Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Anna was surprised when she saw Silas walk towards her, yet she immediately recognized the tension in his shoulders and neck. Her heart dropped, and she wondered if he had overheard her rude comments towards Lydia and Amelia. She instinctively blushed.
“Would you accompany me to the gardens?” he asked abruptly.
“Now?” Anna glanced outside. “It is so dark.”
Silas leaned closer so no one else could hear. “I would like to speak privately.”
Anna groaned inwardly but tried not to express her reluctance. She could only presume he had overheard and had some choice words prepared for her.
“Of course.” She rose, setting down her wine glass. He offered his arm and they walked out through the patio doors into the cool night air. Anna shivered.
“Are you cold?” Silas asked quietly.
“No, it is refreshing.” Anna sighed, tilting her head back so the light breeze lifted her blonde curls around her neck pleasantly. “It was too warm in there.”
“Shall we walk?”
They took the steps that led to the dark green hedges of the garden maze, entering the silky darkness and silence between the leafy walls and instinctively following the trickling sound of the fountain in the center.
Anna said nothing, waiting for Silas to speak.
It wasn’t until they had turned a corner into almost pitch blackness that he did.
“I overheard your conversation.”
Anna drew her breath in sharply but continued to walk, wondering how to justify herself. She thought honesty was possibly the best policy.
“I am sorry I spoke so…” Anna struggled for the right word. “Aggressively. It was hardly ladylike of me, and I should not have let Beatrice be exposed to their slander.” Anna sighed, bracing herself for his criticism. “I am sure you are disappointed.”
“No, Anna.” Silas stopped walking, turning her to face him. “No, I’m not. I’m very grateful.”
“Grateful?” Anna stared at him. “Really?”
“Indeed.” Silas shook his head, an amazed expression in his eyes. “You defended Beatrice without causing a scene, which is something I certainly would have done.”
“True!” Anna laughed. If there was one thing she had learned about Silas’ legendary temper, it was most likely triggered by those threatening the happiness of the people he loved.
“Thank you for defending her so admirably,” he said.
“Those girls were just a taste of what we might face in opposition.” Anna sighed, crossing her arms against the cold. “It may get a lot harder for us all before it gets easier, and there will be worse comments to endure.”
“We can manage it.” Silas smiled. “Or rather, you can. You and your veneer of steel. More like a veneer of diamond, I should say.”
Anna smiled at his wry expression. She was growing to enjoy Silas’ sense of humor. “Well, a woman must be unbeatable to act as Lucifer’s help meet,” she joked in return.
“Very true, Persephone.”
She felt a tiny twinge of delight when he used that nickname.
On his tongue, it was suggestive and alluring.
They found themselves at the center of the maze, the water of the fountain bubbling and glittering in the starlight.
Instinctively, they both moved to a stone bench beside it.
Anna sat, expecting Silas to stand or pace, as he often wanted to do in the evening when he was stressed, but instead he sat beside her.
The bench was small and she was very aware of every point their bodies connected: her naked elbow against his, the warm swell of her hip against his, and the bony press of her knee against his thigh through the silk of her dress.
She wondered how it might feel if he moved his large, graceful hand from where it rested on his knee and placed it on hers.
Anna felt herself flush, despite the cold air around them.
Silas didn’t seem to notice. Instead, she saw how his hands clenched into fists, a sure sign that he was agitated about something.
“Lord Shelton, did he... did he ever declare intentions towards you?” he said finally.
“No,” Anna answered quickly, then hesitated before continuing. “He may have expressed something of the kind to my brother when he was alive.”
“How so?”
Anna looked down at her hands. She had never spoken of Andrew with Silas, but she knew it would have to happen sometime. She sighed, preparing for the insistent ache accompanying talking of her lost brother.
“He and my brother were the best of friends. Andrew always wanted a brother and so did Henry. They used to joke about how Henry marrying me might mean they could truly be brothers. We were all very close at one time.”
Anna smiled in spite of her sadness. Seeing Henry always did this, as did seeing any other of Andrew’s old friends out in society. It raised a confusing concoction of sweet memories and bitterness. She forced herself to go on.
“It was all in jest. If he and Andrew ever spoke of it in seriousness, that was not conveyed to me in any way. If he felt anything for me, nothing came of it.”
“Why?” Silas mused quietly. “He clearly feels something for you, his sister clearly knows he does and is envious of his partiality, he would have been a fine match for you,”
“When Andrew died, everything changed.”
Anna knew her voice was curt, but she couldn’t help herself. It was hard to think about these things, let alone discuss them, and considering how her life might have been different if Andrew had lived was the hardest thing.
“How did he die?”
Anna blanched at his question, and Silas reached out, his hand covering hers, which had instinctively clenched into her gown at her knee.
“I’m sorry, that was thoughtless,” he muttered. “You don’t have to answer.”
“It’s all right,” Anna swallowed, trying to slow her breathing. “It was years ago. It was a carriage accident.”
And it was all my fault, she added bitterly. She looked away, hoping Silas didn’t ask anything more about it.
“I’m sorry. I should not have asked. It was only, well, the way he was looking at you...”
“Henry holds no thrall for me. He never has.” Anna took a deep breath, closing her eyes. She relaxed her hand, turning her palm upwards, and Silas’ fingers entwined with hers comfortingly. “If Andrew had absolutely insisted on it, then I may have married him, but it was a lifetime ago.”
And I know better now, she thought to herself, looking down at their joined hands.
Now she knew what true attraction felt like, how deep and compelling it could be.
She would never accept the paltry imitation of it that marriage to someone like Henry Shelton offered, not for anyone. Not even her brother.
“You would have done that for your brother?” Silas shook his head softly. “That is a remarkable show of loyalty.”
“Is it?” Anna laughed, squeezing Silas’ hand. “You married me to secure your sister’s future happiness, didn’t you?” She smiled. “If I am remarkable, so are you.”
“It was different.” Silas’ voice was low. His eyes were as black as coal in the dark. “I had seen a portrait of you, I certainly felt… attraction.”
The breeze shifted and a curl blew into Anna’s eyes. Silas reached up to brush it back, his fingers lingering on the smooth skin of her cheek and making her shiver.
“I didn’t know that,” Anna whispered, trying to hold his gaze. “About the portrait.”
Silas’ hand rested against her neck, his thumb caressing the soft line of her jaw. Anna could feel the pulse at his wrist, racing against the spot where their cool skin met.
“What did,” Anna swallowed, her throat moving against his thumb. “What did you think?”
“I thought you were beautiful.” Silas leaned closer, his head blocking out the light of the moon and casting them both in darkness. “But seeing you in ink and paint was a shadow of seeing you in the flesh, and now...”
His words were like a spell over her and she lifted her own hand as if in a trance, to press it against his. She wanted to kiss him, wanted to kiss him desperately, but wasn’t sure what he would do if she did.
“And now?” she asked breathlessly.
“Now I’ve lived with you, I’ve seen how strong and capable and loyal you can be...” Silas’ words were warm on her face, his lips a whisper away from hers. “Now I am not only dazzled by your beauty.”
His words were like sweet wine, making her dizzy. She closed her eyes and sighed. She didn’t care how he reacted now; the words had left her mouth before she knew it.
“Kiss me, Sil-”
Silas didn’t even let her say his name before capturing her mouth with his.
He pulled her body tight against his and her lips yielded against his tongue, warm and rippling as an open flame.
It was the first time they had kissed since their wedding night.
Still, Anna felt herself responding with the same blistering ferocity, her hands wrapping behind his head as if she would never let go, her back arching wantonly under his hands and her chest pressed tightly against his.
She never wanted it to end. Suddenly, a loud crack of a twig breaking of gravel sounded nearby. They broke apart, gasping.
“What the?”
Silas jumped up, instinctively standing in front of Anna in a defensive posture.
“Who is it?” he demanded.
“Forgive me, sir.” Giovanni stepped out from behind the hedge into the circle of moonlight by the fountain. “But you have been called away. Urgent business.”
“It cannot wait?” Silas’ voice was frustrated.
“No, sir.” Silas sighed and turned to Anna. “I am sorry.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I must go.”
Anna swallowed her disappointment. “I understand. I shall go back to the ball.” Anna rose, dusting down her gown. “Beatrice and I shall return to Fallenbrook.”
“Thank you.”
Silas stepped closer, his back to Giovanni, hiding Anna from view. He lowered his voice and his head so that they could not be heard. “Thank you for everything you did tonight,” he whispered. “I am in your debt.”
“You are not.” Anna shook her head.
“Anna.”
He looked down at her with burning eyes and pressed his thumb gently against her bottom lip.
A thrill trembled through her body and she couldn’t help opening her mouth slightly, allowing Silas to touch the soft skin on the inside.
He inhaled sharply, and Anna felt a tremor run through his hand. Then he pulled away.
“I will see you later tonight.” His voice was gravelly. “Will you wait for me?”
His eyes were full of desire. Anna couldn’t look away. She nodded, struggling to find her voice. “Yes.”