ChapterTwenty-Four
“Ihave to go,” she said.
Even though she knew this was the right thing to do, her heart twisted at the thought of leaving him. Her beloved. Her knight in shining armor.
“No, my darling.” He held her against him, his heartbeat steady and strong. “You must stay. Trust me to protect you.”
“I am nothing but trouble,” she said fretfully. “I will not be a burden to you.”
“You could never be a burden. You, my sweet rose, are my salvation.”
His kiss was gentle and convincing. Even as she lost herself in their passion, a shadow fell over her soul. She looked out the window and saw her nightmare coming up the drive. Terror welled as she saw moonlight glinting off a pistol. Then came the violent pounding on her beloved’s door…
“Xenia?” Ethan looked up in surprise when she entered his bedchamber through the hidden servants’ corridor. “I wasn’t expecting you tonight.”
That much was obvious. He was ready for bed in his dressing gown, his hair damp and curling from a bath. Already out of breath from rushing here, she felt her lungs strain in part because of his splendid virility…but mostly because he was alive and breathing. The terror of her dream propelled her into his arms.
He caught her against him, holding her tight.
“What happened, love? Why are you so frightened?”
His voice rumbled beneath her ear, as did his steady heartbeat.
Thank God.
“I had a dream,” she said shakily.
He stroked her hair. “A bad one?”
She nodded against his chest, feeling muddled. The nightmare had been so convincing, so real. Her pulse was racing, her skin damp beneath her nightgown. She’d been in such a panic to make sure he was all right that she hadn’t changed before rushing here. It was only by chance that she’d evaded the guards.
“What was the dream about?” he asked gently.
“I don’t know,” she said.
“You don’t remember the dream?”
“I’m not sure it was a dream.”
“What was it then?”
She lifted her head to look at him. “You are going to think I’m mad.”
“I won’t. Tell me.”
Drawing a breath, she said, “It felt almost like…like a memory.”
“It isn’t unusual to dream about things that have happened to us.”
“But it wasn’t my memory. I think…I think it was someone else’s.”
Ethan’s brows winged. “Whose?”
“I don’t know. But she was like me.” Xenia bit her lip. “I told you that I’ve felt a presence in the manor, and now I think it’s her—the woman from the dream. She and I…we’re alike. She is trying to leave her past behind. And she doesn’t want to be a burden to her lover.”
“You could never be a burden…” He trailed off. “Why are you looking at me that way?”
“He said those exact words,” Xenia whispered.
