totally consumed and there was nothing to see but houses and shopfronts and traffic. Nothing left to face but his impending duty to an innocent young Irish woman.
Joe sat on the house steps, teasing a neighborhood cat with a piece of twine he had found somewhere. Spotting James, he tucked the twine in a pocket and jumped up to hold the horse’s reins while James dismounted.
“Good mornin’, sir. ’ave a good trip home, did you?”
“Good enough. I made it home and in one piece.” Did I pay a sliver of attention? He could have been robbed and not even noticed. “Did the others return safely?”
“Mrs. M and Miss Dunne got back las’ night ’bout ten, I’d say. Also in one piece. Or two pieces, I s’pose.” Joe barked a laugh at his joke, then muffled it when he realized James wasn’t laughing along.
“Where is Miss Dunne at the moment?”
“In the library. With ’er ankle wrapped.” Joe uttered the last words reproachfully, as if he blamed James for Miss Dunne’s injury.
Good heavens, had the entire household already heard about what had happened between them?
“She twisted it while out walking,” James explained tersely. “Take my things up to my chamber. If anyone is looking for me, I’ll be in the library discussing the packing of the books with Miss Dunne.”
He pounded up the stairs, Joe making a speedy decision to drop the horse’s reins to yank open the front door before the master reached it.
Miss Dunne stood in front of the center of the bookcases, staring at a closed book in her hand as if trying to decide what to do with it. She didn’t hear him as he entered the room; she continued staring, her head cocked to one side, like a marionette waiting for the puppeteer to twitch her strings and move her to action.
“Miss Dunne, I must speak with you.”
The book thudded to the floor as she spun around. She winced at the hastiness of her motion. “You startled me, Dr. Edmunds.”
James came no closer to her. It would be better for the both of them if he maintained some physical distance. He shut the door behind him.
“I am not going to repeat my despicable actions, Miss Dunne,” he reassured. “I’ve closed the door because I thought you might appreciate this conversation being kept private.”
Eyes averted, she nodded. The tension clung like the damp of a humid summer day. She shifted her stance, the sway of her skirts revealing a strip of cloth binding her ankle. So far as he could tell, her leg readily supported her weight; her fall hadn’t badly injured her.
Does that make me feel better, though? Less guilty?
James cleared his throat, the apology heavy on his tongue. “You know what I came in here to say. I need to apologize for attempting to kiss you.”
Miss Dunne rolled her lips between her teeth.
“You are a decent and honorable young woman whom I admire,” he continued, sweat gathering, “and I owe you nothing less than my utmost respect. You surely don’t deserve to be pawed like some common girl. I made a horrible mistake, and I am sorry. Forgive me.”
The next words he’d practiced, the ones that were most important of all, never left his mouth. He could not tell her to leave his employ early, if that was what she wished to do. Selfishly, he couldn’t bear to have her withdraw from his life one second sooner than she would be forced to. God, I most need forgiveness from You.
Miss Dunne blanched. Maybe she was considering not forgiving him. Maybe she contemplated how to best skewer him like a roasting pig with words of righteous indignation. He deserved every bit of her condemnation.
“I accept your apology for wanting to kiss me, Dr. Edmunds,” she replied at last, her voice unwavering and rich with calm dignity.
The composure she displayed lanced his heart more than any angry rejoinder could have done, reminded him just how extraordinary she was.
“I apologized for trying to kiss you, not for wanting to kiss you,” he clarified. “I find I cannot apologize for that. God save me, I know I should, but I cannot and never shall.”
Her gaze jumped to his, those incredible eyes, the color and depth of a pool of tranquil water, searching his face. He had yet to learn how to read the thoughts contained within them. Maybe God was at last being merciful by sparing James the ability.
“Do not let me disturb you any further,” he said, and turned