Page 49 of Persuasions of an Earl's Daughter

Thank the Lord, she was slight, or he’d have trouble standing still. He watched as she reached high, curled her fingers around the edge of the hole and hauled herself up. With both hands to her rear, he shoved, and she vanished onto the roof.

Watching the light glimmering through the gap in the roof, he eased out a breath. Even if he remained trapped here forever, even if he drowned, at least she was safe.

Her face reappeared, a grin that almost made him laugh curving her lips. “I’m back,” she announced, and another head appeared—that of the innkeeper who shook his head at what was likely a sorry sight. “And I have assistance.”

Chapter Eighteen

“One day, Lil, I’ll see you in a beautiful ballgown without a single spot of mud on your hem.”

Lilly wrinkled her nose at the idea. She didn’t mind balls but didn’t enjoy the ballgowns so much. Having said that, the idea of being pristine and glamorous rather appealed now, especially if August started telling her how beautiful she was again.

She plucked at her skirts as he shut the bedroom door behind him. “I’ve had enough muddy hems to last a lifetime.”

“Liar.”

She lifted a shoulder. How was it this man knew her so well already? The chances of her getting muddy again were quite high, though under different circumstances she hoped.

Aware of the crisp, muddy muslin of her gown, she opted to drop onto the wooden chair and avoid any soft furnishings. Exhaustion ate through her and left her eyes scratchy and tired, and she wasn’t sure if her muscles ached from exertion or were simply bruised and battered after wading through debris. She rested her elbow upon the dressing table and propped her cheek on a hand.

“Do you think Oakfield will ever recover?”

August pulled the laces at the collar of his shirt, rolled his shoulders, and rubbed the back of his neck with a hand. “From what I’ve seen today, I should think so.”

Lilly nodded. Not a single villager remained tucked in their dry home. Everyone had taken to aiding those impacted by the flood, fetching food and blankets, and ensuring they had somewhere warm to sleep.

It had taken all day to ensure everyone was safe and Lilly couldn’t count how many times she’d waded back into the water to aid a mother with a screaming child in their arms or an elderly person struggling to make their way to dry ground. It was only luck most of the injuries were minor and no lives had been lost given how suddenly the river had burst its banks. When she’d spoken to the young lady who they had rescued, she’d talked of them waking to the sound of rushing water.

A shudder wracked Lilly and she shook away the image.

“There’s no warm water to be had today but you should get clean and change.”

She looked to the freshly pressed gown Klara had carefully draped over the chest of drawers then to August. He’d been waist deep in that water, almost lost in the gloom, and when she’d climbed through that roof, she feared she’d never see him again.

He had to have known she wouldn’t be able to lift him through. As strong as she was, she didn’t have the muscles for that.

Which meant he’d chosen to save her life over his.

Her vision clouded and she swallowed hard.

“Lil?”

She smiled weakly as he neared and dropped onto his haunches in front of her. “You’re the only one who gets away with calling me that, you know?”

“Good.”

She released a shuddering breath. “I almost lost you.”

He put his hands to her knees and met her gaze. When she searched it, her breath trapped in her lungs. His eyes were darker than she’d ever seen before, as though the memory of what they had been through shadowed his gaze. She saw his throat bob and felt his fingers press into her skin, almost branding her. He was recalling that they nearly lost each other. He was thinking of never wanting to be apart from her again. He wanted to touch her, kiss her, set her body aflame and never look back.

Somehow, she knew that all from one glance.

Perhaps she shifted forward slightly or maybe he moved closer. She wasn’t certain. Either way, they wound up closer and his hands slipped up her arms. Abruptly, he hauled her to her feet. A heartbeat passed.

And then he was there, all hard muscles and rough fingers.

Those fingers delved into her hair, pulling her head back so he could kiss her. His lips met hers. After a day of moving slow, of wading through water and fighting the elements, this kiss was fast. Hard and demanding. His teeth bumped into her lip, and she whimpered. Lilly didn’t think she’d whimpered once in her life, but August’s kisses made her want to keen and beg for more. Snaking her hands up around his neck, she dug her nails into his skin. His tongue pressed between her lips, and she tasted sweet tea and heat.

It wasn’t enough.

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