Page 27 of Broken

What would she think of being naked in his presence with servants around her to see?

Giles caved. “Tell Mrs. Osprey that I will assist her. Make sure there are plenty of sheets available, will you? Oh, and a blindfold will be necessary.”

“Are you sure about the blindfold, milord?” Dithers asked. “What if you should trip and drop her?” His butler struggled not to laugh, and had calculated his questions simply to annoy the hell out of him.

“I will not. Get on with your work and stop pestering me.”

* * *

Giles stepped into a room heavy with lemon-scented bathwater and wanted to turn back. A rogue such as he should not be in this room.

Domestic matters were best left to married men or nurses, and since he was a confirmed bachelor, he was positive Lord Winter would have him drawn and quartered for what he planned to do if he ever learned of it.

He crossed the room to the bed, but this time managed to keep his hands to himself. He could tell that Lilly lay naked under the sheet that Mrs. Osprey had loosely draped over her. He would have to pick her up and lower her into the tub wearing that sheet, and step back before the water made it transparent.

He breathed slowly through his nose and tried to stay calm. Lilly seemed to be avoiding his eyes, too. That was probably for the best. He removed his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, aware that Lilly’s eyes had risen and were watching his arms become exposed.

“Mrs. Osprey, the blindfold.”

Giles ducked down so the little housekeeper could tie the cloth, but a problem soon became apparent. It was the Wexham nose, of course. He could still see.

As a child, he had cheated shamelessly at blind mans bluff because the shape of his face provided a useful gap under his eyes. He could see Lilly’s hand resting on the bed and when he stepped closer, he would see a lot more.

Mrs. Osprey guided him forward, and his hands shook as he lifted Lilly from the bed. He probably should confess to his view, but he held his tongue, carried her across the room, and lowered her into the nicely warmed water. He tried not to let his vision linger on the rapidly dampening sheet.

Lilly’s breath caught as he brushed the cage of her ribs and the plumper muscle of her thigh with his fingertips as he released her. He stood, grabbed a towel blindly and backed away until he couldn’t see. Giles liked the feel of Lilly in water.

As he dried his arms then waited, he tried to ignore the splashing and the soft conversation. Dear God, he hoped he could conquer his impulses before he had to return and lift her out.

“Lord Daventry, when you are ready.”

Giles stifled a groan and paced back to do the housekeeper’s bidding. Continuing the charade that he couldn’t see, he veered into a chair. Mrs. Osprey caught his arm and edged him closer. He supposed he could blame his gasp his sore shin, but that wasn’t what had elicited it. Lilly’s silver eyes caught his and he knew that she knew he could see everything.

He could not help it. He was lost. Unstoppable lust raged through him as he bent toward Lilly.

The generous swell of her full breasts under the water damped sheet and pink, peaked nipples stood at attention.

Her breasts were such a shock. He’d assumed her flatter in the bust than she actually was, but Lilly’s breasts were heavy and would fit into the palm of his hand perfectly. Dear God, he was more than aroused now; he was in agony.

If Mrs. Osprey had not been in the room, he would have taken them in his mouth and suckled until her fingers had threaded through his hair. He loved Lilly’s breasts.

Mrs. Osprey squeezed out the extra water from Lilly’s hair while he remained crouched beside the tub, straining for a body he craved as much as he needed air. Luckily, the housekeeper appeared not to notice his distraction.

He waited, his eyes devouring a perfectly proportioned body even with the sight of sharp ribs and silver scars. “Any time you like, my lord.”

It took time to get his body to obey. Giles lifted her but held Lilly against his chest a long moment, inhaling the scent of clean, damp skin and enjoying every moment of it. Why he had ever denied himself the pleasure of watching a woman bathe was beyond him. Even blindfolded, it was the most erotic thing he had ever witnessed.

Lilly squirmed a little in his arms, forcing him to remember that he needed to move. He moved to the bed and laid her down gently. But his traitorous body followed. His lips grazed her temple before he could stop himself.

Shock pulsed through her tiny body. Giles pulled back and found her watching him warily, hands rapidly scrambling for the covers.

“I thought you were angry with me,” she said.

Giles reached up and removed the blindfold, drinking in the sight of her damp shoulders. “No, not angry with you.” She relaxed a bit, but to his way of thinking, her body appeared stiff. “Are you in pain?”

She bit her lip.

Giles nudged her shoulder, testing to see if she would try to hide her discomfort from him. She nodded with a slight movement of her head.