How to Climb a Lady’s Tower

by Wolf, Bree

  Rebecca was not certain what she had expected in that moment. For him to sweep her into his arms? For a smile? Some sign that her request touched him? Whatever it was, his rather cold statement that he was, in fact, no stranger – not that he was wrong! – irked her.

  Pulling away, Rebecca held his gaze. “Well, if you feel unqualified for the task, I could always choose one who doesn’t.” A somewhat heartless laugh made it past her lips. “Surely there’s a man – a stranger,” she stressed as his eyes all but burned into hers, “in Brighton who would kiss me.” Smiling, she nodded her head to him in a seeming gesture of farewell before turning to walk away.

  Rebecca knew that her actions were manipulative. She knew that he had not hesitated because he didn’t care for her. She knew that she tempted him and that he fought to remain the gentleman he’d promised to be. She knew she wasn’t being fair.

  But in that moment, she didn’t care.

  She didn’t want any stranger.

  She wanted the stranger who knew her.

  The stranger who made her feel.

  The stranger who felt for her.

  She wanted him.

  She wanted Zach.

  And when his hand closed over her upper arm, stopping her in her tracks, she could have fainted with delight.

  Jerking her back into his embrace, Zach held her tight, his dark gaze drilling into hers as his hands slipped under her cloak and settled around her waist. “I know what you’re doing,” he growled as one hand rose and his fingers grasped her chin. “I know you.”

  Air rushed from Rebecca’s lungs as she clung to him, mesmerized by the carefully leashed insistence in his gaze. “Do you now?” she whispered breathlessly. “And?”

  A muscle in his jaw twitched as he contemplated her challenge. Would he walk away? Or would he—?

  His mouth closed over hers in a searing kiss that stole Rebecca’s breath and turned her knees to water. Shivers shot up and down her body, and yet, she wasn’t cold. Far from it.

  Nothing in her life had ever felt so right.

  So perfect.

  Wherever this night would lead her, she would never forget this moment of certainty that she was exactly where she was supposed to be. Right here. Right now.

  With Zach.

  Her insides fluttered, and her heart beat weakly, but still with a strength that she’d never known before. Her fingers curled around his lapels, holding him as close as he held her. Her lips responded to his kiss, daring, testing, wondering what had been denied her thus far.

  “You’ll be the death of me,” Zach whispered for the second time that night, his mouth only a breath away from hers, before his lips once more descended upon her own, claiming her in a way that made Rebecca dare to dream.

  In her mind’s eye, she once more saw Eugenie and her beast, the way he had gazed into her friend’s eyes, the way he’d reached for her, held her, full of devotion and affection, trust and loyalty. She remembered the yearning that had bloomed in her own chest in that moment, a longing for someone to look at her that way, to hold her that way.

  And now, here she was.

  Her own moment had finally come.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  The Last Item on the List

  Zach could have kicked himself when the sounds of raucous laughter drifted to his ears. He’d known it was foolish to aid Becca in her escape, to take her to the beach for a swim, and yet, he had done nothing to stop her. To protect her from herself.

  Wrenching his lips away from hers, Zach glanced over his shoulder. A group of young men, clearly inebriated, came walking down the beach toward them. Their voices sounded slurred and their movements were far from steady. Their attention was quickly drawn to the young couple holding each other in an intimate embrace.

  “We need to go,” Zach hissed, ensuring that Becca’s hood was in place, hiding her face. Then he pulled her arm through his and all but dragged her up the sandy slope toward the cobbled streets of Brighton. “Don’t say a word, and keep your head down.”

  Her eyes peeked out from under the large hood, curiosity sparking in them. Still, she nodded her head in agreement, matching her steps to his own. Zach breathed a sigh of relief that she didn’t fight him on this.

  Fortunately, the young men were at present rather incapable of moving with the necessary speed to catch up to them. Voices called out, and Zach gritted his teeth at the occasional remark directed at them. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw with relief that the men were falling behind and soon gave up their pursuit when one of them tripped and landed face-first in the sand.

  While the man’s friends laughed and attempted to help him back onto his feet, Zach guided Becca back onto the street and they quickly hastened around the next corner. Few people were out and about. Most in carriages and far less interested in a young couple strolling along the street. Zach could only hope they would make it back to the house without anyone identifying them.

  Or rather her.

  “Will you slow down?” Becca hissed, pulling on his arm. “My shoes were not made for racing.”

  After glancing over his shoulder another time, Zach slowed his steps. “I’m sorry. But we need to get you back to your room as soon as possible before anyone sees you.”

  A soft chuckle left her lips. “It would serve my uncle right.”

  “You cannot mean that!” Zach snapped, annoyed with her way of downplaying the threat her uncle posed to her happiness, her future. “You need to—”

  “Oh, don’t worry,” she interrupted him, her wide smile peeking out from under the hood. “No one will see us, or at least recognize us, and my uncle will send for me within the next fortnight.”

  “How can you know that?” Zach demanded, glancing up and down the street before crossing it.

  Becca sighed. “Lord Tedious will ask for me.” She snorted. “At least he’s good for something.”

  Zach’s insides clenched at the mention of her annoyingly relentless suitor. With the threat of their discovery chasing them down the darkened streets, Zach hadn’t had a chance to mull over the meaning of their kiss. Had it only been an adventure for her? An item on her list like so many others? Or had it made her feel the same way it had made him feel?

  Unhinged?

  Off balance?

  Delirious?

  Wanting more?

  Her warmth called to him as she leaned into his side, her arm still slung around his. A breath shuddered down his lungs as he gazed at her, unable to see more than the tip of her nose peeking out from under the hood of her cloak. Still, his heart beat fast and his hands itched to pull her closer, to kiss her again, to…

  What was it that he wanted?

  Zach wasn’t certain. All he knew was that he cared about her. That she made him feel alive. That he missed her whenever she was not near. That he hated Lord Tedious with a violent fervor. That the thought of her married to that man tur –

  “Good, the rope is still there.”

  “Mmh?” Yanked from his thoughts, Zach watched as Becca’s hand slipped from his arm before she hastened toward the side of her uncle’s house where the rope still dangled down from her window.

  Looking up, she gave it a sharp tug, then proceeded to lift a foot, bracing it against the wall, while her hands gripped higher, preparing to pull herself upward.

  Zach watched in amazement as she slowly made her way upward, her teeth gritted as her arms strained to hold her weight. For one heart-stopping moment, she seemed to lose the battle against gravity before she mustered what could only be described as iron will and continued onward.

  Standing below her, Zach smiled when she pulled herself up and in through the window, coming to sit on the small ledge, her breath coming fast. Still, a smile clung to her face, and she looked utterly proud.

  Without thought, Zach reached for the rope and followed her upward, sliding in through the window and landing with a mild thud only a step away from her. The look on her face was one of confused amusement, and he frown
ed, wondering what eluded him. “Is something wrong?”

  Becca shook her head, a suppressed grin twitching on her lips. “I’m merely surprised you came up here. I’d thought you’d—”

  Zach’s jaw dropped when he realized the implications of his actions. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t suggesting—”

  “I know,” she assured him with a laugh. “I’m only teasing you.” Then she pulled off her cloak and hung it over the back of the chair beside her vanity. “Thank you for tonight,” she whispered when she turned back to look at him. “It was more wonderful than I ever thought it could be.”

  Her eyes looked dark in the dim light from the window, and Zach wondered if she was merely referring to the swim she’d longed for. “It was my pleasure,” he whispered back, his gaze lingering on hers as he moved closer.

  There was something in the way she looked at him that made him think that her words held a deeper meaning as did his own. Still, he could not be certain, and his mind screamed at him to say…something. “When you return to London—”

  Becca nodded. “I’ll help you retrieve your father’s ring as I promised.”

  “That’s not what I meant to say.” Zach frowned, remembering her thoughts on how to accomplish said task. “But I think we should talk about that again.”

  “Yes, we should,” she agreed, and the look on her face grew thoughtful. “I will wear the ring to draw out the person in question.” Her gaze rose to meet his. “But it would be helpful if you could find a way to distract Lord Tedious.” The look on her face darkened. “I do not think it would be helpful if he were glued to my side all evening.”

  Zach shook his head. “I did not mean to talk about how to lure out the man who has the ring. I meant to say that this is no concern of yours. There is no need for you to endang—”

  “No concern of mine?” Becca demanded, her gaze suddenly narrowed as she stepped toward him, a hint of anger lingering in her eyes. Then her lips thinned, and her arms rose to cross in front of her chest. “Do not try to tell me what I can or cannot do! We agreed, and I—”

  “Did we?” Zach snapped despite himself. “I recall arguing against your involvement the last time we spoke.”

  “Then why did you meet me on Rotten Row? Why did you come to Brighton?” Her nostrils flared as she leaned closer, her gaze piercing as it held his own. “I promised I would help you, and I will.”

  “It is too dangerous!” Zach hissed quietly, reminding himself that waking the whole house would not help him make his point.

  She scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous! It’ll be a crowded ballroom. What do you think will happen?” She sighed like someone indulging the fears of a child. “I will draw his attention – whoever he is – so that you know which townhouse to search. Didn’t we agree that it would take a lifetime to search them all? That doesn’t sound very efficient if you ask me!”

  “Of course, it doesn’t, but…” Running a hand over his face, Zach sighed, realizing that there was no reason on this earth that would dissuade her. The passion he saw light up her eyes and give her fire was what he loved about her. It also had the potential to send him into madness. “You promise, you will be careful?”

  An almost giddy expression appeared on her face. “I promise,” she sighed, clapping her hands in delight.

  “You promise you will stay in the ballroom at all times?”

  “I promise.”

  “You promise you will not venture anywhere remote?”

  “Yes, yes,” Becca rushed to agree as her feet began to carry her around the room, “I promise whatever you say.” She stopped, then turned to look at him. “But you need to make sure Lord Tedious is distracted.”

  Zach nodded. “I’ll think of something.” Sighing, he rubbed his hands over his face, feeling suddenly tired. Then he blinked his eyes to clear them and perhaps his mind as well. Indeed, negotiating with Becca was draining. The woman possessed an iron will…as well as fierce loyalty. A tempting combination!

  Glancing down, Zach found his gaze fall on a parchment on her vanity. It had been folded many times from the looks of it. Now it lay with its edges smoothed out, the words barely readable in the dim light.

  With his mind still occupied elsewhere, it took Zach a moment to realize what it was that his eyes had stumbled upon. Her list!

  1 – take an unchaperoned stroll under the moon

  2 – ride astride along Rotten Row

  3 – swim in the sea

  4 – kiss a stranger

  Zach’s heart skipped a beat as the memory of their kiss surfaced. Then he frowned.

  5 – get married in Gretna Green

  Before she had requested a kiss, had Becca not mentioned that there had been only one more item on her list? Had the part about kissing a stranger not been that item? It would seem not.

  “I’ll send word once I’m back in London,” she told him, her gaze distant as he turned to look at her. Her hands were moving as she paced up and down the floor, her mind no doubt at work on a plan. Was her mind ever not working on a new plan?

  “About your list,” Zach began, uncertain how to ask, whether or not to ask at all. Still, it seemed his tongue would not cease. “You said that,” he drew in a stalling breath as his feet carried him closer to her. “You said that—”

  The expression on her face froze. Her eyes went wide, and her jaw dropped ever so slightly.

  Alarmed, Zach rushed forward, his hands reaching for hers. “What is it? Are you unwell?”

  Her eyes darted to the door. “I thought I heard footsteps,” she whispered, then fell silent again, straining her ears to listen. Zach did the same.

  At first, all remained quiet, but then they could make out the unmistakable sounds of approaching footsteps.

  “You have to go!” Becca hissed as Zach was already darting toward the window, his hands reaching for the rope. There was no time to untie it, and so he pulled it up and in through the window, rolling it up and hiding it under the armoire it was tied to.

  “Take off your boots and slip into bed,” he urged when she simply remained where she was, staring at him. “Pretend to sleep.” And then he all but dove out the window, leaning back in to pull the curtain in front of the open window before beginning his descent.

  With any luck, it was only a maid or that sullen woman who’d accompanied Becca to Brighton coming to check on her, who would leave none the wiser once she spotted her mistress asleep in bed. Still, Zach all but held his breath as he forced himself to go slow so as not to make any sound. His fingers found traction, slid into gaps between bricks while the tips of his boots did the same. It was something that came easy to Zach. Something he did without thought, and tonight it served him well.

  Within moments, Zach found himself down on the ground, his gaze darting upward one last time before he hurried away, rounding the nearest corner that would hide him from sight if someone were to look out the window after all.

  His breath came fast as he moved away from Mr. Hawkins’ house and headed back toward the inn where he’d procured lodgings for that night. Still, deep down, Zach knew that only part of his agitation had been caused by his hasty departure as well as the threat of discovery.

  Get married in Gretna Green.

  Did she truly mean it? If so, why had she pretended the kiss was the last item on her list? And if not, why had she added it to her list in the first place?

  In his mind, Zach pictured her in a carriage rushing toward the border, her eyes aglow and her heart in a flutter as she clung to…

  A curse flew from his lips. Surely, she wouldn’t agree to marry Lord Tedious. Not now. Not after everything that had happened. Again, the memory of their kiss surfaced, and Zach felt his heart clench at the thought of another’s lips on hers. Still, Lord Tedious would never agree to marry her in Gretna Green. The man was too straitlaced for that. No, he would insist on a formal affair. Nevertheless, the result would be the same.

  Becca would be married.

  To another.


  Somehow, nothing in his life had ever seemed more wrong.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The Black Baron Strikes Again

  Rebecca could not deny the triumphant smile that came to her face when she received her uncle’s missive, demanding she return to London posthaste. No doubt, Lord Tedious had been inquiring after her, and now her odious uncle feared that he would abandon his suit. Rebecca hoped he would…after she was safely back in London.

  Or as safely as possible.

  The moment Rebecca set foot in her uncle’s London townhouse, she sent a note to Zach, informing him of her return and urging him to be ready at the next ball. How he would distract Lord Tedious was beyond her for the man had proved to be almost impossible to shake. However, she was certain Zach would find a way.

  Perhaps that friend of his with the dark reputation could be of some assistance.

  The next two days passed in a blur as Rebecca found her thoughts occupied not only with the delicious memory of their kiss, but also with the intricacies of planning her exact steps. Indeed, she’d chosen a slightly less revealing gown, remembering Zach’s agitation when she had proposed her assistance in the matter. Had he been jealous? She wondered, hoping that it could be true. After all, never had a man been as protective of her as Zach had been from the first.

  “I’m relieved you’ve recovered,” Lord Tedious droned on. “Indeed, the sea air seems to have done you well.”

  Casting a smile at her visitor, Rebecca nodded. “You’re too kind.”

  Of course, her uncle had been far from truthful with Lord Tedious, who in turn had not possessed the patience to wait until the next event to bore her into oblivion once again. Indeed, he’d thought it prudent to call on her the day after her return from Brighton, annoyingly interrupting her preparations for the next evening. A perfect example of how he would no doubt ruin their plan if he were not otherwise occupied!

  For the thousandth time, Rebecca prayed that Zach had come up with a plan. Still, she could not deny that she was relieved Lord Tedious did not feel compelled to take this very opportunity to ask for her hand. The man seemed strangely determined, casting odd looks at her as though she had turned an unusual color or forgotten to dress that morning.