Fairfax held the lens up to the light coming in through the window to inspect his work, then repeated the process of polishing the other lens.When he twisted his torso to get more light, she saw naked skin at the vee of his shirt, revealed by his untucked neckcloth and two undone buttons.
The sudden urge to dip her tongue into the slight depression between his neck and clavicle, to kiss the bony ridge, caught her by surprise.
Mystified by Fairfax’s actions and her reaction to the hint of naked masculine skin, she primly held her hand out for the spectacles.He gave a subtle headshake, making his long black hair swing across his shirt points, and leaned toward her.
Finally grasping his intentions, she put her hands on the desk and held perfectly still, hardly daring to breathe, trying desperately not to peek down the front of his shirt as he got close.Closer than if they were waltzing.Close enough to see tiny flecks of gold in his brown eyes.
He gently slid the temple pieces into place, then tipped his head and made a minor adjustment of the spectacles, carefully perched on her nose and ears.As he leaned back, he stroked his fingertips across her cheeks, and finally gave a satisfied nod as he sat up straight and tucked his neckcloth back in.
“Tell me about the foolish former student you are protecting.”
Still processing the sensations of what had just happened, her heart pounding in sixteenth notes instead of quarter notes, she tried not to gape like a freshly landed fish on the dock.
“You have carefully safeguarded your reputation all these years but feared you may have ruined it by protecting her,” Fairfax prompted.“That’s what you said in the cave when Matthew and the others were breaking through.”He tugged the corner of her shawl, the corner he had held just moments ago, over her shoulder and adjusted it to his liking, arranging the folds just so, his fingertips brushing the bare skin of her neck.“How was your presence in the cave an act of protecting her?”
Sophia longed to tell him.She opened her mouth, then shut it again.
Mildred had trusted her.Mildred’s life could be ruined by what she’d done since running away from home.
“It’s Miss Ebrington, is it not?”
It’s a good thing she did not gamble at cards, Sophia decided, as she watched Fairfax nod with satisfaction even though she hadn’t uttered a sound.
“Thought so.”He twitched her shawl higher on her other shoulder, making both sides match now, distracting her with his bare fingertips on the bare skin on the side of her neck.It could be an innocuous gesture to a casual observer—fortunately there was no one else about—except for the knowing gleam in Fairfax’s eyes.His touch was deliberate, not accidental.He lightly stroked his fingertips over her ear, disturbing the fine hairs that escaped her braid, until her scalp tingled and she struggled to keep her breathing even.What would his reaction be if he knew the lascivious bent of her thoughts a few moments ago?
How she longed to lean into his touch!Just as she’d have happily stayed in the warm circle of his embrace last night.It was a wonder her lenses did not fog up as her cheeks flamed at the memory of sitting on his lap, his muscular thighs a surprisingly comfortable seat.Wrapping her arms about his waist.The embarrassment of crying into his cravat, feeling relief beyond belief that not only was he not seriously injured but more importantly—much to her shame—that she was no longer alone in the darkness.
It was a good thing it had been Fairfax who tripped on her foot when she’d tried to conceal herself, not one of the smugglers.If she’d known it was the tall, handsome lord who had landed on her, touching her in surprise, she might have enjoyed it.As a confirmed spinster, she might never again have the opportunity to experience the sensation of a man’s body atop hers.
When the smugglers had shown up, interrupting their conversation, Sophia had followed Fairfax into the tunnel without thinking it through, intent only on needing to know what he’d find.Like Mildred.
Seeing the two men from the inn had not been on her list of likely possibilities.
Being trapped in a cave-in had not been on her list, either.
“Miss Ebrington has an over-developed sense of adventure.”Sophia nodded, pleased with herself.The truth, but not too much of it.“After we found the cache of contraband goods yesterday afternoon, I feared she might try to identify the smugglers on her own.I intended to try to talk her out of it.When you and Mr.Huntley arrived last night, I was worried she might already be in the tunnel.”
“Which explains how you ended up trapped in the cave with me.You followed me into the tunnel so that I would not be the only one to stumble upon her.”
Happy she wouldn’t have to divulge anything more, Sophia nodded.
“But she wasn’t there.Youended up being the one who was compromised.”
Sophia froze, then her heart started pounding double time.“Nothing untoward happened between us.”The memory popped up of her sitting on his lap, her arms wrapped around his torso, feeling safe and protected.She quashed it.“Everyone who helped us escape believes that you were unconscious until Mr.Huntley climbed into the cave.No one is going to spread any rumors.”
“Ah, Mr.Huntley.He’s an observant fellow.”Fairfax held his hands up and turned them so she could see both sides, adorned with tiny scratches.“He noticed the abrasions on my hands.He’s under the impression I got them from handling rocks last night, trying to clear the cave-in.Which I could not have done were I unconscious the entire time you and I were trapped.”
Sophia felt one of those rocks sink to the pit of her stomach.“Oh dear,” she whispered.
“Fortunately for us, he’s good at keeping his own counsel.”Fairfax mumbled something else, too soft for Sophia to hear, as he slid off the desk and straightened his waistcoat.He held his hand out as though inviting her to dance.“Join me on the window seat,cara?”
As if they were promenading at a ball, Fairfax tucked her hand through his crooked arm when she came around the desk and led her to the window seat.She perched on the edge of the cushion at an angle that allowed her to see the crashing surf in the distance and the door to the hall.As if in tune with her thoughts, Fairfax sat at the opposite angle so that he could see the beach and the entrance to the secret passage by the fireplace.Once they had settled, their knees almost touching, he reached for her hands and gently swept his thumbs across her knuckles.
“You and I both know what happened.As a gentleman, I must—”
She shocked herself by putting her finger against his lips.Once uttered, the words he was about to speak could not be taken back.“No.”
He raised his eyebrows.
