Page 46 of The Wedding Challenge

The man laughed. “Oh, ho. ’Tis a dust-up you’re after?” He placed his hands upon the ledge, as though he would climb over it into the box.

Callie heaved the bottle at him and was surprised to see that it hit him, although on his chest, rather than his face, where she had aimed. The man stopped, looking at her in surprise.

“Here,” he said resentfully. “No call to do that.” He straightened his jacket and shot her a disgruntled look, then turned and staggered off.

Callie let out a sigh of relief and moved farther away from the front of the box. She looked around and found another bottle to use in case she needed a weapon again. She straightened and turned to find another man looking into the box.

A startled shriek escaped her, and she raised her bottle.

“Callie? Is that you?” the man said and, putting his hand on the ledge, lightly vaulted into the box. “What the devil are you doing here by yourself?”

“Brom!” The bottle dropped from her hand, and with a little sob, Callie ran to throw herself into his arms.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

BROMWELL WRAPPED HIS ARMS around her tightly. “Callie, what happened? What’s wrong?”

“Oh, Brom…” She clung tightly to him. “Nothing happened. There’s nothing wrong, really.”

And, strangely enough, she thought, it was true. Now that Bromwell was here, everything was all right. She no longer felt anxious or afraid, not with his hard chest against her head, his heart beating in steady rhythm beneath her ear.

“Where is everyone?” he asked. “Why the devil are you here by yourself?”

“I’m not,” Callie said lightly, releasing her hold on him a trifle reluctantly and taking a step back. With a wry smile, she gestured toward Mr. Swanson’s slumped form.

The earl turned to look at him, his frown deepening. “Bloody hell! Is the man incapacitated?”

Callie nodded. “I think everyone had too much of the punch, frankly. I feel a bit fuzzy-headed myself.”

“But where is my sister? Where are Lord and Lady Radbourne and the others? Why did they go off and leave you here alone?”

“I don’t know why Irene and Gideon are not here. They never arrived. And everyone else has gone to dance.” She gestured vaguely toward the promenade area. “I was beginning to think that you were not going to come, either.”

“Of course I was coming. Daphne said…” He stopped, his frown deepening. “How long have you been here?”

“I’m not sure. It seems like forever.”

“Obviously long enough for Mr. Swanson to be in his cups,” Bromwell added dryly.

“Yes. We were here well before ten, for Miss Swanson was very eager to arrive before the orchestra began its second performance.”

Bromwell gazed out at the promenade area for a long moment, then let out a sigh and said, “I cannot imagine what possessed my sister to leave you here with only Mr. Swanson. Was he like this when she left?”

Callie nodded and gave a wry smile. “He was not much protection.”

“I should think not.” He grimaced. “I apologize for not arriving sooner. I must have mistaken the time Daphne said. It will be a wonder now if Lady Haughston allows me to darken your door again.”

“It might be best if Lady Haughston did not know exactly what transpired here tonight,” Callie said. “She will only worry. And I am sure there is no likelihood of it happening again.”

Because she would never again make the mistake of accepting one of Lady Swithington’s invitations, Callie added silently.

Bromwell nodded, seeming a trifle distracted. “Well…I shall discuss this later with Daphne. Right now I think it would be best if I saw you home.”

“Yes. I would appreciate that,” Callie agreed. She hesitated. “Although Miss Swanson and Miss Turner are still here. We should make sure that they are all right.”

“Surely they are not alone, as well.”

“No, they went to dance with Mr. Pacewell and Mr. Sackville.”