Before he answered her, he yanked off the boot and slid her stocking down her leg and foot until it came to the spot where the two puncture marks in her skin would be...but he couldn’t see anything. Lifting her foot a little more into the sunlight, he peered closer. Finally, he detected the marks, but they only dented the skin, not punctured it.
Sighing with relief, he lowered her foot to his knee again and smiled. “No, you are not going to die. You are very fortunate, my dear. The snake’s venom isn’t in your bloodstream at all. In fact, I’m guessing it never made it through your boot.”
“Are you certain?” she asked with a shaky voice.
“Yes.”
“But I felt it.” She looked at her foot, her eyes narrowing as she studied it.
“You probably felt it because the snake’s fangs did go through your boot, but I assure you, the bite didn’t break your skin.”
Gently, he ran the pad of his thumb over the two dents. Her skin was smooth, soft, and warm. She shivered and then rubbed her arms.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
“No, I don’t think so, but... I can’t stop my body from shaking.”
“Your body is in shock, but you shall feel better very soon, I assure you.” Guilt came over him again, and he frowned. “Forgive me, Katrina.”
Her gaze jumped to his. “For what?”
“For pushing you away. I shouldn’t have been so...uncaring. It’s really hard for me to express my feelings. I honestly don’t want to cause you any pain.”
Another tear slid down her cheek. “Thank you for saying that. It really hurts to think you loathe my touch that much.” A few more tears joined the other. “I’m not making physical contact with you on purpose, I just—”
“Yes, I know.” He cut her off. “I’m just that way. It’s a problem I have, and it’s one I’ll have to learn to overcome.”
“Really? You don’t like being touched?”
“No.”
“Not even by your family?”
His heart grew cold once again. That was an entirely different topic, for sure. “Not even by my family, but especially not by women.”
Her eyes widened. “It’s not just me, but all women?”
Felix nodded. “Yes.” He wasn’t about to tell her it was just allwealthywomen.
He rolled the stocking up her leg, enjoying the smoothness of her skin. Inwardly, he scolded himself for feeling this way. She was just a woman—just an ordinary woman. One that would surely break his heart because she couldn’t love him the way he’d always wanted. She was just like those other wealthy socialites who couldn’t look past his status in life. Although he now had a title, that didn’t change the person he was. If a woman couldn’t love him for himself, then they had no right being in his life.
Eva Crowley—the first woman he’d ever given his heart to—had taught him one of the best lessons a young man of eighteen years could learn. It was an experience Felix would never forget.
“I’ll let you finish putting on your boot.” He stood.
She reached down and tied up the laces.
“Can you stand? Do you think you’ll be able to walk?” he asked.
“I’m sure I can now.”
She stood, but her legs wobbled. Quickly, he reached out and grasped her arms to keep her steady. “Perhaps we ought to rest a little before continuing.”
Nodding, she plopped back down on the stump. “That’s probably the best thing to do right now.”
“Stay here and I will survey the area to see where we can all sit and relax for a while. It’s about time to eat anyway.”
“Yes, I am hungry.” She placed her hand on her belly.
