She swallowed hard. “I think it’s clear I do. I…do. I’m just not…sure.”
“I understand,” he said, and touched her cheek again, this time tracing it with his fingertip. “It’s not something a gentleman should ask a lady. Not something I ever would have pictured asking you, but here we are.”
She nodded. Oh yes. Here they were. “If we’re going to do this…this thing,” she whispered at last. “You must make me one promise and one promise only.”
He nodded slowly, his expression not changing so that she could tell how he felt about her demand.
She drew a deep breath that felt like it shook through her lungs. “You must do everything in your power to make certain Ineverget with child.”
Now he could not control his expression. Shock flowed over his features before he said, “I assure you, I would never be so careless as to do such a thing. Though you must know that I would take responsibility if you did—”
“No!” she interrupted sharply, disinterested in hearing his lies on a subject that cut her down to the very heart. “No child, Lucas.”
He examined her face for a beat and then nodded slowly. “I’ll be careful.”
She tensed, for his curiosity about her request and the strength with which she demanded it was evident on his face. He had questions, ones she had no intention of answering now or ever.
“Diana,” he began.
She silenced him by lifting to her tiptoes, cupping his face and kissing him. It worked, because of course it did. He was a man before he was a spy, and need would destroy curiosity every time. He slanted his mouth over hers, opening and claiming as his arms came around her and held her close.
She found her tension fading as the kiss swept her away. Thoughts and memories melted, leaving only sensation and desire. She slid her hands up to his chest, still bare, for neither of them had fastened his shirt after she helped him with it. She bunched her fingers against the muscles there, tracing light patterns on his skin with the edge of her short nails. He grunted in the back of his throat and his hands traveled down to her backside to grind her against him.
She moved to unfasten the trousers she had just helped him with when there was a sound from the lower floor of the house. Banging on the door. They broke apart and their eyes met. His were lit with concern, and he backed up.
“Will you fetch the pistol I have under my pillow, please?” he asked, calm despite the horrifying question.
Her eyes went wide, but she did as he asked, moving to the bed. “You keep a pistol under your pillow?” she asked.
He stepped to the window. “I do, I must since—” He stopped and turned to her with a hand lifted. “You may put it back. It’s Stalwood.”
Diana’s eyes went wide and she lifted a hand to her loose hair. She felt like last night had branded her somehow. That this bargain they had just struck to continue the passion between them branded her even more. Stalwood would see, wouldn’t he? He was too clever not to.
“Are you going to answer it or should we hide until he goes away?” Lucas teased, but Diana saw the steadiness in his stare. The gentleness she didn’t expect but that drew her in whenever he revealed that side of himself.
“Hiding does sound lovely,” she said. “But I should let him in. I fear he’ll break down the door if I do not. Can you manage the rest of your dressing yourself?”
He nodded and waved her toward the door. “Go ahead, go ahead.”
She drew a few long breaths as she hustled down the stairs. Stalwood was knocking again, this time more strenuously. She rushed to the foyer and threw open the barrier, her breath coming short as she did so.
Stalwood stood there, of course. His face was lined with concern that gave way to relief as he looked down at her. “Good morning, Diana. I was beginning to get worried when you did not answer.”
His gaze flitted over her, and Diana could not help a blush as she stepped aside and ushered him into her parlor. “I apologize. When one keeps no servant, sometimes one takes a bit longer to respond.”
Stalwood nodded. “I see. Does that mean you would like a servant? I could find someone trustworthy to—”
“No!” Diana interrupted, perhaps a bit more strenuously than she should have if Stalwood’s delicately raised eyebrows were any indication. But the idea of having someone else come into this little bubble she had created with Lucas was not a pleasant thought. “I only mean that I manage well enough. I like the cooking, the wash is sent out. There is no trouble.”
He inclined his head. “As you wish.”
She shifted. “My manners, I’m sorry. Will you join me in the parlor?”
Stalwood followed her to the little parlor. She stirred the embers of the fire and threw on a log to warm the room further. Drawing a long breath for calm, she pulled open the curtains to let more light into the chamber.
“How is your patient?” he asked as he settled himself into a chair. He was watching her. She felt it with every movement.
She forced a bright smile as she faced him once more. “Well. Improving with each passing day.”
