“Thank you. I will keep hold of that thought. I’m trying not to hate Ava. She nursed me back to health, and she gave me Ava-Marie, and I’ll always love her for that.”
“She’s a lovely little girl. I don’t think we need to tell anyone you weren’t married, do you? It serves no purpose.”
“Will Rockwell agree?”
“Of course. He loves you. You were his best friend. He was determined to find you, no matter what it cost. Rely on him if you need help.”
“I will. He’s already given me sound advice about my father.”
She hid a yawn behind her hand. “If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to retire. I’ve called for a bath. It’s been a long day and we have an even bigger few days ahead.”
Just then, the servants arrived with the tub and buckets of hot water.
As she walked toward her bedchamber, he added, “My offer stands, though. I realize I have nothing to offer you except my name. But if you find yourself in dire need, I would be honored to marry you.”
Chapter Eleven
Farah simply smiledat Lucien. There was no way she’d ever consider his proposal—because of Courtney. Liar—because of Rockwell. Carrying her unfinished glass of sherry, she entered her bedchamber. She waited for the servants to leave before dipping her hand in the hot water. She couldn’t wait to soak away the last two days’ worth of grime. It would be quite a while before she had another chance for a bath. She undressed and hopped into the water. She lay back, grabbed her glass off the stool next to the tub, and tried to empty her mind so that she might actually sleep tonight.
But, of course, Rockwell filled her thoughts. Would he come to her tonight? And if he did, how would she react? He’d ignored her today, but they could hardly talk in front of Lucien and Caitria. However, he’d also not sought her out for a conversation or more… Was he regretting what they’d shared? Was she?
No. She wasn’t. If, after this scandal, she moved to her cottage in the country, then she’d unlikely experience passion and desire again. She had a few days more with Rockwell, and they might be her last. What did she want to do? Play it safe and protect her heart or let the timid mouse free. There was only one thing she craved and that was Rockwell—for as long as she could have him. To hell with anything else. The consequences were going to be the same, no matter what she did. So, she would make the most of the time she had left with him.
But how to approach the seduction of Rockwell? It was something she had no experience with. Aside from throwing herself at him, what could she do?
Luckily, a knock on her door helped her decide, especially when Rockwell walked in without waiting for a reply. He started when he saw her naked in the tub. And so she did the one thing instinct urged her to do.
Lifting her head, she squared her shoulders, put aside her sherry glass, and, with great dignity, she gracefully stood up, naked, proud and tall in the tub, as water streamed down over her curves.
There was a glorious satisfaction at the reaction her emergence from the water provoked. Longing flared across his finely chiseled features. “I was coming to tell you I don’t think it’s a good idea to…” Then he swore softly under his breath before flashing a mocking smile. “Farah means beautiful in old English—did you know that? You are aptly named, for you truly are a beautiful woman.”
His gaze swept from her ankles, still hidden by the water, up her legs, halted at the thatch of fair curls at the apex of her thighs, continued over her stomach, and lingered again at her breasts, until finally resting on her face. Heat stole through her body and pooled in her loins. She noted his obvious arousal and the look of lust lighting his eyes. It was all she could do not to jump from the tub and flee.
Farah kept her palms flat against her thighs, willing them not to cover herself. “I think I’d like to learn more about passion.” She crooked her finger. “With you.”
He slowly circled the tub until she could no longer see him—he was somewhere behind her. She trembled in discomfort. It was unnerving not being able to see what he was looking at or read the expression in his eyes. With her back to him, Farah felt more exposed than ever.Be brave. For once, be brave!
The quiet seemed to stretch on, the water dripping off her nude body into the tub the only sound. Each passing minute increased her body’s tremors.
Farah closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
He was close enough for his soft breath to caress her damp skin. “Well played, my timid mouse. I’m not sure who’s seducing whom.” Then she heard him curse softly, all while removing his clothes.
“What did Lucien want to discuss with you?”
She sunk back under the water. “Nothing of importance.”
“Really? Or is it that you just don’t want to tell me?” He slipped into the tub behind her and she leaned back on his chest.
“Would you tell me everything Lucien said to you?”
“Fair point. But I need to be prepared for what might happen when we return to London, if I’m to protect him.”
She closed her eyes and considered Rockwell’s words. There would probably be plenty of women willing to marry Lucien if it became common knowledge he needed money. “He offered a marriage of convenience if I found myself in need.”
“Did he indeed?” Rockwell’s tone was flat, as if they were talking about the weather.
“He thought we could help each other. My dowry to save me from scandal.”
