart in her ears was so loud she didn’t hear the creak of the window as she finally nudged the stubborn sash up. Letting out a breath of relief, she closed her eyes.
‘You should make certain no one is about before you enter that room. Unless you would like me to use the charms you say I possess to enchant any maids that might be about.’
Did this man ever stop talking? ‘Keep those charms tucked away. The house is vacant,’ she bit back as she climbed inside the darkened room. Stepping further inside, she left enough space for Hartwick to climb in after her.
‘How do you know this house is vacant?’ he asked, closing the window.
‘I made some enquiries.’ He didn’t need to know that Katrina had told her about it when they had been discussing the Everills. The vacant house annoyed Lady Everill, and while she was put out that a house on her street was considered undesirable, it was a godsend to Sarah. Now, if she could just make it out of the house without the Earl of Hartwick discovering why she was on Mount Street dressed in men’s attire in the first place...
As she walked into the hallway, moonlight from the rooms on either side streamed onto the dusty floorboards. Hartwick walked quietly behind her until she opened the door leading to the servants’ staircase.
‘How did you know that door led to the staircase?’ he whispered.
‘The arrangement of the homes on this street is similar to mine and there is no need to whisper. We’re alone.’
‘I find it best to be safe, just in case,’ he said, close to her ear. The deep rumble of his voice sent a ripple of awareness through her. ‘There still could be someone about.’
That gave her pause. ‘You’re saying that to frighten me.’
‘If I wanted to frighten you, I’d inform you of the rats that are probably scurrying around this house or spiders or any number of creatures that could fall down on us from holes in the ceiling.’
‘What?’ she squeaked and looked up. Her heart slowed when she spotted the ceiling was intact. She stopped dead so he walked into her.
‘What was that for?’ he asked.
‘For trying to scare me.’
‘Why don’t you let me go down the staircase first?’
‘Why?’
‘In the event there is someone else in the house, I believe I am more equipped to deal with them than you are.’
‘I may surprise you.’
‘Miss Forrester, tonight I’m learning you are full of surprises, but as a gentleman, I must insist.’
The light from the dirty window across the way helped them navigate the spiral staircase. Peering over the wooden banister, Sarah could see all the way to the bottom—to the very dark bottom. Was Hartwick right? Was someone living in this house unbeknownst to the neighbours? Would it be some unwashed mountain of a man who would be angry he was discovered?
‘Very well,’ she whispered, ‘I’ll let you go first.’
Down and down they went. And when they finally reached the ground floor, Sarah held him back. ‘There will be a door to the back garden nearby,’ she whispered. ‘From there it should be easy to leave through the garden gate and into the alley leading to the mews.’
‘I agree. Stand back while I open the door.’ Hartwick crouched and retrieved a knife from his boot. The muted light shimmered off the silver blade.
She stepped back. ‘What do you have that for?’
‘One never knows who one will run into on a night like this,’ he replied with an amused grin.
Her palms started sweating as he slowly turned the doorknob and peered out into the hallway. She took off her gloves and wiggled her fingers in the event she needed to scratch an attacker’s eyes out.
Dear God, let us be alone.
He signalled her to follow him while keeping his attention on the silent, dark hallway. She would never admit to him how grateful she was for his self-assured presence tonight. Anticipating having to walk through these houses without being caught had upset her stomach all day. She had no experience at this.
They reached the door leading to the garden and he placed his hand on the doorknob. ‘Are you ready?’
She nodded and took a deep breath. The thought that someone might be close by watching them made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She nudged his shoulder and got a whiff of leather and rainwater.
When they stepped out into the overgrown garden, the damp air was a welcome relief from the musty smell inside. She was finally finished with her evening of breaking and entering.
‘Do you require assistance returning home?’ he asked, searching her face in what appeared to be true concern.
‘No, thank you. I assumed the house was empty but you’re correct. One can never be too cautious.’
‘Words to remember as you go forward with Lord Baxter,’ he said with a friendly smile.
It took her a moment to recall his earlier assumption about why she had been on the roof. ‘Yes, well, thank you again.’
They were facing each other in the moonlight and she had the strongest urge to close the distance between them. His blue eyes, framed with thick black lashes, had her transfixed. For a long moment, she looked back at him. He really did have lovely eyes—but they gave away his suspicions about her story.
She went to walk past him, but he pulled her back by her hand. He stepped closer and his gaze dropped to her lips. The heat from his body travelled to hers through the cool damp air. The rain began to fall again, but she hadn’t noticed.
‘You should go,’ he said softly.
She
