A Necessary Deception by Georgie Lee

Author:Georgie Lee [Lee, Georgie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2016-07-16T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

The lantern flame flickered in her eyes as she set it on the washstand in her room. The narrow bed under the window was just as he remembered. It was Mary who'd changed. Her problems had tethered her buoyant nature and stolen the light from her face. He yearned to bring it back, to slide his hand behind her neck and draw her lips to his and reclaim not just the passion from their past, but the connection they’d shared in the darkness, and the comfort it’d brought them.

“Do you mind taking the floor?” She motioned to a rag rug, with, if he was not mistaken, a blush of shame.

“I suppose it’s better than a bench downstairs.” He shrugged out of his coat and laid it across the turned wood chair. “Besides, I’ve had worse accommodations.”

“I’m sure you have.” She made no move to undress, and instead traced the lantern handle, doing her best to avoid looking at him. “Where were you tonight?”

He stopped in the unlacing of his shirt ties, heartened by her curiosity. “Trying to win money for us.”

“You mean gambling.” Her frown condemned him but not the hope in her eyes. “Did you win?”

“No, but I didn’t lose either.”

“This time.”

“And what about you? Did the pawn shop give you enough?”

Her full lips drew into a surprised O. “How did you know I went there?”

“You aren’t the first to trade a sword for money. There are a lot of old soldiers in London without theirs.”

“So I discovered. I didn’t raise enough.” She sighed as if relieved to tell him the truth. It was the first time she’d been open and trusting with him. It didn’t last though, as she straightened herself against him once more. “I still have some time to figure something out.”

“We have time to figure something out,” he gently corrected, noting how it eased the stiffness of her stance but not the conflict making her lips draw together in a thin line.

“I told you, I don’t need your help.” It wasn’t as forceful a declaration as it’d been earlier today. Her defiance was weakening, and it gave him as much hope as the flush of her cheeks and the nervous play of her fingers on the ribbon of her dress.

He cupped her face with his hands and the heat of her tender skin against his made his chest catch. He kept his touch light, waiting for her to pull away but she didn’t. Uncertainty marred her round eyes as she gazed up at him, the fight between her desire to trust him and to push him away clear in the way she worried her bottom lip with her teeth. They stood achingly close to one another and yet as far away as if he was still in Spain. "You're a strong woman Mary, I don't doubt it, but a strong person also knows when to ask for help. Please, let me help you."

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