The male voice startled Minerva, and the young man too. He dropped her hand and stepped back.

Minerva looked over his shoulder to see Chase Radnor right inside the door. Chase’s glare bored into the other man’s back.

“The family is gathering.” Chase’s conversational tone did not match the furious expression that Minerva could see. “You should join them.”

Phillip turned to face Chase. “I wondered where everyone was. I thought we were meeting here.”

“No. The drawing room.”

“I will go there forthwith.” He marched away, like a busy man with much to do.

Chase waited for the door to close. Then he strode over to Minerva and reached around her body. “I apologize for my rash, young cousin.” He gently extricated the poker from her fingers. “He had no idea whom he importuned. If you had used this, you might have killed him.”

Her body betrayed her, limb by limb, bit by bit, until her core shook. Waves of revulsion and fear inundated her.

She tried to reach down for the basket, but wobbled. Two firm hands set her upright, holding her shoulders. Deep blue eyes examined her face. She tried to appear normal and calm, but her body still wanted to shiver from an inner cold.

His gaze locked on her eyes. Both curiosity and concern peered into her.

“Sit here.” He turned her, his hands still on her shoulders, and directed her to a divan.

“I should return to—”

“Sit.” He pressed her shoulders until she obeyed.

He dropped to one knee in front of her, watching her closely. “Did more occur before I arrived?”

She shook her head. “You must think me very frail for being disconcerted by such a small advance.” She glanced down at the hand Phillip had held. The pleasant memory of Chase’s gentle pressure had now been ruined.

“I think you sensed a bigger danger than you had to confront, fortunately. I’m sure he would not have . . . Still, you are too vulnerable here. You should not return tomorrow.” He spoke it like a command. She had calmed enough to dislike that, but not enough to argue.

“If not me, one of the others. He is that kind of man,” she murmured. “Trust me on this.”

“Then let it be one of the others,” he snapped. Then he inhaled deeply. “I will tell the housekeeper to warn all the women. You, however—”

“I will never be far from a poker or other weapon.”

“That is one hell of an answer. Stay home. You will learn nothing here.”

His manner raised her pique, and her spirits. “I assure you that I have already learned plenty. I appreciate your stopping your cousin, but do not think to command me.”

He ran his fingers through his hair in exasperation. He stood. “I must join the others. The fires there are built already, so your work is done.” He held out his hand to help her up.