The Girl is Not For Christmas - Emma V Leech Page 0,39
fire in the hearth with the expression of one approaching the gallows. “She’s coming here tonight, after supper. I’m doomed, Walsh. Doomed, I tell you.”
“Do stop behaving like such a ninny,” Livvy scolded herself as she tiptoed along to King’s room. No amount of scolding could stop her heart from thundering in her chest, though.
Livvy assured herself it was sneaking about after dark like a thief, and the possibility of getting caught, that made her pulse skitter about like a mad rabbit. It was assuredly not the idea of being in King’s arms again, the thought of his lips against hers. Oh, n-no, it’s not that at all. She swallowed a nervous giggle. Truly, it was ridiculous that a woman of her age should act in such a manner, giggling—good heavens. Yet for the first time in her life, she felt alive. That kiss had been better than anything she had ever dreamed of and she wanted to do it again. It didn’t seem too much to ask before she gave up on such pleasures for good. It had been a pleasure too, the most sinful, thrilling moment of her entire life, and she wanted to experience it again. She knew full well she was doing something wicked and the knowledge was rather… invigorating.
Arriving at King’s door, she raised her hand to knock, and then had to smother a squeak of alarm as it opened in front of her. She almost dropped the candlestick.
“Shhhh!” King hissed.
“I was shushed until you frightened the life out of me,” she retorted in a furious whisper. “Why did you do that?”
“Change of plan,” King said, closing the door behind him.
“Oh, no. You’re not reneging on our agreement,” Livvy said, shaking her head.
King tsked and took the candle from her. “No. Just changing location. We’ll go to your room.”
Livvy felt a flush of heat at the idea, though she did not understand why. His room, her room, it hardly mattered. “That won’t help you if we’re discovered. I thought I was supposed to have hit you over the head, drugged you, and taken advantage of your person.”
He just shrugged and glanced over his shoulder at her. “Then you’ll just have to lure me to your room first. To… rid you of a spider.”
Livvy snorted. “No one would believe that. I get rid of the spiders in this house.”
“A mouse, then.”
“Do I look like the kind of creature to have a fit of hysterics over a mouse?”
King rolled his eyes at her. “You had a bad dream and screamed, and I came running.”
“I’m not in my nightgown,” she pointed out.
“Easily remedied.”
Livvy opened her mouth in shock but saw the glint in his eyes. He was teasing her.
She huffed and pointed down the corridor. “Far end on the left.”
She followed him back to her room and opened the door for him when he waited on the threshold.
“Why are we here, then?” she asked, turning to see him inspecting the room with interest.
Not that there was a great deal to see. A bed with a faded patchwork quilt, a few bits of furniture, good quality and well-tended. Inexpert sketches of the children and watercolours of the countryside tacked to the walls beside a sampler she’d done when she was far younger and less cynical, and not much else.
“If I am to help you with this… this….”
“Endeavour,” she supplied for him.
“Madness,” he corrected. “We may as well do it properly. As you have not been in society, I assume that your wardrobe for this party is somewhat challenging.”
Livvy nodded. “That’s putting it mildly.”
“So, what you are planning to do? It isn’t a costume ball, by any chance? You’d make a marvellous Cinderella.”
Livvy opened her mouth, intending to tell him off for his rudeness when she glimpsed herself in the looking-glass on her dressing table. The reflection was hardly that of a well-dressed young lady. Her gown was faded and though like her furniture, once good quality and well cared for, it… well, she would make a marvellous Cinderella.
“No. It is not a masquerade and I shall need clothes for several days,” she said, aware of a weary note lingering behind the words. Irritated with herself, she cleared her throat. “I have a couple of gowns I believe I may be able to make over and the others. The others…. Well, I may as well be frank….”
“Good Lord, do you mean you have been holding back until now?” King said with obvious alarm.