Not the most convincing promise, but it was better than nothing.
He grunted and gave a sharp nod. “Very good. But I should warn you, Amelia. If you keep trying to escape, I can’t promise to be so gentle with you next time.”
It was a threat, of course. It ought to make her recoil. It ought to make herangry. Instead, it filled her with taut desire, a pulsingwantthat almost made her gasp.
To avoid saying or doing anything that might disgrace her—she had no idea what she might do, and did not intend to stay and find out—she swallowed thickly and raced past him back toward the house, leaving the lantern behind.
He didn’t follow her, and she could not decide whether she was relieved or disappointed.
Relieved, of course,she told herself angrily.
If she kept telling herself that, perhaps it would become true.
CHAPTER 8
“Coffee, Amelia? Amelia?”
Amelia jerked out of her reverie and contemplation of the magnificent breakfast spread.
“Hm?” she managed, blinking foolishly.
Letitia offered her a smile. “Coffee? I prefer coffee to tea in the morning. I know the fashion is all for chocolate, but that’s simply not to my taste. I can have something made for you, if you like.”
Amelia thought briefly of their paltry breakfasts at home. There’d be tea, the leaves well-stewed and almost tasteless, having been used yesterday at dinner and again at luncheon.
There might be some bread, and perhaps a little jam and butter if they were lucky, but usually they were not. Eggs, perhaps? Not this morning, though, because Amelia knew they had none left, and she had not yet been paid. So, they would make breakfastout of whatever they had left in the house, which was probably not much.
Were Marjory and Nancy hungry this morning? Had Marjory gone straight home—and Amelia hoped she had—or had she continued roaming the streets, looking for her?
What if something happened to Marjory?
That thought sent such a sickening jolt through Amelia’s chest that she had to pause to breathe, closing her eyes to calm herself.
“Just tea, thank you,” she managed at last.
Marjory is safe, I’m sure of it. She’s too clever to get herself into trouble. I should simply be patient and calm. All is well. All is well. All is well.
Letitia poured the tea herself, humming quietly under her breath. She seemed in high spirits, entirely unaware of Amelia’s attempt at escape last night.
The events of last night circled round and round in Amelia’s head. The scene replayed in her mind; Stephen, naked above the waist in the water—probably nakedbelowthe waist, too—watching her with those dark, intense eyes. The moonlight cast a shroud over the whole scene, making it seem almost like a half-remembered dream.
Perhaps it was best if it remained that way.
“If you keep trying to escape, I can’t promise to be so gentle with you next time.”
Even now, in the cool and rational light of day, his words made her shiver.
The man in question sat at the head of the table. He was reading the paper, his eyes fixed on the printed words, and his plate was sparsely filled.
Amelia’s attention was dragged back to the breakfast spread. The three of them could hardly eat half of it. What would happen to the rest? Would it be thrown away?
She shivered at the thought of perfectly good food going to waste.
Oh, well. Whatever takes my mind off Stephen and that kiss last night.
She’d worked hard to avoid thinking ofthat. Heat flooded her body at even the tiniest memory. She would have to avoid the lake for a little while, not that she would be permitted to go outside.
Stephen did not even glance at her once throughout breakfast. Letitia chattered on happily, talking about walks they would take—which Amelia suspected she would not be allowed to go on—and which books in the library Amelia might like.
