Page 33 of Tamed By a Passionate Lady
She gazed around the room, slowly. Her attention was arrested by the window near the bed. The day that was out there, that she had never even seen yet.
It was a beautiful, clear day. For once, there were no grey clouds in the sky. She could almost imagine what the sea would look like, and the coastline. This beautiful place, that he had chosen to call home, before he had even met her.
She had known that he lived in a remote location, along the southern point of the county of Lancashire. Her mother had told her so, in a puzzled voice, wondering why anyone would swap the excitement of a city like Liverpool for such a location. But it had fired Adaline’s imagination, and she had anticipated it. She had never felt comfortable in cities. As soon as she had come here, she had known why he had chosen such a spot.
She had never asked him why he had chosen to live here. He had never told her why he had left Liverpool, the city that he had grown up in. His heart was a closely guarded fortress, that she had never been able to penetrate. The secrets he held within were a mystery to her.
But she knew that he loved it passionately. He talked of the birds he had spotted on his daily walks. He had even started to make an inventory of them, noting down where they nested, how often they were here. Whether they were migratory birds, or natives.
“It is a glorious day,” she said slowly. “The sky is blue, without a single cloud in the sky. I have not seen the ocean today, but I imagine it will be blue as well, and that the ships that pass by the coastline will be joyous that their trip will not be hindered by incremental weather, as is often the case…”
He stirred again, groaning. The sound was louder this time.
“You chose well,” she said, her heart overflowing. “It is the perfect spot to live in peace and solitude. I understand why you love it so. I love it, too.” She took a deep breath. “I have tried to make it a home for you, my love. I have tried to make it a home for both of us.”
The tears were running down her face now. She didn’t even try to stop them.
“I know that I have not succeeded,” she said slowly. “I know that we lead separate lives, under the one roof. But wedoshare that love, of this house, and this place. It is here waiting for you, James. Your home is here, just as it was. You are safe to return.”
He moaned again. His eyelids were flickering, and his head was moving more quickly now. It was as if he was fighting something. It was as if he was undergoing a great battle to finally come back and open his eyes.
She didn’t know what to say anymore. She felt drained, as if she had said everything that she could possibly think of to aid his journey.
But then she suddenly remembered that night, when they had kissed, before his accident. He had asked her to be patient with him, and she had promised that she would.
“I promised you,” she said, in a low voice. “I promised you that I would be patient with whatever it is that torments you. I will keep that promise.” The tears ran faster down her face. “It has been difficult for me, but I will do it. All that I want to do is love you without fear…”
He groaned again. And then, quite suddenly, he opened his eyes, staring straight at her.
There was not a flicker of recognition within them.
Chapter 12
James gazed at the woman. Her face was streaked with tears. He saw that her eyes were large, almost shaped like almonds, and the deepest golden brown, fringed by long, curling dark lashes.
It was those eyes which drew him in, pulling him inexorably further, back into the world.
He kept staring at her. Her face was twisted in pain. She was upset. He had no idea why she was so upset, but he could see that she was consumed with it.
She is so lovely,he thought, wondrously.Truly, she is the most beautiful of women.
He had no idea who she was.
“Please,” he said, hearing his voice emerge like a croak. “Please, do not cry…”
Her mouth fell open in shock. She looked amazed, as if he had just uttered the meaning of life itself. And also a little fearful, as if she did not know quite how to proceed.
He had heard her last words, just as he had opened his eyes. Something about keeping a promise to him, and wanting to love him, without fear. But he simply had no idea what that promise was, or why this lovely woman was gripping his hand so tightly with a tear stained face.
“James?” Her voice was tentative.
He blinked rapidly. The name stirred something, deep inside. It must be his name, but he could not remember it. Why could he not remember his own name?
Suddenly, a vision from the darkness came to him. A vision of his mother shouting out his name as she ran towards him, trying to keep him from going over the edge into the river below.
James, she had cried.
A deep uneasiness came over him. Itwashis name. Why had he not recognised it immediately?
