What a Spinster Wants - Rebecca Connolly Page 0,79
“Who said anything about being alone?”
His aunt’s mouth dropped open, and Graham chuckled as he rounded a corner to head down the stairs.
She would be running all sorts of scenarios through her mind on that statement, and he would certainly be paying for it later this evening.
It had taken him a good deal of time to determine where Edith would be on a morning such as this. She was not one to spend the morning lying about her rooms and requesting her meals on trays, but he wasn’t sure what, exactly, she would be doing. Molly had been the one to give him the idea during their breakfast together.
“Well, that’s easy, Gray,” she’d said around a bite of toast with jam. “Edith loves stories. I told her all about the library yesterday, and she said she was going to go.” She’d shrugged and gone back to the meal as though that were the end of the matter.
For Graham, it had been just the beginning.
The library was soon before him, and he grinned in anticipation. How had a matter of hours apart from her felt like days?
Finding the door to the room open, Graham slipped in, eyes scanning around with an eagerness and curiosity he hadn’t felt in so long he’d forgotten the sensation. The library didn’t have many places to hide, yet there was no sight of her initially. A movement near the tall window drew his attention, and he turned silently towards it.
Edith stood against the curtains there, blending in with the fabric almost to the shade with her simple cream gown, leaning towards the window for as much light as possible. In her hands was a book, and if her expression was anything to go by, she was completely, totally engrossed in its pages. Graham watched for a moment as page after page turned, as Edith’s breathing increased in pace, and he would swear her eyes got wider.
For only seeing part of her face with her present position being what it was, he could read her perfectly. There was nothing here, nothing around her, but the words on those pages, and the story they told.
Which meant she had no idea he was here.
Slowly, carefully, he moved towards her, his shoes making no sound as he did so. When he was immediately behind her, barely breathing, Graham reached out and placed both hands on her upper arms.
Edith shrieked a deafening sound, the book flying out of her left hand, her right gripping the curtains for her very life.
Graham couldn’t help but laugh, and he gently pulled Edith to him until her back was to his chest, then wrapped his arms around her.
“I’m sorry, Edith,” he managed, still laughing softly. “I couldn’t help myself.”
“Saints and aunties keep us,” Edith whispered in a shaky, unsteady breath, releasing the curtain and placing her hand on his arms. “Graham.”
A jolt of pleasure shot into his chest, and he kissed her hair. “Did you have many aunties to protect you?” he asked against the soft, sable tresses tickling his lips.
She exhaled slowly and hugged his arms to her. “I have an extended family tha’ would fill Merrifield wi’out even inviting the lot.” She leaned into him, sighing. “I havnae spoken to any of them in an age.”
There was a sad note in her voice that made him ache, and he leaned forward to press his lips to her cheek. “If it makes you feel any better, my family is small. Only Eloise is left, and there were no others that took any interest. But I always had Matthew.”
Edith hummed in his arms, then turned to give him a warm but mischievous look. “Did you have a reason for scaring the devil from me, or were you simply feeling impertinent?”
“A bit of both,” he replied. Smiling, he touched his brow to hers. “Would you ride across the estate with me?”
“I havnae been on a horse in years.” She kissed Graham gently on the lips, smiling. “But if ye’ve the mounts to spare, I would love to go.”
Graham kissed her in return, much less gently, a low groan rising within him.
“Perfect,” he murmured. “Come on.” He slid his hand into hers and entwined their fingers before heading for the door.
“I dinna have a riding habit, Graham,” she pointed out, sounding hesitant even if her steps were not.
Laughing, he glanced at her. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”
As he’d hoped, Edith laughed in return and squeezed his hand. “Then I willna say a word.”