Madelene waited for more, but it didn't come. “And?” she finally asked.
“And what?”
“How are you here now?”
“That took a lot of work. First I came back and confessed and apologized. And then Suzy told me to come back again. She said he was a good man with a kind heart, and he needed my company.” She shrugged. “So the next time I showed up, I offered to only clean while he was here to supervise, and I even offered to do it at no charge until he felt like he could trust me again. After a while, he did grow to trust me, and a friendship of sorts developed between us.”
“Is that when he taught you how to use a knife?”
Bonnie laughed. “Eventually. He used to be around a lot more often. He didn’t work so much before his sister came here.”
“Where is she now?”
“I don’t know,” Bonnie said with a shrug. “And I shouldn’t talk about that. It isn’t my story to share.”
As much as she wanted to hear whatever that story was, she wouldn’t press Bonnie to break Simon’s confidence. “Do you clean other people’s homes?” she asked, instead.
Bonnie reached for her broom and began sweeping. “Yes. Simon pays me well for my services, but it’s certainly not enough to survive on. He’s tidy, though, so his house is easy. And he’s good company when he’s around. Not to mention, he’s easy on the eyes.” She winked, then gathered her things and headed upstairs.
She wasn’t wrong. Simon was nice to look at, but for Madelene, it was the way he looked at her. He knew who she was and where she’d come from and had witnessed her at her very worst. But somehow, he saw her not as a child, or an inconvenience, or evil.
He saw her as a woman.
Try as he might, Simon hadn’t been able to focus on his work all day. The only thing he could see was Madelene’s gloriously naked body undulating, sliding herself over his fingers to find her pleasure. Repeatedly, he’d had to shake himself out of the erotic daydreams.
Timms entered his office with a sigh. “Have you received anything new about Warwick today?”
Simon shook his head. “The day something comes across my desk to lead us to that bastard vicar, you’ll know. You’ll hear my elation, even if you’re on the other side of the building.” He wanted nothing more than to kill the man, but would settle for arresting him if they could bloody well find him.
“It feels like we’re chasing a ghost.” Timms shook his head and walked back out of Simon’s office.
Simon did eventually manage to get through his most important paperwork. He also discovered Madelene’s mother’s maiden name was Sharma. Perhaps a relative of her mother’s would be willing to take her in without informing her father. Unfortunately, every one he’d found a record of so far was still in India. This was not going to be nearly as easy as he would have hoped.
There was no point in staying any longer tonight. His lust-fueled appetites begged him to go home to her. He hoped more than anything that she’d come to him again tonight, even if his conscience still told him it was wrong. It wasn’t that he was taking advantage of her, but he feared it would be more than her body she gave. If she offered her heart, he would only break it. He was not the kind of man who should be a husband. Especially not for someone as sweet-natured as Madelene.
He donned his coat and started for home, knowing full well, if she came to him and asked for more, he wouldn’t say no.
Chapter
Eight
Madelene was in the kitchen when he got home. She was singing to herself and hadn’t heard him come in. Her swaying body captivated him as she poured steaming water from the kettle, humming an unfamiliar melody. He was utterly enchanted. She picked up the finished pot and turned for the table, but when she saw him standing there, she shrieked and dropped it. He swooped in and caught it just before it hit the floor. Hot tea sloshed over his hands and he hissed at the burning of his skin, quickly depositing the teapot on the table.
“Simon!” Her eyes were wide, her hands fluttering up to her chest. “How did you do that? I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone move so quickly before.”
He laughed. With his job, he had to have quick reflexes.
“Are you alright?” She looked down at his hands.
He nodded. “This is a change. It’s usually me doing all the talking.”
She smiled sheepishly before grabbing a towel. Rather than just handing it to him, she reached for his hand. She gently wiped away the tea, but red spots marred his skin. Her eyes were sad when she looked up at him. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so clumsy.”
“No harm done. That’s what I get for lurking and startling you.” He smiled down at her and eventually the sadness melted away as she gazed into his eyes.
“I was just about to treat myself with a scone and some jam. Will you join me?”
“I would enjoy that very much.”
