Honora knew it was wrong to lust over someone in this way, but the man made it so damnably hard, even if he had no idea the temptation he presented to her.
Honora resolutely closed her eyes against the sinful sight, trying to distract herself from her fantasies.
He is not here to woo you.
The man merely plays well, and he is bored by his task of being your shadow. Pull yourself together.
It was useless though. With her eyes closed, she was even more aware of her body’s response to the man. Her insides flared hot, her limbs tingling as that warm glow of desire started below her navel, twisting and tightening like a knot of sin.
Why does it have to be him?she chastised herself, scrunching her hands at her side with frustration.
There had been other men interested in her affections. Honora had even gone so far as to let one of them kiss her, touch her over her gown, in a dark alcove in a garden last season.
She had hoped that her reaction to Silas was an aberration, that she could find it just as well with another.
But she had been woefully wrong and had felt nothing but disgust when the man pushed his tongue into her mouth, crushing her against him.
Honora had only ever wanted Silas, and he had treated her like she didn’t even exist.
Until now.
And the danger to her heart was suddenly more real than the threat outside.
Five
After pleadingexhaustion in order to escape the riot of feelings Silas’s presence had unleashed in her, Honora took supper alone in her rooms, grateful for a moment of peace and solitude.
As much as she was electrified by the dratted man’s presence, after her fall the day before, she found herself beyond weary of being on edge all day long.
Just as she was readying herself for bed, she heard a knock on the door.
Twisting in her seat, she caught sight of Benedict as he strode into the room.
“Brother, how was your day?” said Honora with a wan smile, happy to see him at the end of such a trying day.
It would embarrass him somewhat if she expressed much she truly relied on him, as Benedict was always grouching about how feelings and emotions were overrated in importance.
But, Honora knew that there was no more loyal man in all of England than her studious, outwardly aloof sibling.
Benedict sighed and flung himself into a chair, watching Honora in the mirror.
“I do not want to worry you, but it seems the situation is more complex than I imagine. I will indeed have to travel to Durham to make sure my suspicions are correct.”
“Durham? Are you going to the estate?” asked Honora, turning fully in her seat and resting her chin in her hands.
“We haven’t been home in years.” she added wistfully.
“I will not be staying at Oak Ridge House, but only because I need to be more circumspect. I have retained a man here in town to dig further into the matter from this end while I am gone.”
“How exciting. Is he a Runner?”
Honora had heard some thrilling tales about the more nefarious side of London, but she had never had the opportunity to meet anyone half as interesting.
“No, a retired Captain. His name is Starling, I think you have met him before. No matter, this is not one of your scandalous stories. This is a real danger, for both of us. Please, take this seriously!”
Honora blinked with astonishment, rearing back as she frowned with consternation.
“You think I don’t know how serious this is, Benedict? I wasshotat. I could have been trampled to death by my dear Samson. I know just how serious this matter is every time I look at the worry on your face.”
