“I’ll be fine. Now that the shoulder’s back in the socket, it already feels much better.” He captured her bare fingers in his and brought them to his lips, kissing each one before he placed his mouth in the center of her palm. “Thank you for helping me today.”
She swallowed, her insides tingling with every touch. “You’re welcome.” She gently pulled her hand from his. “I’m glad you’re going to be all right.”
He gave her a soft smile. “I am.”
“I came here,” she started, taking a deep breath, “to actually thank you.”
“Why?” he asked his brow scrunching.
She shrugged. “I know that you’ve only been spending time with me because you were worried about your secret, but for me, this experience has helped me a great deal.”
His eyebrows rose. “How so?”
She nibbled her lip. “Well. I was courted by Lord Charleston and when it didn’t work out, I thought I might not be able to trust my affection to another man again but—” She stopped, realizing that she’d inadvertently admitted that she felt affection toward Tag.
“But what, Minnie?”
Was she trying to tell him that she was sweet on him?
That should have filled him with dread. Instead, a nameless excitement pulsed through his veins. “But what, Minnie?” he asked again.
“I…” Even in the dark he could see the flush of color staining her cheeks. He raised his hand and stroked his thumb along the warm flesh. “I enjoy your company.”
His thumb reached her chin and began trailing down the delicate skin of her neck. “That is your big announcement? You came to my room in the dark of night, braving ruin to tell me that you enjoy my company?”
Her lips pressed together and he thought for a moment that she was angry, but then her hand came up to cover her mouth. From between her fingers came a tiny squeak and then another. She dropped her hand and a full-on laugh escaped her lips. “That is ridiculous, isn’t it?”
He found himself grinning back. “A bit.”
Another giggle escaped her lips and then another as a full-on laughing fit threatened to overtake her. She dropped her face to his arm, burying her laughs into the blankets. He reached over and gently stroked her hair as her laughs subsided.
“What happened with Charleston?” he asked, brushing a bit of her hair back from her face.
She sighed and lifted her head a bit. “Nothing terrible. It just didn’t work out.”
He gave her a gentle tug and she responded by stretching out next to him. He tried to remember the last time a woman had just lay next to him. Gathering her close to his side, he found he quite liked it. Her body fit against his in the most satisfying way. Part of him ached to run his hands over more of her, kiss her lips, but he ignored the desire. Instead he held her close. “If it wasn’t so terrible then why are you thanking me?”
She sighed as she snuggled in closer. “He didn’t like how brash I was. How bold. It’s not that I don’t understand this about myself. I try to hold it in but it comes out anyhow and…” She paused, swallowing. “I wish I could change that about me and I suppose it hurt that he didn’t like it either.”
The ache in his chest throbbed on her behalf. “Minnie,” he started, but stopped to turn his head and softly kiss her forehead. “Some man is going to love how strong you are.”
She shook her head, rubbing her cheek on the crook of his shoulder. “I don’t have time to find that man. I’ve told you already.” She rested her hand on his chest.
He closed his eyes. Part of him wanted to offer to be that man for her. Marry her, accept her for who she was. But memories of his own parents assaulted him. The way they’d constantly fought, each warring for control, often using him as a pawn in their battle. He’d thought he was different but Christina had taught him he wasn’t. When he’d tried at love, he’d failed just as miserably. “My father fell in love. Both of my parents were so strong-willed, that affection turned into a battleground. Perhaps, a marriage of convenience will suit you.”
“Your p
arents were a love match?” she asked as she lifted her head.
He nodded. “At least on my father’s part. But that affection turned to hate. They fought daily, their arguments often turning violent.”
She curled her fingers into his chest. “Oh, that must have been awful.” She lay her head back down. “My mother can be difficult but generally speaking, she means well. She loves us, she just wants to help us in the most annoying way possible.”
“Like insisting that you marry?”
She shook her head then settled into the crook of his neck. “That is for Ada’s benefit and she’s right. It’s time I gave my sister the chance to enjoy society and find a husband of her own.”
He could hear the love in her voice when she spoke of her mother and her sister. He gathered her closer as though he might glean a bit of it being next to her. “Very generous of you.”