Page 47 of A Literary Liaison
She reached for another paper, only to find another article:
“Lancaster’s Latest Liaison? Duke Seen Diningin Bath”
This time, the duke was reportedly sharing an intimate dinner with a “vivacious redhead” at a fashionable restaurant.
Her hands trembling slightly, Elisha grabbed the last paper:
“Mayfair Maverick on the Move: Lancaster Charms Bristol”
The most recent sighting placed Edgar at a country house party, “his attentions devoted to the lovely brunette daughter of the host.”
Elisha sat back, her mind whirling. Three sightings in three different locations, each with a different woman. She tried to reconcile these reports with the Edgar she knew, the man who had kissed her so passionately.
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to dispel the humiliation she felt. She would not be the first woman to be charmed by a rake only to be forgotten once she refused to give him her virtue.
What a fool she had been. Her skin still tingled where his lips had branded her, and her breasts ached with the memory of his mouth. She pressed her thighs together, fighting the persistent throb between them that refused to fade whenever she thought of him.
“Elisha?” Amelia’s voice broke through her reverie. “Is everything all right? You look pale.”
Elisha forced a smile, quickly folding the newspapers. “Yes, quite all right. Just… surprised by some of the news.”
Amelia approached and slowly unfolded the papers, her expression growing concerned as she read.
“Oh, Elisha. I am sorry. How could he do this to you? I thought he was an honorable man.”
Amelia placed an arm around her friend, squeezing gently for comfort.
“I thought he was too. I’m very glad to have refused him,” Elisha said.
Amelia regarded her cautiously. “You refused his offer?”
Elisha shook her head. “No. I refused his request for… intimacy.”
Elisha retreated to her desk, her fingers trembling slightly as shetried to focus on the tasks at hand. The familiar rhythm of their work routine offered a blessed distraction from her churning thoughts, though she couldn’t help noticing how Amelia’s usual chatter had given way to a weighted silence. Each time their eyes met across the room, she caught her friend’s concerned glance. Amelia’s loyalty meant everything to her, especially now.
The humming of the machine continued with frantic energy long after the usual closing hour. The breakdown of the machine had thrown their entire schedule into disarray, leaving a mountain of work to be completed before dawn. Elisha stood at the center of the chaos, her sleeves rolled up, hair escaping its pins, as she frantically reorganized the typeset for tomorrow’s edition.
“Miss Linde,” Steven Thornton’s voice cut through the clatter, startling her. “How may I be of assistance?”
Elisha looked up, surprised to see him still present. She noticed his usual impeccable attire was slightly disheveled, his cravat loosened—a sign of the long day they’d all endured. “Mr. Thornton, I thought you’d gone home hours ago.”
“No, I sent Amelia home just now. I couldn’t possibly leave you to manage this crisis alone,” he said as he removed his jacket. “Where shall I begin?”
For a moment, Elisha hesitated. Thornton had always been more of an overseer than a participant in the day-to-day operations of the gazette. Yet here he was, rolling up his sleeves, ready to dive into the mess of ink and paper.
“Well, if you’re certain,” she said, gesturing to a stack of jumbled type. “We need to sort these and reset the front page. The lead story has changed with the latest developments in Parliament.”
Thornton nodded, immediately setting to work. For the next few hours, they labored side by side, their usual formalities falling away in the face of shared purpose. Elisha found herself appreciating Thornton’s efficiency, his quiet competence a perfect complement toher meticulous attention to detail.
As the night wore on, Elisha noticed small acts of thoughtfulness from Thornton she’d never seen before. He anticipated her needs, fetching fresh ink before she could ask, steadying her hand when fatigue made it shake. In these moments, she glimpsed a side of him that intrigued her—less calculated, more genuine than his usual carefully controlled demeanor.
Finally, as the first light of dawn began to creep through the windows, the last page was set. Elisha sank into a chair, exhaustion etched on every line of her face. Thornton disappeared briefly, returning with a covered tray.
“I thought we might need some sustenance,” he said, his voice gentle as he revealed a steaming pot of tea and a plate of delicate sandwiches.
Grateful beyond words, Elisha accepted a cup, the warmth seeping into her tired hands. As they ate in companionable silence, she found herself studying Thornton. The usual hard lines of his face were softened in the early morning light, and there was something in his eyes she’d never noticed before—a vulnerability that reminded her, unexpectedly, of her own struggles.
After a while, Thornton cleared his throat. “Miss Linde, there’s a matter I wish to discuss with you, if you’re not too fatigued.”
