Page 79 of Heart of Iron
Hovering outside the carriage, he cast a swift glance around at the darkening streets.“Here,” he said, tugging a small paper-wrapped package from his waistcoat.“I didn’t just buy you the pistol.”
Lena stared at the box in her gloved hands.Will wiped his hands on his trousers and shoved them deep into his pockets.The action only strained the material over his thighs, something she tried not to notice.
“What is it?”she asked, rattling the box.
“Open it.”
Tugging at the brown string that tied the package, she couldn’t ignore his sudden tension.He leaned against the carriage, one hand on the open door as he watched her play with the strings.She had some mind to draw the moment out, to watch his unease grow, but there was no point.Those were the type of games she’d played with him as a foolish young girl.
Tearing apart the paper, she unearthed a small red velvet box.A gold crown was embossed in the material.She knew exactly where it had come from.Most young ladies did.“Will?”she said breathlessly.“I told you I couldn’t accept personal items.”
His warm hands slid over hers, forcing the box apart.“Consider it practical then.”
One last dying ray of sunlight gleamed through a blood red ruby.She almost snapped the box closed.Almost.“I never asked you what you were doing in a jeweler’s.”She shook her head.“I can’t.It’s too beautiful.Too expensive.”
Will fetched it out, the simple gold band tumbling into his hand.Engraved filigreed thorns wrapped around the ruby, holding it in place.“See here?”He flicked one of the thorns and it sprang out, surprisingly sharp.
She reached out to test it with her finger and he snatched her hand away.“It’s a poison ring, Lena.Took me ages to find a jeweler who had one.”Leaning close, he glanced at the driver and whispered in her ear.“Full of a hemlock concoction that’ll incapacitate a blue blood for a few minutes.How long depends on how old he is, how much the cravin’ virus has overtaken him.”
He was giving her so much more than a ring.Another weapon.Another means to defend herself.Lena swallowed hard, staring at his face as he demonstrated how the ring would work.
“This must have cost a fortune.”
Will shrugged.“I don’t spend much.Never ’ave.”
“Will, I can’t.”
He eased the thorn back into its slot, then closed her fingers over it.That stubborn look she was starting to know so well crept over his face.“It ain’t open to discussion.”
“Is that how you think you’re going to stop me from arguing from now on?”
A rare smile softened his lips.
Lena sighed.“Fine.I’ll take it.”Slipping her glove off, she slid the beautiful ring over her finger.“Thank you.”
“Saves me from worryin’.”
Lena stared into the ruby’s facets.He wouldn’t worry if he didn’t care, would he?Her blood heated at the thought.Don’t.She clenched her fist, hiding the ring from sight.Don’t think this is any more than it is.
Raking a hand through his hair, he looked around.“About last night—”
The warmth drained out of her face.“No,” she snapped.“You made it quite clear what last night was about.”
“Lena, I need to explain—”
“I don’t want to hear it.”She turned away, shoulders stiff and face frozen as she smoothed her skirts.“I understand that I made a fool of myself.It won’t happen again.”
“Lena, you—”
“A gentleman would keep his mouth shut now,” she reminded him, falling back on her lecture tone.Anything to hold herself together.
Will stared at her, his gaze an intimate touch she refused to meet.“Very well,” he said softly.
“I should be going.It’s growing late.And there’s that dinner I must attend.”
“You’re goin’ out?”
“Briefly.Then I’ll get back to work on Mr.Mandeville’s commission.I need to finish the interior clockwork of the transformational.I’m so very close.There’s no need for you to check on me tonight.I promise I won’t get into any trouble.”
