74 Chapter 74

As Viscount Framerton's bloodless lips parted, everything retreated away from her like a tide-grass, crows, mist, as if she were rehearsing a play, holding the cold pistol, being told where to stand. A mistake. She must pull away.

"I said, back to back." As if she hadn't heard the first time, Viscount Framerton grabbed her shoulder.

She swallowed a gasp-maybe it was a gulp-as Kendall Winterborne took up position and his shoulder blades brushed hers. In all the time she had known Gabe, held hands with him, kissed him too, Gabe had never caused her heart to skid across so many beats she expected to see it skitter across the grass as if the latter were a plate- glass lake and her heart a skimming stone. And she was nailed there, right to the earl's shoulder blades.