Page 52 of Surrender

“Yes. You are, mo leannan. We both know it. So, keep running Genevieve. But know this, mo ghràdh, no matter how far or fast you run, there isn’t anywhere on the face of the planet where you can hide from me.”

Out of the corner of his eye he saw people leaving the dance floor, casting looks of amusement or disapproval in their direction. Uncaring of the spectacle they were making at the moment, Theo took a step forward until mere inches separated them. Raising her hand, his mouth brushed across her gloved fingertips. “It doesn’t matter where you are, my love. My heart will always find you, Genevieve, and I’ll have no choice but to follow you, because life isn’t worth living without you.”

Hesitation swept across her face, and for a moment, Theo thought she would stop running from him. Seconds later, he saw anguish shimmering in her gaze while a mask of resignation settled on her face.

“You’re right, Theo. I am running. I’m running from a past that will haunt me for the rest of my life. I thought I could escape it, but I can’t. You of all people should know why that’s true.”

Sorrow curved Genevieve’s mouth in in a small smile of pained regret as she pulled her hand free. The moment her warmth vanished from his hand, an icy breeze whirled around him. In that moment, he felt something sharp digging into his chest trying to yank his heart from his body.

Unable to move Theo stared after Genevieve as she walked away and disappeared into the crowd. The sudden sensation of a firm hand gripping his shoulder yanked Theo out of his paralysis. He jerked his head in a sharp movement to see his Uncle Percy at his side.

“Come Theo. I have experience with women who think themselves unworthy of being loved. You need a plan, and we’re going to make one,” his uncle said with a look of sympathy as he guided Theo off the dance floor.

Chapter 16

Genevieve walked off the dance floor, deliberately heading in the opposite direction of her mother and Aunt Louisa. All she wanted to do was go home and sob her heart out in her bedroom.

No one would hear her crying, and she’d be spared questions and an inquisition. Locking herself in her room would give Genevieve time to collect her emotions until she could maintain her composure in the face of all the well-meaning meddling.

The moment Theo had pointed out the Rockwood trait for meddling, Genevieve’s heart had sunk to the pit of her stomach, where it had churned unpleasantly. The fact that Uncle Sebastian had spoken to Theo about them was a sign of just how far the family would go to interfere. Her uncle never intervened in the personal affairs of others, except under duress. And dear God, her mother’s smile of happiness.

What would her mother’s reaction be when Genevieve stated she wouldn’t marry Theo? Then there was her father. Percy Rockwood had already said he and her mother would approve of Theo as a son-in-law. They would want to know why she refused to marry Theo, and she couldn’t tell them. Perhaps if Peter hadn’t died, but not now.

She couldn’t devastate her parents with her shame. It was bad enough she was flirting with danger in a clandestine battle of wits that Peter had lost his life in. But finding his killer was far too important to leave the foreign section now.

Slipping out of the ballroom, she walked along the hallway leading to the main foyer. She’d have the family carriage take her home, and then come back for her parents. Genevieve was grateful the only people she saw were the footmen at the end of the hall at the front door. She was about to pass a partially closed door when Genevieve heard Arthur Warrington’s voice. Without thinking twice, she came to an abrupt halt. Pressing her back to the wall, at a spot closest to where the door’s hinges connected to the frame. The voices were muffled, and Genevieve tipped her head so her ear was close to the thin opening between the door and its frame.

“Please let go of me.” The words were clipped and sharp, and while Genevieve didn’t recognize the woman’s voice, she heard the fear running beneath the demand.

“Come, come, my dear. The Count has told me how clever and resourceful you are. Surely, you can tell me a little bit about the Rockwoods.” Warrington’s words made Genevieve’s breath catch in her throat.

“I don’t know any of the Rockwoods, except for Viscount Selbourne.”

Jealousy pulled the air out of Genevieve’s lungs. Warrington had to be talking with Lady Halliwell. She’d overheard Jamie and Charles discussing Theo’s relationship with the viscountess more than a year ago. She knew Theo and the woman had remained friends, but Theo had never introduced the two of them. Genevieve pushed aside the small nugget of jealousy trying to rear its head.

“Come, my dear. I understand you and the viscount are quite close.”

“We were at one time, but we ended our liaison more than a year ago.” The woman gasped as if in pain. “It’s the truth, Lord Selbourne is the only Rockwood I know.”

“And what about Lord Westbury?”

“Lord Westbury and I met recently, but the only contact I’ve had with him was one dance. I’ve not seen him since.”

“Then I suggest you ask your old lover about his family and report back to me. I want to know as much about the Rockwoods as possible.” There was a slight pause before Warrington chuckled. “In fact, I think it would be in your best interest to form a friendship with Lord Westbury.”

“I couldn’t…I—” The woman uttered another gasp as her protest was cut off.

“Forgive me, Lady Halliwell, but we both know that you’re in the Count’s debt, and he’s in mine. So, you are mine to use whenever I see fit.”

Warrington’s voice was smooth and pleasant, but Genevieve heard the insidious, reptilian threat beneath his words. It was as if Ruckley were in the next room issuing orders. The request might seem harmful, but one could hear the threat beneath the beguiling tone. It made you all too aware that if you didn’t do what was asked of you, the punishment you received would be brutal.

A small tremor rippled through Genevieve as she remembered standing next to her mother as Ruckley had whipped Vincent for some misdeed Ruckley’s underling had accused him of. Genevieve had known the minute Warrington asked her to dance he wasn’t someone she wanted to spend any time with. But now, his affable manner of earlier was gone, and Genevieve knew this was the man’s true character.

“I will do as you ask,” Lady Halliwick said, her voice filled with resigned defeat.

“Excellent, my dear. I’m delighted to have your assistance.”

Panic swept through Genevieve as she realized the two would be coming out of the room any second. In three quick steps, she darted across the hall and into a small, softly lit library. Stepping behind the open door to hide, Genevieve breathed a silent sigh of relief as she heard Warrington and the Viscountess leaving the room across from her and moving down the hallway toward the ballroom. She remained still for several minutes, fearing Warrington might return. Genevieve took two steps forward only to have a hand cover her mouth and a strong arm wrap around her waist.