Page 27 of His Wicked Embrace
A smile hovered about Lawrence’s lips. “What about myhair?”
When she realized that she was still touching it, she dropped her hands in her lap, blushing. “I’ve never really seen that shade before. The color, it’sstriking.”
“No gingers where you’re from?” His rich laugh warmed her to her verycore.
“Ginger?” She giggled. “You mean like the root? What does that have to do with yourhair?”
“I’m a ginger. That’s what we call redheads.” He combed his fingers through the strands, smiling. It was the kind of soft smile that reminded her of her father and of her home. A smile that was gentle, playful, open, but only to a person lucky enough to witnessit.
She began to understand her sweet, seductive rescuer more and more simply by talking with him and watching him. He was like her father in some ways, quiet, intense, but at the right moments, when they opened up, it was as though the sun would never stop shining down on them. She shook her head to banish the sudden flare of pain at the memory. Instead she focused on Lawrence and the way he made her want tosmile.
“You Englishmen and your sillywords.”
“We have plenty of silly words, but I promise to waste none on you unless you wish me to.” He winked as he handed her a plate with a mix of cold meats and fruit before he poured her a glass oflemonade.
They dined in silence, but she found she liked it. The quiet sounds of distant birds whispered in thetrees.
“What bird is that?” sheasked.
Lawrence cocked an ear toward the trees. “That’s alark.”
Zehra listened to it again. “It is different from the larks Iknow.”
“I suppose it would be. Your home is over two thousand milesaway.”
She had known how far she’d traveled, and yet hearing it now made this land seem even more wondrous and exotic. It was peaceful here and freeing. They’d walked here without horses or a carriage, and they’d chosen a spot on the hill away from other couples who were likely to picnic today. It was as if the two of them were alone in this strange world. Her eyes met his before slidingaway.
He chuckled. “So shy, MissDarzi?”
“So bold, Mr. Russell?” she replied just as quickly, earning a deep laugh fromhim.
“Are you still imagining all the wicked things I said I wished to do to you?” He slid an inch closer to her, her skirts brushing his knee. She leaned in, her pulse racing. She felt all too aware that if they lost themselves in passion here, it would likely gounseen.
“I might be,” she whispered, her faceheating.
“Good.” He trailed a fingertip along the patterned silk of the gown by her ankle, toying with the hem, lifting the fabric a few inches. Her breath quickened, and he removed his fingers, letting the cloth fall back into place, much to her disappointment. Lawrence seemed to know just how to toy with her, the way a cat would a mouse. She wanted him, yet he refused to take things any farther than scandalousteasing.
“Do you miss Persia?” Lawrence asked when they had finishedeating.
“I miss…” She hesitated, trying to express exactly what feelings dwelt in her heart. She hadn’t had time to realize she missed Shiraz, because everything for the last few weeks had been a terrifying whirlwind. It took her a moment to gather her thoughts enough toanswer.
“I miss feeling at home, feeling like I belong. I do not belong inEngland.”
“Home is an important thing. My oldest brother, Lucien, has our family estate in Kent, and it is home to me in many ways, but…” His gaze grewdistant.
“Butwhat?”
Lawrence plucked a bluebell from the grass nearby and brushed his fingers over the petals. “My father’s memory is everywhere in thathouse.”
“You did not love yourfather?”
He looked away. “Quite the opposite. I loved him very much. He died when I was a lad. It broke my mother’s heart and devastated our family. He made Rochester Hall our home, and every room still carries the lingering presence of him. Sometimes it is too painful to goback.”
Zehra reached out and touched his hand. “Places collect memories much the way people do. Evil or good. You should never be afraid of a home that carries love in its stones. You should embraceit.”
She thought of her own home, oceans away, and how evil clung to it now. She would never go back there, no matter what. Her mother had taught her to put love in her heart above all else. It was a hard thing to do when she thought of her parents being betrayed and murdered. For a moment, she was sucked back into that darkness, where smoke and blood threatened to suffocateher.
Lawrence cleared his throat. “Picnics are supposed to be pleasant things, and here I am bungling it up, aren’t I?” His rueful smile tugged at her heart as he made a grand show of delivering the bluebell he’d plucked toher.
