Page 27 of Teach a Rogue New Tricks
A red cloak appeared just before the lithe form wearing it. Miss Cavendish smiled shyly. “Lord Albee, good afternoon.”
He stood. “Your aunt is inside with Daniel. Perhaps you’re in time to help change a nappy.”
“I’ve not come to see my aunt.” She grinned, a soft thing that crinkled her eyes. “Nor to change Daniel’s nappy. I’ve come to speak with you.” She glanced up at the house, then grasped his wrist and pulled him around a shrubbery and out of sight of the windows. “Good. Better. No one can see us now. I know how important anonymity is to you, and I want to show you I’m serious about all your concerns.”
“If you were serious about my concerns, Miss Cavendish, you would keep your distance. Didn’t you learn your lesson yesterday?”
She touched her lips. “The kiss?”
He nodded.
“You meant to warn me away, didn’t you?”
“I’m glad to see you’re so astute, Miss Cavendish.”
She peeked up at him, mischief glittering in her eyes. “You have no idea, Lord Albee.”
“I should return inside.” He stepped around her.
She caught him with a slender hand laid flat to his upper arm. “My family is having an outing tomorrow. To the Tower of London.” She paused.
When the evening crickets chirped in the silence instead of her explanation, he spoke. “Have a delightful time, love.” He pulled away from her feather-light grasp.
“I think you should come.”
Her words were more effective than her touch for turning him to stone. “And why’s that? I am not part of the family.”
She replaced her hand on his upper arm and took a step back so they stood eye to eye. “No. But… I have been thinking of you.”
He licked his lips and closed his eyes. Her words feltgood. But terrifying. So he did what he always did when scared, cornered. “Have you? At night, then, when everyone else is asleep and you can touch your—”
“Stop.”
He did. Her single word held so much authority, he dared not defy her.
“Humph. You are naughty no matter what else you are. I should wash my hands of you, but”—she shook her head—“I am ever at the mercy of those who need me.”
“And I need you?”
“Yes. Now, if you will cease your attempts to shock…” She raised a brow.
“You resemble your aunt very much right now.”
She grinned. “I have been thinking that you live too much in the past. You cannot move forward because you are always there, reliving your past actions to punish yourself.”
“Have you been following me about?”
Her head cocked to the side. “No. Why would you think it?”
“Your words sound very much like those my father spoke today. I’ve already attended a lecture this day, Miss Cavendish, so I suppose you may continue yours. But must I attend?”
She tapped his bicep. “Yes. You must.”
And damned if he didn’t.
“You,” she continued, “can live in the past because you create no new memories, no new experiences. I… have lived a similar life in many ways. I am… scared to move forward because London is so different from what I’ve known all my life. But I will go with my family to the Tower tomorrow. And I will live in the present, not the past, to see how I like it; to see if it suits me. Will you do the same?”
She wanted to help him. Still. After he’d kissed her without permission, offered her little other than disrespect. Shestillwished to help him. He could not comprehend.
