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“My mind is entirely made up. I meant, yes, I wish to know; no, I do not want you to.”
He sighed. “I don’t wish for you to know. And I don’t wish to return to it. I just wantyou.”
She reached out and yanked her plait from his fingers, then curled into a ball under the bedclothes, facing away from him. “I’m not fit for our visits. Remove yourself, procure some patience from somewhere, and I shall write to you when I am able to meet your needs.”
He remained still for a moment. Then he stood up.
Nonchalantly, he removed his coat and shoes. He climbed back onto the bed and stretched out on top of the counterpane next to her.
“May I stay for a wee bit?” He hoped his voice sounded innocuous.
Clara rolled over to face him, looking as if she contemplated a small act of violence, and he, in turn, delighted in her widened eyes and angry expression.
“Mr. Robertson, I amindisposed! No matter how wee the bit is.”
“I mean only to speak with you. I’ll not accost you.”
Clara peeked out at him from under the covers, eyes narrowing.
He tried to stifle any hint of aggressiveness in his expression. “Don’t look at me thusly. My intentions may not be honorable, but my behavior will be.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” she said wryly.
He sat up stiffly. Was her meaning that he was only good for his animalistic behaviors? That he was of no use to her if she wasindisposed?
Breathing hard, he looked at her, even more confused by her torn expression.
“James, I…you…”
Damn it, he’d be up and gone if not for the upset in her eyes. “What is it, Clara?”
“Our terms, our agreement!” She sounded anguished. “We said we wouldn’t meet often.”
Unspoken was the truth; they now met as often as they could.
His eyes dropped, recalling their negotiation.You must be patient, as I have limited leisure time in which to meet my acquaintances.He shrugged, uncaring that it was he who devised those words.
“We agreed there would be no sentimentality,” she continued in a quiet voice, her chest rising and falling more quickly.
He couldn’t look away from her shining green eyes, couldn’t help but know encouragement.
She didn’t have to say it. They both now knew that their original agreement had been exceeded in many regards.
“Every businessman knows when it’s time to modify the terms of an agreement. Circumstances change. Yes, we’ve…met with a certain frequency, perhaps more than contemplated originally. And we’ve become…friends.” He stumbled over the last word, feeling at once absurd and vindicated.
She looked almost relieved. “Friends?”
That reassured him—even as his hands itched to remind her of all the ways in which they were more thanfriends.
He forced himself to nod.
“Friends do share an affection borne of many things. Notwithstanding the original intent of our agreement, we’ve found something more, haven’t we? Why not be secret friends, too?”
James pursed his lips atsecret friends,but he knew an opening when he saw it. He settled back onto the bed next to her, pulling her back into him. He nuzzled into the space behind her ear and inhaled deeply.
Clara relaxed into him, her hands smoothing over his chest.
Yes.
