Eliza then settled onto the chaise, rested her head on the pillow and pulled the blanket up to her shoulders even though it was warm in the room. It was her fear that had her drawing covers as extra protection.
Chapter23
Lucian felta presence in his chamber but did not move. In fact, he barely opened his eyes, but squinted into the darkness, prepared to attack whoever was trespassing until he realized that it was Eliza who stood just inside the door, holding a blanket.
What was she about?
He nearly asked as she studied him. Thank goodness that he hadn’t pushed the blankets any lower in his sleep or she would be seeing far more of him than any miss ever should. As it was, she studied his face, or perhaps it was his chest, for the longest time and it took everything he possessed to continue feigning sleep. She then crossed the room and when she stepped outside of his peripheral vision, Lucian rolled in his sleep and pulled the blanket up.
Eliza paused her steps, and likely held her breath, as she waited for him to wake. When he didn’t move any further and kept his breathing even, she laid down on the chaise and pulled the blanket up to her chin.
Had the missive scared her enough that she feared being alone?
Apparently, it had because if she had seduction in mind she would have crawled into his bed. Not even when the storm raged did she enter his chamber so she must be even more frightened of a stranger coming into the house.
Did he alert her that he was awake? Did he just let her sleep on the chaise? He was a gentleman and should give her the bed if she truly was too frightened to be alone, except, the chaise was too short for his frame and he certainly couldn’t offer the other side of his bed because it would be torturous to remain on his side and not pull her into his arms.
In all the time that he had known Eliza she had been brave, resilient even if she were sometimes foolish, except when faced with a storm. His heart softened to realize that she must be truly terrified.
What else did she hide behind courage? Had her tarot reading been as accurate as his?
Not that Lucian was willing to give any true credence to the cards but it did make him pause in wonder. Even if they were just a coincidence, they had altered Eliza’s mood the other evening and likely prompted her to leave the safety of the terrace.
What had they been?
The first had been the upside-down Fool, her present, which meant recklessness. The second had been her immediate future, The Moon, reversed, which meant fear and confusion.
He frowned and watched her sleep, or he hoped that she slept as her eyes were closed. But, the fact that she had snuck into his chamber because she was afraid of sleeping alone, offered proof that perhaps it had been accurate.
The third card, her goal or destiny had been the Magician, meaning desire and creation. Given the way she had kissed him—three times—and that she was an author proved both were accurate.
Lucian frowned. Not once had he been the first to kiss her. She always kissed him. A bold miss indeed, though for once, Lucian would like to be the one who kissed her first.
He blinked. Kissing Eliza was the last thing he should be thinking about while she slumbered in his chamber while he was in his bed and quite naked.
Fourth card, yes, he needed to think about the cards, not how pleasurable it would be to have Eliza sharing his bed. It was the distant past and hers had been the Ten of Cups, reversed, or broken dreams and disharmony.
Again, he frowned, and he hurt for the girl who had been forgotten too often by her parents. Left at school and not brought home for holidays. He had lost his parents to death, which had been painful enough, but to be forgotten by a mother and a father must have been equally painful.
As for the fifth card, her recent past, was the Queen of Wands. He smiled recalling that it meant courage and determination, which certainly described Eliza.
None of these cards should have brought about the melancholy he had witnessed that evening. Well, except for her childhood. Could it have been the other cards?
The sixth had been her future influence, the Two of Cups, or unity and partnership. It had been the same as his, but through a different card.
If anything, assuming it was accurate, which they were not, Lucian reminded himself, he assumed that was of a temporary nature until she was no longer in danger. What if it was meant for a more permanent union?
What should alarm him, no longer did. How often had Lucian convinced himself that they would never suit and that passion and desire were not enough to make for a happy marriage, but despite how much she aggravated and irritated him, he enjoyed having her here. It was enjoyable to share dinner with her in the evening, and to have hers one of the first faces he saw in the morning. There was life at Wyndhill Park that had not existed previously.
Yes, when his brothers were here, there was companionship and conversation, but each spent time doing what was of interest to them such as Micah at his cello, Asher rarely left the stables when at the estate, and Silas now spent much time there as well when he was not in London studying veterinary medicine. It was Lucian who remained within the house, seeing to estate business, which was often lonely. That is, until Eliza invaded his home.
He smiled. She had also invaded his heart, and Lucian had no idea when that had occurred, and could not honestly say if it had been recently or years ago.
His mind was drifting to possibilities when he still did not have answers as to her shift in mood.
The seventh card, the questioner or advice had been the Five of Cups, which was acceptance and finding peace. He frowned, as had she, which made Lucian question what she had to accept or what did she need to make peace with. As for the eighth card, her external influence, the Wheel of Fortune prophesied inevitable fate or change. Eliza mentioned that she had not liked having no control over her future. The nine, which had been her inner emotion had been Strength, but reversed and conveyed self-doubt or insecurity.
Lucian frowned. He would have thought Eliza the most confident woman he had ever met. Was it simply all a façade?
