Lost to the Night (The Brotherhood 1)

Threading his hands into her hair, he guided her mouth to his. The kiss was soft, tender, and full of hope. Despite being in a state of semi-arousal — two or three strokes and he could easily have her again — he knew her aunt would be waiting.

“Come, let me help you dress. Your aunt must surely be home and will no doubt be worried.”

With wide eyes and a loud gasp she stood up, albeit somewhat awkwardly, and her cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink. He could smell a trace of blood, had to clench his jaw and grit his teeth for fear of them protracting. Mrs. Shaw’s evening repast of animal blood had satisfied his hunger, but the smell of human blood always stirred his senses.

“You’ll want to wash,” he said stating the obvious as he stood and helped her rummage around the strewn garments.

She grabbed her petticoat and clutched it to her chest while she searched for her chemise. It was too late for modesty. He’d committed every inch of her body to memory and would spend the daylight hours alone in a candlelit room, sketching her perfect form.

When she located her chemise, he picked up his own garments and dressed quickly before helping her thread her stays and brush the creases from her gown.

Eve threw her hands in the air as she scanned the stained silk. “What on earth will Aunt Beatrice think when she sees me like this?”

Alexander pursed his lips. “I’d worry more about the state of your hair. All you need now is a bundle of rushes, and we could go door-to-door shouting chairs to mend.”

“It’s not funny.”

“We could always say you fell when Sutherby grabbed you.”

She raised a brow. “Despite the fact he’s a rogue, I will not lie to my aunt.”

“Well, we can hardly tell the truth.” He stepped closer and straightened the neckline of her gown, purely to satisfy the need to touch her again. “Leave it to me. I can be very persuasive in times of need.”

They crept up through the garden; well she crept, Alexander walked behind her at his usual pace. Regardless of what happened or whoever they encountered, they would have no choice but to believe whatever story he told them.

As they passed the ornamental pond, Eve suddenly stopped and without the slightest warning bent down and thrust her hands into the murky water.

“What on earth are you doing?” he said, unable to hide his surprise or shock when she tipped the contents of her cupped hands over her head.

Rivulets of water ran down her cheeks, and something resembling green sludge clung to the mussed strands of hair.

“I thought I could say it was raining,” she said offering him a weak smile.

Alexander glanced up at the cloudless sky and then back to her bedraggled locks. For the first time in two years, a snigger burst from his lips, and he put his hand to his chest as a laugh erupted.

It felt good to release years of suppressed tension. His body became suddenly lighter, and his shoulders dropped an inch. The evil that plagued him was instantly forgotten, and he felt like any other carefree gentleman about his leisure.

Eve laughed too, and he imagined picking her up and swinging her around and around in a bid to prolong the beautiful sound.

“I am half-expecting you to jump in,” he said.

As her gaze searched his face, her laugh became a warm smile. “You should try laughing more often. When you smile, you look rather dashing.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had anything to smile about,” he said, but then regretted his choice of words as he knew her curious nature would be intrigued by his comment.

Her expression grew solemn. “You mean your horrendous event in a carriage? Was it an accident?”

Knots formed in his stomach. “Something like that. It was an unfortunate incident, and I was the only casualty.”

She placed her hand on his arm. “Well, it is all behind you and you must try not to think of it. Terrible things happen to good people every day. As difficult as it may be, you must try to focus on the here and the now.”

While he appreciated the words of comfort, it would never be behind him. He would never be free of his affliction.

“I shall heed your wise words,” he said offering a respectful bow. “I shall focus on the now. At this present moment, we need to get you inside before it starts raining frogs as well as algae.”

They entered the house through the double doors leading into the drawing room. He’d never ravished a lady in her garden or escorted her safely home after the event. Where Evelyn Bromwell was concerned, everything felt new and unchartered.

“I can’t hear anything,” she said putting her ear to the door.