He leaned against his pillow, folding his arms across his chest. “You will feel better if you talk about it.”
“I will.” She touched his arm. “Just not right now.”
“Oh, my sweet Emiline.” He took her in his arms and gently rocked her while caressing her back tenderly. “My heart is breaking because I don’t know how to help you.” He rubbed his lips across her forehead.
“Holding me is helping.”
“Then I shall hold you all night, if that is what you wish.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face against his chest as sobs racked her small body. Snuggling them down into the bed, he held and comforted her, all the while cursing the uncontrollable urge to become intimate with her. They were definitely closer now than they were before, and he had always been a ladies’ man…
He inwardly groaned. Now was certainly not the time to act like a lovesick boy. She needed his comfort right now, no matter how badly he longed to kiss her. Unfortunately, holding her like this would be his downfall.
Indeed, tonight would be torture.
Chapter Twelve
Emmie pulled herselffrom a deep slumber. It took a lot of strength just to peel her eyes open. Exhaustion had taken its toll on her last night, and she felt as if she’d been running for three days straight. Her eyelids were heavy, and her head throbbed, yet at the same time, exhilaration blossomed in her chest. Her mother wasn’t dead after all, and the thought of finding her lifted Emmie’s spirits. Finally, they could be a family again. Perhaps then her father would cease this inane idea of trying to protect his corrupt brother.
Awareness surrounded her, and she realized she wasn’t in the bed she occupied while staying at the Cramptons’ house. As her mind started working properly, she recalled being in Broderick’s arms and kissing him. He’d held her so tenderly last night, and just the thought made her sigh with happiness.
She turned her head to look at him, but he wasn’t on the bed. Propped against a cushioned chair, Broderick slumbered on the floor with a blanket over him near the fireplace. He looked so handsome lying in an awkward position, and her heart melted to think he’d chosen to stay on the floor. Even though he didn’t act like it at times, he really was a gentleman. It pleased her to know he wasn’t going to take advantage of her situation and try to seduce her.
He’d been so gentle with her last night—so caring. It would be hard for her not to let her heart get involved. But she muststop this insanity now. Loving this man would come to no good. It didn’t matter if kissing him felt so right—loving him would be so wrong.
Quietly, she slipped out of bed and threw on a wrapper Georgia had brought to her last evening. What a dear woman—to be so kind to two strangers. And to think, she was Emmie’s grandmother.
Once the garment was around Emmie’s waist and tied, she tiptoed to the full-length mirror in the room, fixing her hair so it wasn’t so disheveled. For some reason, the weather of late must be helping with its fullness, because she hadn’t had such wavy hair before. Acting as a lady’s companion, she naturally wanted it pulled tightly back in a bun, but as she stared at her reflection, she realized that she didn’t want it that way ever again. She wanted to be the enticing woman Broderick suggested she could be.
“Good morning, my lady.”
Broderick’s voice startled her. She jumped and turned around. He was still on the floor, stretching his arms over his head. His eyes met hers, and he smiled tenderly. Panic surged through her. Why did he refer to her asmy lady? He couldn’t possibly know her true identity, and she prayed he hadn’t gone to talk to Georgia sometime during the night to discover the real story.
“Forgive me. Did I wake you?” she asked.
“Not at all, my lady. I didn’t sleep well, so hearing you awaken was quite a relief.”
Good grief!He’d called hermy ladyagain. Had she talked in her sleep? “Broderick, why are you calling memy lady?”
Rubbing his forehead, he closed his eyes. “Oh, blast it. I’m not quite awake, forgive me.” He looked at her again. “I should have called you princess, instead.”
“But why?”
“Because of our wager. Remember? Today starts the beginning of the week.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s right. I had forgotten.”
“Well, luckily, I have not.” He whipped off the blanket and stood. Thankfully, he was back to wearing his regular clothes.
After another stretch, he ambled over to her and kissed her forehead. “How do you feel this morning, love?”
Her heart fluttered from his endearment. “I have a headache.”
“That’s to be expected. You received quite a shock last night.”
She nodded. “I also did a lot of thinking.”
“What about?”
