Page 66 of To Love A Spy
Caught by surprise, Valencia wasn’t quick enough to hide behind her usual sarcastic anger. Her resolve was weak, her body bruised.Fight back, Valkyrie!The long-ago exhortation of the Academy fencing master rang in her ears.No matter how badly you are injured, never show an opponent that you are hurting.
But as she shifted and tried to regroup, every bone in her body screamed in protest. It felt as if she had been trampled by a regiment of Marshall Soult’s cavalry.
A sound must have slipped from her lips, for Lynsley edged his chair closer and reached for her hand. His fingers curled with hers.
She stiffened at first touch, then slowly relaxed.
They sat for a few minutes, twined in a companionable silence.
“You have a goodly number of calluses for a fine gentleman,” she said softly, aware of the pressure of his palm.
“Idle hands make for idle minds,” he quipped. “As you have witnessed, it takes someone of my advanced years constant effort to keep in shape for the job.” He cracked a small smile. “Besides, I should be bored to flinders lifting nothing more weighty than an eyebrow. Even if it means that my hands are more those of a ploughman than a patrician.”
There was nothing roughshod about the way Lynsley smoothed the covers and retucked the sheet around her legs. “Lean back a little,” he added. “The collar of your nightrail is twisted.”
Valencia found herself suddenly seized by a longing to cling to his strong, capable hand. To take comfort from his closeness, to share his strength.
Lord, she had spent all her life standing on her own, never allowing a moment of weakness. Oh, how she wanted one now. He had stripped off his coat and his shoulders looks so solid and reassuring. A place of refuge, just a hair’s breadth away.
Drawing away, she fell back against the pillows.
“A sip of laudanum?” he offered.
She shook her head.
“There’s no shame in seeking relief from pain, Valencia. Fighting it only saps your strength.”
Another oblique warning?
“I’m not trying to be a martyr, Thomas.” Strange how easily his name came to her lips now. “I merely want to keep a clear head for the morrow. I know from past experience that opium affects me badly. My head remains muzzy for days.”
“Then take another draught of willowbark. It will dull the edge, without any side effects.” Lynsley mixed a bit of powder in a glass of water. “As for the morrow, you aren’t going anywhere. And that’s an order.”
She drank the mixture without comment, then looked up to find him studying her face. It had started to rain, and the pelter of drops against the windowpanes echoed the erratic beat of her heart. Though the mizzle of moonlight had died away, the single candle caught the odd sparks in his gaze.
He cleared his throat with a cough. “I have been thinking about what you said earlier. You were pushed? By Rochambert?”
“I cannot say for sure,” she answered. “Gillemot and Hillaire were close as well.”
“Neither of them would have any reason to wish you harm. As for Rochambert . . .” His lips thinned to a grim line. “I wonder what his motivations would be at this point.”
“He remarked that he was curious as to what our feeling were for each other.” Valencia hesitated before adding, ‘Perhaps he merely wanted to see your reaction.”
“Bloody bastard,” muttered the marquess under his breath.
The vehemence took her by surprise.
“That’s not exactly a revelation,” she said dryly.
“No.” His mouthed quirked. “I suppose not.
“Sorry I slipped up.”
“Don’t say that.” His voice sharpened. “You’ve done well. Exceedingly well. Indeed, I confess that without you along on this mission, I should be hardpressed to find a way to get close to Rochambert.”
Praise from Lynsley?Had the marquess added some other potent drug to her drink? All at once, Valencia was aware of a strange syrupy warmth spreading through her limbs. The aches ebbed from her muscles, the knots of tension unwound.
“Mmmmm.” It must be the medicine kicking in, she decided. As she relaxed into a drowsy state of half sleep, her tongue loosened as well. Words she would never have dared say aloud seemed to have a mind of their own. “I—I always wanted your approval.” She closed her eyes. “Mayhap that why I misbehaved so often. To get your attention, even if it was only to hear your scoldings.”
