She shook her head. “No. They already know what is wrong with me. It’s what I’ve warned you about. This is just the first time I’ve been struck with one for some time.” She sighed heavily. Until then, she’d been living in a dream world, but it was time to awaken.
“How often do they happen?” he asked softly.
She thought for a moment. “I used to get them quite frequently, perhaps once every two weeks at the beginning, but they have lessened somewhat over time.”
“Perhaps they will cease entirely,” he suggested. The hopeful note in his tone did not go unnoticed on her.
“I’m afraid not,” she said. “I saw several physicians for my condition and they said I would deal with these for the rest of my life.” She swallowed hard. “If one gets bad enough, I might not survive.” She moved out of his arms and got to her feet. Although she was slightly unsteady, she remained upright by sheer will alone. “I think it’s time for you and Arabella to go now.”
“Of course.” He stood, facing her. “You should get some rest, but I don’t feel right leaving you alone.”
“I shall manage. I generally do.”
She could tell he wasn’t pleased by her admission, but he didn’t argue as he gathered Arabella. The child wasn’t very pleased that they had to cut their visit short, but she no longer had such violent outbursts as she once had. Even his mother had remarked about what wonderful progress Arabella was making. Ada hoped that when she severed ties with Mr. Clarke it wouldn’t unravel all the work she had done. But she had promised herself never to subject anyone to her condition, and she intended to keep that vow.
When they left, Ada sank down onto the couch and allowed the tears to begin to fall. There were times that even a grown woman was allowed to cry for herself.
Ada was mad if she thought Brandt wasn’t going to return to make sure she truly was as well as she claimed. He dropped Arabella with his mother at the townhouse and explained what had happened.
“Oh, dear. She shouldn’t be alone without anyone to turn to in her time of need,” she had agreed wholeheartedly. “And considering everything she’s done for Arabella, we owe her a debt we may not ever be able to repay. You must make haste.”
Brandt didn’t waste any time. He climbed back into his carriage and drove straight back to Ada’s residence. He strode up the steps and knocked on the door. He waited impatiently, until it was finally opened by the housekeeper. “The mistress isn’t in right now,” the older woman said firmly.
He put his hands on his hips, frustration coursing through him. “I just left. I know she’s here.”
“She’s not accepting guests,” the servant returned with a stubborn sniff.
He lifted a brow. “I know you haven’t always approved of my presence here, but you can let me inside, or I can force my way in. Either way, I’m going to see Mrs. Givens. So what is it going to be?”
She stared at him with a rather mutinous expression for a moment, and then she reluctantly stood back and allowed him to enter.
“You made the right choice,” he said. Softening his tone, he said, “Where is she?”
She sighed heavily. “Still in the parlor, Mr. Clarke.”
He headed in that direction. When he entered the room, his heart fell to his feet at the look of despondency he saw in the slump of Ada’s shoulders. It looked as if she had given up all hope, and he couldn’t stand for that. “Ada.”
When he said her name, she gasped sharply and looked up. Her face was still shining with the tears she’d shed. Her long lashes were spiky with moisture. She got to her feet and quickly wiped at her face, as if by doing so, it would remove the evidence of her upset. “What are you doing here? I told you before I left that I was fine.”
“Clearly,” he murmured. “But if that were true, then you wouldn’t be sitting here and weeping as if your heart was breaking in two.”
“What I do with my time is none of your concern,” she snapped. “Now I must kindly ask you to go.”
He walked toward her, close enough to touch, and reached out his hand, cupping her cheek. “I’m afraid that’s impossible. I’m not going anywhere just yet.” He paused. “Maybe never. You think that you scared me away with what happened earlier, but it only made me want you more. I know you want to be independent and retain your freedom, but it’s not right for you to be alone right now. I want to take care of you, to be there to hold your hand if you have another episode. Don’t deny me this chance to prove how much I care for you.”
Her chin trembled slightly. “Oh, Brandt…”
It was the sound of his name whispered on her lips that caused him to act. He reached down and kissed her with all the feeling that yearned to burst out of his chest. Without thought, he broke contact and lifted her into his arms. Breathing heavily, he asked, “Let’s go to your chamber.”
“It’s upstairs, and down the hall. The second door on the left—”
“Oh, I remember.” He didn’t hesitate but carried her all the way up the staircase and to her rooms. He passed the shocked housekeeper on his way there, but not only did Brandt ignore her, so did her mistress. In that moment, they only had eyes for each other.
He kicked the door of her chamber shut behind him and didn’t stop walking until he had laid her down on the bed. He followed her down, where they returned to each other’s arms. It was like the first time they had been together, relentless kisses and exploring hands, but Brandt refused for this to be over that quickly. He intended to savor this moment, to enjoy his time with her. Even though he didn’t plan on it being the last, he was determined to show her how perfect it could be between them.
He rolled their positions until she was on top of him. There, he unbuttoned her gown and slipped it off her shoulders. The laces of her stays were next and when they loosened, he pushed them down, baring her to his gaze from the waist up. He cupped her breasts and molded the flesh with his hands. Flicking a thumb over her hardened nipples, he lifted his head and sucked one taut peak, and then the other, until Ada was moaning with pleasure. Reversing their positions once again, he lifted her skirts. Bunching them up around her waist, he slid down the length of her body, until his head was between her thighs.
“Brandt—?” She didn’t finish her sentence as his head lowered and he slid his tongue along the seam of her sex. With a shocked gasp, her thighs tensed and her hips lifted. Brandt clutched her buttocks to keep her in place as he pleasured her with his mouth. He tormented her until she was moaning and writhing beneath him.
