Etienne held aside the curtain and Kitty passed through into a very small alcove. She looked around but there was no sign of Millie.
‘My friend must have gone back to her mother,’ she said in relief, ‘and I must not linger, sir.’
‘Oh but please, just give me a moment to explain.’ Etienne’s voice was husky, his large eyes burned fiercely in his pale face. ‘It is so difficult to speak with you alone,’ he continued, coming close to her. His eyes devoured her face. A little smile lifted the corners of his mouth. ‘You are so beautiful, so charming,’ he exclaimed, ‘I cannot bear to wait any more. I must speak now.’
With a sinking heart, Kitty realized what was going to come next. Before she could move, her hands were seized and Etienne was covering them with kisses. She tried to pull away. His grip tightened.
‘Please, Kitty, you must listen to me. I feel so much love for you, I beg of you, please marry me. I will do anything to be worthy of you.’
Kitty shook her head. ‘Please, sir, let go of my hands.’ She twisted again. This time he did release them but it was only to pull her into his arms.
‘When I see you smiling at that man, my heart burns,’ he announced in a throbbing tone. ‘I want so much to protect you from him. You are so adorable, so innocent.’ His eyes flashed and he gave a groan. ‘It is too much—’
‘No more!’ Kitty spoke sharply. Her dismay had given way to anger now. She resented the way he had tricked her into coming into the alcove. Even more, she was furious at being crushed in such an iron grip and in such an uncomfortable position. She could feel his chest heaving against hers. The smell of vetyver filled her nostrils and added to her disgust.
It was obvious he had worked himself into a state of passion so she tried to speak calmly. ‘I cannot return your sentiments, but even if I could, I deplore the method you have used – and the time of this declaration. I insist that you let me go, now.’
He groaned. ‘Never! Not until you say yes, my beautiful Kitty.’
‘I am not yours!’ she protested furiously.
At this he leaned forward and planted his lips on hers. She uttered an inarticulate protest and struggled to break free. All at once she felt Etienne’s arms wrenched away from her and she stepped back, wiping a hand across her mouth. She drew in a sobbing breath and looked up to see Theo, his face like thunder, holding a struggling Etienne by the arms. He looked ready to strangle the Frenchman.
Kitty looked from one to the other. She saw despair as well as anger on Etienne’s face. It was the last straw. She gave a tiny sob. The sound seemed to recall Theo from his murderous intention. His expression turned to contempt. He pushed Etienne towards the curtain. ‘Get out,’ he grated, ‘I will speak to you later.’
Etienne glanced towards Kitty. She turned her head away. He glared at Theo and fumbled his way through the curtain. Theo turned to Kitty. His face was as cold as ice. ‘Has he hurt you?’ His voice sounded almost indifferent.
She shook her head. It was impossible to speak. She swallowed hard and blinked. Suddenly her knees were trembling. She heard Theo mutter something under his breath and felt his hand grasp her elbow. He guided her to a chair and pushed her down on it.
‘Come, Miss Towers, do not be distressed.’ he said in an impatient tone. He held out a large white handkerchief. Kitty clutched it thankfully and mopped her eyes, which would keep filling with tears. Theo waited for a few minutes.
‘There is no need to cry,’ he said at last. ‘You are quite safe now.’
Kitty nodded her head and drew in a deep breath. ‘H-How did you find me?’
‘I heard him tell you your friend was here. But when I saw her with her mother, I realized that it was a trick. And at that moment Lady Caroline asked me to rescue you discreetly.’
‘Oh.…’ Kitty stared at him in consternation. ‘Does everyone know I was in here alone with him?’
Theo raised his dark brows. ‘Only Caroline – you know she has a talent for observing everything.’ He inspected her. ‘Considering how he manhandled you, you are still very neat. But if I may be so bold, he has disarranged your smart hairstyle.’
Kitty raised her hands but they were shaking too much for her to straighten her ringlets.
Theo frowned. ‘We must make haste. Will you permit me?’
Kitty nodded and stood very still while he deftly adjusted the clasp. She felt his fingers brush her neck as he arranged her ringlets again. ‘Thank you, you are very kind,’ she said in a constricted voice. ‘I think I am ready to go back into the ballroom now.’
‘I will go first,’ said Theo. ‘When I leave, count to twenty, then come out and make your way back to Mrs Warrington. And I promise you, you will not have to speak to Monsieur de Saint-Aubin again.’ He nodded abruptly, his face still a cold mask and slipped through the curtain.
Immediately, Kitty heard a strident female voice exclaim: ‘Theodore! I have been looking everywhere for you.’
Stifling a gasp of horror, Kitty looked around but there was nowhere to hide. She gulped. If she was discovered there would be a terrible scandal. Then she heard Theo’s voice.
‘Lady Payne, Miss Payne.’
The woman’s voice boomed out again, interrupting him. ‘If my eyes did not deceive me, you were dancing just now? With a young lady in a pink dress?’
There was a slight pause, then, ‘Indeed, ma’am,’ in a haughty tone.
‘Oh … well … how splendid that you have recovered at long last. I am sure Letitia has a dance available for you.’
‘Alas, ma’am, I fear I was too precipitate. My leg is still weak. That is why I sought shelter in the alcove – to rest it. But come, may I at least find you ladies something to drink? It is very hot, is it not?’
The voices faded. Kitty’s heartbeat gradually slowed. She smoothed her dress down, counted to twenty and slipped through the curtain. She took a quick look around. There was no sign of Theo. Had anyone noticed her? How long had she been in there? A lively country dance was in full swing and the crowd was as dense as ever. She wove through the groups of onlookers until she reached Mrs Warrington. That lady was busily talking to a couple of other mothers. It was a few minutes before she noticed Kitty and even then, she just nodded at her and carried on with her conversation.
Kitty fanned herself, trying to look calm. He should have respected me, she thought angrily; how could he think I would submit to being forced into agreeing anything in such a way. She cringed inside as the memory of Etienne’s embrace kept forcing itself into her mind. What would have happened if Theo had not arrived at that moment?
Kitty grew hot and cold as she remembered he had seen Etienne kissing her. And after that he had been so cold and impatient with her. There was no trace of the warm smiles and friendly conversation they had enjoyed during their first ever dance together, just before Etienne interrupted them.
As she looked back, Kitty realized how each time she had shown any pleasure in Theo’s company, Etienne had stepped in to whisper his poisonous suspicions. She could see now that it was all due to jealousy. But he had succeeded in driving them apart.
When she considered the change in Theo’s attitude after he came into the alcove, she felt a dark shadow creep over her heart. Surely he could not believe she wanted Etienne to maul her like that. By this time, she was feeling so miserable that it was only pride that was keeping her upright. She longed to go home. But her sufferings were not yet over. Caroline appeared at her side.
‘Well, darling, whatever will you do next?’ she murmured, looking Kitty over with a critical eye. ‘You are certainly setting my guests at each other’s throats.’ Her eyes moved towards a tall shape on the opposite side of the room. Kitty followed her gaze. To her horror, she saw it was Theo talking to Etienne. The exchange was very brief and obviously angry. Kitty watched both men nod sharply to each other and then Theo turned away. Etienne was glaring after him.
‘You see?’ Caroline glanced at her. ‘Pistols, I expect. Theo likes pistols and he obviously issued the challenge.’
‘A duel – oh, no,’ gasped Kitty, ‘what a stupid thing to do. I have to stop them.’ She took a hasty step forward.
Caroline laid a hand on her arm. ‘You will do no such thing. Let them settle the matter in their own way.’
‘But what if one of them shoots the other?’ Kitty looked at her in anguish.
‘Oh, I doubt it.’ She gave a brittle laugh. ‘There is no need to go white, darling. I never heard that Theo actually aims at his opponent. He delopes.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘He fires into the air.’
Kitty shook her head in bewilderment. ‘Why bother to issue a challenge in the first place?’ Then she grew alarmed. ‘But suppose Etienne wounds him?’
Caroline shrugged. ‘I did warn you never to find yourself alone with him, darling. You will just have to wait and see what the outcome is.’