Page 63 of The Wise Daughter
She studied his face as if staring deeply might help her articulate feelings or discover secrets he had yet to tell her. What did he know that she didn’t?
Above his temple, a tiny hint of bruised skin belied the vulnerability behind the strength he always tried to display. It was reminder enough of why she wanted to catch those wretched thieves. Aaron was still healing. Without thinking, she reached up and brushed back a small piece of his hair that the wind had blown over the bruise.
“Does that still hurt?” She gently ran her thumb over the spot, her hand lingering on his face.
Almost imperceptibly, he gave a single shake of his head. “It looks worse than it is.”
When she lowered her hand, he caught it up again, pressed a kiss to it, and lifted it to the place at his neck where his shoulder began. Slowly, tenderly, he lifted her other hand to the other perfect curve of his neck. She sucked in a breath as his arms wrapped around her waist.
Her hold on reason was loosening.
“Last night, after the fire, I wanted to tell you how I feel about you, but I could hardly think that night.” His voice, rich and low, calmed her, giving her something to focus on besides her rioting heart. “I want you to know that from the first moment I heard your voice, claiming I was as heavy as a horse, I was captivated.”
She laughed. Then he laughed. His arms pulled slightly, urging her close.
“The spell you cast on me then hasn’t lessened over these past several days, nor do I expect it too. I’ve tried to be honest about my feelings, cautious even as I believe you have been with yours, but…” He trailed off, looking at her as if waiting or wondering.
Too soon,she screamed to herself.Too wonderful to be true. Too many secrets.
Yet, sometimes life was wonderful. Sometimes secrets held delightful gifts. Sometimes –was it possible?– wishes came true.
“Lovely Honora.”
“I like that more thandarling,” she whispered.
“Lovely, clever, kind Honora.”
His voice reverberated through her thoughts down to her coursing blood and settled into her chest while her head grew lighter. One deep, adoring look, and she knew he could see the rawness of her feelings. Swift as a heartbeat, she found his lips and curled her fingers through his thick hair. He released a sound somewhere between surprise and surrender as he kissed her back. His arms drew her closer, and every muscle relaxed into his touch.
His lips found their way to her cheek where he whispered, “I thought I was going to kiss you first.”
“Pity you didn’t work up the courage faster.”
His chest shook with quiet laugher. “Does this mean you have a competitive side to your nature?”
She spoke softly against his cheek. “Is that really so surprising? So we’re perfectly clear, we are still going to catch those thieves before we wed.”
“Absolutely.”
Sitting in the curricle with Aaron, his arms still around her waist and the kitten playing with the cloth in the basket, she no longer questioned whether they would wed. They would. Her mind was made up.
He found her lips this time, but she had to finish her thoughts aloud.
“I’m quite serious, Aaron. I won’t have so much as their shadows marring our wedding day.”
“Agreed.” He kissed her temple.
“I am in earnest Aaron.”
“Agreed,” was his instant reply as he kissed her cheek, then found her lips again.
“Agreed?” She laughed against the kiss, the vibrations of breath and voice tickling until his lips once again silenced hers, but no sooner had he done so than a new voice interrupted their moment.
“Well, well.” A tall, broad-shouldered gentleman stood in their secluded haven like a thorn among flowers. “Out for a walk, and look who I find?” His eyes roved over Nora. “No wonder you’ve been ignoring me, Ravenglass. Can’t say I blame you, now that I’ve seen this fair specimen, but you’ll regret it nonetheless.”
Every inch of Nora wound up. Aaron whispered a curse, then relinquished his hold on her, giving her hand one last squeeze before leaping down from the curricle to meet the approaching newcomer.
While his clothes suggested wealth, his manner suggested the commanding crudeness of someone used to being obeyed. Despite his protruding belly, he looked strong and capable. His thick grey hair grew down the sides of his cheeks, tapering into a grizzled chin that looked impossible to cleanly shave with such a deep crevice. His mouth was fixed in a sneering frown while his narrowed eyes and tilted nose communicated nothing but menace.
