Page 55 of Her Wicked Highwayman
“Soon,” he whispered instead. “Soon.”
He put a fresh log on the newly lit fire, secured the fire grate around it, and walked back to his own bedchamber to sleep alone.
CHAPTER 13
Diana’s first thought upon waking was of the little girl, how she’d been so cold, shivering and full of terror. She changed into the clean gown that someone had left for her on the foot of the bed and rushed into the hall, grasping a footman’s arm as he passed by.
“How is Isla?” she demanded, her heart pounding with dread. The house was far too quiet. In her experience, a quiet house meant death had paid a call.
“She’s fine, Miss Fox,” the young man assured her. “She slept through the night and ate a hearty breakfast this morning. She is still in bed. The doctor visited this morning and said she was much recovered. He believes it was more the shock from the storm rather than the rain that made her ill.”
“Thank you.” Diana sagged against the wall, her legs wobbly. A thought occurred to her. “Heavens,” she muttered as she felt the world starting to spin. “My staff must be frantic. I didn’t mean to stay the night here.”
The footman smiled. “Rest easy, Miss Fox. Word was sent yesterday that you were to remain as a guest after you saved Miss Isla’s life. Your butler replied with a thank-you and saidto tell you that you should rest. He also sent over a selection of gowns and other necessary things for you to wear.”
Peele wanted her to rest? Impossible. They had so much to do. There was another robbery to plan because they had mouths to feed and a house still to run. Paying off their current debts didn’t save them from future debts. Her head ached with the sudden rush of anxiety. Diana pressed a hand to her chest as it tightened, and she shut her eyes tight, forcing herself to breathe, praying it would clear her head.
The footman placed a careful hand on her arm. “Miss Fox? Are you unwell?”
A deep, smooth voice cut straight through her sudden panic. “What’s the matter?”
Diana lifted her head and saw Mr. Lennox—Rafe—standing in the corridor, his eyes focused on her in clear concern. It was a wild relief to see him there, despite the embarrassment she felt at having such a display of weakness in front of him.
“She appears to be unwell, Mr. Lennox,” the footman said, which only deepened the flush of shame in Diana’s cheeks. She didn’t feel unwell,ever. She couldn’t afford to.
“Thank you, Sampson. I will escort her to somewhere she can sit down.” Rafe dismissed the footman and took his place at Diana’s elbow. He took her arm, tucking it around his, and she leaned into his body to absorb the heat that emanated from him. He wore no coat, and she could feel his firm muscles through the cloth of his billowing sleeves. He continued to watch her with those fathomless blue eyes. The scent of rain and a faint masculine cologne teased her nose, making her want to lean in closer and inhale deeply.
They stood together until she regained her equilibrium, and he continued to hold her by the waist and let her hold on to his arm. The heat in her face subsided, and the anxiety in her chest eased.
“You look much recovered now, sweetheart. Would you care to join me for breakfast?” He said the wordsweetheartso sweetly that it brought a tremble to her lips, which she bit to hide before she was able to respond. She gazed into his face, enraptured by those bright-blue eyes, eyes she secretly wished belonged to someone else... Yet at the same time, she wanted that man to be this man.
But it was impossible for a man of Rafe Lennox’s station to resort to robbing coaches. He was of the landed gentry, gifted with all the creature comforts a man could need, and he had a warm and loving family. There was no need for him to become a highwayman, and that reality pinched at her heart.
But she had to admit that this man was just as enticing to her, just as fascinating and engaging, albeit in a far different way than the mysterious Tyburn. Rafe possessed a wild intensity even as he played the role of a courtly gentleman. In the last several years, she’d forgotten how exciting such feelings could be. She’d had her head down, her body overworked, her mind plagued with fear and anxiety about the future. But whenever Rafe was near, she seemed to come back to the self she wanted to be again.
“Breakfast would be lovely. I believe that should put me to rights.”
Rafe’s eyes twinkled. “Very well, but you will deprive me of the pleasure of seeing to your every need if you are no longer unwell.”
See to her every need? No one had done that in years... no one had offered except that wicked highwayman. The thought was so tempting, to let herself be cared for, but she couldn’t.
As if the gentleman could read her mind, Rafe chuckled. “That is twice this morning that the women in my life have indicated I was not needed. Isla was most insistent that she was a lady, and ladies do not need cuddling from their fathers.I think she was a bit embarrassed after all the fuss we made yesterday. I cuddled her anyway, and it is a great pity I cannot offer you the same treatment. Unless you wish it, of course. In which case, I shall place myself fully at your disposal for any and all cuddling you desire.”
The man was teasing her most scandalously, and yet the thought of him holding her, kissing her, whispering comforting thoughts... It made her chest clench with desperate longing.
They were halfway down the stairs when she suddenly halted.
“Diana?” Rafe said in concern. “What is it?”
She looked once more into Rafe’s face as she realized that she had not thought of Tyburn last night or this morning. She’d been thinking ofthisman, Rafe, kissing her.
What a fickle heart she must have to let it wander between two men. Still, a little voice whispered in her head that Mr. Lennox was a man shecouldmarry, a man who could offer her a future and security, even friendship. The same could not be said of the mysterious Tyburn. It would be wise to let the fantasy of Tyburn go and think of a possible real future with this man, assuming Rafe would even look at her as a prospective wife. But they’d only just met. It wasn’t as if he would propose, or that she would accept such a proposal. She was letting her mind get ahead of itself, as it often did.
“I... I’m all right,” she said, and he led her the rest of the way to the dining room.
“Would you allow me to prepare you a plate?” Rafe asked. “Is there anything you particularly dislike?”
“Kippers. No kippers, please.” She sat in a chair as Rafe removed each lid from the chafing dishes and spooned food onto a plate, then brought it to her. A footman poured her a cup of tea and then stepped into the corridor to speak to the butler, and Rafe joined her once he’d served his own plate. He sat acrossfrom her at the table. She was suddenly very aware that it was just the two of them here.
