Page 99 of Rescued from Betrayal
She turned back around when he started to rise, averting her eyes from the sight of his slightly bare chest. A moment later she felt his hand on her shoulder.
“Are you feeling better this morning?”
She placed a hand over his, looking at him through the mirror. A mistake as he had still not buttoned his shirt, so she dropped her gaze to their connected hands.
“I am. Daylight and the reminder that I am not completely alone helps.”
“Good.” He gave her shoulder a squeeze, then walked away.
She focused on finding the jewelry she wished to wear as he rummaged in the wardrobe.
“Besides,” he said, his head still bent to peer at something on the floor, “You have a new mother who cares for you dearly and wants you for her daughter.”
“It is a comfort to know at least one person wants me,” she said flippantly over her shoulder as she pulled out what she hoped were her pearls. They would pair nicely with her yellow day dress. She’d save the sapphires and diamonds for the balltonight as they would accent her white gown with the blue embroidered flowers to perfection.
Nathaniel startled her when he spoke from right behind her. “She is not the only one who wants you, Melior. I have wanted you since that day we danced at Kendall House.”
Her eyes widened and she spun to face him. “But you detested me.”
“Not then, if you recall.”
“I suppose not, but you acted so annoyed when Eddie forced you to partner me.”
“Ten and seven is hardly an age when young men enjoy pandering to their best friend’s little sister’s whims. But the moment our hands touched, I never wanted them to separate. As a young man, all I saw was your incredible beauty. It captivated me, initiating dreams I knew would never become reality because, as a baronet’s son, I would never be allowed to court you.”
She shook her head in disbelief of his confession
“It is true,” he said. “Eddie recently confirmed it. Apparently you were the reason your parents barred me from visiting as often as Eddie wished. That and the connection between my mother and your father.”
He crossed to the mantel, leaning an arm on it as he stared into the blaze. “In order to save my heart I pushed you away, choosing silence or terse remarks as a shield. Over time, I saw you only as a pretty shell of a person, refusing to see your other positive characteristics in order to keep the space between us.”
She did not know what to say. To think, all this time he had felt the same fluttering of attraction that had plagued her. Indeed, by his account it was far more than flutter.
“I suppose we should be grateful for Mr. Fairchild’s interference then, for it seemed his underhandedness facilitated much good.”
His stiff shoulders lowered and a chuckle rumbled in his chest. “I suppose we should. Tell me, should we send him a nosegay and a thank you note?”
She laughed. “Yes, one with stinkweed and beets.”
“What kindness, for I know how much you adore beets.”
She wrinkled her nose. “About as much as I favor rakes like Mr. Fairchild.”
He chuckled again, but this time something snapped in the air between them. She could feel its pull, like a cord had suddenly been attached between their two hearts.
Clasping her hands behind her back, Melior took a hesitant step forward. “I felt the attraction in the ballroom, too. At fifteen I did not understand it and thought maybe I had been on my feet too long. But the night you saved me from having to dance with Mr. Fairchild I felt it again. I tried to push the attraction away, to not notice your handsome face or fine figure—”
“You mean my blurry face.”
She smiled. “It is not always blurry, only when you are too close.”
He drew near. “Yes, but it might be to my advantage this morning to stay close so you cannot see my tousled hair and unshaven face.”
His arm snaked about her waist as he pulled her close. She really could not make out his features, but that did not stop the sensations of pleasure rippling through her as she settled her hands on his chest.
“I suppose there are some advantages to not being able to see,” she teased.
Before she could utter another word his lips covered hers. She drank in the feel of him, letting his love drown out the pesky sound of her mother’s reproach in her head. As quickly as it had begun, though, it ended.
