Page 94 of The Lady Needs a Rogue
“My, Macie, youare distracted, aren’t you?”
Nell’s gentle nudge pulled Macie from her thoughts. Gazing down at the hustle and bustle of the street below her grandfather’s parlor, Macie had drifted into a comfortabledaydream. It seemed fitting, really, that her thoughts on this gloomy afternoon would be filled with images and all-too-recent memories of Finn. He’d been the subject of her dreams the night before, in those long hours after he’d crept up the stairs with her to her room, but left her safe and sound and thoroughly sated. In those delicious moments, he’d kissed her until she was wild for him. He’d brought her to a peak so intense, it had left her nearly mindless with the sheer pleasure of it. And utterly besotted with the man she adored.
But he’d held back. Teaching her the ways of pleasure with his gentle hands and delicious mouth. Bringing her delight beyond anything she’d ever imagined. But he would not claim her as his own.
Not yet. Not until the moment was utterly right.
A proper seduction takes time.
Finn had become so very protective of her. He’d vowed he would never go beyond what she wanted him to do. He would not hurry their seduction.How very delicious.The very thought of it made her want him all the more.
“Are you well, Macie?” Nell pressed. “You’re not yourself today.”
Macie tucked her thoughts of Finn in the back of her mind. Sweet memories of his tenderness were just the thing to fill a long, lonely night. But for now, she had to form a coherent thought in response to Nell’s question.
“I suppose I am a bit distracted,” she said, turning to meet Nell’s curious gaze.
Nell looked to be fighting back a grin. “Mr. Caldwell?”
“Is it so obvious?”
“The truth is in your eyes,” Nell said. “You cannot hide it. I know you too well.”
“That you do, my friend,” she said.
“Personally, I think it’s grand,” Nell said.
“So do I,” Macie said. “For now, I suppose I should ready my equipment. If I’m to photograph that creepy old theater in time for my exhibition, I need to get to it.”
“That place gives me a chill. I do think the rumors are true.”
“You believe there are ghosts?”
Nell grinned. “It would be exciting if there were, wouldn’t it?”
“I’m not quite sure I’d wish for that kind of excitement right now.”
“To each her own,” Nell said with a brief grin. “Mrs. Johnstone is still in the library reviewing some of your grandfather’s papers. It’s all quite fascinating.”
“I’d no idea you were interested in antiquities.”
“Your grandfather’s perspectives are intriguing, even to someone who has not studied ancient myths.”
“He was a brilliant man,” Macie said. “At heart, he was a teacher. He wanted to share his passion for the ancient world.”
“Indeed,” Nell agreed. “I’m going to spend a bit more time with his papers until you’re ready to depart for the theater.”
As Nell left the room, Macie took up her sketchbook and settled into a comfortable chair by the window. She needed to give some thought to the images she wished to capture. Now, with her thoughts more settled and surrounded by quiet, she could focus on the gloomy old theater.
She’d put pencil to paper for a pair of rough sketches and had begun a third when Nell and Mrs. Johnstone bustled through the door.
“Macie, you need to see this,” Nell said, joining her by the window.
“What have you found?” A blend of excitement and puzzlement swept over Macie as Mrs. Johnstone entered, a small rosewood cabinet in her hands. “You have my grandfather’s writing box?”
“Its contents were quite an interesting find,” Mrs. Johnstone said.
“How did you open it? The key is tucked away in grandfather’s safe. I simply haven’t had the heart to search through it yet.”
