“Um…” Roarke uttered in some sort of stupor before he shook his head and thrust a box at her. “This is for you,” he said somewhat gruffly.
“What is it?”
“Open it and you’ll find out.”
Mara feared he’d brought her another gift, but to humor him and the rather odd expression he’d suddenly developed, she took the box over to the bed and took off the lid. She peeled aside the protective paper and gasped when she spied the lovely red velvet cloak inside. She lifted it almost reverently to get a better look when Roarke spoke up.
“I thought you needed something to match your gloves.”
Mara knew she should refuse to accept it, but heaven only knew she could use a new cloak and the fact it came from Roarke, the man she had always loved, would go far to keep him in her memory long after he was gone.
She turned back to where he still stood in the doorway and put the cloak around her shoulders. After tying a neat bow, she gave a little twirl. “How does it look?”
He attempted to speak, but when it came out rather husky and incoherent, he cleared his throat and tried again. “Very nice.”
She walked forward and put a hand on his cheek, then dared to rise up on her tiptoes to give him a quick kiss. “Thank you,” she said sincerely, “But truly, I can’t accept anything else.”
His eyes glittered. “That sounds like a challenge.”
“It’s not,” she chided. “Living in the moment doesn’t mean spoiling me.”
He lifted a brow. “I beg to differ.”
“Roarke…” she warned.
He held up his hands. “I know defeat when I see it. I’ll meet you in the dining room when you’re ready, unless you’d like me to escort you?”
She smiled. “I think I’ll be fine, but thank you for the offer. I’ll see you soon.”
* * *
Roarke was starting to believe that red really was Mara’s color—or else he was just drawn to her like a bull was to a Spanish matador. Likely both were true, for ever since he’d seen her with that sunshine hair falling around her like a golden cloud and curling ever so delightfully over her breast, he’d had a devil of a time concentrating on anything after the fact. Even dinner had been a strained affair, at least, on his part, although Mara and Mr. Edwards had chatted rather candidly as they spoke about the old days on his ancestral estate.
During the meal she’d cast him a few wondering glances regarding his silence, but after he offered her a smile or a flirtatious wink, at which she blushed rather prettily, she must have decided his reluctance to participate in their conversation was because he was travel weary.
In truth, he was suffering from a raging erection.
But he wasn’t about to get stone drunk again to relieve his symptoms. Not to mention that things were progressing so nicely between him and Mara that he didn’t want to jinx it by requesting her charms and being denied.
In the end, he knew there was no use for it but to continue to be racked with desire until patience—or insanity—won the day.
God, give me strength.
* * *
The next morning, Roarke informed Mara that they would only be stopping that day for a brief bite, because he’d like to make it to Cornwall by that evening. Eversleigh Hall sat near the village of Trevena on the coast, not far from the Tintagel castle ruins. Its history dated back as far as the Medieval era and held a place of honor in the parish due to its legendary ties to King Arthur.
Mara tried to act as calm as possible when she climbed into the carriage after his announcement, but the fact of the matter was, she felt as though she’d swallowed a jar of butterflies.
Back where it all began…
For some strange reason, she found that fact more nerve-wracking with Roarke by her side than when she had planned on going alone to search for Lily. Then, she had been wholly focused on a mission. Now, while she still had the same motivation, she had to wonder if Roarke might stumble onto some link to the past. He’d told her he hadn’t gone back since he’d returned from India.
What if one of the servants who’d been there for years recognized her and put two and two together regarding the former viscount?Lady Eversleigh had assured her long ago that she would take care of the matter, but what if she’d missed some viable clue?
Mara tried to stay positive, but as the miles dragged on, it finally ate at her to the point she blurted, seemingly out of the blue, “Do you mind if you introduce me as Miss Anna Smith once we get to Eversleigh Hall?”
Roarke had been in the middle of reading a book he’d picked up before they’d left Exeter, but now he glanced up with a crease between his brows. “Is there a certain reason for this request?”
