Chapter Four #2
“Oh, I quite agree with you.” Silence reigned for a few moments while he ate a triangle of toast with marmalade then followed it with a few bites of golden scrambled eggs.
He had lovely manners and wasn’t crude with the utensils.
“When I receive my pension for this month, I can pay you for the care you’ve given me as well as the food and the room. ”
“That isn’t necessary.” Though she was pleased he’d offered. Most men would simply take advantage of the kindness. “You should keep the funds. You obviously need them.” Then she blew out a breath. “I didn’t mean to assume you are in dun territory…”
“Yet it’s true. There’s no denying that.” The captain frowned, and her attention briefly dropped to his mouth. What would a kiss from him feel like? “I might be down on my luck for the moment, but I don’t need your pity.”
The slight command in his voice irritated her own demons. At least it snatched the inappropriate thoughts away. “I wasn’t giving it. I was only making an observation.” Perhaps she’d been alone too long, for she had a tendency to be too direct. “When did your father die?”
“About six months ago. It’s taken this long to make sense of his accounts and ledgers.” He shook his head, but there were shadows in his eyes. “God, what a coil he left behind.”
“I’ve heard stories exactly like yours, but that doesn’t make it any easier on the person going through it.” She took a sip of tea. “What of your mother?”
“Unfortunately, she perished in childbirth when I was a boy of ten.”
Rose’s heart squeezed in sympathy. “You have my condolences.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you have siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins?”
“Not any longer. At least not on my father’s side. I am the last of the Danburys with the exception of an eccentric cousin a few times removed who lives somewhere in America. I haven’t heard from her in years, have no idea if she’s even still alive.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. It must be terrible to be alone.” Especially after all those deaths. How had he borne it?
“At times. Being involved in the military helped, for there was always someone about, and my comrades were very much like my family. I try to keep in touch with some of the men I came home with, but life has a way of keeping us apart.” For long moments, the captain searched out her gaze.
“What of you? Where is your family? It must be odd staying in this manor by yourself.”
She wasn’t ready to tell that story. Perhaps she wouldn’t ever be.
At least if he didn’t know it, he couldn’t think less of her.
But he peered at her with expectation in his expression.
So she sighed. “My family is in London. I’m sure they’ll come out for the Christmastide holidays.
” Wherein they would largely ignore her and pretend she—and her indiscretion—didn’t exist.
A frown tugged on the edges of his sensual mouth. “Why are you not with them? I’ll admit, I’m not the foremost expert at how the beau monde operates, but isn’t it odd for a young, unmarried woman to be alone without some sort of family or companion?”
Knots of worry pulled in her belly. She pressed her lips together.
“There was a bit of scandal a year or so ago involving me. Because of that, I was banished here.” With a sigh, she shrugged.
“At first, I did have a companion, but after a while, I didn’t want anyone’s company.
” It was too difficult to balance grieving with having to keep up appearances.
Shock etched across his face. “And you agreed?”
After setting her cup into its saucer on the try, she blew out a breath. “In deference to my sisters’ chances to make a favorable match? I didn’t have much choice in the matter.”
Shock warred with curiosity in his dark eyes. “What happened?”
“I’m not ready to share that yet. Let alone to a stranger.”
“Fair enough.” He drained the contents of his cup and ate another triangle of toast before speaking again. “How do you keep busy here while alone?”
That was a topic in which she had no problems in sharing. “I like archery and have a fair amount of skill. Then there is embroidery. I’m quite proficient, and I adore creating beautiful patterns or pictures.”
“I would enjoy seeing some of your work.”
“That’s not a hardship, for it is all around the manor.” A chuckle escaped her. “Currently, I’m working on a peacock.”
“How fascinating. Have you ever seen one live?”
“No, but how wonderful would that be?”
He nodded. “Indeed.”
“Sometimes when I need to clear my head, I take long walks. Papa’s property is pretty in all the seasons, but autumn is my favorite.”
“I can see that about you.” The hand holding the cup started to shake. Immediately, he returned it to the saucer on the tray.
Clearly, his energy was beginning to flag. “I should leave you be. No doubt you’ll nap soon.”
“As much as it pains me to say it, I’m quite sick of napping. There are other things I wish to do.” Once more, he frowned. “However, could you bring me a few books or a chessboard or something to pass the time when I’m not sleeping?”
“Of course.”
“Or…” A twinkle in his eyes promised mischief. “Or you can come back to visit me. We could talk further.”
“Oh.” Heat burned through her cheeks. “I could do that.” Quickly, Rose stood. She tapped the tray. “Shall I take this?”
“Yes, but first there is something else I’d like from you.”
“What is that?”
“Just this.” The rascal took one of her hands and tugged her down toward him. Before she knew what was happening, he briefly claimed her lips with his.
Dear heavens! He kissed her. And it had caught her by surprise, for she hadn’t done that—or anything—with a man in three years. Taken aback, she gasped and gave him a sharp slap. “For shame, Captain. We have only just met.”
Not that such a thing had stopped her before, but she was a different woman now, wasn’t she? At least that is what she told herself.
“I realize that, but as you said, I’m no longer at death’s door, and you are quite lovely, a visiting angel, as it were, who nursed me back to health.” His expression suggested he wasn’t sorry at all.
Neither was she and she wished it had been more of a kiss.
A few heated tingles went through her lower belly, awakening something deep inside her that she thought was long dead.
Perhaps the better part of valor in this situation was to ignore it.
“I’ll have John bring you some things you might need, but you should rest.” Then Rose took the tray and moved it to the bureau top.
“If you’re hungry in a bit, I’ll leave this here for you. ”
After that, she left, cursing the heat in her cheeks as well as him for that brazen act.
I can’t go down that road again.
It had led to far too much heartache the last time, and she liked to think that if she ever allowed herself to be involved with a man a second time, it would be far different.