Lord help him, she was brave, bold and utterly divine. Heat exploded in the pit of his stomach while his chest expanded, a rush of energy tumbling through him, filling him with want. “And?” He forced himself to take courage.
A miserable smile captured her lips. “And I found myself hoping that you might.”
Richard’s heart thudded against his chest, his breaths carefully measured as he stared down at her upturned face. He swallowed, unsure of what to say in response to such a forthright confession.
She averted her gaze, began to turn away. “I am sorry,” she muttered, shame dripping from the voice that had been so confident barely a second before.
It was more than he could bear. “You must not be.” When she tried to move away from him, he held her firmly in place, knowing that he would be the greatest ass that ever lived if he failed to meet her honesty head on. “The truth is that Iwouldlike to kiss you, more than anything in the world. But I cannot.”
“Because you do not wish for me to see your face.”
“I am afraid of what will happen between us if you do.”
She frowned, her expression more serious than he’d ever seen it before. “You think that it would alter my opinion of you?”
“I am certain of it.” He knew he was being harsh and that he wasn’t giving her the chance she deserved to prove him wrong, but it couldn’t be helped. He liked her too much to risk losing her on account of his appearance.
“I am not that shallow, Richard,” she said with conviction. “Far from it.”
His name upon her lips, spoken with fondness, prompted him to pull her into his arms. “I know,” he whispered against the top of her head. “But I am not ready for you to see me. Not yet. Please, Mary...” He fought for breath as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “Try to understand.”
She didn’t reply. Instead, she wound her arms around him too, hugging him back. Lord knew he needed this—the warmth and comfort that she provided. It wasn’t until now that he realized how much he’d missed physical contact with another person. Spencer and his father had provided him with conversation, but this... the feeling of her heart beating steadily next to his, almost brought tears to his eyes. “Promise me that you will not look.”
A brief hesitation followed, as if she wasn’t sure of what he was asking of her. She finally nodded. “I promise.”
Holding her against him, her cheek pressed into the black wool of his cloak, Richard raised one hand to push back the hood. Taking a breath, he then tilted back the mask and dipped his head, allowing her hair to tickle his face as he inhaled her scent. “You smell so good,” he whispered, realizing belatedly how ridiculous that sounded.
Her fingertips dug against the muscles spanning his back. “Chamomile mixed with lemons. It is my favorite scent.”
“Mine too,” he told her gruffly, to which she chuckled gently—a sweet sound filled with promise. Spreading her fingers, she pulled him closer.
For a moment they just stood there like that, chest against chest until Richard decided to lean back a little so he could look at her. Tilting her head, he saw that her eyes were closed, just as she had promised. He was grateful for that. Exceedingly so. Staring down at her delicate neck and at the pulse that beat there, he carefully lowered his lips to the smooth skin that awaited, pressing a series of kisses against her. She gasped in response to each individual one, and it was all he could do not to press his lips more fully against hers.
Raising his head, he lowered his mask before pulling back from her embrace, adoring the befuddled expression that captured her face as her lips parted with surprise. “One step at a time,” he told her softly.
With a dazed nod, she allowed him to escort her out of the cave, their lanterns lighting the path in the darkness as they made their way back to Thorncliff like a pair of specters stealing through the night.
When he returned to his bedchamber, Richard expelled a deep breath as he closed the door behind him and leaned against it. He deserved a medal for the degree of restraint he’d shown this evening. Which of course made him immediately wary. His situation was complicated—more than Lady Mary even realized. The demons that plagued him demanded retribution, blackening his heart while hers shone bright with purity. They were completely ill-fitted. There was no denying that. Nor was there any denying the fact that he would be the worst possible scoundrel if he continued to seek her company. No good could possibly come of it.
And yet... he still had hope that maybe... maybe she would still want him once she saw his face. He winced. But would she be able to accept what he was doing? Women were sensitive creatures after all. Perhaps she’d judge him harshly for it.
Glancing down, he caught sight of a crisp piece of paper, neatly folded upon the floor; a letter, slipped beneath the door while he’d been out. Picking it up, he tore open the seal and unfolded the missive. There were only a couple of lines.
The funds you requested are now in your possession. Please be advised that the damage they’ve incurred seems surprisingly slight. How do you wish to proceed?
Collister
Pondering the importance of the words, Richard crossed to the sideboard, poured himself a brandy and went to sit behind his desk. Retrieving a piece of pristine paper, he dipped his quill in the inkwell and wrote:
Thank you for your letter, which was well received. We will set our sights on the property now and see how well he deals with that. Also, I believe I should like to invest one thousand pounds in Sir Davy’s electromagnetic research. Please make the necessary arrangements.
RH
P.S. Please gather as much information as possible on the Earl of Rotridge.
Once the letter had been folded and sealed, Richard took a sip of his brandy. He’d always considered himself the forgiving sort. Not anymore though. Rising, he went to the window and looked out, the positive mood he’d shared with Lady Mary earlier now clouded by the anger that followed him daily, like a loyal dog. He would be rid of it soon though. He would make certain of that.
Chapter8
