Page 59 of Once More, My Darling Rogue
“Taking a holiday today?” he asked.
Slowly she opened her eyes. Even more slowly her lips curled up into a smile that nearly dropped him to his knees.
“Simply testing it out. It’ll be much lovelier with a fire this evening.”
For the first time since he’d begun working at Dodger’s more than a decade earlier, he regretted that his nights were spoken for, that he couldn’t give them to her.
Straightening, she moved to the edge of chair. Her smile withered, her features settled into somberness. “You said anything between us would be inappropriate, but you didn’t exactly say nothing was between us.”
Were they back to that now? He thought they’d ended the unwanted conversation.
“Are we lovers?” she continued.
“No. We’ve only kissed twice and in both circumstances, I took advantage of an opportunity. It won’t happen again. You’re safe here, Phee. I would never force myself on you.”
“I’m not quite sure it’s you I’m worried about in that regard. I rather liked it.”
He didn’t know what to say. This woman, her candor. She had to represent Ophelia’s very soul. How had he never seen beneath the surface? How had he never understood what a complicated creature she was?
His original lie, implying she was a servant, was a travesty. He needed to tell her the truth now. He would live with the consequences. He needed to help her remember, needed to assist her in determining what had happened that night. He was halfway to the chair opposite hers when he heard the ringing of the bell signaling someone at the front door.
“That’ll be Marla,” Phee said, coming to her feet in one smooth movement.
“Marla?”
She gave him an exasperated look. “Do you not pay attention to my words? She’s the housemaid across theway.”
“Right, with the cook who is going to prepare our dinners.”
“Better. She’s going to teach me how to prepare them. I decided this morning that you hired me to cook your meals so I must have known how to do it at one time. I should think it would come back fairly quickly.”
Perhaps if there were something to come back. “Phee—”
He’d never seen such anticipation in her eyes before. He wanted it to stay there, didn’t want to be the one to douse it.
The ringer sounded again.
“I must get that before she gives up and goes on without me. We’re going to the market. I’m looking quite forward to fresh tomatoes and asparagus.”
He doubted she had a clue regarding what fresh tomatoes and asparagus should look like. She was accustomed to having it served to her, not selecting it from a bin.
“But I don’t know how much I’m allowed to spend,” she continued.
“I’ll get you some coins while you open the door.”
She smiled brightly. “Thank you.”
Then she was rushing by him, their discussion regarding the kiss apparently forgotten. Her step contained a lightness he’d never before seen. So much about her was a revelation. He went to a shelf, pressed the wall behind it, releasing a door that matched the woodwork. Withdrawing a key from his pocket, he opened the safe and removed some money. He wasn’t concerned that anyone in this area of London would recognize her. Certainly no one would look into the happy face of a servant and see a lady of quality.
She was back in a flash, her apron gone, her braid wreathing her head. She needed a hat. Ladies didn’t go out without a hat.
He handed her the pouch. “It’s a goodly sum. If you require personal items, purchase them.”
“I shall be frugal.”
He was surprised she knew the word. “Buy what you need. I’m not a pauper.”
“You’re irritated with me again.”
