Chapter 27
Helena led Cynthia into her room. She heard the click of the lock, and then Helena’s arms were around her, pulling her back into Helena’s chest.
‘When I saw you lying on the floor of those baths, blood everywhere, my world stopped.’ Helena’s words brushed against Cynthia’s temple as her arms tightened around her waist. ‘I can face death without fear, but living without you is impossible. I love you, Cyn. And I’m not afraid of that any more.
The only thing that scares me is losing you. I’ve been the biggest fool.’
Cynthia twisted to face her. Helena’s grey eyes sparked silver, and Cynthia held her gaze as she pressed a soft kiss to Helena’s mouth.
Fascinated, she watched silver bleed into grey until her love’s eyes were glowing.
‘You will never lose me. Not even death can separate two souls destined to be together.’
With nimble fingers, Helena stripped Cynthia from her borrowed dress. Desperate for skin against skin, Cynthia spun Helena to untie her corset laces. Layer by layer, they uncovered each other until both were bare, skin warmed by the morning sun streaming through their window.
Pulling Cynthia close, Helena rested her hand over Cynthia’s heart. She traced the new crescent moon with trembling fingers. ‘I have lived my life by oaths. I want to make a new oath. With you. Is that all right?’
Cynthia held her breath, terrified of breaking the moment’s beauty. She nodded in jerky movements.
‘Cynthia, I will love you with my body. Seek you with my mind. Honour you with my spirit. And provide your heart sanctuary for the rest of my days.’
Cynthia couldn’t remember the vows she spoke to Hubert at their wedding.
Empty words repeated in dutiful obedience.
But she would never forget this promise.
An agreement with her partner in every future endeavour.
‘Helena, I will love you with my body. Seek you with my mind. Honour you with my spirit. And provide your heart sanctuary. Always.’
They were holy words resonating through them, a spell vibrating with power, binding their spirits into an unbreakable union.
Helena pulled her close, her lips warm and soft, her tongue seeking entrance. She trailed kisses down Cynthia’s neck, along her shoulder, dipping lower to suck a tightened nipple into her hot mouth.
A rush of need filled Cynthia’s core as Helena backed her to the bed, gently pushing her down.
‘I did promise to love you with my body. And I don’t break my promises.’
Sunlight turned Helena’s hair ablaze. Her eyes were full of need. Pert and perfect breasts, tipped with raspberry nipples made Cynthia’s mouth water for a taste. The birthmark shaped like a star and placed perfectly on Helena’s sternum was almost the same colour of berry red.
Cynthia crooked her finger. ‘Neither do I.’
‘Then spread your thighs, Cynthia. Let me taste you.’
Leaning back onto the soft pillows, Cynthia let her legs fall wide. The vulnerability of her position only sharpened the desire pulsing beneath her skin and throbbing in her clitoris. The soft folds would be drenched.
Helena bit her bottom lip, and Cynthia was quite certain she would climax just from watching the undisguised lust swirling in Helena’s eyes.
Helena crawled on the bed, her hands tracing from Cynthia’s ankles, up her calves, taking a moment to tickle the sensitive skin behind her knees. When Cynthia tried to squirm away, Helena tightened her grip, holding her open. ‘You’re ticklish? A dangerous weakness to show me, Cyn.’
Cynthia couldn’t stop the giggle. ‘I suppose I’ll just have to trust you to keep my secrets.’
The silly words took on deeper meaning as Helena traced her hand up Cynthia’s thigh, her thumb inching closer to where she ached. ‘You can always trust me.’ Helena lowered her head, making space between Cynthia’s legs. ‘Goddess, you are wet.’
Cynthia squirmed, suddenly shy. ‘Is that bad?’
Cool air tickled over Cynthia’s heated flesh as Helena blew on her. Her lips brushed against sensitised flesh, desperate for friction. ‘It’s very, very good.’
Words ceased to hold meaning as Cynthia felt the smooth slide of Helena’s tongue licking along her folds, tasting everywhere except the one place she needed.
‘Hel, please, harder.’ Cynthia shifted her hips, grinding against Helena’s mouth.
Helena tightened her grip, holding Cynthia still. The hum of her laughter against Cynthia’s pulsing clitoris only tightened the tension stretching through her. ‘Patience is a virtue. Isn’t that what they teach proper ladies?’
‘I’m no lady.’
Helena’s growl sent another wave of vibrations singing along Cynthia’s nerves. ‘You are my lady. Now and always.’
The rasp of Helena’s velvet tongue over the cluster of nerves holding Cynthia hostage ripped a scream from her that likely could be heard by everyone in the house. But Cynthia didn’t care.
Helena took to her task with a focus nearly shattering Cynthia. Soft licks, sharp nibbles, devastating sucks, sweet kisses. She slid a finger into Cynthia’s channel, then another, curling against her wall as Cynthia clenched tight, her body begging for more.
Helena gave her more. She gave her everything.
One hand snaked up Cynthia’s body, finding her breast. She kneaded the globe in rhythm to her fingers as they slid in and out of her sex.
Her tongue lapped Cynthia like a sweet treat.
When she caught Cynthia’s nipple between her fingers and rolled the tight bud in tandem to her tongue flicking over her clitoris, Cynthia flew apart.
Showing no mercy, Helena sucked every last ounce of pleasure from Cynthia until the sensations overwhelmed her.
She pulled free. Her breath came in gasps, her body covered in a flush of sated desire.
Lifting her head, she saw the satisfied grin on Helena’s slick lips and realised they were hovering at least three feet above the bed.
In a weightless rush, they both fell back onto the mattress in a tangle of limbs, Helena’s breasts crushed against Cynthia’s in delicious pressure.
Her laughter bubbled like a spring brook. ‘Well, that was certainly unexpected.’
Helena shifted, her hand tangling in Cynthia’s hair as she kissed her. Cynthia could taste her own tang on Helena’s tongue, stirring a new flutter of arousal. ‘How could I ever have believed I would be able to resist falling in love with you?’
‘Silly witch.’ Cynthia nuzzled against her neck, drawing in bergamot and lemon balm, the scents of home to her now. ‘Let’s see if I can make us fly again.’
Helena stood next to Cynthia on the front steps of Cynthia’s home. ‘Are you sure you want to go in? I can get your dress for you.’
‘No. I need to speak with Mrs Higgins.’
Hamlet yipped, his body nearly lost between their skirts.
The butler opened the door, his eyes widening at the sight of both women. ‘Lady Burrows.’ He stepped back, ushering them into the hall.
‘We’re only here to collect my dress. And I need to speak with Mrs Higgins. Will you have her meet us in the marchioness’ suite?’
‘Of course, my lady.’
Helena followed Cynthia up the wide staircase. Once more, she wished she could read Cynthia’s thoughts. She understood it might give her an unfair advantage, and balance was important, and all the other things… but it would certainly be nice. Instead, she asked, ‘What are you thinking?’
Cynthia swept into her dressing room and emerged a moment later, struggling under the weight of her gown. ‘That I can’t wait to leave this house. And start a new life. With you.’
Helena’s mouth went dry as the vase next to her began to swirl. Love was constantly surprising her with its beauty.
The door opened and Mrs Higgins entered, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. ‘Lady Burrows. Do you need help dressing for the ball?’
Cynthia hefted the dress onto her bed and exhaled a gusty breath. ‘No. I’m dressing at Blair House.’ She gestured to the two wingback chairs sitting near the hearth. ‘Will you sit?’
Mrs Higgins looked from Helena back to Cynthia.
Dear God. She knows.
Mrs Higgins’ terrified thoughts echoed in Helena’s head as the housekeeper walked with stiff steps, freezing halfway across the room.
‘My lady, please. You must know. I’m going to turn myself in to Scotland Yard.
I promise. I should have told you right away.
I don’t know what I was thinking. I won’t let anyone else suffer for my choices.
I just couldn’t let him hurt another girl.
’ Though her chin quivered, she refused to look away from her mistress.
Cynthia hurried to Mrs Higgins, taking her hand and tugging her to the closest chair. The poor woman’s face had gone frighteningly pale.
‘You misunderstand. I didn’t call you here to confront you. I wanted to thank you. For doing what I could not.’
Helena’s heart ached as Cynthia’s voice quavered. This was the other side of love. Hurting when your loved one suffered, and you were unable to ease their pain.
Mrs Higgins sat, her breath coming in shaking gasps. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘I told Superintendent MacDougal that Hubert killed himself. And Sinclair is a bastard, but he won’t betray you. If he does, his word will never stand against mine. You are safe, Mrs Higgins.’
The housekeeper leaned back in the chair as tears caught in her wrinkled cheeks and her body wracked with sobs.
Cynthia held her hand and Helena stepped closer.
‘I never meant… only, when I saw him with Polly… I didn’t even realise I took the letter opener from his desk and…
He was going to kill her. I screamed for him to stop, and he wouldn’t.
’ She shook her head. ‘I had to do something.’
I shall burn in hell for my crimes.
‘It isn’t a crime to protect the innocent, Mrs Higgins.’
Hamlet brushed past Helena, leaning his body against the housekeeper’s leg in silent support.
‘You said yourself, he wouldn’t stop. You saved Polly’s life.’
‘And mine. You set me free when you ended Hubert’s life, Mrs Higgins. And now, it’s my turn to do the same for you.’