“Thank you for that,” he said eventually, breaking the silence.
“Yes, well, I did not want to leave her disappointed,” she said, reaching for the reticule and pulling out the cream for Alexander’s wound.
“This is for your bruise.” She held it out to him.
He reached for it and their fingers brushed.
The contact was brief, like a whisper of skin against skin, but it sent a shiver racing up her arm, straight to her throat, her chest, her stomach, and her apex. What they did in his library came back to bite her and she fought the urge to desire more with him.
She snatched her hand back too quickly and Alexander noticed.
His eyes darkened. “Theo, we should talk about?—”
“Not now, please,” she replied sharper than intended, and dropped her gaze to the floor. “I have to go.”
“You are avoiding me.”
“I am not.”
“It is fine if you are. But please do not avoid Rosalind.” Theo’s eyes darted back to him and his expression looked pained.
His words struck Theo.
“Do you truly think I would do that?”
He frowned. “Theo, that is not what I meant?—”
“I am not a man to forget a young lady in need,” she hissed, the bitterness surprising even herself.
Alexander’s expression shifted to concern and confusion.
“Theodora,” he said gently, “I told you to stay yesterday. I didn’t want you to leave then and I don’t want you to go now.”
She stiffened. “I was not speaking of that but anyway, perhaps you should not have asked me to.”
“Why not?” He stepped closer and she stepped back.
Theodora looked away from him. “Because a scientist does not get attached to herguinea pig.”
She repeated his words sharply and defensively. Her tone sounded cruel and she hated herself for allowing her fury to rise so quickly.
Alexander’s jaw tightened.
“I see,” he said quietly. “Then I will be sure not to invite you to stay again.”
The room felt suddenly colder.
Theo’s throat felt tight. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
She turned towards the door.
“Theodora,” he said behind her.
She stopped in her tracks.
“Thank you for the cream,” he said slowly. “And… good luck with finding whatever it is you are searching for.”
She closed her eyes for a moment before she walked away.
