She touched her cheeks, which were warm against her cold fingers. “We could have been caught. You would have been forced to marry me. Please don’t think that is what I wished. I was very selfish. Iapologize. You must think me a terrible person, or worse.”
His lips quirked up. “Worse?”
She didn’t find her words amusing in the least. “Yes, worse. A strumpet. A trollop. A harlot. A moll.”
“A moll? Where did you hear that? Please tell me that’s not in this book you’ve read.”
“Have you not heard of Daniel Defoe’sThe Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders?”
His eyes widened. “You did not read that book.”
“I most certainly did.”
“Here?” He gestured to the bookcases.
“Yes, here. Not as part of my studies. I bought it on break and read it between other books. I always read multiple books.”
He shook his head before stepping closer and taking her hand. “I know you are not a Moll Flanders. You were innocent before I touched you, and for all legal purposes, you are innocent now.”
She frowned, trying to understand what he meant, and then she did. She was still a virgin, and he… Her book had said how uncomfortable it could be for a man if he did not reach fulfillment. “Now I feel even more selfish, so caught up in my feelings, I didn’t think of you. I must apologize again.”
“I accept both your apologies, for your transgressions are hardly such. I enjoyed providing you withfeelings.” His lips twitched as if he fought smiling.
“You find this humorous?”
“No. I find it charming. You see, I found pleasure in providing pleasure to you for the first time. I simply respect you too much to…”
To take her virginity. She was well aware of what he’d done. It was almost heroic. “Then I must also thank you for that.”
He squeezed her hand still in his. “When people enjoy each other, there is no need to be grateful. If both find pleasure in the other, then the shared experience is perfect.”
“It appears there is much for me to learn in this area. I have not read any books where such was the outcome.”
Tam’s humor seemed to have fled as he pulled her to him. “Save that education for your marriage bed. Most men are not understanding of such events.”
His tone was far sterner than she’d ever heard it, so she responded quickly. “I promise to save further exploration until then. But what if I never marry?”
He looked away from her, obviously choosing his response carefully. Finally, he met her gaze. “You will.”
He probably thought Lord Wilford would marry her, but even if they were a good match, it didn’t mean the man would choose her. “You have far more confidence in that than I do.”
His body relaxed and his smile returned. “Of course I do. I’m a man, after all.”
She looked askance at him. “And I thought you were different.” She tried to contain her smile but failed.
“I am. But still, I am a man.”
She shook her head, pulling out of his arms. “Well, this woman needs to return to her room before any more servants decide to wander through the school.” She backed up a few more steps, finding it much harder to leave than it should be, especially after what they’d done.
He stepped to the desk and picked up the book where he’d left it. “Did you come down here in search of this, or me?”
“The book. I did not expect you to be here.”
He held out the volume. “Are you happy I was?”
She should say something flippant, but she could see his question was sincere. “I am.” She took the book from his hand. “Thank you.” Then, while she still could, she turned and started down the aisle made by the bookcases.
“Rosalind.”
