The words didn’t seem to comfort her.
“Don’t look so worried, Madelene. You’ll have your own room, and I won’t do anything untoward.”
The fear in her eyes gradually shifted into something more mischievous. “Does that mean I won’t be getting another kiss?”
“Do you want another kiss?” That was not what he was supposed to say.
She nodded, her eyes wide with anticipation.
She seemed to have some power over him that broke through all of his control. But it wasn’t some mysterious influence. Her beauty was beguiling and it addled his wits. “I’ll need more than just a nod.”
Her smile was nervous but excitement shone in her eyes. “I want you to kiss me again.”
Wrapping his hand around her nape, he pulled her to him. Her lips were soft and pliant, but quickly she began to mimic his movements. He was once again shocked by his own eager response. He slid the tip of his tongue along the seam of her lips, and when she opened, he slipped inside with a groan.
She gasped and he forced himself away from her. “I’m sorry,” he said breathlessly. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
She shook her head slightly. “I didn’t want you to stop.”
It took every ounce of willpower he had not to crush his lips to hers again. “I have to stop.” He heaved himself onto the bench.
“Did I do it wrong?”
His heart twinged at her soft words. “No, Madelene. You did it perfectly. But I should not be taking liberties. Let’s just focus on getting you settled.”
She nodded and looked down at her lap. He’d hurt her feelings. That wasn’t his intention, but he had to stop before he went too far. He reached across and took one of her hands. “Everything will be alright. I promise.” Somehow the words felt like they were every bit as much for himself as they were for her.
Chapter
Four
Madelene had never been into the city before, and although the sun felt glorious on her face as she stepped down from the carriage, the barrage of sounds and smells was overwhelming. She held Simon’s hand tightly and pressed herself close to his side. Why did a man she still knew nothing about make her feel so safe? More to the point, why was a man she didn’t know keeping her safe?
He showed her briefly around his townhouse. On the entry level, there was a kitchen and small dining room. On the next level, a serviceable sitting room and his study, for which she only saw the door. Eventually, he escorted her up another flight of stairs to the room she’d be staying in. She still didn’t fully understand what that meant, how long she’d be there, or what he intended for her.
It wasn’t as spacious as she was used to. Although, none of this was what she was used to. This man, who was kind, caring, and gentle. Who talked to her and looked into her eyes. And kissed her. The memory tugged at her lips. Smiling wasn’t something she did very often, and usually only while reading. But that kiss…. Her sigh was dreamy.
“I need to go into the office, so I have to leave you for a few hours. The only room that is off-limits to you is my study. You are free to go anywhere else in the house, but please don’t leave. This isn’t a safe area for a woman to go wandering on her own.”
She nodded.
“If you get hungry, I’m sure you can find something to eat in the kitchen.”
She nodded again and he laughed softly. She wasn’t used to voicing her responses, but he obviously thought it strange that she didn’t speak much.
“Thank you, Simon.”
“That’s better.” He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I’ll try not to be away more than a few hours.”
When he was gone, she climbed the stairs back up to the room she’d be staying in. She sighed as she seated herself near the fireplace. The room was warm. Almost stuffy, but after leaving the cold baths behind she could hardly complain.
As she sat there in someone else’s home, wearing someone else’s clothes, she felt completely lost. Who was she? She’d only ever been the bane of her father’s existence. He never failed to remind her that she had killed her mother, that there was evil in her that she had to overcome, and that she’d never been strong enough to do so.
But Simon didn’t seem to think that was true. She touched her fingertips to her lips, remembering the kiss. Kisses. She’d been wanton enough to ask for two. So why didn’t she feel sullied? Surely she should be ashamed, but she wasn’t. She had longed to experience a kiss for years, even though she knew it would never happen. But it had happened, and it had not disappointed. The beginning of a smile tipped the corners of her mouth, once more. Perhaps, she could even convince him to do it again.
Putting that out of her mind, she got up and paced to the window. People hurried about, some of them shouting or waving, alongside lines of carriages and cabs moving in both directions. The chaos made her nervous, even from up there.
Madelene’s grandfather was a viscount, with enough wealth that her father didn’t have to work, so she didn’t even know what it meant when Simon said he needed to go into the office. She understood the words, and the idea. But what did he do for work? Where was this office?
