Sarah pulled at her arm, pleading, “Lady Elora…”
Julian took heed of Sarah’s warning and quickly led Elora up the stairs. He looked down the hallway and then hurried into the corridor when he saw no one was there.
Elora followed with Sarah at her side.
Julian paused at her door, turning to face her. A scowl creased his brow. He reached up and touched a spot near her temple. He looked at his fingers and then at her. “You’re hurt.”
The red drop on his finger confused her, and she stroked her hair. Where he had touched her was thick and wet.
“I’ll take care of her,” Sarah insisted, looking back toward the hallway with worry.
“Ellie,” Julian said with anguish. Then, his lips thinned. “I’ll kill Osmont.”
Elora caught his arm. “Just knock him from his horse on the morrow. That will be revenge enough.”
“Aye,” Julian agreed. “That I will do. For his injury to you.”
Sarah opened the door and held it for Elora, motioning with a frantic wave for her.
Yearning shone in Julian’s blue eyes. “I shall see you on the morrow.”
Elora nodded once. She watched as he backed away reluctantly, his gaze sweeping over her. She tilted her head, longing for him to stay but knowing he had to go.
Sarah grabbed her arm and tugged her into the room.
Sarah tended the cut on Elora’s temple. It was a small scrape, one she barely felt compared to the dread welling inside of her. At any moment, she expected Edward to bang on the door and chastise her for her indiscretion and her broken promise. She had no doubt Osmont had rushed to tell him what he discovered.
“I’m sorry,” Sarah whispered.
“Sorry? For what?”
“I should never have brought Sir Julian to you.” She dabbed Elora’s temple with a soft cloth. “I only thought to make you happy.”
Elora reflected on the fight and on how Julian could have been hurt. “Bringing Julian to me would have been fine if Osmont had not discovered us,” she said with a hard tone. She sighed softly. “Is it foolish? We have no future. And yet, I can’t stop thinking of him. I can’t stop dreaming of his touch, his kiss. Of seeing him again.”
Sarah tilted her head sympathetically.
“This cannot continue. And yet…” Elora’s shoulders sagged. “I can’t stop it.” It was silly! She was Lady of Kingston. She had commanded an army of servants. She could control her feelings! And yet, every time she saw Julian, her will vanished because of his handsome face and his radiant, heart-pounding smile.
Sarah embraced her, hugging her tightly. She whispered the answer in her ear, “You love him.”
“No,” Elora scoffed, pulling away. “It’s not possible. I only wanted a kiss. I wasn’t looking for love.”
Sarah smiled softly. “Sometimes, the only time you find it is when you are not looking.”
She stared at Sarah’s warm brown eyes. Is that what she felt? Love? Did she really love Julian? She thought of how happy she was with him, of how he made her feel cherished and excited and… loved. She buried her face in her hands. Love. How could this have happened? She had only just met him! Chills peppered her skin, and she hugged her arms, rubbing them for warmth. “What am I to do?”
A heavy knock sounded on the door, and Elora jumped with a gasp. Edward! What was she to tell him? How could she make him understand how much Julian meant to her when she didn’t even understand it?
Sarah gathered the fabric she was using to tend Elora into a pile and glanced at her. Sarah nodded once before moving to the door. When she opened it, she paused, standing stiffly before the entrance.
Elora frowned and tilted her head to see who was at the door.
It wasn’t Edward but Osmont who brushed past Sarah.
Elora narrowed her eyes. “What are you doing here?”
He ignored her and commanded Sarah, “Get out.”
