Page 5 of Stay Here Forever

She stopped abruptly. Out of breath with passion, Audrey realized she’d gotten carried away, causing her face to burn in the increasingly frigid air as darkness overtook the day.

“To feel?” Mr. Kent inquired, stopping to turn and face her.

She shook her head as she looked down. “No, it’s too fanciful. Too embarrassing.”

“Not to me.”

The words were said with such sincerity that Audrey snapped her head up in surprise. Would nothing cease to amaze her this day? His attentive nature made her feel truly seen. It was unsettling but so very, very welcome.

Pulling in another lungful of air for courage, she looked into his beautiful eyes before answering. “I needed to feel alive. It was like I awoke from a long and enchanted sleep today, only to find that I hadn’t been truly living my life, merely sleepwalking through it. And I had to get away from everything I knew. Does that make me sound like a madwoman?”

She trembled waiting for him to laugh or look at her with disdain. But he did neither.

“No. I think that makes you sane. You realized what you needed and went after it.”

A wet, gasping laugh escaped her. “Oh, Mr. Kent. What a picture I must be.” They began walking again and soon approached the park exit. “We’ve not met for years, and you come upon me in the most peculiar state. But I am so grateful that you did come along. You have been a wonderfully steadying presence, and I appreciate your company.”

The look he gave her sent a warmth through her body that swept from head to toe before settling low in her belly.

“I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather come across on my first real day back in London. It’s a pleasure to see you no matter what state you might be in.”

“You’ve just returned?” So it wasn’t simply her reclusive tendencies that precluded her seeing him for so many years.

“Yes. I haven’t set foot on English soil in years. I’ve lived in Portugal for most of the past decade. So you also find me in a somewhat bewildered state, as I’m assaulted with the memories of my youth here. I must say, though a bit disconcerting, I’m very much anticipating an English autumn.”

“I was just thinking how much I want to enjoy the season this year before you came upon me. Perhaps we can experience some of it together.” What on earth had prompted her to be so bold? Audrey had to restrain herself from clapping a hand over her mouth as the entirely too forward proposition tumbled out. But suddenly she desired nothing more than to be in the presence of this man who made her feel so secure, and who had no connection to her life with Rufus.

Mr. Kent’s grin once again reassured her. “I would enjoy that immensely. And though it may not be the most appropriate activity for the time of year, I confess that one of the things I’ve been longing for is brown bread ice. Would you meet me at Gunter’s tomorrow afternoon?”

They had reached her home, and he relinquished her hand. She suddenly felt cold, no longer tucked close to his side. “I would like that,” she answered with a shy smile.

“Then tomorrow I shall send my carriage to collect you at two o’clock. Good evening, Miss Jacobs.” With a bow, he was gone.

Audrey tried to slip into the house without drawing attention as she wasn’t sure she could face anyone, but apparently she was not as quiet as necessary.

“Audrey?” Felix’s voice came from the parlor. Her brother rushed into the entryway, newspaper clutched in his hand, gaze accusatory.

“Where on earth have you been? You can’t just run off like that!”

A weariness settled over her. All she desired was to lie in bed and reflect on today’s remarkable events. She was absolutely not in the mood to deal with her brother, especially as she was now seeing him in a less polished manner.

“Well? Where did you go? What have you been doing?” He looked at her expectantly, but Audrey had no idea how to answer in a way that would satisfy him.

Only an hour ago, she’d been able to open up and share part of her revelations with Mr. Kent, a stranger from an old life, and yet she couldn’t do the same with her brother. She felt isolated in her own home. Worse, she knew much of it was her doing, seperating herself, living in a dreamworld where Rufus would come for her. A dull throb began at her temples.

“I simply needed some air and went to the park. I trust you were able to manage your tea.” Audrey gestured to a stain on Felix’s waistcoat that looked like traces of clotted cream. A flush crept up Felix’s neck after he looked down at the incriminating splotch. He glared at Audrey.

“What has gotten into you? This isn’t anything like you. I trust you will feel more like yourself tomorrow.”

“I wouldn’t count on it, brother. I plan to be out for the afternoon.” Leaving Felix spluttering behind her, Audrey ascended the stairs to her room.

CHAPTER 4

Luke cursed under his breath as he fumbled his cravat for the fourth time. Tearing the now-crumpled silken length from around his neck, he threw it onto the bed before picking a fresh cloth from the drawer and trying anew. Taking in a slow, deep breath, he forced his hands to steady before attempting the fifth knot of the morning.

The fact that his hands were trembling in nervous anticipation was absurd. He was no longer some inexperienced youth undergoing his first attraction to a beautiful woman. Luke was a man of four and thirty—and a widower at that. But seeing Audrey yesterday, and ascertaining that she was still Miss Jacobs, had reanimated his more youthful desires, negating all experience since he’d last been in her presence.

It was inexplicable how she still affected him so completely. Their time was brief last evening, but the encounter left him feeling as giddy as a boy riding a horse for the first time.