Charmed and Dangerous by Jane Ashford Page A

compromising the reputation of some other lady.”
    â€œI—”
    â€œAnd rather clumsily too, if it is so obvious that her husband must stab you. I suppose that is why you are so often attacked?”
    â€œThere is no need for you to be jealous.”
    â€œJealous! You may be sure I do not envy any woman the sort of attentions I have endured from you.”
    â€œSplendid! Why, then, don’t you go back to the ballroom and let me be?”
    â€œLet you be?” Laura couldn’t believe it. “You are the one who forced me to come out—”
    â€œI don’t have time for this.” He brushed past her and strode onto the terrace.
    â€œAre you going to walk through the ball with blood running down your arm?” wondered Laura, rather wishing to see this.
    Gavin stopped with the door handle in his grasp. “Damn.” He frowned. “I have to get out of here.”
    â€œTo find the man who attacked you?”
    â€œIt’s far too late for that, but there are inquiries…” He bit off the words as if he had not meant to say them and turned to give her a hard stare.
    â€œYou need to inquire which of the many husbands it might be?” she asked sweetly.
    â€œYou are an extremely irritating woman,” he replied.
    â€œYou are a completely exasperating man,” she responded.
    They stood looking at each other in the squares of light from the crowded ballroom. Though his gaze was somewhat intimidating, Laura did not allow her eyes to waver. A shiver went through her—not of fear, but of mingled fascination and excitement. This was far more than she had imagined when she took the chance of coming to Vienna.
    â€œWould you get me a cloak?” Gavin said.
    â€œYour cloak?” At once she saw that it was his means of escape. “How will I recognize it?”
    â€œIt’s black,” he answered sardonically.
    â€œBut so are a hundred…”
    â€œI don’t care whose cloak it is, so long as you bring it at once.”
    â€œYou want me to steal a cloak?”
    He looked at her.
    The blood was drying on his sleeve, Laura saw. He looked slightly drawn, and more than slightly annoyed. She had no obligation to help him, she thought. And yet the situation cried out to some instinct in her. “Wait here,” she said and slipped into the ballroom.
    For a moment, she concealed herself behind the draperies in the recess. No one seemed to be looking at her. Straightening her shoulders and putting a confident expression on her face, she moved out along the wall, heading for the entrance and the rooms where guests’ wraps had been left.
    She had nearly reached it when Catherine Pryor caught up with her. “Laura! Where have you been?”
    Laura forced a calm smile. “I was talking to some people.” She gestured. “Over there.”
    â€œWhere is Mr. Graham? You went off to dance with him half an hour ago.”
    â€œWe danced,” Laura assured her. “And then I met these people, and…”
    â€œWhat people? Did he leave you alone?”
    â€œNo. He…took another partner, and I stayed chatting. I’m sorry if I worried you. I won’t do so again.”
    Catherine eyed her as if she wasn’t convinced.
    â€œI am just on my way to…” Laura indicated the direction of the ladies’ tiring-rooms.
    â€œAre you all right?”
    â€œPerfectly.” Seeing that more reassurance was required, Laura added, “I am having a splendid time. I saw Baron von Sternhagen.” It was true, she thought a bit guiltily. She had seen him from across the room earlier.
    â€œWere you talking with him? He’s very well thought of. A nice young man.”
    â€œUmm,” responded Laura. “I’ll be right back.”
    Thankfully, Catherine allowed her to escape. Laura hurried across the entryway to where a troop of footmen watched over the guests’ belongings. “Yes,