“You’re back to being against me, Ruth? All because I love the theater? I can make it better. Do you trust me?”
Her wide eyes blinked, then she offered him a lazy nod. “As much as you trust me.”
Oh, the difficulties of wanting a clever woman. “You need to stop struggling with your sight and resisting my offers. Accepting both might solve your problems.”
“Is it time for your meeting?”
“Not yet.”
“Oh.”
She struggled to sit still, to breathe. It was slight, just a stutter to her lungs, but it was there. He shouldn’t have told her, but it was so hard not to tell her everything.
She reached for his hand, linking their fingers.
“You’ll never know how this comforts me, Ruth.” He kissed her wrist and slipped behind her seat and pressed his fingertips to her forehead.
A murmur eased from her lips as he massaged her temples.
A ribbon, an indigo ribbon, was woven into her hair. He pulled it free. Her thick curls fell, but he needed this wide ribbon.
“I worked very hard at getting everything perfect. My hair has come down. What are you doing?”
“I have a better plan for this ribbon. Keep your spectacles off for now.”
She raised a hand as if to object, then she stopped and put her lenses into her lap.
Very loosely, he drooped the ribbon over her eyes. “Listen to the music, Ruth. No more fighting the rhythm. Let it lead.”
“Just listen? I can’t see.”
“Yes, just listen. Your hearing is the sharpest. Tell me the instruments.”
“Drums. Anyone can hear that.”
“That’s the beginning. Just listen. Do you hear cymbals and trumpets? Let those differences tease the story to you.”
She nodded, and he increased the pressure of his fingers to her temples. With his thumbs, he made small, delicate circles at the nape of her neck, following the trail he’d numbered, of spots that radiated pain, that made her sigh.
It took another minute for her to relax. Her breathing sounded regular and rhythmic, such sweet music to his ears.
“Ruth, I’ll be in the passageway that leads to this box. You, Christopher, and Cicely are the most important things to me. Forgive me. I never wanted my business to be this close to you. Never.”
Clasping his hand, she drew his fingers to her cheek. “Nothing to forgive. I know you care intensely for us. Do what you have to do to stop them and then come back to me.”
“This will make my world safe for you. I need a little more time to win. I need your patience. I reward patience.”
“I need no reward, but your consideration of me as a partner means so much. You didn’t have to tell me.”
“Enjoy this music.” He kneaded her shoulders. She sighed beneath his fingertips. “I need you here, not out in the hall. My enemies can’t see you.”
She lowered the ribbon and put on her lenses. “I don’t want you hurt.”
“I won’t be able to do this unless you are safe in here, Ruth.”
The curtains parted and Lawden stuck his head in and waved him forward.
Wycliff picked up his sjambok from the floor, kissed her cheek, then followed his man. His future was with Ruth, but he had to defeat the past first.
