Lord Tenney was still lingering beside the study, so Jonas shut the door behind him as he walked out in order to keep the man from wandering in and questioning Ailis. One good look at her and Tenney would notice she was quite beautiful. “Comehave a drink with me,” he said, and steered the curious lord back into the drawing room, where the others were all seated.
It took a monumental effort to avoid staring into the entry hall to watch Ailis as she left.
Odd, but a piece of his heart seemed to be leaving along with her.
His heart was still in a tormented ache when he retired to his own bed for the first time in days later that night. It was shortly after two o’clock in the morning when the card games ended, for most of the travelers were tired and many had escaped to their guest chambers after a late supper, skipping the card tables altogether.
But they would be refreshed by morning and eager for full days and nights of entertainment. Gad, how was he going to keep them amused for an entire week, perhaps longer if his stubborn-as-a-boar mother dared invite them to remain another week?
An entire fortnight with these people?
Inconceivable.
He undressed and slipped naked under the covers, inhaling the lavender scent of the freshly laundered sheets in the hope that a hint of Ailis might still linger. He was disappointed to discover there was not even a trace of her feminine scent left on his pillow covers or upon the mattress.
It was as though she had never been here.
Yet she had been, and his heart could not bear the loss of her presence.
How was he ever to return to normal now?
Which got him thinking about what he was doing with his life. The stillness of the night, this haunting quiet of the dark, did that to a man.
Having Ailis with him had been a revelation.
Oh, he’d taken women to bed before. This was not the revelation. What struck him was the unexpected splendor oftaking therightwoman into his bed. That was Ailis…and he had not even touched her beyond a few kisses.
He had a choice to make as he entered his forties and found himself sleeping alone in his big, empty bed. That choice had been simple before Ailis tumbled off her horse and shook him out of his comfortable routine.
A week ago, he had been content in his solitude. Resolved to his fate and set in his ways. Perhaps it was because the scars that marked his limbs and torso had convinced him to choose that path of isolation and keep things simple.
Yes, simple. No involvement meant no hurt.
But how could it be right?
After having Ailis with him these past few days, what had once felt settled now felt aimless.
His solitude, which he once equated with freedom, was beginning to feel like a prison.
This was due to Ailis and the way she filled his house with warmth. She had done nothing but be here, occasionally keeping him company, offering opinions or merely speaking from the heart, but mostly just recovering. Nonetheless, her presence brought about a profound change in the way he wanted to spend his days.
Was this not significant?
Of course it was, but did he dare do something about it when he was so scarred in body and soul? Those hideous marks all over his body were hidden by his clothing, but they were there and would be obvious when he undressed before a wife.
Would Ailis feel revulsion upon seeing them?
If anyone were capable of overlooking them and showing him nothing but compassion and acceptance, it would be her. Perhaps he would summon the courage to show her one day, for it was easy enough to roll up his sleeves and reveal his scarred forearms.
His doorknob began to jiggle.
He was not particularly concerned, because he had locked his door and jammed a chair against it for added security. But how galling to have to protect himself within his own home.
Sighing, he rolled out of bed to hunt in his wardrobe for his robe. As he wrapped it around his torso, he realized the garment still held the feminine scent of Ailis, that apple and honey scent that made him ache to taste her…and in no place proper.
He paused by the door, hoping whoever was attempting to get in would simply go away.
The doorknob jiggled again.
