“No,” she finally said.
He ran both of his hands down his face and sighed. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. Of course you wouldn’t want to.”
“It isn’t that I wouldn’t want to. If circumstances were different . . . you are just so serious. And a kiss . . .”
“. . . Should be exciting and fun,” he answered before she could say anything else.
That was not what she was going to say. Not at all. She pressed her cold palms against her hot cheeks. Whatever she was going to say was better left unsaid. If she was intelligent at all, she would run out that door, perhaps even quit her whole charade. She could go find solace with Ollie. He was a much better choice than Mr. Woodsworth. Even when they ran about the garden, her heart didn’t race like this. But she still felt drawn to Mr. Woodsworth, and she hadn’t finished her dusting. “May I still stay, even if I don’t . . .”
He dropped his hands to his sides, took a deep breath, and sat back down at his desk. “Of course, I mean, if you are still comfortable with me after what I just said.”
“I’ll stay.” Patience tightened her grip on her rag and made her way to the fireplace to dust the mantle. It was the farthest she could get from Mr. Woodsworth. She didn’t trust herself to be near him. His question rang in her mind. If he asked whether he could kiss her . . . What would it be like to be kissed and cherished by Mr. Woodsworth? How often would he smile at her if that were the case? But he was going to marry Miss Morgan. He had been working toward that for the past two years, and Patience had yet to see Mr. Woodsworth fail at anything he set his mind to.
“Do you feel like you are making progress with Miss Morgan?” She felt a sudden need to bring her up. “I’m not sure I will be able to attend many more social functions; I may not have time.” She sucked her lower lip into her mouth. She wasn’t sure how he would take the news, but it was best she started preparing him now for her departure.
His head jerked up from the paper he was looking over. His eyes found her lips first, and she immediately relaxed her mouth. Was he still thinking about his request? He shook his head and found her eyes. “Because of what I just said? Please, ignore it. It was a moment of weakness. I know I am a hypocrite when I say I would never use someone under my protection, but I wouldn’t. Not in that way.”
“I know.” Mr. Woodsworth had obviously had something terrible happen to him. Maybe she should have just kissed him. He wouldn’t tell anyone. He already had the power to ruin her reputation just by mentioning she was a maid in his household. What harm would have been done if she had kissed him as well? If Miss Morgan had made him feel this way, she would get a piece of Patience’s mind once they saw each other again. “It isn’t that. It is just that I may not be able to stay much longer.”
“Why not?” He threw down the pen in his hands and rose from his desk. His footsteps matched the beating of her heart as he strode over to the fireplace.
“It will be time for me to go soon. I can’t work here forever.”
He reached for her rag and put in on the mantle. His touch, so casual to him, caused pinpricks of fire along her skin. “What if you could? Would you want to stay? You have done so much for me. I would love to return the favor in any way I can.”
“But what of Miss Morgan?” Patience couldn’t help but ask him. He was so close to her. His hand rested on the edge of the mantel as he leaned over her, wanting to help. He had never looked at Miss Morgan the way he was looking at her now. At least not since she had known the two of them. He was making a terrible mistake with Miss Morgan, and she wished he knew it. A relationship between Patience and Mr. Woodsworth was impossible, but that didn’t mean he needed to settle for a marriage that only made sense on paper.
“I’m quite certain she doesn’t love