“You’re not dead,” she said.
“You have the ability to focus on the most inane things,” Voss said, reeling a bit from her sudden wakefulness, along with the enticing vision of her rumpled and sleepy. “Not, ‘Why are you here, Voss?’ ‘How did you get in?’ Or, even, as you so bluntly said last time, ‘Get out.’”
“I believe it was ‘Get away.’” Her lips curved a bit. Just a bit. “I am surprised to see you. Does that help?” The low timbre of her voice could have been from sleepiness or some other emotion.
Just then he noticed something glinting at her throat, highlighted by the moonlight. Surely it wasn’t…“Is that the necklace I gave you?” When he shifted, he could see the dark leaves of fresh hyssop intertwined with the gold. He faltered. What did it mean that she was still wearing the necklace to ward him off…especially if she thought he could be dead?
“Yes. I had to replace the hyssop because the original leaves dried up.” Her fingers plucked at it gently. It was too dark to tell for sure, but he thought they might have trembled a bit.
Then his attention was caught by the shadow between her breasts, a deep valley he’d explored only once before…and not nearly well enough. Blood surged through him. He wanted nothing more than to slide into that warm bed with her and line his body along her soft, warm one.
“Why were you crying?” he asked, easing himself to sit at the edge of the bed. If she screamed or called out, it would be that much more difficult to make a getaway this time. Her chamber window was rather high off the ground.
And Corvindale would likely be in no mood to listen to any explanation from Voss.
Angelica looked away. She wiped at what was now a dried rivulet on her cheek. “What are you doing here? If Chas finds out…”
“Your brother,” Voss said, his voice steely, “isn’t going to find out unless you tell him. He’s entirely too involved with Moldavi’s sister to pay proper attention to his own. Or hadn’t you noticed?” Then he smiled ruefully, although she probably couldn’t see it anyway. He sat in shadow while she basked in moonlight. “Notthat I should complain, because if he had been paying closer attention, I don’t think I’d be here now.”
“Please,” Angelica said. “Why are you here? If someone finds you, I’ll be ruined. And tomorrow—” She stopped and he saw her bite her lip.
“What’s happening tomorrow?” he asked lightly. “A ride in the park with Lord Harrington? A picnic with Mr. Revelsworth? Or is it a fete on the arm of Sir Brittonsby?”
“I’m going to become engaged.”
Just in time. Just in time.
“Indeed,” was all he could say. Surprising how his mouth dried and his brain emptied. “But,” he said, forcing his signature smile. “You loveme.Or was that just a lie, to keep your brother from assassinating me with you as witness? I know you don’t care for the sight of blood.”
“It wasn’t a lie. It…isn’t,” she said.
“Truly?” he asked, something inside him easing. He moved toward her. The first touch of her warm skin, his fingers over her arm, sent a shaft of tightnessshuttling through him.Yes.
“Truly,” she whispered. In the low light, their eyes met and he shifted a bit closer, still taking care not to move too quickly. Women could be skittish, even if they claimed they were in love. “I never thought I’d see you again,” she added.
“But…you’re wearing that,” he said, gesturing to the necklace.
She tipped her head down. “It’s the only thing I have from you…except the ruby earbobs. And those weren’t really for me, were they?”
He gave a shameful laugh. “No. I was being an ass.”
“That is exactly what Chas said. Although I think he used a more vulgar term.” She looked back up, still toying with the chain. “And I thought if a miracle happened, and you ever came to me again, I could do this…” She gave a sharp yank, breakingthe chain and scattering hyssop leaves. With a flick of her wrist, she sent the necklace flying through the window. “So that you wouldknow.”
Voss thought he’d been broken before, lying on that sunny ledge…but now, looking into her sultry, exotic eyes, he knew that had only been the beginning. His insides shifted, unfurled, and the last bit of reticence cracked.
“Angelica,” he said, sliding toward her.
She welcomed him, her arms moving around him as he gathered her warm body to his. Sweet, soft, silky. Her scent enveloped him…and that of another, as well.
He pulled away to look into her eyes. “You’ve been near another. A man.”
She tensed a bit. “Lord Harrington and I took a turn about the Stubblefields’ garden tonight.”
“Am I to presume he is the fortunate gentleman to claim your hand?” Voss reached up to touch her head, unable to resist sliding his hand down her thick hair.
Gorgeous, heavy, warm. He wanted to see her standing, dressed in only these tresses.
“He’s calling on Corvindale tomorrow at noon.”
