The Caped Countess by Lynne Judith

Author:Lynne, Judith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Judith Lynne Books
Published: 2021-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

In his arms was the warmest, safest, quietest place that Tella had ever been.

All she could hear was the distant rush of wind over the grass, the distant sounds of children shouting and laughing in the school, and the very near pounding of Fitz’s heart, just under her ear.

She’d like it, to stay here.

“Lord Henry.” Sweet, quiet Julia managed to get a world of disapproval into her tone.

Tella closed her eyes. She wasn’t ready to move yet. She wasn’t ready to keep lying yet. She wasn’t ready to keep hurting. Because she hurt, though not from a blade or a bullet, and she didn’t even know why.

And then a miracle occurred.

Fitz didn’t move.

“Just a moment, Lady Julia. I’m afraid Lady Donnatella is a bit overcome.”

“What? By what? What have you done? I swear, if you—”

“Lady Julia.” And his voice was just like the rest of him. Solid. Unmoving. And real. “Just a moment, please.”

Tella heard Julia’s shoes tapping on the paving stones, Lady Agatha whispering at her elbow. Agatha must be leading Julia away again. It wouldn’t last.

But it was heaven, pure heaven not to worry that anyone was watching for a whole minute more.

She pulled in her hands to tuck them between their bodies, flattened against Fitz’ wall of a chest.

Pure heaven.

But heaven wasn’t for her.

“Of course she is right, we are making a spectacle of ourselves. Not for the first time. I cannot do it, sir, not like you can.”

She didn’t look up at him as she stepped back.

“Because you are a lady? Because you would be compromised?”

Tella still didn’t look at him, her eyes following the rolling green grass beyond the colonnade instead. “I would be so much more than compromised. I would be trapped, all my work ended. No one left to watch over my streets. My streets.”

It was vital that she be lonely.

“What if I could arrange not to compromise or trap you?”

His words forced her to meet his eyes.

Clear blue eyes full of conviction. “What if I could swear it to you?”

Tella shook her head, just a little, with a small smile she didn’t mean. “I would say, you have never lied to me. Don’t begin now.”

A flicker of pink caught her attention in the corner of her eye. Julia was marching towards her, towing an unwilling Agatha along behind.

And Julia said, “Lord Henry, I am sure you must necessarily understand why we must go. This visit is entirely inappropriate.”

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