His Forbidden Kiss by Margaret Moore

Author:Margaret Moore
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

As Vivienne and Rob made their way through the back lanes and alleys that lay within the populous city, there were still more people about than Rob would have liked.

He wanted to be alone with Vivienne.

However, he could take some comfort in the fact that none of the people they encountered were ever likely to have anything to do with a merchant of Mr. Burroughs’s affluence, so they would not know who Vivienne was, or tell him about seeing her with Rob.

Occasionally, someone who knew him, either an acquaintance or former client, would call out to him, and they would stop and converse for a little while. No matter what reason they assigned for Vivienne’s silent presence beside him, the people were inevitably respectful and polite.

Nevertheless, every time they were stopped in this way, he gave Vivienne a sidelong glance, half afraid that he would detect some sign of dismay or disgust in her expression for the lower-class people with whom he regularly associated.

He never did. In fact, she seemed quite fascinated.

And then, finally, when they were within a half mile of the mercer’s buildings, they turned into a lane that ended in a brick wall at one end and twisted abruptly at the other. No windows looked out upon it, and it wasn’t malodorous with trash or offal.

“There is nobody here. And this seems so out of the way, there is not likely to be, I would guess,” Vivienne remarked as she stopped and turned to him with a pleased smile. “I knew you were an admirable man and worthy of respect, Robert Harding, but I had no notion you were so well liked.”

He blinked. “I don’t think I am liked. Appreciated, perhaps, for the work I do, but …” He shrugged.

“I saw it in the smiles of all those people when they greeted you, Rob. They like you as well as respect you, and I can understand why when I see you with them.”

She smoothed the front of his plain wool jacket. Even that simple caress was enough to make his heart race. “You are different then, or more like you were the night we met. I thought the second time I met you I must have been mistaken to believe you a kind man, but I know now that the man I met in Bankside is far more the real Robert Harding that the cold solicitor who came to my uncle’s house with Sir Philip.”

His heart seemed unsure how to beat, even as a part of him wondered if this was why he had brought her this way home, to see how she reacted. And perhaps to prove that he was admired and respected.

As for the apparent affection of people, he had always hoped it was so, but this was the first time anybody had given credence to those hopes, and that it should be Vivienne pleased him greatly.

Nevertheless, he felt honor-bound to take her by her slender shoulders, look down into her questioning blue eyes and say, “This is my world, Vivienne, and I have shown you the best of it, not the worst.

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