“When you lie to me, you look to the side and you touch your left wrist.”
“What?” she asked with a laugh. “I do not touch my wrist.”
“Only your left wrist. I noticed this evening when you were telling me about the fabulous book you left on the table.”
“I never knew that,” she admitted.
“Few people notice what they do when they lie. But almost everyone does some small action.”
“What do you do?”
He laughed softly. “I have learned to cover mine. I spent too much time in the gaming hells with Middleton when I was young. If you want to win at gambling, you must know your tell.”
“You were a gambler?”
He slid off her and laid on his side next to her. “I did for a while.”
“I’m glad you stopped.” The last thing he needed was to lose more money by gambling what little he had left.
“I’ve been thinking about taking the practice up again. I might be able to help fill the estate coffers.”
“Or you might lose everything.”
He laughed again. “You have no faith in me, do you?”
“Yes, but I know that most gamblers lose,” she said and then turned on her side to face him. “I will not let you do that.”
He leaned in and kissed her softly. “You won’t let me?”
“No.”
“Since I’m not allowed inside any of the decent gaming hells, I believe you have nothing to worry about.”
She stared at his face and saw unspoken pain. “Why aren’t you allowed in the hells?”
“Nothing,” he said nonchalantly as he rolled on his back. “I suppose I won too much money from them.”
Mia doubted that was the reason he wasn’t allowed inside. There was something else keeping him from gambling. She wanted to press him for more information but knew he wasn’t going to speak of it tonight. At some point, he would.
She wondered if this reason had something to do with him staying at Hartsfield Park so much of the time. He rarely left the estate and when he did she was usually told it was to visit family. It seemed strange that he didn’t even attend Parliament unless there was a very important vote he needed to be there for.
He hardly seemed shy to her. But perhaps he preferred to be here instead of around crowds of people. She’d heard some people are so terrified of being around crowds that they hide away in their homes most of their lives. How sad if that was the cause of him remaining here.
She watched him for a long time as he slept deeply. After a few minutes, she rested her head on his chest. His arms instinctively wrapped around her. Nestled in his warmth and protection, she drifted to sleep praying that someone would find Davies soon.
Chapter 14
Simon awoke the next morning with tendrils of brown hair tickling his nose. He smiled as he brushed away Mia’s hair from his face. Her head still rested on his shoulder and her breathing remained even as if still asleep. The desire to remain in this room all day making love to her consumed him. He couldn’t do that with Mr. Tanner arriving today. But he could have her one more time before tonight.
Slowly, he eased her on her back and kissed her full pink
lips. She moaned slightly as she woke and then returned his kisses with a passion that took his breath away. She pulled away and smiled at him.
“Good morning to you,” she said and then frowned.
“Good morning. Is everything all right?” He kissed her furrowed brow.
“I am not sure.” She scrambled off the bed and behind the dressing screen.