She fluttered her lashes, as new tears sprang up. “I know. But I thought if you knew, you would leave.” She sniffed. “I feel as if I’m perpetually teetering between two worlds,” she said, the words spilling forth. “I want to give in and live this life, and yet, I find myself reaching out and toying with my old one.”
After a moment, Leonard opened his mouth to speak. “Why do you think that is?”
“I don’t know.”
But when he only stared at her, letting her think things through, she continued. “Perhaps I’m afraid to leave what Iknow entirely behind. No one in my family has lived this life. I have no one to guide me.”
His thumb traced over the back of her hand. “You have me.”
She lifted her eyes. “Do I?”
Without words, he tightened his grip on her hands, pulling her closer. As his face neared, her heart pounded in her chest. Time seemed to still as his mouth paused in front of hers. She felt his breath brush against her lips. The anticipation nearly undid her, but then, with the barest of touches, his lips grazed over hers—once. Slow. Intentional. And then again. Each new kiss lingered longer than the last, with a tenderness in each one that made her defenses weak. But at the moment, she didn’t need to be strong, for he was her strength.
His hands lifted and cradled her jaw, warming her cheeks as his mouth began a more thorough search of hers—as if she were something new and mysterious, and he had to figure out every angle and detail. She had never felt so adored.
Her heart beat an erratic rhythm in her chest, her skin prickling with awareness as his head tilted to the side. His hands trailed across her neck, then combed through her hair, which now lay unencumbered down her back. She opened her eyes just enough to see his lashes fan across his cheeks and his hair wave over his brow. And then her eyes fluttered closed once more. His lips were just as soft as she had imagined, and she grew mesmerized as their breath mingled together.
Leonard pulled back just enough that she thought he might retreat, and she felt herself lean forward. She lightly grasped the lapels of his jacket. As if sensing her silent message, he propped his hands on either side of her chair, bracing himself. And then his lips came back, more urgent than before.
Every press of his mouth to hers felt like an assurance. He would be there. He would cherish her. Protect her. She feltemboldened, reaching a hand up and toying with the back of his hair. He emitted a soft sigh.
Finally, he leaned back and removed his hands from her seat. He took a few ragged breaths, watching her carefully. His eyes were full of storm clouds, and she wanted nothing more than to run in their rain.
He reached forward and cradled her hands, his thumbs stroking the backs. “Where does this leave us, Honora?”
She waited a moment, gathering her thoughts. “Us?” She was unable to stop the confused tone of her voice. “I lied to you.Stolefrom you. In fact, why are you even here, Leonard?” she asked, the thought finally dawning on her. She had been much too preoccupied with the other events of the evening. She was losing her edge.
“I can’t quite explain it.” He dipped his head. “I just . . . had to talk to you.”
Her cheeks heated, the response triggering something quite unexpected within herself. She did not blush—she was quite sure she never had, even in her youth.
“Why?” she sputtered out. “I gave you your freedom. You have your great-grandmother’s ring.”
“Is it freedom if I can only seem to think about you?”
Her cheeks reddened further, and Leonard’s eyes flicked to her cheek, a small smirk appearing in the corner of his mouth.
“I would say you have lost your mind,” she said. “And if I am saying that, it must be true indeed.”
His smile widened further. “I agree with you.”
“But you like predictable.”
“I know what my days will be. But now, I find myself not wanting to know. I want the unpredictable.” Then he sighed, his smile falling. “I blame you.”
With a ridiculous smile forming on her lips, and more tears blurring her eyes, she shook her head. “I think you were hit too hard on the head at the pub.”
“Perhaps.” His small smile returned, making her stomach flutter like a fool. “I think,” he continued, “I’ve realized what is so likeable about you.” Another pause.
“What?”
His eyes traced her face in a way that warmed her to her toes. “You cared enough to ask, even when I didn’t wish to answer. And that, Honora Gillingham, is a special quality indeed.”
She swallowed, her throat tight from her crying. “What are you saying, Leonard?”
“What would you say to a ride on my curricle tomorrow?”
She stared at him. What was he thinking? Surely he could not mean to pursue her? Though, she supposed his kiss did leave that as a possibility. “I think I would be rather cold,” she finally said.
