Once Upon a Temptingly Ruinous Kiss - Bree Wolf Page 0,35

and head back into his study when he saw a curtain stir out of the corner of his eye. Of course, it could have simply been a draft that had moved the fabric. Still, Drake found himself stepping back out into the corridor, the heavy rug underneath his feet silencing his steps.

With his gaze narrowed, Drake moved silently, his eyes fixed upon the curtain. It still seemed to billow ever so slightly as though a window had been left open or…someone was hiding behind it.

Preparing himself for whatever or whoever he might find, Drake stepped closer, one hand reaching to pull aside the curtain. He was careful not to make any sound; however, once he was in position, he moved with speed instead of stealth.

With a quick tug, Drake pulled the curtain away, his other hand reaching into the dark corner. He felt his hand close over someone’s arm, and then he jerked that person forward and out of the hiding place without another thought.

Together, they spun in a half-circle until Drake managed to push the intruder back against the opposite wall, his hands pinning the other’s shoulders in place.

Drake huffed out a breath, his eyes blinking to focus in the dim light, when he suddenly realized that no one was struggling against him. There was no pressure against his grip, no struggle of any kind to loosen his hold.

His eyes focused and swept over a figure draped in a black cloak. Whoever it was did not stand tall but was of rather short stature. The shoulders underneath his hands felt almost delicate, and Drake gritted his teeth as a sneaking suspicion slowly dug its way into his mind. “Look at me,” he demanded, still staring at the hooded figure, unable to see a face in the shadows lingering around them. “Look at me!” He gave the intruder a little shake.

And then she lifted her head, her dark eyes wide and fearful, her face pale even in the dim light.

As though struck, Drake jerked back his hands, his body propelled backwards as he sought to put distance between them. He felt his back collide with a hard windowpane, his eyes still staring across the corridor at the hooded figure. “Lady Leonora?” He shook his head in disbelief. “What on earth are you doing here?”

For a long moment, she simply stared at him, her cheeks so pale that he feared she might faint at any moment. The pulse in her neck beat wildly, her chest rising and falling with each rapid breath.

Exhaling slowly, Drake tried to focus his thoughts. He ran a hand over his face, briefly closing his eyes, wondering if he had only imagined her appearance in his home. Still, when he opened them again, she was still there.

Still as pale as before.

Almost as white as a sheet.

“I’m sorry,” Drake said slowly, trying to look into her eyes from the other side of the corridor. “Had I known who you were, I would never have touched you.” He held her unseeing gaze for a moment longer until he saw something move in her eyes, until he saw something clear.

She blinked, and the world around her seemed to come into focus. Slowly, she nodded her head up and down.

“Are you all right?” Drake asked from where he was. He wished he could move closer to see how she was doing, but he did not dare.

For a brief moment, Lady Leonora closed her eyes. Then she inhaled a deep breath and opened them once more. “I’m sorry I startled you.”

To his surprise, Drake could not help but chuckle. “Startle is a bit of an understatement; would you not agree?” He glanced around their dark surroundings. “What are you doing here?”

A bit of a frown came to her face. “You sent me a message.”

Drake stared at her. “I asked you to inform me of the next function you would attend. I did not ask you to once again visit me over here in my home without a chaperone.”

Averting her gaze, Lady Leonora sank her teeth into her lower lip, a bit of a sheepish expression coming to her face. “I was impatient,” she whispered, then looked back up at him. “Perhaps it was unwise.”

“Unwise,” Drake echoed, once again running a hand over his face, still certain that on some level he was dreaming. “You need to leave. Now.” Did she not know what she was risking by coming here?

Taking a step forward, Lady Leonora shook her head. “Not until you tell me…why