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“My brother would kill you,” I whispered.
“I do not care. I do not want us to hide in fear of being discovered. I do not wish to be alone in a room with you, struggling to control myself. I desire for us to love each other openly.”
“And what of my desires?”
“Speak them.”
“I cannot.”
“Why?”
“I am angry at you.”
“Very well, be angry, then,” he replied as he stepped away from me. “As I said, I shall do whatever it is you want of me. I will continue to love you and wait. Should you need me, call. I am at the Three Boar Inn.”
Quickly, I left the room, and only then could I finally breathe. Had I stayed a moment longer, I would have kissed him.
Oh, how I would have kissed him, and there, in that room, I would have broken all the rules. Again.
Theodore
The moment we were caught, it had felt right to run. It had felt like I was protecting her, but I realized now that I had selfishly only wished to protect myself. She was right. What if, somehow, people had found out? She would have been left to face them on her own. And who would believe the word of a woman they believed to be tarnished? No one, great lady or not.
“Dr. Darrington.” I turned to see Aphrodite walking down the stairs, hand in hand with a young girl.
“Your Grace.” I bowed to her.
“I wish to thank you for your care. You always seem to be there when my husband needs you most. We are in your debt,” she said with a smile.
“No, Your Grace, there is no debt. I have been paid for my service,” I said.
“It was a figure of speech, but I understand.” She giggled. “May I ask what brings you so far from London?”
I did not wish to lie to her face, not when one day I hoped to proudly proclaim the truth, but now was not the time.
“Personal affairs” was all I said.
“Oh, well…we are grateful to have you, nonetheless.” She seemed unsure of what to say next.
“Thank you, Your Grace. I have attended to the duke’s wounds, and he is now resting. I shall come back tomorrow to check on him. Good evening to you both.” I nodded to her and the duke’s young daughter before turning back toward the doors.
A footman had already brought my horse. Climbing upon it, I glanced back at the house, and there in the window, Verity was staring down at me. But I could not read the expression on her face.
Today, I had been given a victory and a defeat.
I had managed to see her, yet she was so profoundly upset with me, which made me more determined to earn back her smile. Pulling on the reins, I left the grounds for now, but I would not leave her, and I truly meant it.
I would not run from this.
The whole way back to the inn, I sought to come up with some plan, but my choices were limited. It was not as though I could go to her with flowers or beseech her daily. This opportunity alone had been a miracle, but I had to wait for her.
25
Verity
With a jolt, I awoke to find the sun nearly blinding and the book I had brought to read lying next to me under my favorite tree, rooted in a field of blue creeping speedwell. They were called weeds, but they were beautiful blue flowers to me. This area was often left abandoned, as it was so far from the house. Even the well nearby was dry, but I had found a sense of peace here. However, I did not think that peace brought with it such dreams. I lifted my hands to touch my neck and face, and they were burning.
“Verity?”
That voice. Why was that voice everywhere?
I glanced up, and walking toward me through the grass, his horse left by a tree, was none other than the man in my dream. Or was I still dreaming?
He knelt before me, his eyes full of concern. “Are you all right?”
“Are you really here?”
“As opposed to where?”
I still could not tell, so I sat up and leaned forward, bringing my face to his, his lips to mine, and just before they touched, he placed his hand on my shoulder and stopped me.
“Does this mean you are no longer angry with me?” he whispered.
“What?” I said softly, looking over his face and then blinking as realization hit me. “I am not dreaming?”
“Do you often dream of me?” He smirked.
I sat back quickly and looked at the bunnies that ran underneath the shrubbery. “Why are you here? I thought you said you would not come unless I called for you.”
“I came to check on your brother. Forgive me for intruding,” he said, and when I heard him begin to leave, I panicked.
