“I don’t have to tell you how painful it is to be disappointed after you’ve handed over your heart. After you’ve trusted somebody.” He sounded so serious. And yes, he was correct.
“I’m sorry she hurt you.”
“It was a long time ago.”
She would not press him. Love had the power to imprint wounds one would rather forget.
She knew that this — whatever it was between the two of them — was not love. It could not be. She pushed herself to a sitting position and shivered as cool air met her upper half. “I’m not sure what to do now. I’m quite naïve about matters such as these, Niles.” She avoided meeting his gaze, instead focusing on the privacy screen. She’d done her best to clean the gown she’d been wearing yesterday. It would be presentable, she supposed, glancing wryly at her boots.
“Matters such as what, Eve?” She felt his gaze uncomfortably.
Rising and then moving across the room, she shrugged. “Moments of pleasure?” What did one call this sort of thing?
“What would you wish?” By now, he was sitting up, looking perfectly at ease with the conversation.
“I… I don’t know,” she mumbled, stepping behind the screen and out of his sight.
“How about we start with breakfast?” Laughter rumbled in his voice. Part of her wanted to admonish him for joking about her uncertainty, but the relief washing over her drowned that part out.
“And tea,” she added, pouring water into the basin. This was normal. She knew how to conduct herself well enough, performing normal tasks. “Are you able to come downstairs?” His color seemed better today. “I can have something sent up if you’d prefer to lie abed.”
He didn’t answer so she peeked around the screen, catching a glimpse of him fastening his breeches. Standing, fully clothed, he appeared once again to be the business man she’d come to rely upon.
Only now she knew the texture of his skin. And she remembered how hard his body had felt pressed up against hers.
When he glanced up, he seemed to be suppressing a grin. As though he could read her mind. She lifted her hand to tuck some stray hairs behind her ear. He didn’t force the issue, however. “I’ll meet you downstairs in half an hour. I’m going to see what I can do to acquire some sort of conveyance for us to travel in tomorrow.”
Tomorrow.
Pebble’s Gate.
For some reason her heart dropped at his words. He sounded anxious that they be on their way. She ought to feel the same. Hadn’t it been she who had insisted upon traveling without delay?
“Yes. But of course.”
“Eve.” He turned back and captured her gaze. Something in his eyes flared, sending an unexpected warmth swimming through her. “Moment by moment.”
He’d apparently realized her uncertainty. She nodded, feeling foolish but also comforted.
“I’ll meet you downstairs then.” What would they do for all of a day in one another’s company? They certainly could not remain in the chamber!
Interlude
The list of details he’d subconsciously catalogued regarding Eve Mossant was becoming amazingly long.
She drank tea with one spoonful of sugar but no milk. She brushed her hair behind her ear whenever she was nervous. She mumbled in her sleep.
And after being intimate with a man, with him, she turned up shy.
Niles had especially enjoyed the blush that crept up her neck when he stared at her with a certain knowing. As though she too, was reliving the intimacy from earlier that morning.
He’d reserved a gig for the two of them to rent the next morning. It wouldn’t be as luxurious as the coach they’d lost, but he deemed travel would be safe.
Leaving the two of them with today…
He’d told her it was important to seize the moments of pleasure life offered and then decided to take his own advice. Leaning back in his chair, he studied her.
She all but glowed.
