Her riding habit was sodden from the rain, and she stood up, shivering. “I don’t know. I need to think first.”
He noticed her discomfort and asked, “Are you cold from the rain?”
“A bit.” Lily moved a chair over beside the fire. With a sigh, she said, “Well, I suppose we should see what’s in the baskets. Perhaps it will give us an idea of how long she intends to leave us here.”
A part of her feared that Amelia was intending to keep them locked away for the rest of the afternoon. Or even worse, all night. She tried to think of how many people knew she was here,and realized it was only her immediate family and Amelia. No one else had seen her.
Matthew opened the first basket and withdrew a bottle of wine. “It looks as if my cousin has packed enough food for the rest of the day.” Then he pulled out another bundle wrapped in cloth. “I believe we have bread and cheese here, some cold meats, and a cake.” One by one, he withdrew parcels and set them upon a nearby table. “One thing is certain—we won’t starve.”
Lily opened the second basket and found several vials of what looked like oil. Then there were pieces of a sponge and…was that a length of black silk? “What on earth is this for?”
Matthew eyed the contents of the basket and grimaced. “No one could accuse Cousin Amelia of subtlety.”
Lily had no idea what he was talking about. “I don’t understand. Why would she put this silk in here? Is it meant for a napkin? And what is this bit of a sponge for?”
Matthew’s shoulders were shaking, and he took the fabric from her. “She’s only matchmaking, Lily. It’s nothing to worry about. Don’t pay it any heed.”
But she was still curious about it. She returned to stand by the fire while Matthew unwrapped the rest of the food. A part of her knew that they ought to call out for help or, at the very least, attempt an escape.
And yet, she was not entirely displeased by having a few hours alone with him. Itwouldgive her the opportunity to hear what Matthew had endured in India. She felt as if it might exorcise his demons, allowing him to share his burden. If a scandal ensued, so be it. Only a few knew she was here, and his cousin Amelia was part of the matchmaking.
Lily removed her bonnet and set it aside. Her hair was wet and hanging against her shoulders, so she removed several of the pins.
Matthew was still holding the black silk, and he approached her slowly until they both stood by the fire. “Do you want to leave, Lily? I could break the door down, if need be.”
She felt a tremor slide over her skin, and it prickled with gooseflesh. “Not yet.” Her voice came out in a whisper, and she let her hands fall to her sides. “Unless you want to.”
“Not yet,” he repeated. He leaned in and rested his forehead against hers. “I know you have not yet given me an answer to my proposal. But if we stay here, it will cause talk.”
“I know it.” She drew her hand to rest upon his cheek. “But I want you to tell me about India. I need to hear it before I can marry you.”
“You may not want to marry me after you hear it,” he admitted.
“It haunts you still. And perhaps it will ease your burden if you share it.” She traced her fingertips over his rough cheeks, feeling the stubble of a growing beard. His brown eyes were fixed upon hers, and in them, she saw hunger and desire. The intensity of his gaze speared through her, and he slid his hands around her waist.
“Do you know why Cousin Amelia locked us inside this room?” he murmured. His warm hands slid down her spine, before he cupped her hips and drew them close. She could feel the hard ridge of his arousal, and her breasts peaked beneath her chemise and corset.
“I—I think so. She wanted to force us into marriage.”
“Through seduction,” he clarified. “That second basket is filled with everything necessary for lovemaking.”
Her mouth formed an O, and she blinked a moment. “Well. That wasn’t at all what I was expecting.”
He stole a kiss, his mouth nipping at hers. A hundred questions filled up her mind, but she silenced them. His kiss evoked such strong memories of the past, of the man he hadonce been. When his tongue slid against her lips, she welcomed it, feeling the echo of desire between her thighs.
“There are extra clothes in the other basket,” he told her.
The thought was tempting, but she was still uncertain about what would happen between them. “Pour some more brandy,” she told him. “And then start at the beginning. I want to know why you left and what happened when you were there.” She had a feeling she would need spirits to fortify her courage.
Matthew stepped back and returned to the table. He poured two glasses of brandy, handing one to her. “You should sit down, Lily.”
She chose a chair beside the fire and gestured for him to join her. He did, pulling his chair so close to hers that their knees touched. Lily took a sip of the brandy by way of a distraction. The second glass went down easier, and it warmed her throat.
Matthew set his own wine on the table but did not touch it. In the firelight, she could see the troubled lines of his face and the scar across one cheek.
“James was angry with your father,” he said quietly. “George wanted him to take more responsibility, to bury himself in the affairs of the estates. Your brother was young and wanted to live his life before being shackled to the earldom.”
“He didn’t know our father was sick,” Lily said. “Or he wasn’t willing to acknowledge it.”
