Page 92 of The Lady Needs a Rogue
Chapter Twenty-Six
As a girl,Macie marched to the rhythm of her own drum, or so her mother had said. Heaven knew she’d given her governesses more than their fair share of aggravation when she rebelled against the tutelage meant to prepare her to be a fine lady. She’d much preferred to traipse along with her brother and his boyhood friends through the wooded lands surrounding their country home. Her imagination had run wild as she peered into dark hollows, climbed trees, and navigated slippery stones by gentle streams. At times, she’d felt a fright, but all in all, the experiences had been exhilarating. Far more so than mastering an embroidered stitch or knitting a perfect cable. Her father had sternly disapproved of the way she gallivanted about with the lads, as he’d put it. But Mum, a free-spirited redhead whose complexion was dotted with freckles, had encouraged Macie to explore her world to her heart’s content.
A month earlier, she would have been utterly thrilled by the prospect of a research trip to Athens, accompanied by a dashing professor, no less. Documenting the expedition would allow her to develop her craft at a new level entirely. She could envision the excitement her photographic portrayal might garner, while the journey itself would be something unlike anything she’d experienced.
So why was she sitting alone in her garden, gazing up at the crescent moon, holding back emotions she didn’t want to feel?
Very little that has occurred in recent days has been ordinary. In one rather flippant sentence, Nell had neatly described Macie’s life since the moment she’d slipped on a puddle of some awful burgundy wine and fallen directly into the hands of Finn Caldwell. Ever since she’d looked into his eyes that night, nothing had seemed quite the same.
If the opportunity to travel to Athens with Professor Aylesworth and his team was indeed offered, she’d be a fool to turn it down. Wouldn’t she? Weeks earlier, the answer would’ve come easily. But now, so much had changed.
For so very long, she’d quieted the longings of her heart. She’d felt so certain that she would have to somehow become someone else in order to marry. The kind of love her mum and papa had cherished for so many years seemed unattainable, a mere fantasy for a woman like her.
Until she’d kissed Finn.
Until she’d delighted in the sound of his husky voice when he told her she was beautiful. Savored the feel of his skin against hers. Reveled in the pleasure of his touch.
Until she’d opened her heart to him. And him alone.
Could she bear to leave Finn for weeks, perhaps even months? There was so much to learn about him. So much to learn about each other. And the bond they were forging.
And there was another concern, wasn’t there? If Finn’s worries were justified—if she had somehow become mired in some criminal’s vile scheme, she could not risk putting Professor Aylesworth and his fellow researchers in danger. If the situation were not resolved before his departure, she could not even consider accompanying the group.
She wandered over to her tea rose. Beneath the dim gaslight of the sconce, it seemed to glow with golden tones as its subtle aroma surrounded her.
“Are ye well, my sweet?” Finn’s gravel-edged tones warmed her. Throughout the night, he’d been cool to her. Distant. Perhaps even aloof.
“My sweet, is it?” She turned to him. “Given that you’d scarcely said two words to me since dinner, I find that a bit surprising.”
He crossed the patio, joining her by the roses. “I’d defy any man to get a word in when Nell and Mrs. Johnstone are in a spirited conversation.” He threaded his fingers through a rogue tendril of her hair and swept it behind her ear, a tempting smile playing on his lips.
“That doesn’t entirely explain your reticence. It’s rather out of character, you must admit.”
“Is it now?” He caught her fingers in his, making tiny circles with his thumb over the back of her hand. “At times, a wise man knows the less he says, the better.”
“And tonight was one of those times?”
His shoulders lifted and fell, a casual shrug that contradicted the primal heat in his gaze. “It was.” He grazed his fingertips along the curve of her jaw. “A complicated situation has become even more tangled. We both know ye’ll soon have a decision to make. Aylesworth won’t wait forever.”
“So, it’s his visit that’s troubling you.”
“In a word, yes.” Finn didn’t dance around the subject.
She bit back a little grin. “Why, Finn, am I to believe you’re jealous?”
“Of that pompous arse?” His eyes flashed with emotion, contradicting his flippant words.
“Thatpompous arseis a scholar, and by all accounts, a gentleman.”
“Gentleman?” he scoffed. “The bloke fights dirty. That’s a bad sign, in my book.”
“As I don’t anticipate engaging the man in a bout of fisticuffs, I can say that doesnotsignify as a problem inmybook. Besides, Nell is rather taken with him.”
“Nellis not the subject of his interest.” Finn’s voice was low and gruff and so very appealing. “That honor belongs to ye, Macie.”
The raw emotion in his voice touched her at a primitive level. She met his intent gaze. Finn truly was jealous, wasn’t he?
How very appealing.
