“She was my nursemaid from the time I was born. Up until I was seven or eight. My mother perished in childbirth having me, you know.”
“I didn’t know.”
“Miss Velinda was wonderful. I used to dream of her and Papa marrying and having a horde of other children. But, alas, Papa can be quite the elitist.”
“That surprises me,” he murmured.
“Does it?” Her gaze shot to him, then dropped to her hands. “It was a beautiful day. She—Miss Velinda thought a day of botany would suit our educational purposes because of the excellent weather. There’s a creek that runs down, some ways from the back of the house. It’s closer to the village. I ran ahead of her to the creek and began picking flowers. I didn’t hear anything at first.” Her voice had dropped to just above a whisper, almost a part of the wind. “When the noises finally began to penetrate, I was beset by a chilled premonition.”
She stopped and Sebastian wanted to beg her to not go on.
“Strange, isn’t it, for a child of seven to be clairvoyant?” she said.
“I don’t think so. We should all follow our instincts. They are sometimes the only thing that sets us between life and death.”
She turned quickly, just as the clouds moved to expose the silver moon. Surprise glinted in her widened eyes. “Yes. I do believe you’re right. That was exactly what happened. It was probably what kept me from calling out. I crept back and saw her being attacked. By three men.”
He took her hand then. It was ice cold.
“For the longest time, I was frozen to the spot, but there was a noise that startled me, and I ran. I couldn’t get to the house. To do so, I would have to pass them. So, I ran to the village. By the time I brought help, they were gone.”
“And, Miss Velinda?”
“She was never the same, of course. Neither physically nor emotionally. Papa wanted to turn her out.” Her fingers squeezed into a fist. “But I refused to allow him to dictate such a horrible injustice. It wasn’t Miss Velinda’s fault that she was hurt.” She huddled deeper within her coat. “Anytime he raised the notion, I threw a tantrum for the ages. I cared for her myself.” Tears dampened her cheeks he doubted she felt.
He slipped an arm around her pulling her into his heat.
The actions of a warrior explained.
“I need you, you know. I need your impulsiveness to offset my overly cautious staidness. You need me too. I’m the one who will give you cause to think.”
“Think?” He could hear the frown in her tone.
There was a primal element in the air the weather stirred in him that reached deep. “Perhaps give you pause when you think of your husband and future children.”
“But that’s just it. I don’t have a husband.”
“I’m hoping you’ll change your mind.”
“And why would I do that?” All right, she wasn’t quite where he was.
“Because it is in your nature to save those less powerless than you.”
Her laughter caught on the wind and rivaled the waves hitting the shore below. “You are not powerless. You are the definition of “not powerless,” Your Grace.”
“You wound me, Your Grace.”
She spun away from him or attempted to. His hands still held hers. “I am not Your Grace, Your Grace.I champion women and children.” Her huff of frustration was lost in the wind.
“Don’t forget about dogs,” he reminded her mildly. He moved his hands lightly to her waist.
“And dogs. But I do not marry them.”
He smoothed the tips of his fingers to the base of her spine. She didn’t appear to notice. “Do you love them?”
She went on a rant. “Love! What has love ever done for me?”
He lowered his nose to her neck and breathed her in. “Did Miss Velinda not return your regard, my darling?”
