“I was twenty years old, a widower, and I moved to Town, found a surgeon with a busy practice and started working under him. I told myself I wanted to help people, but what I truly wanted was the power to go back in time, help them, and save them. Of course, I couldn’t do that, in reality.”
“I am terribly sorry,” Violet murmured, her heart breaking as she watched the pain suddenly drain from his features.
A half-hearted smile took its place, as he finally looked back at her. “That was almost ten years ago now. I have experienced too much of life in the intervening years, and even now, as much as it pains me, I have still watched, helpless, as children pass from the very same illness. A doctor is not a god, and I have been thoroughly humbled.”
“How did you become close to the Duke?” asked Violet. Finally, she might get some answers to the questions floating around in her head.
“I was hired by the Duke to treat his mother. Ashton is a hard man, but he loved her dearly. The old duke… did not treat the duchess well, and Ashton had always looked after her as much as he could. I did all I was able to, but in the end, I could only make her passing as painless as possible.”
“You have been joined by sadness then. But also something else, I suspect.”
“You are quick-witted, Violet. I saw it in your eyes the very first time I laid eyes on you.”
She said nothing, rather, she waited for Richard to speak his mind into the silence.
“Ashton had certain…proclivities, that he indulged himself in. I think perhaps he believed he was as black-hearted as the old duke wanted him to be. I admit also, that I allowed myself to be drawn into that world, following him at first, but later, it became more. We trust each other on a deep level, and also, we understand each other.”
A long moment of silence passed, and Violet sensed that Richard would say no more.
She would let it be, for now, she decided. Although, Violet had one more question.
“You like to watch, to touch… But do you ever allow yourself to be touched in return?” Violet whispered, sitting up slowly, the blanket sliding down from her shoulder and revealing the simple shift she wore.
She had removed her dress before sleep, knowing she would awake only to dress again for dinner.
Richard’s gaze tracked the motion, his eyes devouring the sight even as his face remained impassive.
“I would let you touch me, if that is what you wanted,” he said finally. His clear blue eyes caught on hers and held her in place, her heart catching in her throat at his admission.
He was waiting for her.
Richard wanted more than he was willing to admit. She realised she had felt this all along.
Violet drew back the blanket, swinging her bare feet over the edge of the bed and pressing them into the soft, plush carpet below.
She suddenly remembered something Ashton had said to her, that day in the library.
I too can make you feel good. We both could, if you wanted us to.
This was something that Ashton had anticipated. Perhaps even encouraged.
They stared at each other, something charged and tense passing between them.
Keeping her eyes on his, Violet sank to her knees on the carpet. Slowly, she crawled towards Richard, his expression growing more fierce and possessive the closer she came.
Gone was the charming and genial doctor, the unassuming man who always put her at ease. In his place was a man pushed to the very limits. Dangerous, exposed, but still, waiting.
Finally, she reached his feet, kneeling there like a supplicant as he towered above her.
“I would like to touch you, Richard. Please,” she said simply, waiting.
CHAPTERTEN
Richard watched,his lungs barely drawing breath, as the woman crawled across the floor to sit at his feet.
So perfectly submissive. So eager to please.
Never had he felt this urge to dominate another, although he had witnessed it many times with Ashton.
