She gave him a peck on the cheek and climbed over the fence before one peck became twenty minutes of kissing.
“Let’s do something you like,” she told him. “You must have a botany book you can fascinate me with.”
“I do have fascinating botany books,” he agreed. “All botany books are fascinating. This is a very easy request.”
“Is it?” she said doubtfully.
He was over the fence in seconds. This time, his knuckles weren’t white, and his gait held a certain swagger.
She should not find overconfident botanists attractive.
She shouldnot.
But when he caught her and claimed her mouth with his, she melted into his embrace willingly. Forget the horses. For three more days, she had Elijah.
Somehow, they managed to get through the house and into his guest chamber without bumping into her father. Tomorrow, the servants would return from their holiday, and the chances of sneaking about unnoticed would become far less likely.
Olive wasn’t certain if this was good news or bad.
“Botany first,” she informed him. “You must impress me if you want to earn more kisses.”
His response was the most arrogant, toe-curling grin she had ever seen.
“Prepare to be thoroughly kissed,” he assured her. “I shall be the one in desperate need of a chastity belt to fight off your amorous advances once I display my intimate knowledge ofNelumbo nucifera. And then, if you behave yourself, we’ll move on toOlea sylvestris.”
Olive had no idea what any of that meant, but anticipatory gooseflesh tickled along her skin all the same.
She pulled off her boots and coat, and settled cross-legged on one side of his bed rather than use the stool at his dressing table. Olive pretended she hadn’t done so just to make herself more available for the forthcoming kisses.
She gave her fingers a regal wave. “Ply me with botany.”
He surrounded her with illustrated texts, then removed his own boots and coat to join her atop the bed.
It felt a little bit like the picnic in the pavilion. Superficially innocent. Thrillingly dangerous.
Elijah launched into a passionate, surprisingly riveting explanation of the differences between botanical gardens, which were primarily for pleasure, and physic gardens, whose flora promoted healing.
He showed her illustration of plant after plant. The petals of this one were for this, the bark of that tree was for that. He explained the history of how each was discovered, as well as its dangers: some were poisonous if handled incorrectly, or might react adversely in certain situations.
She was impressed. “I assumed the sons of lords did little more than gorge on wine and play whist at gentlemen’s clubs.”
“It’s a courtesy title,” he grumbled. “We’re not special. I’m an ordinary gentleman who happens to be making promising progress into preventing childbirth infections caused by unexpelled placentae, by using compounds isolated from certain plants.”
“You sound extraordinary to me,” she said softly. “How does one become interested in… placentae?”
“My mother.” Elijah swallowed visibly and began stacking the books onto the side table next to the bed. “Many women die of childbed fever. That was the cause of hers. For the first time in years, we’re finally close to making those deaths preventable. Mothers like mine willlive.” His expression was fierce. “I would doanythingto prevent other women from meeting the same fate.”
Not just women, Olive realized. Their children suffered just as much.
She lay her hand on his leg. “I understand. I was lucky enough to have eight years with my mother before pneumonia took her. If there would have been any way to prevent her death, I would have done it, no matter the cost.”
His gaze snapped to hers, hot and intense.
“No matter the cost?” he repeated.
She nodded. “Of course. Who wouldn’t do the same?”
But his eyes still looked haunted.
