Chapter 15 #3
There were no quick jerks of movement or hauling her over his shoulders this time as Laurence leaned down.
Instead, he slowly slid his arms around her body; one beneath her knees, the other at her back, and he picked her up from the couch like the delicate woman she was.
Their eyes locked as Laurence carried her the short distance from the couch to where he had been standing by the fireplace.
Then he sat on the floor, one arm still wrapped around her back while the other situated her in his lap.
His need for lust became small as the need to reassure and protect rose up in him, and he gently began to wring her wet hair with the edge of the blanket.
“First and foremost, I apologize for being so secretive about the gowns,” he began, squeezing the cold rain from her locks with tender care.
“Mrs. Bradley had informed me on your second day that you were exceeding her expectations with your duties, but that you were not taking note of your dress. I understand better now that in your past you had to save some money here and there, but you do not need to do that now. You deserve your own wardrobe, even though I am sure Madalene would not be bothered at all that you have been borrowing from hers.”
Laurence felt her relax, albeit only a little, into his body.
“Secondly,” he went on as he stared deep into her cobalt blue eyes, “As the duchess and lady of this house, you of course have the right to do what you see fit within these walls. You are not, however, permitted to put yourself in danger. There is enough of that waiting for you outside my home; you do not need to go searching for it within it.”
The pale blush in Ellen’s cheeks deepened to a rosy pink as she drew her gaze away from him and toward the fire, which was doing well at drawing the moisture from her blanket and clothes.
“I see your points, and they are fair,” she admitted after a moment of silence.
“As for your servants, Sarah and Jacob,” Laurence went on. “My men found them the day of the wedding.”
Ellen’s head whipped back to him, her blue eyes wide and full of fear.
“They did? Are they alive? Where are they?” she asked, clutching at the front of his shirt with both hands as she sat up.
“They are,” he calmly assured her, wrapping his hands around hers. “But they were hurt, both in body and in spirit. That was why I have not told you yet. I meant to present them to you once they were healed in another week or two so you would not have to see them in such a state.”
Ellen pulled in a shuddering breath through her nostrils as her lips began to tremble, and seeing her so relieved over the life of two servants did something strange to the walls Laurence had put up around his heart.
She cared for them. Genuinely cared for them despite their station and despite her own.
Laurence was not sure he’d ever seen such kindness, even in little Madalene.
Before he could help himself, he reached for the side of her neck, then slipped his fingers to her nape, where he began rubbing slow, soothing circles over the taut tendons that lay there.
“I want to see them,” Ellen whimpered.
“You will,” Laurence swore. “Just let them rest a little longer.”
Ellen’s tense shoulders slowly lowered as a tear trickled down her cheek.
“Of course,” she rasped, dropping her gaze to her hands that still clutched at his shirt. “Of course, they need rest. Thank you so, so very much for finding them, but you are right. I am just being selfish…”
“No,” he rasped, capturing her jaw so he could bring her gaze back up to his. “In fact, I think you might be the kindest, most generous woman I have ever met.”
Her eyes were still shining with tears, and it was taking everything within him not to lean down and lick away the one that had stolen down her cheek.
He forced in a breath, willing his lust-driven nerves to stand down. She’d been through so much with Benedict. The last thing she needed was a man who was supposed to be protecting her taking advantage of her vulnerability.
Laurence’s jaw ached as he clamped it shut and urged his mind to desist from its intimate thoughts.
“Laurence?” Ellen’s tone was worried yet soft, but her touch at his clenched jaw was even softer. Just the slightest brush of her fingers made his entire body grow rigid with need, and all he wanted was to nuzzle into the soft touch and kiss the palm of her gentle hand.
He forced his eyes back open, and nearly lost himself when he found her blue eyes so full of worry. For him, of all people.
“You need a bath,” he forced out.
Ellen’s brows furrowed as he moved to a standing position and placed her on her feet.
“I…What?”
“A warm bath and dry clothes,” he explained, forcing himself to take a step back. “And bed, I think. Mrs. Bradley will bring you some soup. The last thing you need right now is to fall ill. We have much to do.”
Ellen blinked, and that compassion she had been holding for him faded.
“Right,” she murmured, taking her own step toward the door. “Much to do.”
Laurence gave a curt nod, looking everywhere he could but at her, and stayed perfectly still even after he heard her close his study door; leaving him alone with nothing but his conflicting thoughts.