by Heather Boyd
Blinking rapidly, he noticed the room was as bright as the partially closed drapes would allow. But he could clearly see that the fire had gone out. He’d slept right through the night without stirring, and he hoped Lilly had done the same. When he turned toward the bed, he found her watching him with her lips slightly parted. He smiled at her, happy to see her awake already.
Her hair was mussed quite badly, her nightgown parted at her throat where he’d failed to tie it securely, but her grey eyes held his calmly. He wasn’t sure what kind of reception he’d find this morning, but then Lilly smiled and Giles was grateful for the chair beneath him.
When she smiled she was not just pretty, but so beautiful she defied description. He was leaning over the bed, his hands on her blanket-covered arm, staring down into her face before he knew what he was doing. Clear grey eyes looked back at him. He could see no clouds of pain masking her view.
His smile widened. “You’re feeling better?”
“I feel so much better this morning. Thank you, Giles. Last night was a wonderful idea. However did you learn to do such things?”
Giles considered telling her the truth, then changed his mind. It was best not to lower Lilly’s opinion of him so early in the day. “Just something I picked up somewhere.”
Lilly’s eyes dropped away in apparent modesty, and he admired the soft sweep of her lashes fanned against her cheek. Without her direct scrutiny, he could let himself imagine her skin against his tongue and lips. How she might appear in the throes of passion.
It was wicked and wrong of him to consider an invalid in that light, but she stirred in him a beast that longed to pleasure as much as protect. Lilly’s eyes shifted behind her lids. The way her body stilled gave him an idea. He could swear she was assessing his form.
A quick glance down reminded him that his mode of dress was improper. He had removed his cravat and opened his shirt collar when he had settled down to sleep.
Giles hoped he had not shocked her. His throat was exposed. She should probably be able to see all the way down inside his shirtfront. Did virgins scream at the sight of chest hair? He stayed still and to his amusement, her eyes dipped.
This morning he was blessed with a fortuitous lack of erection. At this distance, she would not have been able to pretend not to see one. Thank God, she had fallen asleep last night when his trousers had been uncomfortably tight.
Her gaze flickered up again, and he noticed a light blush had spread across her cheeks. The color suited her much better than the sickly pallor of yesterday. When grey eyes lifted to his, the blush turned bright pink.
Giles decided to be kind and moved his body back a bit. If Lilly was discomfited by his proximity, he would do his best to behave. Still, his hand held her wrist and traced soothing circles on her arm.
Lilly didn’t pull away, but she did lick her lips. That pink tongue caused more mischief than she knew. He had to imagine the nude figure of the corpulent Lady Barrow to control his desires.
In the still chamber, the sound of her rapid breath rang loud in his ears. He affected her and the thought made him smile. At least he was not completely alone, the only one unable to retain complete control over their behavior.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, breaking the silence that had thickened around them.
“Yes, a bit.” She faltered, looking down to where her toes would be.
“Shall I send for your breakfast now?”
It occurred to him that it should be an uncomfortable morning for both of them. While he had been aware of Lilly’s effect since he had first laid eyes on her, this was the beginning for her. Attractions had a way of rendering one speechless and given he’d had his bare hands all over her bare skin last night, he should have expected some awkwardness between them.
She licked her lips again and Giles’ groin throbbed at the dart of her tongue. “Not yet.”
She didn’t say any more, and with a start he realized she would never make demands on him. She wasn’t being coy, or trying to wheedle his attention. She simply thought him too busy to bother. “What is it you need, Lilly?”
Lilly’s sigh stirred the air beside his ear. “I need the chamber pot again.”
He didn’t care that she needed him for such a personal matter. He could not say whether he would do the same for any other woman though, but for Lilly, it appeared he would do anything to make amends.
“Here, let me help you.” He helped her sit, but she swung her own legs over the side unassisted, showing a great deal of white leg in the process. Lilly never noticed or covered up. She perched on the edge and then slid off the side onto the floor.
Giles glimpsed a great deal more of her body. He could not prevent the surge of blood to his groin, but he did manage not to groan aloud. That, in itself, was quite an achievement.
Lilly had lovely legs. When he glanced at her face, she had closed her eyes and an odd smile played about her mouth. He wondered what she was thinking.
“No pain,” Lilly whispered, as if reading his mind.
Startled, he gripped her arm tighter as elation roared through him. Surely, he was not that skilled. “None at all?”
“None yet.”
Not willing to risk dampening her mood, he held out his arm and guided her across the room as though crossing a ballroom. One hand curled around her back, the other holding her hand. The posture was so reminiscent of dancing that he thought he heard music. He nearly laughed at the absurdity.
He did not promenade with women; he just fucked them a lot. The closest thing he had to female friends was the Marchioness of Ettington, wife of his friend, Jack, and Jack’s twin sister, Virginia. Both of them accepted that he would not change. They were very tolerant women.
Giles left Lilly at the screened corner and re-crossed the room to the door. He did not want to leave her side, but lingering would make her uncomfortable. The doorway was as far away as he was prepared to go, though. There was always a chance she’d need him for the return to bed. He did not want to undo the good he had achieved last night.
He had men coming today to begin work and he hoped that Dithers had already set them to some of the tasks. It was not a good day to have slept so late. There was so much to do and oversee.
“Giles, help.”
He spun to find Lilly hanging on to the screen with both hands. He dashed across the room and caught her against his body.
Lilly’s fingers scraped his skin as she clutched at the linen of his shirt, but he could not savor the sensation. Giles scooped her up into his arms and held her tightly, peering down at her pale, damp face. “What happened?”
Giles’ stomach had fallen to his toes.
She clutched at him, panic evident in her every gesture. “The room is spinning.”
He tucked Lilly tightly to his chest and stood still, waiting for her dizziness to pass. When she relaxed her grip on his shirt, he moved carefully toward the bed. “Hmm, perhaps you need to eat something more substantial today.”
Lilly gulped and he decided not to mention food for a little while. Her breath fanned across his skin, stirring his chest hair and turning his nipples to hard points. She tightened her grip on his linen shirt again and the scrape of fabric across the points increased his arousal.
“Christ, you’re good,” he whispered, struggling not to crush her against him.
“Good?”
He hadn’t realized he’d said those words out loud. It was clear he needed to regain his mind and put her down but, to his horror, his arms were reluctant.
“Good at being so reasonable. Any other young miss would be screeching at me about compromising her.”
Lilly let out a large sigh. “No one would believe me.”
Giles looked down at the tiny bundle in his arms. “You shouldn’t be so certain.”
He would believe it. An innocent girl had turned him into a throbbing mess of need. She hadn’t even had to resort to batting her eyelashes at him to do it either.
Giles lowered Lilly
to a sitting position and reached for the pillows to stack behind her. He gently eased her back, gathering up her long hair and pushing the tangled mass behind her shoulders. He fussed until he was satisfied she was comfortable and then slid the blankets up to her chest.
He stood back to survey his handiwork. Lilly’s hair needed washing and a thorough comb. It hung limply around her face. How had they managed to care for her with all the pain she had endured before?
In fact, he found himself wondering about everything that had happened to Lilly in her short life. Giles had never been this curious about another person before and constantly surprised himself by his unasked questions. What the devil was wrong with him this week?
“You are quite thin, you know. All the bones of your ribs show through your skin.” As he’d hoped, flaming color returned to Lilly’s cheeks at his words. “It is quite understandable. Rome was not built in a day, after all. Do you think you could bear to eat soon?”
“If you think I should.”
Giles nodded. “I do. Perhaps that will prevent the dizziness from returning.”
He tugged the bell hard. The quicker he could get the servants in here, the faster he could protect her virtue.
Dithers arrived and smiled when he saw Lilly awake. She returned his smile shyly and quickly dropped her eyes.
“Breakfast for Miss Winter, Dithers.”
“Just toast, thank you,” Lilly added.
“Not just toast. Bring hot chocolate, a plate of scrambled eggs, fresh buttered bread, and be quick about it.”
Lilly looked at him for the first time with something other than good feeling, and he just shook his head at her and laughed.
“I never knew you were domineering.”
Giles smiled. “Do you think you know everything about me, then?”
“I was told what to expect.”
Giles blinked. “Did my mother instruct you?” He sank down onto the edge of the bed and clasped her hand in his. Finally, they might discuss their aborted union, and then the subject could be put away forever.
“She sent me lists of your favorite things to memorize. I have to say, you have a remarkably sweet tooth.”
“I’ve always thought that the best of life is saved till late at night. Sweet pleasures can be better appreciated and savored by candlelight.”
Lilly scowled. “You are no longer talking about desserts, are you?”
Giles chuckled. “What else could I possibly mean?”
She didn’t answer. He let go her hand and crossed to the drapes, prepared to part them. He shouldn’t have teased Lilly, but she had the advantage of him; he only had his slick, silver tongue to tease her with. She apparently had an arsenal of parental confidences.
Remembering Lilly’s aversion to light, he only opened half—just enough to illuminate the room for the servant’s duties, but not enough to blind her by accident.
Lilly was blinking rapidly when he turned, but she appeared to become used to the increase in light.
“You should eat as much as you can at every meal,” he said. “You do want to get up out of that bed at some point, don’t you?”
Truth be told, Giles had no idea what Lilly felt about her confinement. Given their success of last night, he was busy plotting out her future outside of this chamber, and it certainly did not involve one-way travel to Wales.
The life her father planned for her was unacceptable.
Lilly rose up. “Of course I want to get out of this bed. Do you think I like being stuck here?”
Giles crossed his arms over his chest. “I know that I would not. I just do not know if you are the kind of woman who enjoys being waited upon.”
It was a deliberate goad. Lilly bristled, but held back a smile. Oh, yes, Lilly had fire. Now that the drugs were clear of her system, he intended to keep her this way. He did not contemplate how he could achieve such a feat when she left the manor, but he would do all that he was able while she remained under his roof.
“Your mother should have added tyrant to the list.”
He took his leave with an exaggerated bow and stalked from the room, suddenly troubled with her situation. He didn’t want her to be unhappy, but he was fairly certain that she would be if Lord Winter had his way.
In his chambers, he ordered a bath and then ate a hearty breakfast before heading out of the house to check on the work of the day. He was still outside when Dithers found him a few hours later and informed him that Lilly had eaten well but was resting again. That did not surprise him. She was terribly weak. Regaining her strength would take time.
Dithers tugged on his dark waistcoat and looked about him with pride. “What you did last night, milord. It was the right choice to make. She looks so much better for it. How did you know what to do?”
Giles sighed. He should have known his butler was watching his every move. “Her muscles were as stiff as one of Cook’s cutting boards. I merely softened her a bit.”
“You may have to do it again. I didn’t think she was quite so comfortable the last time I took in firewood. She might be in pain again.” Dithers clearly enjoyed making inappropriate plans for Giles’ evening.
“Yes, it is more than possible. She probably will not say a word about it, though.” Giles glanced up at Lilly’s window, wishing to catch a glimpse of her. “Will you arrange for a bath for her this afternoon after she wakes? Have all the maids attend her. She will need assistance with her hair, I should think.”
“Are you sure that is wise, milord? The girls are not particularly strong. What if they need assistance lifting her? Do you want me to go in or send one of the Davis boys?”
Giles growled at the thought of one of his male servants anywhere near a naked Lilly, but what Dithers suggested was outrageous. Giles should not be in the same room as a naked and wet Lilly. Did they want him married faster than he could blink?
The answer, of course, was yes. Both his butler and housekeeper had dropped enough hints that he shouldn’t be surprised by their intentions. Christ, spare him from matchmaking servants.
He tried to think of another way of accomplishing the task and failed. Now that he thought about it, she might need his support.
Hell.
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 the devil himself would be coming to collect him personally for this breach of etiquette. Lord Winter would have him drawn and quartered for what he planned to do.
He crossed the room to the bed, but this time managed to keep his hands to himself. 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 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 her 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 warm 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. He stood, grabbed a towel blindly and backed away until he couldn’t see, conscious of the roaring erection he now sported. Giles liked Lilly in water.
As he dried his arms, he tried to ignore the splashing and the soft conversation designed to keep him aroused. 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 on the cooler water, but that wasn’t what had elicited it. Lilly’s silver eyes caught his. He could not help it. Unstoppable lust raged through him.
The generous swell of her full breasts bobbed above the water and pink, peaked nipples stood at attention. He mimicked a cramp in his leg so he could curl over, attempting to regain control of his body.
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 hard 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 motionless, straining for a body he craved as much as he needed air. Luckily, the housekeeper appeared not to notice his distraction. When she toweled the long locks, Giles wanted to take over.