Page 44 of His Betrothed
Charlotte’s smile was full of sympathy and trust, making Roselyn’s guilt all the harder to bear.
“Just let me know when you’re ready to part with his garments,” the girl said. “I knowthechurch would appreciate them, and Mama and I would help you carry them.”
Roselyn leaned over to kiss her forehead. “You’re too dear to me. Thank you. Now, come inside the bake house and we’ll try a new recipe.”
After Charlotte had gone, Roselyn found Thornton dressed in a clean shirt and breeches, sitting at the table. An empty bowl of porridge sat before him, and he leaned back on thebench, looking at her as if he’d been waiting. She suddenly remembered being pressed to his damp body, feeling his aroused manhood against her stomach. She didn’t understand why such a thing had happened between them, and she could hardly ask him. Even now a flush of heat worked its way up her face, and she told herself it was embarrassment.
“Was that Charlotte Heywood?” he asked.
She nodded.“Thank you for not making a sound. She came for a baking lesson.”
“The breeches—”
She raised a hand. “Do not say it. I was foolish to leave them out there.”
“I was only going to apologize for the same offense. You have been good enough to clothe me—the least I can do is keep track of the garments.”
She couldn’t look at him anymore. Feeling ajitter of nerves, she stacked the dirty wooden bowlsfrom the table.
“Roselyn?”
She almost dropped everything. What was wrong with her? “Yes?”
“I’d like to go for another walk today.”
She wanted to close her eyes and groan. “You exerted yourself enough yesterday.”
“No,” Thornton said, sitting forward and resting his arms on the table. “If I’m ever to be well, I need to bolster my strength. By God’s blood, Roselyn, I could hardly wash myself!”
She felt her lips twitch and she lowered her head.
“You’re smiling!” he exclaimed. “Don’t try to deny it.”
“I am trying not to grimace with impatience. Truly, I have much work to do.”
“Are your Heywood brothers coming back?”
“They’re not mine,” she said crossly. “They’re finished here, since my fields are small and quickly harvested.”
“So where are they now?”
She wondered at such speculation,and wished she didn’t have to worry about his every motive. “Probably in the estate fields. There aren’t enough men on the island for a proper harvest, so they’re working dawn to dusk. That probably helped in keeping your presence here a secret.”
“Ah, so you enjoy being alone with me.”
“You do yourself too much credit,” she scoffed, carrying the bowls to the cupboard. “They’ve been workingtoo hard to visit much, is all.”
“So the brothers visit you often.”
“No, just—” She caught herself before mentioning John. “Let us be about this walk quickly, for I have to go into Shanklin later today.”
Thornton pushed himself up on one foot. “I’m ready.”
“Must we go outside? Surely—”
“Open the door, Roselyn,” he said sternly, but she thought she saw a wicked gleam in his eye.
When theystepped outside, the sun was so bright that he shaded his eyes with his hand. “Never again will I allow myself to spend this much time indoors.”
