Page 45 of The Sea Siren of Broadwater Bottom
She knew she should put her shoulder to the wheel and complete a translation or two tonight, and it wasn’t as if she lacked for appropriate material, having transported a significant portion of the Astleys’ library into her room. But between her first kiss, her father’s collapse, and her impending clash with Edward, her emotions were a jumble of elation and anxiety and everything in between, and her attempts to concentrate proved hopeless.
Glancing out the window, her eyes seized upon the folly. She wasn’t going to get any studying done tonight. Deciding she might as well indulge herself in an hour or two of reminiscing about the more pleasant events of that morning, she threw her dressing gown over her shift and slipped out of her room before she had the chance to think better of it.
The folly truly was glorious with the moonlight pouring through the skylight. Elissa settled upon the stone bench at the center of the rotunda, drawing her knees up to her chest.
This was truly perfect.
The only thing that could make it better was if Edward could somehow be here, too.
“Elissa?”
She shrieked and spun around, her hand flying to her heart. And just like magic, there he was, standing between two columns. He swallowed thickly, and her mouth went dry as she realized that the reason she knew he had swallowed thickly was because he wore neither cravat nor waistcoat. His shirt was even open, revealing half his chest.
She couldn’t tear her eyes from that bare vee of skin. Weren’t men supposed to be… hairier? Not that his chest was entirely without hair. She could see a light sprinkling of it, but for some reason she had expected—
He cleared his throat. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I happened to see you crossing the lawn, and I—oh, never mind.” He turned to leave.
“Edward, wait!” He paused, glancing over his shoulder. “You startled me, is all. At the moment you stole up behind me, I was staring off into space, thinking that the only thing that could make tonight better was if you were here.”
He turned to face her again. “Were you truly?”
“I was. Here.” She lowered her feet to the ground and shifted to make room for him on the bench. “Would you sit with me?”
He did just that. Slowly, giving her a chance to say no, he slid in close and draped his arm around her back.
She sighed, blushing as she leaned her head against his shoulder.
They sat that way for a moment. Elissa enjoyed the sound of his heartbeat, and the weight of his arm draped across her back. She could even feel the warmth of his skin through the thin linen of his shirt…
He broke the silence. “What was it Miss Grenwood said to you that made you avoid me for three days?”
“Oh. That. She said… ” Elissa cringed. “She said the two of you were to marry—”
“What?”
“—and that everyone was mocking me because of my obvious infatuation with you.”
His expression was one of outrage. “I would never speak ill of a lady, but right now I am sorely tempted.” He took both of her hands in his and turned to face her on the bench. “Elissa, I have absolutely no intention of marrying Araminta Grenwood. I swear it.”
“I know that now. I knew as soon as you kissed me. Because you would never dally with me if you were pledged to another. That’s not who you are.”
“Good.” He looked pleased by her response. “And no one is mocking you. Judging by my sisters’ blatant efforts to give us a chance to be alone, it wouldn’t surprise me if there was some talk, but I expect it is of a friendly sort. Becauseweare so obviously infatuated witheach other.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe she said that. I’d assumed it must have been something unkind about your father having been my tutor, or your having borrowed a few dresses from Lucy.”
“Oh, well, she said both of those things, too. As well as a cutting remark about my hair.”
“I love your hair.” He ducked his chin. “I have a weakness for redheads.”
Elissa’s heart swelled. “Do you truly?”
“I do.” He reached up to tuck an escaping curl behind her ear. “In particular, beautiful redheads floating on ponds who quote Callisthenes at me.”
She chuckled. “A quality prized by few men, I should think.”
“A quality treasured by this man. The way I can talk to you… I don’t have to put on airs or pretend to be anything I’m not.” He closed his eyes. “Everything is better when you’re with me. You’ve even made me forget—” He looked down, seeming to remember himself.
“Forget what?” She scooted closer to him. How ironic, that they had both come out here with thoughts they were eager to escape.
“It’s nothing,” he muttered, his shoulder twitching.
