At the sight of him, she quickly stood.With the flame from the candle lamp behind her, the silhouette of her naked body was evident.Her long raven hair had been caught in a braid that hung over one shoulder.
David swallowed, well aware his manhood was reacting in a most undignified manner.He bowed.“Apologies,mia donna.”
“I didn’t mean to wake anyone,” she whispered.
“You didn’t,” he replied, realizing too late he could have used her sobbing as his excuse for being there.“May I...may I join you?”
For a moment, she seemed uncertain of how to respond, and then it looked as if she might deny him.Instead, she waved toward the end of the bed, and David was quick to settle next to the corner post, leaving a good deal of space between them.
Meanwhile, she sat near the head of the bed with her arms crossed beneath her bosom.The position merely enhanced the shape of her breasts, her nipples apparent behind the thin cotton fabric.
“Pray tell, why are you crying?”
She sniffled and held out one of her feet.
Despite the dim lighting, David could see the red splotches where her half-boots had been too tight or where they had nearly rubbed the skin raw.He motioned with a hand.“Give me your foot,” he ordered.
“Why?”
“So I can...rub it,” he stammered.“It’s a courtesy some men do for their wives, I’m told.Then I believe they see to it a shoemaker is employed to make custom slippers and boots so they fit their lady’s feet better than those simply bought off the shelf.”He paused and furrowed a brow.“Although I think the men still rub their feet.”
She blinked several times, but finally did his bidding, jerking her foot when he took it in both hands.
“I wish to apologize,mia donna,” he whispered, cradling her heel in one palm as he massaged the top of her foot between his thumb and fingers.
Vittoria inhaled sharply and sniffled.From the way her brows furrowed, he knew he had doubly surprised her.“For...for what?”
“Last night I thought I was...savingyou fromDonLuciano, but I realized tonight that youwantedto defend yourself.By yourself.That my intervention was unwanted.Probably unnecessary,” he explained, changing his hold on her foot to rub the instep.Despite her slight inhalation of breath, he continued.“Mayhap unneeded, although I am glad I was there since I do not believe your gown would have allowed you to deliver the killing blow, so to speak.”
She made an odd sound in her throat.“That’s what the statue was for,” she whispered, her eyes closing when she seemed to be enjoying his ministrations.
He chuckled softly.“Apollo was rather effective there at the end,” he agreed.“You never did say if you were...injured.”
Shaking her head, she sniffled again.“I was not.”
“You were quite formidable,” he said.“You looked as if you were wearing armor, given all the silver of your gown and gloves.”He lifted a hand to his head.“Your diamonds.”
For a moment, she didn’t seem to understand his meaning.“I didn’t wish to be his wife, and I thought it best I make it clear at the very beginning of the ball.”
“Ah.Mission accomplished,” he said, allowing a wan grin after his initial wince.“Here.Give me your other foot.”
This time she didn’t hesitate, shifting on the bed so she could lift her other leg onto the counterpane all while gripping the hem of her nightrail to keep her knees covered.She used the handkerchief to wipe her nose as David went to work on the foot.“If the statue hadn’t fallen on him, I would have stabbed him with the comb,” she said, her voice too calm for speaking of such violence.
“Oh,” he responded, not bothering to ask which body part she intended to stab.David nearly moved a hand to cover his crotch, but he continued massaging her foot.“Do you believe all men to be likeDonLuciano?”
Vittoria’s eyes rounded again.“Of course not.”
Perplexed, David furrowed his brows.“Then why did you think the worst ofme?Why did you accusemeof being a rogue?”he asked.
She lifted a shoulder.“Other than your name, I did not know anything about you.”
“But even after you learned I was Donald’s brother, you continued to accuse me,” he countered.
“I didn’t want you to like me,” she stated.
David recoiled as if she had slapped him across the face, and he stilled his hands.“Why ever not?”
For a moment, her gaze remained directed at the canopy above their heads.“Nikky told me you might wish to court me.”
