Once Upon A Spy by Sheridan Jeane

Author:Sheridan Jeane
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Flowers and Fullerton
Published: 2015-11-16T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY

There is frequently more to be learned from the unexpected questions of a child than the discourses of men.

- John Locke

Robert gently disentangled himself from Antonia, taking care not to wake her. She stirred as he slid away, but then nestled back onto the sofa, never quite waking from her deep sleep. She had to be exhausted. Her skin seemed to glow in the gaslight, but its valleys and secrets remained hidden in shadow.

He turned away and strode over to a nearby chest to pull a blanket from it. Not only would the throw keep her warm, it also would hide her tempting curves from his gaze. Even now, he wanted to waken her with kisses and continue what he’d stopped.

He tugged open the drawer and extracted the soft-brown throw, and the clean scent of lavender came with it. Many a night he’d fallen asleep on that sofa, and one of his servants— probably Landon— had draped this throw over him.

As he placed it over her slumbering form, his hand brushed her upper arm and he noticed it was cool to his touch. He pulled the blanket up to cover it.

He intentionally turned his back to her as he crossed the room and gazed down at the pile of garments he’d tossed there. They told a story of reckless abandon, with recklessness being key to what had transpired between them. His shirt clung suggestively to her discarded bodice, reminding him of their entwined bodies, and he forced himself not to glance back at her.

Clear-headed reason was called for now. His earlier deplorable lack of self-control must have been triggered by the stress of the past two days. He might sometimes be short-tempered and mercurial, but never before had he flagrantly ignored the rules of propriety and come so close to deflowering a virgin.

He sorted through the pile of clothing, folding hers neatly and donning his own. He couldn’t help but note the frayed edges on the cuffs of her sleeves. Her items were well made and well cared for, but worn.

He wondered if, in righting his father’s wrong, he could have unintentionally set her current situation into motion. A few years ago, he’d helped Squire Winter recover his losses. The squire had been ecstatic when the investments Robert suggested had proven to be lucrative. He’d been able to generously fund all three of his daughter’s dowries, make overdue repairs to his house, and make general improvements to his other holdings. Had that sudden influx of money drawn the attention of his brother?

Robert let out a heavy sigh. That sort of thinking could drive a man mad and freeze him in a state of inaction. A man had to make the best decision possible given the information before him. That was the only way to make a difference and do some good in this world.

Since meeting Antonia, his life had changed. With the flash of her copper eyes, she’d cut him free from his narrowly defined world and woven him into this new one.

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