Page 70 of Once More, My Darling Rogue
Stretching out on his side, resting on an elbow, he studied her as though she were an odd specimen he’d found beneath glass. “I suspect when your memories return, you’ll feel differently.”
Again, she shook her head, more forcefully this time. “No, I’m quite sure. I will not marry. I have no desire to do so. Perhaps that’s the reason I chose service. Marla told me that few in this trade marry.”
“I suppose that’s true enough. I’ve known of couples in the same household marrying but it’s rare.”
“So I shall never marry and I shall hoard my wages until I can acquire a place in the country.”
“Based upon the number of purchases you made today, it will be a long time before you realize that dream.”
“We’ll see.”
“Yes, I suspect we shall.”
She didn’t think he was mocking her, but rather had as much faith in her convictions as she did. She might be an old woman, bent over with a walking stick, but she would acquire her dream. She had no doubt of it.
When she was so full that she thought she might burst, she lay down and gazed at the darkening sky. “I’m rather glad you don’t have a proper dining room. If you did, I suspect we’d eat there, and this is so much more pleasant.”
“Yes, it is.” His voice was low, and it contained some emotion she couldn’t quite identify.
Rolling her head to the side, she found him studying her intently. She was fairly certain he wanted to kiss her. She knew she wanted to kiss him. She also knew that Marla was correct: her relationship with Drake flirted at the edge of being something more than servant and employer. Had she always been drawn to him like this? Had they enjoyed more moments like these? It seemed a tragedy to have experienced them, and then to have forgotten them. She knew that if she asked him to elaborate about their relationship, their past, he would simply inform her that she needed to remember it on her own. She wondered why he didn’t want to influence her memories. Had they once been in love? Did he want her to fall in love with him all over again? She thought she could tumble quite easily.
“When is my day off?” she asked.
He seemed surprised by her question, and she wondered if he recognized it for what it was: a distraction from dangerous places where her thoughts should not journey.
“I’ll have to check the schedule.”
“Which I suppose is in your office at the club.”
With a nod, he took a sip of wine.
“Not very efficient of you,” she told him. “The way you keep everything at the club. Especially as you have such a nice desk here.”
He studied his wine and she didn’t want to consider that perhaps she shouldn’t have taken him to task, that she might have ruined what had become a most enjoyable evening, nor did she want to admit her reluctance to consider that the reason he kept everything at the club was because he didn’t trust her. Not that she blamed him, as she had looked into his box, even knowing that she shouldn’t have.
He shifted his gaze to her. “What would you do with a day away from here?”
“I’m not quite sure, especially as now I’m saving my pennies.”
“Pretend money would be no object.”
“Oh, well, in that case”—she smiled brightly—“I could go anywhere.”
“Anywhere,” he repeated. “So where would you choose?”
She couldn’t imagine it, being able to go anywhere in the world. “The seaside I think.”
Surprise crossed over his features. “Not someplace exotic and faraway?”
She rolled her head from side to side. “No, I prefer simple, familiar, someplace that makes me feel safe. I’ve been to the seaside before. I can see the ocean, hear the rush of the waves and the cry of the gulls. I like the seaside. Have you been to faraway, exotic places?”
“I’ve traveled a good deal of the world, thought I’d seen everything of beauty.” Setting aside his wineglass, he leaned over and trailed his fingers along her chin. She wasn’t certain how they’d come to be so near one another. “Your courage humbled me today, when you went after a man twice your size.”
“I wasn’t being brave,” she said softly. “I was just angry. If I had stopped to think, I don’t believe I’d have gone after him like I did.”
“I think you would have. I’m seeing sides to you that I never imagined existed.” He stroked his thumb over her lower lip, causing warmth and pleasure to weave through her limbs. She wasn’t certain she’d be able to move them if she tried. Not that she wanted to move. She didn’t want to break the spell. “You’re far more complicated than I ever realized.”
“Isn’t that true of everyone?” she asked.
