When she was with him, all else fell away until it was only the two of them in a little world they created.
Wandering off the terrace, she caught sight of the greenhouse in the distant corner. She headed for it.
Now that the ball was underway, others might decide to make use of the garden and she didn’t want to be disturbed. Not yet. She just wanted not to be bothered.
The greenhouse contained a quietness inside, but the music generated by the orchestra hummed along outside, muffled by the glass that allowed moonlight and the glow from the gaslights lining the garden paths to filter in, and she could well imagine nymphs cavorting about in the faint illumination.
And it smelled incredibly wonderful inside. So many flowers resting in little pots on tables, nurtured by the gardener—much in the same way she’d been nurtured by her father. To explore her interests, to blossom into the inquisitive being she was. Which made her so very different from other women. Which made her unmarriageable. Which made her an oddity, not understood. Someone to be laughed at or ridiculed. Someone who would analyze the force of a thrust.
How she wanted to experience that force, that thrust.
She’d been afraid to ask for it when she and Rook were last together. She’d taken all he’d offered but been too timid to declare she wanted a joining. Her father would have been disappointed by her lack of courage. She was disappointed by it. They’d be leaving soon. Did she want to leave England’s shores as a virgin?
Did she want a farewell kiss from Rook? Would she even know when their final kiss happened? Perhaps it already had. Perhaps that was the reason he’d disappeared. Because he was done with her.
Hearing the door opening on a hush, the music rushing in and once again muted as the door closed, she slowly turned around. She knew who it was before she saw him. It was the reason she hadn’t spun about or felt a moment of panic. Somehow, she’d sensed his presence and she’d known. She’d always know.
“I expected you to stay near your writing machine,” he said quietly, “or to be occupied dancing with every gentleman in that room.”
“It got a bit overwhelming. I’m not accustomed to that much attention. I wanted everyone’s focus on the machine.”
As though she was a skittish mare or a deer that would bound away if startled, he took one small and slow step toward her. “You designed it, didn’t you?”
The heat swarmed over her face in delight because he knew her well enough to discern that truth about her. For him, she’d always thought the intimacy they’d shared had been only physical, but perhaps like her, maybe he’d discovered that it had encompassed more. Trust, knowledge. If not love, at least a strong fondness or adoration. She would miss him when they left. “Yes. For my father.”
“To make him proud?”
Perhaps he didn’t know her so well because pride had never played a role in any of her achievements. The accomplishment had always been reward enough. “No. His health had been failing for a while and he’d begun to lose the ability to do things. It was devastating for him. He’d told me that he felt like he was turning into a shadow, just fading away, until eventually he wouldn’t be seen at all. He was so robust, so vibrant before he took ill. After a while he couldn’twalk without assistance, struggled to feed himself. Then he could no longer grip a pen. He would dictate any correspondence to me. I wanted to return to him the ability to do it on his own. When I told him about my idea and showed him the first few sketches I’d done, the notion of creating something that hadn’t existed before seemed to revitalize him. He helped me figure out the more complicated aspects. Then he guided me through creating the various parts and building the machine. When we tested it... when he pressed a key and the first letter struck the paper... I can’t remember him ever looking so satisfied, triumphant, and happy. This project was the last thing we did together.”
She didn’t know when he’d gotten so close, but his hand was gently cupping her jaw. “And that’s the reason it’s so important to you that your company survives.”
“It’s a way to hold onto him, I suppose.”
“You’ll take no credit for your machine, will you?”
“I know my accomplishments. I don’t need accolades.”
“Does one of those accomplishments include luring Lord Camberley into falling madly in love with you?”
“I haven’t the wiles to do that. Although I like him well enough, I can’t imagine... misbehaving with him.”
“With whom do you imagine misbehaving?”
“You” came out on a soft sigh.
She didn’t know if he’d latched his mouth onto hers or if she’d taken hold of his, but now here she was ensconced in a kiss that was different from any that had come before, that stood all on its own. Fiery. Hot. Demanding.
He dragged his mouth along her silken throat, andshe dropped her head back, exposing the long delicate column for further enticement.
She was trembling with needs and desires, very much aware of the animalistic sounds they were both making. His guttural and deep. Hers fainter and of a higher pitch. While every now and then, her mind would intrude with a reminder of exactly where she was—in a glass-walled greenhouse. Being pressed up against him overrode all else. He was all that mattered.
Returning his mouth to hers, he reached down, hooked his arm around her knee, and lifted it to his narrow hip. Instinct had her holding it there when his hand slipped beneath the hem of her skirt and petticoats, wrapped around her ankle, and began sliding up her leg. A tremble cascaded through her, and she tightened her arms around his neck because she was no longer certain she had the wherewithal to continue standing.
But as his hold on her tightened, she realized he wouldn’t let her fall, but would provide all the support she required.
Rook hadn’t come here with this action in mind, but he certainly wasn’t going to push her away when he wanted her with a desperation that far exceeded anything he’d ever known.
He’d been standing in the garden, sipping scotch that he’d gotten Aiden to pilfer for him from the hotel restaurant because this being a Trewlove hotel all the Trewloves were in attendance. After witnessing the demonstration, he’d needed some time alone to consider the merits of an investment because as long asshe was in his line of sight, his perception was skewed and the decision whether to invest was taken out of his hands.
