Chapter Thirteen #2
She was a part of him now, his whole life twisting tack the moment he had met her. That scowling suspicion she had cast on him had melted away in the heat of the forge and all that was left was affection.
That was, Henry reminded himself, on his side. True, Minny had accepted his kisses, but that did necessarily mean that…well. He would be a fool to assume it. He would be an even greater fool to do anything about. Not with him leaving tomorrow—
“You did good work there, you know,” Minny said with a weary sigh, untying her leather apron and pulling it off. “Very good.”
“I would not be able to do such good work unless I had an excellent teacher.”
Blast. Was this what “telling her he had to leave” looked like?
He needed to get a grip on himself, and fast, or he would find completely different words slipping from his tongue, and that would be…unfortunate.
Minny Banfield may not know he was the Duke of Dulverton, but he was still a man. He had no wish to excite expectations he could not fulfill. More than he had already.
“Well, I would say that’s us done for the day,” Minny said cheerfully. “I’ll probably do a stew tonight, if you want to stay.”
“If you want to stay.”
Sweet agony bellowed through Henry’s chest. Stay? Oh, he wanted nothing more than to stay. Leave behind the rules and responsibilities of being a duke—though bring with him some money, of course—and stay here with Minny. Be with her.
But he couldn’t. Henry tried his best to push the thought away, but the desire—for it was a desire, far more than a passing thought—refused to cease.
If he could just ask her…
“M-Minny,” Henry said, discovering to his surprise that he was breathless.
Minny stepped around the anvil. “Y-Yes?”
Henry swallowed. Oh, he was sure there were words. Somewhere, someone would find the perfect way to say this, but it was not him.
I have to go. I need to leave. My sister—my family needs me. My title requires…no, probably not that one.
All words seeped away when he looked into the wide and trusting eyes of Minny Banfield. He craved her as he had wanted nothing else, and she was a mere inch away.
Ready to be taken.
“Henry?” Minny breathed, her fingers somehow tangling in his own. “What do you want?”
Henry almost groaned but managed to stop himself. The sun had gone now, leaving them in the dark glow of the dying furnace.
They were alone. It was expected now that he would spend a few evenings each week dining with Minny; he would not be missed at the King’s Head. He could stay here all night…
“What do I—”
“Want, yes,” Minny said quietly. He could feel her pulse through her fingers. It matched the frantic beating of his own. “What do you want, Henry?”
Everything. All of you, forever, to stay here and—“I need to go.”
The words had slipped out before he could stop them, and Henry saw in horror she was astonished to hear such a blunt statement.
Minny’s fingers slipped away. “You—you must be tired. The King’s Head—”
“No, not to the King’s Head,” Henry said wretchedly, hating that she took a step back, hating the distance between them. “London. I need—I have to return to London.”
A look of deep disappointment clouded Minny’s face. Henry hated it, but hated even more than she swiftly turned away, took a deep breath, then turned back to face him with an evidently forced smile.
Oh God, she did not want him to know how deeply she was hurt. That fact cut through his chest like a knife.
“Why?”
“And it’s not as though I have been that useful here, not really, you will manage perfectly well on your own,” Henry said in a rush, unable to stop himself. Perhaps if he kept talking, the pain in his heart would go. “You did excellently without me, after all, and—”
“Henry—”
“And I’ve chopped a great deal of wood for you, and I will fetch more water if you wish it tomorrow morning,” he continued, raging against the agony that was driving them apart.
But it was his agony, wasn’t it? His choice?
Minny was staring as though she had never seen him before and that was perhaps what broke him the most. “Why are you leaving, Henry?”
“My…my sister needs me,” Henry said helplessly. “And you don’t.”
Well, it wasn’t a complete lie, was it? From some angles, it was the truth.
Peggy could not be permitted to endure the scandal she was undoubtedly weathering on her own, and Minny…he had never met a more capable woman.
Henry could not help it; he reached out and took Minny’s hand in his own. “You don’t need me,” he said quietly, “and that hurts, Minny, and don’t ask me to explain it because I can’t, but—”
“I need you.”
“—and if you ever need help, I will give you an address you can—what did you just say?”
Henry’s chest tightened as he held his breath, mouth agape.
Minny’s cheeks were flushed but her expression was bold as she looked up with an air of determination and vulnerability. “I need you, Henry,” she said softly.
She could not mean it. He was dreaming—
“And if you don’t kiss me right this moment,” Minny said with a mischievous look. “I shall have to kiss you.”
Henry pulled her into his arms and clung to her, his embrace one of relief and uncertainty. What came after this he did not know—but he did not need to.
He had Minny in his arms.
She twisted in his embrace, turning her face toward him, and Henry eagerly claimed her lips with a moan. This was where he belonged. How could he even think about going? Pegs could fend for herself. She had Lady Romeril on her side—and he needed Minny.
Sparks of pleasure roared through him as Henry’s hands clasped Minny’s buttocks and pulled her close, as close as he could manage. She responded fiercely, kissing him more boldly than she ever had done, demanding pleasure.
And he was all too happy to give it.
But then she pulled away. Still standing in his arms but refusing to give her lips to him, Minny laughed as Henry groaned and tried to kiss her again.
“Minny—”
“Henry Everleigh,” she said firmly. “I don’t want you to leave. Not yet. I’ve shared so much with you—”
“I know, and I’m grateful for the lessons you’ve—”
“Not that,” Minny said with a wicked smile. “I don’t want you to leave, you hear me? Not until…we’ve shared everything.”