Page 66 of A Rake's Redemption
Inis held back a disdainful snort. Flowery words and empty compliments meant nothing. She’d heard too many of them at Dublin’s society events, not that they had been directed at her. Inis was quite aware she was not the type that poets waxed eloquently about. She couldn’t understand why someone would want to be compared to flowers or starry skies in the first place.
Inis flipped the pages. “Here’s one about saying goodbye to your lover.”
Elsie’s eyes grew round and she giggled. “What’s it called?”
“‘Maid of Athens,’” Inis replied and began to read. She didn’t have to pretend to stumble as the words sunk in. It happened naturally. Byron was describing wanting to kiss his lady’s cheeks and lips and encircle her waist and, left unsaid, make her his before he left…
Her mind drifted back to the afternoon when Alex had knelt beside her and examined her for broken bones. She might have had the air knocked out of her, but she’d been all too aware of his hands roaming over her body. Even in her dazed state—or maybe because of it—the parts of her hehadn’ttouched had ached for him to do so. When his fingers skimmed her ribs, her breasts had suddenly felt tender. When his hands had touched her legs, the juncture between them had grown warm and moist. And when he’d mounted his horse behind her and his warm breath tickled her ear, she’d wanted to turn her face for his kiss. She’d settled instead for leaning back against him, a gesture he no doubt thought had to do with her feeling woozy. And maybe she did, but not from the fall.
She’d never desired a man before. She’d not known thewant—theneed—to couple with a man could be so strong. And now, when the realization finally struck of what all these strange feelings she’d been having were about, she was going to leave without fulfillment.
Or maybe not. Alex was a self-professed rake. Rakes were notorious for seducing women, especially willing ones. Perhaps…
Her thoughts were interrupted by Fern’s appearance in the doorway with a dinner tray.
“Mrs. Olsen was about to bring this up,” Fern said as she came into the room and set the tray on the small table, “but since I was going to my room, I said I would.”
“Thank ye,” Inis replied as Fern nodded and left. Inis eyed Elsie. “Am I allowed to get up to eat?”
“I’ll bring it over to you,” she said.
“Surely I can sit at the table.”
Elsie looked mulish. “His lordship said to stay in bed.”
Inis sighed. Obviously, Elsie was taking Alex’s orders literally. No sense in arguing with her. Besides, the soup did smell delicious, as did the aroma of freshly baked bread.
“Oh, look,” Elsie said, lifting a napkin from a smaller plate. “A chocolate truffle. Abigone!”
Inis frowned. “Why would Mrs. Olsen be making truffles? ’Tis nae a holiday.”
“I saw Lord Ashley leave earlier as I came up. I would guess his lordship went to that little candy shop near Gunter’s and bought this for you.” Elsie smiled. “He is a generous lord.”
Which was why Elsie didn’t want to lose her job. Had Alex bought the truffle because he was kind? Truffles were expensive treats. Inis didn’t have any grandiose ideas that Alex wanted to court her, but did he maybe…maybe…feel some desire? Could this gift be meant as the beginning of a seduction?
She’d think about that later.
She’d prefer to eat the truffle immediately, but she had the soup first while it was hot and the bread still soft and warm, although she wasn’t about to waste one bite of the delicious buttery, heavily sugared chocolate. Then she noticed Elsie eyeing the oversize truffle, too. “Would you like some? I can share.”
“Oh, no.” Elsie put her hands behind her back. “I couldn’t. If his lordship thought—”
“He will nae find out,” Inis said.and used her fork to slice off a portion. “Go ahead. Take it.”
“That is too much,” Elsie said and then looked behind her before she came closer. “But I might just take a pinch.”
“Whatever ye like,” Inis replied and watched as the maid carefully swiped a finger along the edge of the truffle, breaking off a bit and sticking it in her mouth.
“That is all ye want?”
Elsie nodded as she savored her taste. “It is enough.”
Inis didn’t argue. She’d almost forgotten how delicious chocolate could be. This truffle had especially dark chocolate, slightly bitter, but a nice balance to the sugary glaze on top. She finished it off all too soon.
“I think I ate too much,” she said as Elsie took the tray. “I feel like I could sleep forever.”
“You probably should rest now,” Elsie said. “I’ll take the tray down and…”
The maid’s last words were blurred as Inis closed her eyes and drifted into silence.
