“But I am fully serious.” His forehead creased as he examined her with a new look in his eye. Was that… worry? “You have to know the power you wield.”
“I don’t have power.”
“Yes, you do.” His lips pressed into a serious line. “When you speak, the world quiets, as if it is just as eager to listen to you as I am. Everything becomes lighter, seems possible. I look at you and I cannot look away.”
May struggled to form words. Whatever power he ascribed to her, she was not in control of it right then, for all she had was an overwhelming feeling, tingling through her entire body.
“I—”
Somewhere behind them, branches rustled, and twigs snapped at someone’s approach. May and Elias froze, his hands still wrapped around her.
Oh, no.
Elias’s lips brushed her ear. “Cough. Now.”
May bent over before even thinking to question him. As she erupted in a series of coughs, Lady Hannah and Lord Spencer broke through the bushes. By then, Elias was no longer on top of her, but at her side, helpfully squeezing her hand to signal when her performance had hit its marks.
“Cousin!”
The pair fussed over her and the duke, but all May could do was stare at her rescuer and co-conspirator. It seemed foolish to think, when both of them were so comfortable with lying, thatthis was real. But her body did not deceive, or trust wrongly. She felt safe. She felt home.
Perhaps, this could work.Theycould work. Her mission would come to an end, May would rescue her mother’s necklace, and then…. Maybe, just maybe, she wouldn’t have to quit him. Maybe once he knew, he would understand.
Lady Hannah looked them over with worry. “We must get Lady May seen to as soon as possible, or else she might catch a chill.”
“Perhaps, it is best that I row on the way back,” said Lord Spencer.
“Indeed. After today, I fear Lady May will have quite an opinion of my skills,” the duke answered.
Oh, she certainly had thoughts regarding his very particular skill set.
“Best that we hurry. She might be catching a fever.” Lady Hannah pressed a palm against May’s reddening cheeks.
But May hardly noticed the cold, or anything else. Not until they were back on the bank of the river.
“Wait for me,” mouthed Elias, as the servants separated and whisked them away.
Oh, bother.
That was the problem.
She didn’t know that she could stop.
CHAPTER EIGHT
After everything that had occurred in the past days, May desperately needed to clear her head. When she left for London in the morning, she had no destination in mind, but her legs brought her to the one place that plagued her most on their own accord.
The pawnshop smelled of tobacco and stale air. The thought of her mother’s precious necklace spending another minute in its hold had tainted her waking hours for far too long. But that time was coming to an end. Elias was starting to realize Lord Spencer’s true devotion. And that would complete May’s task, fulfilling the terms of their agreement, and securing the remainder of her payment. He would not go back on his promise, would he?
No. That was not the man she’d grown to know, to… care for.
May squeezed her eyes shut, as if chasing away the reality of everything Elias was to her. Right now, she needed him to just be His Grace, the magnanimous duke, fulfilling their contract so that she could recover her one remaining sliver of home.
Not that she could regain possession of it today, but it wouldn’t be the first time she’d come here to stare. The tourmaline stones were set in gold. The sight always gave her clarity. She could use that today.
What should I do, Mother?
She trailed her hand across the glassed display only to come to a stop as the necklace’s spot was laid bare, nothing beneath but an impression upon the green velvet backing. A pang of anxiety swept through her body as she looked at the clerk who tended the counter.
