“I do. Which is why I think it might be best if you were to tell her what happened yourself.”
“It won’t change her purpose in coming here. What she wants is to go out and make good connections. I am not a good connection, Radcliff. Which is why I intend to have her brought to the Havisham home at the first opportunity. Her friend can take her dancing at the assembly hall and introduce her to gentlemen more eligible than I.”
Radcliff sighed. “Very well, my lord, but as your butler and longtime employee, I think it is my duty to tell you when you are being an idiot.”
The comment was so swiftly delivered and with Radcliff’s typically affected tone, it took a moment for Bryce to comprehend that the man had insulted him, at which point he had departed the room, leaving Bryce alone to reflect upon their conversation. It was tempting to do what Radcliff suggested–to convince Miss Potter that, under the circumstances, she really did not have other options but to marry him. It would certainly put an end to his craving for her since she would finally be his. But it would also be inexcusably selfish. And because he cared about her, he wanted to give her the chance to fulfill her dreams – to reach for the future she’d come here hoping to gain.
Drumming his fingers upon his desk, he resolved to go and check on her. The maid he’d assigned to her care had told him she was awake an hour ago, which meant she must have finished her breakfast by now. He stood and paused. If he truly wanted to protect her virtue, he’d keep his distance until she was able to get on her feet and meet him downstairs. But that could take days, by which time the roads would likely have cleared, and she’d be well on her way to her next destination.
To hell with it.
She was already in his home. His sitting by her bedside was hardly going to make matters any worse. So he went to the stairs, taking them two at a time in his sudden haste to see her. No woman had ever consumed him as much as she did.
Reaching her door, he stopped for a second to gather his composure. It wouldn’t do for him to look like an eager young lad succumbing to love. Yet that was how he felt. His heart pounded and his body trembled while his stomach turned itself inside out.Love?It couldn’t possibly be. He did not know her well enough. And yet the idea of her lying in there, hurt and in pain, was enough to make his soul ache. So he drew a breath and knocked on the door as calmly as he could manage, intent on hearing her tell him how she was feeling.
“Come in,” came the soft response.
He carefully opened the door and stepped inside without closing it again. Whatever the world might think, he would do what was right and proper, keeping his conscience intact even if his heart did break as he feared it might do the moment Eve left.
She was propped up against a thick pile of pillows, her face turned toward him so he could observe her eyes. They were unbelievably clear today and infused with warmth. His heart stuttered a little at the possibility it might be due to his coming to see her.
If only…
“I was beginning to think you might have forgotten about me,” she said, when he was close enough to study her features. Her bottom lip dipped subtly in the middle, and her nose was not as straight as one might think when looking at her for the first time.
He gave her a teasing glance and pulled up a chair. “A woman who’d rather sprain her ankle than remain underneath my roof?” He sat. “I couldn’t possibly do that.”
Crossing her arms, she presented him with a bit of a pout, “I did not choose to fall and hurt myself.”
“No. I don’t suppose you did.” He grew once again serious while he studied her beautiful face. “But you ought to have considered the possibility of such a thing happening, or worse.” His throat worked while he thought of what might have happened if he had not found her when he had.
“You’re right,” she whispered. And with those words, she did something he would not have expected–she reached out and placed her hand over his.
A jolt of awareness shot through him, slamming his heart against his chest. Her fingers were soft and warm, so delicate and gentle in their every movement. Staring down at them, he found himself transfixed. He couldn’t move or speak. All he could do was save every aspect of the touch to memory and watch as her fingers curled around the sides of his much larger hand, holding it briefly–too briefly–before letting go.
Expelling the breath he’d been holding, he tried to gather his thoughts so he’d sound more coherent when next he spoke. But it was proving difficult when all he could do was feel his skin tingle right there where it had made contact with hers. It was as if every bit of awareness he owned had been pushed into his hand, leaving it bereft in the wake of such unexpected sweetness.
Flexing his fingers, he blinked before meeting her gaze once more. “I’m right?”
She chuckled lightly, easing the tension brought on by her touch. “This time.”
That made him smile. “Just this time?”
She nodded, her eyes lit with a sudden hint of mischief. “It will be a shame if you get too conceited.”
“I wasn’t aware I was at risk of doing so,” he said with a grin.
“You’re not as long as I am here to ground you.”
Her comment reminded him she might leave at any moment, as soon as the weather was more agreeable. Which was something he did not want to think of right now, so he settled himself more comfortably in his chair and said, “Tell me about your childhood, Eve, about your family and where you grew up.”
Her startled expression confirmed she had not expected him to say that. “Why?”
He smiled and told her honestly, “Because physical attraction isn’t enough. I would also like to get to know you properly.”
* * *
Fearingthe next syllable to leave her mouth would make her sound like the befuddled nitwit she’d turned into, Eve pressed her lips together while staring up at the man whose face had become so dear in such a short time. She’d been ridiculously pleased when he’d opened the door, and she’d seen it was he who had come to see her. And when she’d taken courage and reached for his hand, it had been with every bit of emotion he’d begun to instill in her heart.
