Page 20 of The Burning Passion of a Fiery Lady
The door had opened, and Leonard was standing there, staring at her.
She had been shocked. It was nine at night, and her parents never entertained visitors after four o’clock in the afternoon.
“How … how are you here?” she had stammered, stupefied.
He had closed the door, walking towards her. His brown eyes were burning restlessly.
“I snuck in,” he said slowly. “Through the servants’ entrance.”
Her mouth had dropped open. “What?How did nobody see you?”
He had shrugged his shoulders. “I was careful.”
“But why?” She was frowning, now. “Why did you do it when we could easily see each other tomorrow?”
He hadn’t answered, for a moment. Instead, he gazed around her room, taking in every detail. Her face burnt with shame. He had never been in her private bedchambers before; it simply wasn’t proper. And now, he was here, brazenly assessing everything: her bed, her clothes hanging in her wardrobe …
That was when she had suddenly remembered that she was wearing her nightgown. That she had already changed out of her evening clothes.
She flushed, painfully. “Leonard, you need to leave,” she had said, quickly. “My parents will kill you if they find you here …”
But he had ignored that, too, stepping closer towards her.
“Susannah,” he had said, his eyes bright. “I could not wait a moment longer. I had to tell you, this evening, how I feel about you. How I have always felt about you, ever since I first laid eyes on you …”
“Leonard, do not do this,” she interjected, taking a step back. “I have told you, time and time again, that I do not feel the same way about you, and that I never can …”
He shook his head vigorously. “No. No! I donotbelieve that. I cannot believe that!”
Suddenly, he had grabbed her, pulling her against him. Before she could react any further, his lips had descended onto her own, and he was kissing her.
For a moment, she struggled against him, before falling limp in his arms. A cold fury had overtaken her. He was so insistent that they were meant for each other; he had been badgering her for months about his undying love for her. Perhaps her lack of response to him wouldfinallymake him realise that she didn’t care for him in that way, and that she never would.
Eventually, the kiss ended. He stepped back, breathing heavily.
“Are you quite done?” she had hissed. “Do you understand, now, that there isnothingbetween us in that way, and that there never will be?”
He had frowned. “What do you mean? That kiss was wonderful!”
Her heart had sunk in dismay. It hadn’t worked.
“Elope with me,” he said, grabbing her again, his voice feverish. “We can run away together tonight. We can go to Gretna Green, in Scotland. By the time your parents realise you are gone, it will be too late …”
She had stared at him, so appalled that for a moment, she simply couldn’t speak.
“Leonard, enough,” she said eventually, in a low, firm voice. “I am not running away with you to elope. I do not love you!”
His eyes widened dramatically. “No, you just do not realise it yet, Susannah …”
“No!” Her voice raised slightly. “You have been badgering me for months. I have told you, time and time again, that I like you as a friend, butthat is all.” She paused. “Besides, I have met someone, who I like in that way …”
She regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. His face darkened, looking like thunder.
“What?” He stepped towards her menacingly. “What do you mean?”
Her heart had fluttered alarmingly. But she had taken a deep breath, gathering her courage. She had to tell him, eventually, and perhaps it might just be the thing, to make him finally realise that he had to stop this obsessive, relentless pursuit of her.
“I have met someone,” she said quietly. “His name is Gilbert Drake, from Shropshire. We met at the dance, at the village hall, just two nights ago. He is calling on me tomorrow …”
