He set me down. “The last time you climbed that wall, you fell off, and I have a suspicion it was partly my fault. I could not allow that to happen again.”
His tone might make one believe that having a man lift a woman from a wall was the most natural thing in the world. But there was nothing natural about the way his hands burned imprints into my sides that I was certain would never go away.
I stepped out of his grasp. “Next time, the assistance of one of your hands will be enough.”
He nodded and started walking away.
“Where are you going?”
He paused. “To change. As much as I enjoy spending time with you, I think it best if I return to a more proper state of attire.” He disappeared around the side of the house.
He enjoyed spending time with me. Was he serious? Did it matter? Confusion wore at my resolve. The man from the Hickmores’ would never have handled me so gently. He would never have been kind after being knocked into a lake. And his touch would never have left me feeling warm and unsettled.
This side of Lord Williams was definitely more dangerous than the man from the Hickmores’.
Eighteen
The ringing bell signaled the Johnsons’ arrival five minutes earlier than expected. Those were five minutes I had planned to spend in my room to await the last possible moment to descend in an effort to keep my interactions with Lord Williams to a minimum. No good would come from being around him more than absolutely necessary.
This afternoon had only reiterated how important the selection of my future spouse was; there could be no yielding on this.
I glanced in the mirror and arranged the chain of my necklace before leaving to greet our guests.
Daniel stood at the top of the stairs, blocking my way, staring down to the entry below, his hands grasping the railings.
“Daniel, shall we descend? I believe our guests are here.”
Catherine’s laugh echoed up to us. He whipped around to face me. “Did you invite them?”
I shrugged and pretended to study my glove. “It was either them or Mr. Lundall, and considering I have already had my fair share of time alone with the latter, I thought it only fair to provide you the same opportunity with the former.”
“You invited them to get back at me for leaving you with Mr. Lundall? Dragging things out a little far, aren’t we?”
I narrowed my eyes, all sense of good humor evaporating. “Not just for that. This is for the game of bowls you made me play with Lord Williams. And for scooting my chair next to his. It is for the song you tried to corner me into singing and for leaving us in the middle of the lake in a boat. It is for every awkward, backstabbing move you have made since Lord Williams arrived. I thought I could rely on you—my own brother—but now I know that at the first possibility for amusement you will throw me to the wolves.”
“There are no wolves in England, Margaret.”
I don’t know why his response surprised me, but the annoyance in his voice inflamed me to anger. I shoved past him. I had no need of his help. I would do this on my own.
Pasting on a wide smile, I strode into the parlor. To my surprise, Catherine’s father, who was the town doctor, and her elder brother James had also come.
Catherine had already attached herself to Lord Williams’s side. James came forward to greet me.
“Miss Brinton, how good to see you again.”
There was a falseness in his too-cheery voice. I realized at once why he had been included. The Johnsons had had the same idea of attaching Catherine to Lord Williams as I’d had, and James was there as my distraction. I could have laughed.
“Mr. Johnson.”
Daniel entered and dinner was announced. James offered me his arm. Though Lord Williams glanced at us and my mother frowned, I accepted his offer and whispered, “I believe you and I are fighting on the same side, sir.”
“Are we indeed?”
I waited to see whether Catherine would catch Lord Williams as her escort or be left with Daniel. Either would have satisfied me. What I did not expect was Lord Williams to willingly extend his arm to her. I was further surprised when he requested Catherine sit next to him. I sat in my regular seat next to my father, James between me and his sister. Across from me, Mrs. Johnson beamed