and then disbelieving, as if she'd just expressed sympathy for a wild animal. And then he turned away to fill a pan with milk. "You're very perceptive for one so young," he remarked as he lit the fire and placed the pan over it.
"You know why he's so sad, don't you?"
Bevins shook his head. "I'm afraid I couldn't say."
"Couldn't, or wouldn't?"
"I don't know, miss, truly I don't."
"Has he ever been in love? Been married?"
"Not to my knowledge."
Rhianna set the teapot aside. Propping her elbows on the table, she rested her chin on her folded hands.
"I wish I could make him happy."
"You do, miss. I'm sure of it."
"Do you really think so?" He had begged her to stay, but he hadn't seemed happy about it.
Bevins glanced at the kitchen door, his expression wary, as if he feared being overheard. "He needs you, miss. He needs you, and he doesn't like it."
"Did he tell you that?"
Bevins shook his head and then, to discourage any further conversation, he turned away and busied himself at the stove.
Rhianna watched in amazement as he removed the pan of milk from the stove and set it aside, then took another pan from the cupboard, poured some wine into it, and placed it over the fire.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Lord Rayven likes his wine to be quite warm."
Bevins prepared her cocoa, then poured the wine into the crystal goblet and set both containers on a tray. "Anything else, miss? A biscuit, perhaps?"
"No, this is fine." She reached for the tray.
"I'll bring them to you, miss."
"That won't be necessary," Rhianna said, smiling, and lifted the cup and the goblet from the tray. "Thank you, Bevins. Good night."
"But, Miss Rhianna..."
"What is it?"
"Nothing." He glanced quickly at the goblet in her hand, then looked away. "Good night, miss."
Rhianna left the kitchen, her steps slow as she returned to the study. Warm wine? She stopped in the hallway, glanced around to make sure she was alone, and took a sip from Rayven's goblet. Warm or cold, she knew she had never tasted anything like it. It was thicker than any wine she knew of and had a strange flavor that made her stomach churn.
She licked her lips clean so Rayven wouldn't know she had tasted his drink. A special vintage, indeed, she thought, grimacing. Well, he could have it.
He was standing in front of the hearth, gazing into the flames, when she returned to the study. He stood with his back to her, one arm braced against the mantle. His cloak fell in soft folds down his back, and she noticed again how the thick black velvet seemed to cling to him.
He didn't turn around as she stepped into the room. He seemed to be deep in thought, and she wondered if he even knew she was there.
But of course he did. He was attuned to her every breath, her every movement. Without looking, he knew exactly where she was in the room. He could feel her gaze on his back, knew when she placed his wineglass on the table beside his chair, knew she was exactly five steps behind him, slightly to his left.
Knew she had been talking about him to Bevins.
"Did you learn anything?" he asked, his voice deceptively mild.
"My lord?"
"From Bevins. Did he tell you anything you didn't know?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't you?" He turned to face her, his cloak swirling around his ankles.
"I... I just asked him if he knew why you're so sad," Rhianna replied, and then she frowned at him.
"How do you know I asked about you? Were you spying on me? Eavesdropping?"
He shook his head. He had no need to spy on her. His preternatural hearing had allowed him to hear every word that had passed between her and his servant.
"Why are you so sad?" Rhianna asked.
His eyes narrowed to ominous slits as he met her gaze.
"Bevins said you needed me," she went on, determined not to let him frighten her into silence. "Do you?"
I need you,he thought. Need you in ways you cannot imagine. Ways that would sicken you if you knew.
He watched her eyes widen with alarm as he closed the distance between them. Taking the cup from her hand, he placed it on the table, then took her in his arms.
"This is what I need," he said, and crushing her body to his, he kissed her, his tongue boldly plundering her mouth.
Almost immediately, he drew back. Staring down at her, he took a deep breath. No, he hadn't