Even if he tried to deny a deeper emotion, she would know the truth by looking into his eyes. She had spent a week staring into those grey depths and came to read his emotions since she could not see his face.
With those thoughts, she crossed the room and yanked open her door. She needed to know tonight or she would never get any rest but just as she started to step into the corridor, the splintering of glass and a heavy thump reverberated through her chamber.
Victoria slowly turned and sucked in a breath. Her window was shattered, glass littering the floor and a large limb protruded into her room. Saturated leaves dripped on her floor as rain drops and hail puddled just inside her shattered window as the curtains billowed in the wind.
A chill swept over her as she backed into the corridor, not even certain what to do.
“Where is he?” Benedick demanded as he rushed from the chamber he had been assigned, clutching a knife, ready to do battle.
He also wasn’t wearing a shirt or shoes. Simply trousers. Victoria could not help but stare at his bare chest, firm muscles and flat stomach. There was not an ounce of excess on his torso and her mouth went dry. Her hands had skimmed up that chest and her fingers had tweaked and teased his nipples as Benedick had moaned in pleasure.
Without waiting for a response, Benedick stepped past her and stopped.
“I thought…”
“It was not that man.”
“Clearly,” he groaned.
“I suppose you can use your knife to cut the limbs for firewood,” Victoria offered with a shrug.
“Maybe tomorrow,” he grumbled and then took Victoria’s hand and pulled her back to his chamber. “You are shivering. Come stand by the fire.”
She may be chilled but that was not why her hands were shaking. It was the question that she needed to ask him and it might also be because she was now alone in his room and he was barely dressed.
Benedick had been standing at the window and watching the storm, the strongest he had ever seen in his lifetime when he heard the crash across the hall. He was certain that man had found a way inside.
His heart pounded still because he had been so afraid that he would not reach Victoria before irreparable harm could be done.
“You are lucky you were not near the window.”
“No, I was by the door.”
He frowned. “Did you need something?”
Victoria bit her bottom lip and looked at the low flames where she warmed her hands.
“What is it?” he asked quietly. She usually wasn’t shy in anything she said or requests she made.
“You said something earlier tonight and I was coming to ask you about it.”
“What was it?” He certainly could not think of anything that may cause so much concern that it could not wait until morning.
She then repeated his words back to him and Benedick realized he had revealed too much of what had been on his mind.
“I need to know. Were you considering marriage, or simply courtship before you decided that we would not suit.”
Those had been his plans. “It does not matter.”
“It does. To me.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to know if anything you said to me was sincere or if you were simply a rake, a rogue, who enjoyed a week of anonymity while making another conquest. You certainly have the charm to be one.”
His face heated. He had set out to charm her when he’d glimpsed those blue eyes and the very kissable coral lips, as well as how well the bodice of her gown displayed the creamy globes of her breasts to perfection.
Then he had spoken to her. Their humor was very much the same, as were their politics, a topic he had never discussed with a woman before. They talked about the books they had read and holidays they would like to take. They spoke of everything except anything that would have revealed who they were, and Benedick had fallen in love.
