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Edward lay back on the bed as Ariadne’s calm and feminine voice settled over him like a blanket. “There was once a priest who had been known to many demons and saints alike but that is not what put him apart from the rest of us.”
Edward woke up with a start. Despite his shirt and two blankets, a chill had settled on his body. He blinked away the rest of his sleep and looked outside the window. Dawn was rising and it had brought with it, the first rays of the morning light. It fell upon the sleeping form of Ariadne on the floor, her head resting by the side of the bed. Edward nudged Ariadne but she was deep in sleep. Her brown hair spilled down her back and Edward had the sudden itch to touch her.
He combed his fingers down her soft tresses, careful not to wake her up. It felt like silk. Edward had never been with a woman even though his classmates at Eton had on more than one occasion insisted on bringing him a night woman. He had felt no urge to indulge. But now as he watched Ariadne’s sleeping form, he felt something inside him awaken. It wasn’t necessarily lust, but it did feel like desire.
Edward watched her for what felt like hours to him or maybe it was just a few seconds. He would never get tired of watching her like this. But if she stayed there for much longer she would wake up with a cold or worse.
Edward nudged Ariadne’s shoulder, knowing very well that he wasn’t supposed to touch her like this. It was forbidden and scandalous. At least in his world.
“Wake up, Ariadne,” he said softly. As if coaxed by his voice, her gray-blue eyes opened, heavy with sleep. When she came to her bearings, she woke up with a start and rubbed the rest of the sleep from her eyes.
“Good morning. Did I wake you up?”
Edward shook his head. “I must have run out of sleep. I’m not used to laying abed the entire day.”
“What do you do instead?” she asked curiously.
“Well, I have to look after the affairs of my ship. We stay out at the sea for most of the year and the bunk isn’t exactly a comfortable place to sleep. Besides the sunrise at the sea is something else.” He was surprised how easy it was to lie but at the same time, he wanted to come clean to her. But he didn’t know how she would behave if she found out he was a Lord. She wouldn’t be as comfortable with him as she was right now. She had read him a story, cleaned him, fed him, fell asleep beside him. Would she have done any of that if she knew he was a Marquess? “What about you? I thought you’d retire to your own room after I fell asleep.”
A faint blush appeared on her proud face. “I fell asleep here. Besides you had a small fever at night.” She gestured at the small piece of cloth, now dry lying beside his pillow. “I didn’t think to leave after that.”
Edward couldn’t comprehend the depth of her kindness. She was doing everything for him while he deceived her with a false identity. He trusted her now, the feeling sure in his heart. She had no malicious intentions for him. He needed to come clean to her. She needed to know his truth.
“Ariadne, there is something I need to tell you.”
“What is it?” she asked with some concern. Maybe she saw something on his face. “Is everything all right?”
“I’m not—” Just as he began, there was an urgent rap at the door.
Ariadne frowned. “Who can be here so early in the morning?” She stood up, smoothing the folds of her skirt. Apprehension curled up in his stomach as Ariadne left the room. He could hear the door opening and then the unmistaken sound of his father’s voice. “Where is my son?”
