“For what?”
“Supporting me and then calling me a coward. For saying what you did. I may not have liked it, but you are right. My family has been trying to force me out of hiding but failed. Perhaps it is time that I no longer run the other way when my past is before me.”
“If I’m honest, seeing my brother was not easy.”
“You handled him brilliantly,” she said. “But I could feel the tension between you. Is there no way—”
“No,” he cut her off. “We are different people now.”
She was close to him. His hand on her shoulder, comforting her. Ellen leaned toward him. Gray turned his head, and her mouth slightly touched his.
“Ellen,” he whispered against her lips. His arms then went around her, and he pulled her gently into his body. This time it was he who kissed her. Soft yet insistent. She tasted of the sweetest dessert and yet there was a hint of spice too. Her lips were so plump, her body curvaceous against his.
He’d needed this and had been fooling himself to say otherwise. He wanted to feel her skin beneath his hands, caress her body.
The carriage jolted, and they fell apart. Her eyes were wide with surprise, and yet he saw no regret or fear. Only heat lingered in the blue depths.
“I’m not apologizing for that.” Gray’s words came out hoarse. His body was hard, and his skin felt tight. “Because I have wanted to kiss you since the first night I met you.”
“You were angry with me that night,” she whispered instead of slapping him, which would surely have been the right reaction. Yet what had he expected from this woman who could subdue a man with her umbrella and had visions? She was nothing that was normal and everything that was wonderful and exasperating.
Looking down into her lovely face, Gray felt something bloom inside him.
“I was angry because you were walking about alone on a foggy night after finding a body.”
Her eyes held his, and he swore something passed between them again, but neither said a word about it. Thankfully, the carriage chose that moment to stop.
“I will not regret it either, Gray.” She leaned in to kiss him. Their lips clung, and it took all his strength to pull away.
He didn’t reply because he wasn’t sure how. This woman was a dangerous combination of vulnerable and strong-willed. Sweet and fiery. He’d met no one like her or felt as he did in her company with anyone else. For now, he would take her to tea, and then when he was alone, he would think about what was growing inside him for Ellen Nightingale.
He opened the door and helped her down.
“We are to take tea at Miss Patty’s Tea Shop, Mungo. I will bring you back something,” Ellen said.
The Scotsman glared down at Gray. He gave him a look, and the man’s brow rose. Gray stared at Ellen, who was glancing around her, and mouthed the word “upset.”
Mungo mouthed back the word, “Who?”
Gray narrowed his eyes and then shook his head. He then silently said, “Later.” It was all over in seconds and Ellen unaware of the exchange, but the Scotsman was not happy. However, he said nothing further.
“We shall return soon,” Gray said. He then took Ellen’s elbow and headed toward the lavender-fronted tea shop that had large gold letters above the window stating it was Miss Patty’s Tea Shop.
“I’ve never been here,” he said. “I don’t go to tea shops.”
“Good Lord, really? My family are regular visitors,” Ellen said. The fear and sadness were no longer in her eyes, which made him feel a great deal better.
The place was busy, and he directed them to a table near the rear.
“Hello, Jane,” Ellen said when a young girl came to take their order. “How is your brother?”
The girl smiled. “Much better thank you, Miss Nightingale. His leg is still in a splint, but we’ve hopes for not too much longer. Thank you again. You and your family saved our Eddie.”
“No thanks needed. We’re just glad he’s healing.”
“What was that about?” Gray asked Ellen after the girl had gone.
“We helped her brother. A carriage had run him over.” She shrugged as if it was nothing important.
