“Ye know the situation is not so simple, lass.”
“Do I?” She snatched his left hand, pressing it between her palms. The warmth of her skin on his sent a shudder up his arm. “Alex, I am asking you as a friend . . . please give this up. Go to London, sign the attainder, allow us to work out as a family how best to corral Frank’s worst impulses. I am begging you. For me. For Freddie. For my sister. For the love I had for my father and my desire to fulfill his dying wish.Please.”
Alex looked down into her blue eyes. They were fathomless chips of summer sky, pleading. He couldn’t help a lingering glance at her mouth, at those lips he had kissed and caressed and fair worshiped not even twenty-four hours previously.
The words sat there, right on the tip of his tongue.
Yes, Lottie-lass. Of course, I will do that for ye.
I would do anything for ye.
But along with the thought rose that last glimpse of Mr. Bartlet standing in his doorway, Alex’s crutch under his arm. The man’s ragged expression, the hollow cheeks of his children, the mud and squalor and hopelessness inside that house.
Alex had always prided himself on his steady head. On his ability to see past emotions to the bare truth of a situation.
“Lass,” he whispered, something hot lodging in his throat.
He gently tugged his hand free of hers and slowly raised a finger, skimming it up the soft expanse of her cheek. He cupped her jaw, letting his adoration shine as his eyes met hers.
He expected to see hope in her gaze, hope that he would agree with her request.
But instead, her eyes filled with tears. Her chest heaved.
Ah.
She knew him so well. She knew his heart. She knew what he would decide before he spoke the words.
And wasn’t that the worst of it? That he was forcing himself to hurt the woman who knew him best?
She backed away, her head shaking back and forth.
“I’m so sorry, lass,” he choked out the words they both already knew. “But Icannaemake such a promise. Not right now. I have tae investigate these claims. To do anything less would be untrue tae my very nature.”
She turned away from him with a sob, pressing the back of her hand to her mouth.
Alex nearly broke.
Nearly took back his words, pulled her into his arms, and promised her the moon and stars. Anything to take away her pain.
His own vision blurred as he turned for the door, leaning on his crutch.
A rustle of fabric had him turning around.
He barely had time to gasp as she wrapped a hand around the back of his neck and pulled his mouth down to hers.
Alex banded his free arm around her waist, scooping her body into his.
She tasted of tears.
Of dreams unrealized.
Of a future lost.
He kissed her savagely.
If he thought to overwhelm her, he should have known better.
His lass would never back down.
