His wet finger traces my jaw. My nose is close to his larger one. Our mouths are near. Why do I want to kiss him?
“What is it you want, Katia? As you can see, my heart can’t stand for you to be this nice without a reason.”
I choose silence and let my actions speak for me. I soap the brush and swab about his hips and down each leg. Then I move to the opposite end of the copper tub and scrub his ankles.
“Lift.” My command is simple.
He squints at me and obliges, one foot at a time for me.
“You’re a beautiful man with cute feet.”
“Yours are cuter, from what I remember. Smooth and powerful. They were my undoing, watching you be so free, twirling across the rya.” He chuckles and lowers his leg. “The memories aren’t all bad.”
My face must be beetroot red, for I remember how we washed each other in a tub just like this. Did he drink champagne from my slipper? No, from my toes.
“Katia.” His voice draws me back to him. “I’m dying … to know what you want.”
Swallowing, I try hard to ignore his gallows humor. Adjusting my tone to be airy and sensual, not sad and lost in the beauty of what I destroyed, I say, “Tell me your heart. Get your mistress ready to please.”
“You keep saying these words. Are you sure you know what they mean?”
“I am here to be yours. I will be loyal. I hope to amuse you greatly.”
“So you are willing to give me your body? To prove what? That physical affection doesn’t mean forgiveness.”
“I want to be forgiven.”
His jaw slackens. “You would prostitute yourself, seduce me to gain custody of Lydia?”
“We should share custody. Please, honor the terms of our bet. I must be your mistress here in London for six months.”
“Here?” His smile slims. “Why—”
“Scarlett told me of your travel plans. She said you wish to go right away.”
“Ahhh. Well, I miss St. Petersburg. Lydia needs to see the rivers with me while I can show her my home.”
“Six months from now, you can go.”
“That’s winter, Katherine. It’s not an ideal time to travel.”
“Then give me a whole year.” I return to the front of the tub and kneel. Placing my thumbs on his neck, I work small circles. “I need to serve you for as long as you allow. It’s the only way to make things right.”
“So now my illness doesn’t repulse you.”
I drop my hands. “It never was that. I didn’t want to watch you die.”
His gaze sharpens. “Then you need to leave. I may not make it to dawn.”
“You will make it. We must make a deal.”
“My mistress must have enough time. You have no time. You have Wilcox Coal to run?”
“Mr. Thom’s sons are returning from service. I’ll ask them to help. They both used to drive with their father. Lord Mark still helps, too, but his career as a composer has begun to blossom. With more time, I’ll find a permanent solution.”
“You’d give up your father’s legacy to attend me.” His tone brims with condescension. “Katherine, I find these lies utterly unbelievable.”
“I’m not lying. I’m very determined to attend you, and you know how I get when I’m determined.”
