Chapter Ten #2
“Good, because I won’t stand for that. And if I discover you are merely using her, I will run you out of here with violence if need be.”
“Understood.” His chest tightened. “I appreciate that you look out for her. She needs that in her life, I think.”
The other man nodded, but a muscle in his cheek ticced. “She is much the daughter I never had. Frankly, she’s a special soul.”
“Agreed.” It spoke to her character that someone held her in such regard. “I’m glad she has you and your wife. Everyone needs supporters.”
“Yes, and she’ll only have us a bit longer, then I’m afraid the wife and I are off for the country.
We’d like to enjoy what life we have left to us without filling it with toiling at a trade.
” He frowned and his eyes went misty. “Ideally, I would like to see her settled before that happens, else I’ll worry about her.
I wouldn’t put it past her brother to offer her up to the highest bidder. ”
A trace of annoyance went through Cornelius’s chest as he nodded. “I’m sure things will come about, Mr. Chandler, but if you’re concerned, I can promise that I’ll look after her, and I can assure you I won’t let Birchfield send her off to a man who doesn’t deserve her.”
“I appreciate that.”
Further conversation halted, for Penny emerged from the narrow wooden stairs with a bright smile and curiosity in her eyes.
When her gaze alighted on him, her whole expression illuminated.
“Good evening, Major. It’s good to see you again.
” Then she turned to Mr. Chandler. “I hope you and your wife have a lovely time tonight. It does my heart good to know you have an active social life.”
The older man grinned. His whole expression softened. “Thank you, my lady.” Then he bounced his gaze to Cornelius and sent him a speaking glance. “Well, I’ll just go collect dear Mrs. Chandler, shall I? I’m quite hungry this evening.”
“Enjoy your evening, Mr. Chandler.” Cornelius gave them space. While holding his parcels, he pretended to peruse the nearest shelf as Penny followed the man back upstairs.
Eventually, the older couple left the shop, and Mrs. Chandler sent him a look brimming with speculation as they went.
He merely grinned and waited patiently until he was finally alone with the object of his desire, or rather, the woman he couldn’t evict from his mind.
“Well, I suppose we can now begin our evening together.” Feeling cockier than he had in quite a while, he removed his top hat and rested it upon one of the shelves.
“I have looked forward to that all day.” As soon as she pulled the shade on the door down and tugged the drapes across the bow window, he snaked an arm about her waist. She came into his arms as naturally as if she were always meant to be there. “So it would seem you have too.”
“Perhaps.” The faint floral scent of her skin wafted to his nose, and the heat of her called to him.
He lowered his lips to hers and gently kissed her for no other reason than he meant what he’d said the other day: She should be kissed and often.
When he loosened his hold slightly, he grinned at her.
“Do you want to see what I’ve brought you? ”
“In a bit. Right now, I’m perfectly content to be with you.”
A queer little skip went through his heart, but he ignored it.
Perhaps he was still unsettled after that visit from his previous mistress.
After he’d divested himself of the gloves and tucked them into a pocket of his greatcoat, he grinned.
“I like the sound of that.” Then he took her once more into his arms and proceeded to dance with her over the shop floor.
On the heels of a laugh, she asked, “What are you about, Major?”
“Indulging you in a waltz, for I’ll wager Weymouth never gave you that, and it’s a damn shame, for every woman should at least feel special on a dance floor once in their life.”
“How could you know Weymouth wasn’t keen on dancing?” When he merely waggled his eyebrows, a faint flush went through her cheeks. The candlelight glimmered in her blue-gray eyes, and she squeezed his fingers. “Careful, Major, else people might have the wrong impression about you.”
“Which would be what?” It was far too easy talking to her, as if they’d known each other in three lifetimes. Was that odd or a coincidence?
“That you’re capable of charming your way into romance beyond a lark or a tryst.”
“Poppycock.” Romance wasn’t what this was between them, was it? He was only sharing a midwinter fling with his best friend’s sister.
“Are you frightened that you might be known as something other than a rake, Cornelius?” When she giggled, his world began to tilt sideways. “Such public opinion might look good on you.”
“And what, let myself become domesticated? You wish me to step foot into parson’s mousetrap, set up a nursery?
” Where was the panic and the disgust he usually felt when talking about such things?
Hell, he’d discussed marriage with Birchfield not a handful of days ago.
At that time, he was violently opposed to it.
Now? It didn’t sound so bad if a woman like Penny waited for him on the other side.
If she is waiting…
With each turn about the floor, awareness of her grew.
Cornelius couldn’t help but tug her incrementally closer whenever he could, for it felt all too right having her in his arms like this.
Alone, there was no pressure to conform to society’s rules, no demand to maintain a proper decorum.
Her brother wasn’t around to frown at them interacting like this or to toss around threats that they need to stay away from each other.
There was just him and her, and this waltz with no music.
And this odd feeling of… peace.
It was something he’d not experienced since before going into the military, something he hadn’t had since that long-ago summer night in the hedge maze with Penny.
Fuck.
Was that yet another sign that he had, indeed, fallen down the slope to love?
Was that what it felt like, then? If so, it was much different than when he’d fancied himself in that state years ago with the woman who’d broken off their relationship in a letter while he’d in away in India.
Did that mean this time would prove different?
As they slowed to a halt, Penny stared up at him with a slightly quizzical expression. “Why do you peer at me in such a way?”
“How am I looking at you?”
“Like you can’t quite puzzle me out, or you’ve just come to a realization and are doubting it.” One of her blonde-brown eyebrows rose. “Is all well with you?”
Was it? In a bit of a daze, he nodded. “I believe it is.” Then, as if he were seeing her for the first time, Cornelius held her head between his palms, furrowed his fingers into her hair, and slowly brought his lips down on hers.
The kiss, not born by sexual urgency or domination, sent down roots deep into something else entirely.
In that one meeting of mouths, he sought something he’d never asked of any woman before: acceptance for who he was, instead of the man he’d always portrayed himself to be.
When he slipped a hand from her cheek down her back, Penny uttered a shuddering sigh and pressed herself more fully into his arms.
And for the moment, he was quite content in being utterly lost.