A Curse of the Heart

“I have been waiting for hours. I had no idea what had happened to you.”

She stopped abruptly and stared at him. Closing the gap between them, she placed a gloved hand on his cheek, traced the line of his jaw. “I did not know you were here, Gabriel.”

Damn.

Her sensual tone managed to penetrate his ire, and so he did the only thing he knew would placate his pounding head and racing heart. He drew her into an embrace and devoured her mouth until she gasped and moaned in his arms. Leaning back against the desk, he pulled her between his legs, letting her feel the evidence of his passion, his pain. Heavens above, he would take her right now if he could. He would take her right there on the desk, her naked body writhing amongst the parcels, papers and ink while his loud roar of satisfaction rumbled through the museum.

Then the blasted clock chimed six.

Gabriel tore his lips from hers, his irate gaze boring holes into the grandfather clock behind her.

“I think I will take the key to that thing and throw it in the Thames,” he said.

Rebecca considered his mood, which despite the noisy clock, was calmer than when she first arrived. “It is not as loud as some I have heard.”

“Trust me. It is loud enough.” With a deep sigh, he turned his attention to her. “You seem happier than you did this morning. I had visions of finding you weeping inconsolably, as I know how much the painting means to you. I know how I would feel given the circumstances.”

It’s the same with Mr. Stone … he needs you, miss.

Higson’s words drifted through her mind.

Wedged between Gabriel’s muscular thighs, she placed her hand on his chest and felt the wild beat of his heart pulsating beneath her fingers. “I thought so, too, but your man Higson is very wise. He made me see that the important memories are locked away safely in my mind. The painting is just an object and can be repaired or replaced.”

“Higson?” he asked, his brow raised in a look of utter disbelief. “Higson offered council in matters of the heart? Higson talked about his emotions?”

Rebecca nodded, feeling somewhat privileged to have been party to such an enlightening conversation. “He did. I have never met anyone so perceptive. Well, at least not a coachman.”

“Could the day possibly be more surprising?”

She stepped out from between his legs and rifled through the packages. “I think I can answer that as there are three more surprises here. This one is for you,” she said handing him a rectangular one. “It is just a little something.”

Gabriel turned it over in his hand. “What is it?”

“You will need to open it to find out,” she beamed, watching him untie the string.

When his hesitant fingers pulled off the paper, a tickling sensation formed in her stomach. With excited curiosity, he turned the leather-bound book over to examine the writing on the spine before meeting her gaze with a look that was difficult to define.

He swallowed visibly. “I do not know what to say.”

“Please tell me it is not one you have already?”

“No,” he whispered.

“There are only three chapters covering Egypt, I know, but the plate engravings are truly remarkable, particularly the ones of Alexandria and Aswan.” She leaned across him and flicked to the relevant page. “See.”

When she looked up at him, he was not looking at the engraving; he was looking at her with a level of intensity that warmed her to her core.

“I … I am speechless.”

Rebecca smiled. “Don’t worry. When you see the next item, you truly wil

l be lost for words.”

Well, probably not lost for words, she thought, probably so angry he would struggle to get the words out. She hoped the third item would also render him speechless but for an entirely different reason.

The second parcel was square and much larger than the first, deeper too. Under his watchful gaze, Rebecca opened it to reveal an oak box.

“Can you guess what it is?” she asked, enjoying herself immensely.