Page 40 of Tutoring a Lady into Sin
Percy’s room is near here, and there are other male guests in this wing of the house. It is possible one of them is receiving a late-night visitor and…
But Phineas gnashed his teeth when he thought of his big brother that way.
He swore he would be faithful to his wife…Ah, but that was not until after they were married.
Irritated by the abominable thoughts of what Percy might be doing right now or whom he might be letting into his bedchambers, Phineas swung his door open wide, hoping to catch Percival and the lady in the act and send them both off to bed with a sound scolding. But he was utterly astonished to see that the person in the hallway was there for him.
“Christianna?” he breathed.
She carried no candle and wore a loose white nightgown. Had he not known better, he might have thought her an apparition, a ghost his mind had conjured because he was thinking of her so regularly.
“Let me in,” she hissed, and Phineas stepped aside.
She scurried into the room and brought the thick scent of lavender with her. Phineas’ head spun as he inhaled deeply. She shut the door quickly behind herself and swept into the room.
Standing just before the bed staring at him, Phineas thought she had never looked more lovely. Her long blonde hair was released from its coils, and it fell in soft waves down beyond her shoulders. Her face looked stricken, except for the way her eyebrows drifted up lightly, implying that she had a question to ask him.
“My lady, what are you doing here?” he asked as he moved away from the closed door and nearer to her.
“I had to speak with you,” she whispered.
“And you needed to come to my bedchamber to do that?” He gave her a bewildered stare.
She floated toward him and reached for both of his hands, clasping them in her own. “Phineas, I needed to tell you that I made a mistake last night.”
“I see,” he said as he tore his eyes away from her and looked out the window. He glared at the full silvery moon, which shone brightly through the panes of glass. “But you have no need to apologise, my lady. It was I who tempted you to kiss me.”
“No,” Christianna said softly as she tugged on his hands, urging him to look at her once more. “I do not regret anything that unfolded between us last night…well, except that I asked you to stop.”
“You…you wanted more?” Phineas asked quietly.
“All day, I have been consumed with my thoughts of you, Phineas…only you. I want…I want all you are able to give me. I want you to show me all there is to know. I…”
“No,” Phineas said as he pulled his hands away from hers. “I cannot.”
“But why?” Christianna persisted. “I have come to you. No one knows I am here. We are free to do whatever we like and—”
“We are not free, my lady,” Phineas insisted as he took another step away from her. “You are supposed to marry my brother in but a few days, and I…well, I…”
“What, Phineas?” Christianna urged. “Do not think in practical terms but tell me what you are feeling. Tell me what you want.”
“I have come to develop real and true feelings for you, my lady. I cannot even look at you now without thinking I might be in love with you.” He spun away from her and walked to the window.
“But that is a good thing, surely,” Christianna said as she came after him. She placed her soft fingertips on his shoulder. “You should not hide away your thoughts and feelings.”
“But if we lie with each other tonight, I will never be able to let you go to another.” He paused and nearly choked on the words. “I cannot see you wed to Percival if I allow my feelings for you to develop any further. I just…I wish…”
“Phineas,” she whispered, “do not despair. We are here together now, and that is all that matters.”
“No,” he growled as he summoned the courage to turn about and face her. “Tonight is not all that matters. If I take you tonight and make you mine, how will I ever let you go tomorrow?”
Chapter 17
“But I am already yours,” Christianna breathed as she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. He pulled away from her quickly.
“Christianna, stop,” he ordered. “You do not mean that.”
“But I do,” she insisted. “From the moment we first met, Phineas, we have been treading this path together. You have been by my side, and I have walked right along with you. We are evenly matched…perfect for one another in every way.”
