careful step forward and holding out his hand to receive her cloak. “I hope you’re well.”
Leonora nodded, her gaze still fluttering around the room as she placed the cloak in his hand. Then she immediately moved away and stepped over to the window. “I am well. Thank you.” She looked down at the tips of her shoes, then slowly lifted her gaze until her eyes finally met his. “I must apologize.”
Drake frowned. That, he had not expected. “Apologize? For what?” In fact, was he not the one who needed to apologize?
Leonora heaved a deep sigh, and her gaze returned to the floor. “I stayed away without a word of explanation.” She glanced up at him. “I’m sorry. I was…” She exhaled a shuddering breath. “I had a lot to think about.”
Drake watched her carefully, wondering about the way she kept her eyes averted. Was it truly because of what had happened between them the last time she had been here? Or was it something else? Could it possibly have something to do with what happened with Lord Sedgwick? “Have you come to a conclusion?” was all Drake dared to ask.
Leonora wrung her hands before she inhaled a deep breath and then looked up at him, courage sparking in her eyes. “Not quite. I have a number of theories, but I still need to…test them.” She glanced down at her hands. “I was wondering if you would help me?”
Again, Drake found himself surprised. Although her whole demeanor spoke of a woman in retreat, it seemed that she had come here this day to ask for his help. “Of course. Anything you need.”
A smile flitted over her face, and yet, she still seemed as nervous as she had when she had stepped across the threshold to his study. “The other day,” she began, her voice barely more than a whisper, “Lord Sedgwick called on me. We took a stroll together through the gardens, and he spoke kindly.” She glanced up at him, and Drake could see new tension come to her posture, her hands gripping one another tightly. “I felt quite at ease. Then, however…” Her eyes closed, and she inhaled deeply, her chest rising and falling. Once. Twice. “He tried to kiss me,” she suddenly blurted out, and her eyes flew open, finding his unerringly. “I froze.” She shook her head, and a look of deepest disappointment and shame came to her eyes. “I froze. I could not move. I could not do anything. I simply stood there and stared at him. If my sister had not come…” Although her voice trailed off, they both knew what she was trying to say.
Drake swallowed but found it hard to get past the lump in his throat. “Fear can be crippling,” he told her, needing her to know that she had nothing to be ashamed of. “It is always different to imagine a situation than to experience it firsthand.”
Leonora nodded, and he could see that rationally she agreed with him. Nonetheless, her heart felt weakened. “I was thinking that perhaps it would help if…” Her teeth sank into her lower lip, and she averted her gaze once more. Whatever she was about to say clearly made her deeply uncomfortable.
“Whatever it is, say it,” Drake encouraged her. “I will do what I can to assist you.”
A small smile came to her face. “Thank you. I had hoped you would say that.” Still, she once more wrung her hands, then took a careful step forward. “My…My first kiss was stolen from me,” she whispered, her eyelashes fluttering rapidly as though she did not quite dare look at him, “and when Lord Sedgwick drew near, I felt…as I did then. I did not wish to kiss him, but…he did not…” She swallowed. “Perhaps he truly was not aware of my reluctance. I do not wish to judge him too harshly. Lately, I feel as though I cannot trust even myself the way I used to.”
Drake was about to contradict her, urging her to trust her own instincts. Yet, he remained quiet, sensing that it was not the time, that there was more she needed to say.
“What happened with Lord Sedgwick made me fearful,” she whispered, and for a brief moment, her eyes closed. “I’m afraid that a kiss will always and forever be something to fear.” Looking into his eyes, she shook her head. “I don’t want that. I want…I want to know what a kiss feels like that is freely given.”
Drake nodded. “Of course.” Then,