The Winter Companion (Parish Orphans of Devon #4) - Mimi Matthews Page 0,75
“Is that what you think of…of me?”
“I don’t—” She broke off. “It was just a foolish fancy. I don’t know why I gave voice to it.”
He slowly crossed the room to join her. She’d only seen him in his shirtsleeves once before, and then she’d been too distracted by Betty’s labor to get a proper look at him. But now…
Great goodness.
Without his coat and cravat, he looked even bigger, if that was possible. All broad shoulders, and lean, masculine strength.
It was quite easy to imagine him in a suit of polished armor, atop that enormous gray horse of his. A horse that did rather resemble a charger.
He propped his shoulder against the window frame. “Because I lived at the c-convent.”
“Yes. I daresay that was part of it. And because you’re so very handsome, and so very kind.”
His mouth quirked.
Good lord, had she just called him handsome?
She rushed to explain, her words tumbling over each other. “It’s all silliness, of course. I have a tendency for such things. To romanticize gentlemen who are kind to me. Some people shouldn’t read poetry or novels. It gives them all sorts of romantic ideas about life, and about people. It’s not at all healthy.”
He frowned at her. “You’re not silly.”
“You don’t know me, sir. I have a long and undistinguished history of fantasizing. But I’ve grown up since. I’ve committed myself to being sensible. I’d thought I was succeeding at it until I met you.” An unexpected swell of sadness clogged her throat. “It’s good that I’m leaving. If I stayed through Twelfth Night, I’d likely end up making a fool of myself.”
“Over me?”
She forced herself to meet his eyes. “I’m not imagining it, am I? That we’re attracted to each other? Drawn to each other?”
He gazed steadily back at her. “No.” His voice went gruff. “I…I admire you. Very much.”
She compressed her lips to stop their trembling. She wouldn’t make a spectacle of herself. No matter that no gentleman had ever admitted to admiring her before.
“Must you go?” he asked. “Can’t someone else…?”
“There is no one else. My mother teaches at a girls’ school in Edinburgh. Some of the students stay on over Christmas, and she remains to chaperone them. She couldn’t leave even if she wanted to. It’s up to me to find out what’s happened to Simon and help to resolve things, if I can.”
He was silent for a long while. “Will you return?” he asked at last.
“I don’t expect so. Mrs. Bainbridge says there’s no point in traveling all the way back to Devon for only a day or two.” Clara had spoken with her again last night, and with Mr. and Mrs. Archer, too. The three of them had been excessively practical about the situation. “Which brings me to a favor I must ask of you. And you mustn’t feel obligated to say yes.”
He came closer, looming over her. It should have been intimidating, but it wasn’t. Quite the reverse. She felt protected. As if his presence could somehow shield her from the cares of the world. “What is it?” he asked.
“I wonder if you might keep Bertie with you while I’m gone? I can’t take him with me. That is, I could, but it would be very hard on him.”
“Of course.” He paused. “How…how will you…?”
“Mrs. Bainbridge has promised to bring him back to Surrey with her on the train. But she’s ill-equipped to care for him while she’s here. Bertie requires constant looking after.”
“I’ll look after him.”
She managed a tremulous smile. “Thank you. I won’t forget.”
“Nor will I.” He looked down at her, gazing into her eyes for a taut moment. And then he brought his hand to her face, tracing the line of her cheek and jaw with a gentleness that bordered on reverence.
Her pulse beat an erratic rhythm at her throat. She knew what was going to happen. Just as she knew that she could stop it happening if she wished it. All she need do was pull back from