She presented her back to him. ‘Can you at least help with the buttons?’
He stood there, not touching her. ‘What are you doing?’
‘Asking for your help. They’re just buttons.’
Blinking slowly, he reached up and took hold of the top button, careful not to touch the bare skin visible above.
‘This is always the cruellest part of the day,’ she said quietly.
His fingers continued to work down the row of buttons. ‘Why’s that?’
‘That bedchamber is empty. There’s no sisters in there to lie beside, to laugh with and share secrets with in the dark.’
‘Done,’ he said, hands falling away from her exposed back.
She turned, her smile gone.
Feeling sorry for her, he said, ‘Soon you will have a husband to tell all your secrets to.’ He had to stop his mind there for his own sanity.
‘I wouldn’t trust the king with my secrets.’ She hesitated. ‘I trust you though.’
Swallowing, he reached past her and pushed the door open. ‘In you go.’
She did not move. ‘Don’t you want to know if I sawyou?’
He shook his head. ‘It doesn’t matter now.’
‘You saved Pig’s baby. How could I not see you?’
It took him a moment to figure out what she was talking about. His hand went to his brow. ‘Ah, the boar.’
‘I was always supposed to marry up, but not this far up.’ She laughed. ‘This whole thing is ridiculous.’
He said nothing.
‘And now I’m thinking back to every time you came to the shop, to the house, to the dock, and I’m wondering why I never saw it.’ She pressed her lips together and looked away.
His chest felt heavy and his hands restless. He gestured to the bedchamber. ‘Go inside before someone sees you standing out here with your dress unbuttoned—withme.’
She covered her face with her hand. ‘And now you reject me.’
‘You’re drunk.’ He pulled her hands down and dipped his head to hers. ‘Tell me to help you out of your dress when you’re sober, and you might get a very different response.’
He saw her swallow as he stepped back.
It was perfect timing, as the rattle of a tray announced the arrival of a maid.
‘I’ll send for Thornton,’ Astin said. ‘Get some sleep.’
Lyndal stepped aside to let the maid pass and lost her balance.
Astin caught her again and walked her inside, sitting her on the bed. Turning to the maid, he said, ‘Help her change, make sure she eats, and don’t leave her side until she’s asleep. Understand?’
The older woman nodded. ‘Yes, sir.’
Then he marched out without a backwards glance.
Chapter 25
