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To not be alone.
I sat there, the minutes going by, desperately wishing for him to return and take my hand in the darkness once more. However, after ten minutes, I found my patience no longer able to hold.
“Godmother, may I step out for some air?” I whispered to her.
She looked my face over. “I shall accompany you—”
“Please, I do not wish to interrupt. I shall return with Damon and Silva.”
She nodded and carefully I stepped around the chairs and through the curtains to the back room. Just as I reached the door, it opened and Theodore appeared before me, his eyes as wide as mine were. Stepping forward, the space between our bodies caused that similar heaviness of breath to return. He closed the door behind me and I noticed no one else in the small room.
“Damon and Silva?” I whispered up to him.
“They sought to retire for the evening,” he whispered back down to me.
“So, we are alone?”
“We are very much not alone,” he stated as the Du Bells were just behind the door. “But we are alone enough.”
“Enough for what?”
“Folly,” he stated, and then with no other warning his lips were upon mine. All of my body leaned toward him, as though awakening for him. His tongue dipped deep into my mouth as his strong hands gripped my waist first and then traveled up and down the length of my body until one hand had cupped my breast and the other lifted my thigh. He did not stop there, his kiss moving from my lips to the side of my face…down to my neck. I shivered and a sound I’d never heard escaped from my lips.
This feeling…never had I felt this before.
“If you knew what I wished to do to you in this moment you would think me a monster,” he whispered into my ear before kissing it.
“I could never,” I replied gently when his head rose and his eyes slowly met mine again. “Tell me.”
“You would not understand even if I did.”
“Then explain.”
“Words cannot do so.” And again he kissed my lips, but this time gently and only once before stepping back from me.
He inhaled deeply through his nose, closing his eyes for a moment.
“Theodore.”
“Go back inside, Verity,” he said when he opened his eyes again.
“Why do you always tell me to go after you kiss me?”
“To prevent myself from doing more than kissing you.”
“What could be more?”
“So much. There is so much more.”
“Show me.”
“I cannot.”
“Why?”
“It is the duty of your husband to do so.”
“I shall have no one else but you, so it is your duty.”
Again he inhaled deeply and moved closer to me, and this time he lifted my chin. “This mouth of yours will get you into trouble, my lady.”
I smiled. “How lucky I am you are a doctor then, sir, for is not your duty also to aid me?”
“You leave me incapable of mounting any defense.” He kissed my forehead. “So now I must beg you, go inside. For both our sakes.”
I frowned and he kissed the side of my face.
“Worry not, I doubt this shall be the last time we end up like this. Now adjust yourself and return.”
I nodded, allowing him to step away again before I turned back to the door. I took a deep breath seeking to calm myself. It took a moment and I could not look back at him or all my efforts would be undone. When I did finally go back inside and take my seat I found myself counting the seconds until we would be able to hold each other again.
19
Verity
“What is it that you are always writing in your journal?” he asked as we walked. “You are quite secretive with it.”
We were once more at the park, and Henry’s family had arranged for him to speak with Hathor.
“I am not being secretive.”
“Any time someone is near, you rush to close it, as if you fear someone will read it,” he teased, his eyebrow rising along with the corner of his mouth.
“So, you shall not tell me? Fine.” He pretended to pout.
“It is not that. It is just…”
“Just?”
“My brother Evander gave me my first blank book many years ago and told me to record whatever made me upset. Over time, I started to write poems or stories. One day, my governess read one of them and told me to stop.”
“Why?”
“Apparently, it sounded like witchcraft.”
He paused and turned to look at me and actually laughed. “Witchcraft? Now I must read it.”
“Never,” I replied, head high.
“It makes sense.”
“What does?”
“Why I am so fond of you,” he whispered, his face serious, but the glance he gave me was softer. “You have bewitched me.”
I scoffed, stumbling over my words.
“What is so amusing?” Hathor turned to ask us, twirling the parasol she had in her hands.
“Your charade,” I lied quickly, looking at her and Henry, who was watching Theodore curiously. “Did you not say you cared for someone else?”
