The Bet

“Do you have any idea how close you came to being killed?” he chided.

“It wasn’t on my mind at the time. I was being chased through the woods by several hooded figures. If you didn’t want them to approach you, why would I? You had a curricle. I didn’t,” she retorted flatly.

Myles winced at that.

“I thought you needed protecting from them,” he replied, this time without any hint of accusation.

Estelle felt thoroughly deflated. “I did,” she answered. “It was terrifying. I don’t know who they are, or what they wanted from me, but I hope I never have to go through anything like that again in my life.”

“That’s what was bothering you, wasn’t it? It had nothing to do with what has been going on in this house,” he murmured.

Estelle nodded, and gave in to the emotions that pummelled her.

Myles nodded and felt something deep inside his chest flip at the sight of the tears that shimmered on her lashes. He tried to warn himself that he should keep his distance, for the sake of the investigation into his uncle’s death, if not his own burgeoning attraction toward her. Unfortunately, when her chin wobbled he knew he was sunk.

“I am sorry,” he murmured soothingly when she sucked in a breath and looked at him with tearful eyes. “I just have no idea what is going on right now. It is a fraught time for all of us.”

“I know, and I am sorry for your uncle, I truly am. I just hope you will allow me to help you. Given you saved me from those people in the woods last night, I feel I owe you,” she replied.

“It is I who owes you. I ran you over, don’t forget,” he said firmly. “I should have taken my time, especially going through the village.”

She smiled at him, but it was a shaky smile at best.

“Shall we call a truce?” she offered hesitantly.

Myles smiled softly at her. “We will call it even,” he replied gently.

Her tears won. They began to dribble relentlessly down her cheeks.

Myles swept her into his arms and held her.

Stunned, Estelle could do little more than lean against him and allow the well of fear and worry to overflow. She was so confused right now by the emotions coursing through her she had no idea where to begin to identify them all. Could she

trust them? Could she trust him? She had to, really, because she was at his mercy. Given the dangers that lurked in the house somewhere, she only had Myles to rely on.

Was she doing the right thing in trusting him though? Should she allow him this close?

She realised then just how close she was to him. Her cheek was pressed against his now tear stained shirt. His arms were wrapped tightly around her, holding her close as she gave in to her misery. There wasn’t an inch of space between them, but she still couldn’t bring herself to move.

“I am sorry,” she whispered when she had finished weeping into his shoulder. She looked at the damp material. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

Myles leaned back to look at her but made no attempt to release her, nor did he apologise for their close proximity. In fact, even though he knew she was aware of it, she didn’t protest. Instead, she looked up at him with such silent pleading in his eyes that he knew he could not deny her.

He couldn’t deny either of them.

Without thinking about what he was doing, or the possible repercussions should they get caught, Myles lowered his head.

His lips when they slid across hers were petal soft. The touch was so brief that for a moment she wasn’t sure she felt it. When they returned, and this time lingered, she felt the gentle teasing of his warm breath sweep over her lips. It elicited a shiver he mistook as fear. When his arms tightened, she stepped closer to him, silently seeking his strength in this, her first ever kiss.

Her heart thundered heavily. The world dissipated around them until nothing else mattered but him and her, and this deliciously scandalous moment they shared. It was shocking to be this close to another human being but so delightfully intriguing that she didn’t object when his lips returned and settled over hers more fully.

She wantonly leaned against him and savoured every moment.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“Ahem.”

Myles mentally groaned and slowly released her. It took a few moments for the fog in his brain to clear enough for him to realise they were no longer alone. He gave Estelle an apologetic look, but couldn’t move away when he saw how she was looking at him. He was about to lower his head again when a discrete cough by the door stopped him.