Even if she hadn’t been thinking of him a few minutes earlier, Petra would have recognized Guy immediately. He stood under the gas lamp shining over the double front doors of a handsome double-fronted mansion. Petra hesitated, waiting for him to go into the house, but he remained on the pavement, tapping his cane against his leg as he looked down the street toward her.

Her heart seemed to speed up. He was obviously waiting for her to reach him. For a second she toyed with the idea of turning back, going around the opposite side of the square to avoid passing him, and immediately realized how stupid that would be. She had absolutely no reason to avoid him. She wasn’t trespassing, she was as much entitled to be on the square as anyone, not that there was anyone else around, as far as a quick glance revealed.

She squared her shoulders and walked a little faster toward him. “Good evening again,” she called cheerfully, when she was a few feet from him. “You didn’t stay long with your friends at the bar.”

“No,” he agreed. “Why are you walking alone?”

“Because I wish to. It’s a beautiful night,” she returned, hackles rising at the rather peremptory tone.

“I won’t argue with that. Where’s your brother?”

“Going about his own business,” she responded, an edge to her voice.

“He allowed you to walk home alone?”

“I don’t need my brother’s permission to do anything.” Petra made no attempt now to conceal her irritation. Whatever nervousness she’d felt earlier had dissipated under this cross-examination. “Good evening, Lord Ashton.” She made to walk past him but he put a hand on her arm.

“If you were my sister I would not leave you to walk the city streets alone at this time of night.”

“Then it’s fortunate for both of us that I’m not.” She shook off his hand and started to walk away.

“Indubitably,” he returned with a dry smile. Then he frowned, taking in her appearance properly for the first time. “Just a minute, Petra. Are you intending to walk all the way to Brook Street in your stockinged feet?” He stepped up beside her as she continued on her way, trying very hard not to hobble.

“Yes, why not?”

“I’d have thought that was obvious,” he answered. “You might step in something nasty or sharp. There are loose stones all over the place.”