in hand, dressed in a shapeless frilled monstrosity, with a shawl draped about her shoulders. He wanted to run away. He wanted to tell her he was sorry, to beg her forgiveness and thank her for her forbearance. Instead, he offered her a mocking bow. “Mademoiselle, as always, is the height of fashion I see.” She grinned and chuckled appreciatively, the only woman he’d met without a trace of vanity.
“Yes, I know. I must look a fright. But I’m nice and comfortable and warm. You missed supper.”
Nice and comfortable and warm
. Yes, she was that, he mused, and yet so powerfully unsettling. “I was riding. I lost track of time.”
“Ah, well, you’re in luck, I think. There’s ham, pie, and apples, on the counter. I won’t keep you from your meal.”
She gathered her cup, preparing to leave, and he found himself desperate to stop her.
“And you?”
“Me?”
“Can you not sleep? I hadn’t expected to find anyone here at this hour.”
“Oh, no, it’s not that. I was sleeping until a half hour ago. I woke myself up and came down to gathermy star-gazing supplies.”
“Star gazing?”
“Yes!” she said. Her face lit up and she almost danced with excitement. “There’s going be a meteor shower over the next few nights. It comes this time every year and tonight will be especially grand because there’s hardly any moonlight. There’ll be shooting stars hurtling across the sky. Hundreds of them! I’m gathering supplies so I can watch the show in comfort,” she said smugly. “It’s best just before dawn.” She’d been trying her best to remain as cool and distant as he was, determined not to intrude on his privacy and not above punishing him for his behavior last night. She simply wasn’t very good at it.
Looking into her shining eyes, Gabriel felt his heart flip and flutter in his chest. She really was the most singular female he’d ever encountered.
“Would you like to see?” she asked impulsively. “We could watch them together.” She regretted the words as soon as she’d said them.
“Where?” he rasped.
“From my room. I have a telescope and a small observatory on my balcony,” she said proudly. “The view is magnificent.”
He wondered at her invitation, especially after last night. He’d found her here, waiting for him. She hadn’t told her brother about what had happened, and now she was inviting him to her room in the middle of the night. Understanding dawned, and he felt asharp pang of disappointment. She meant to take him up on his offer. It seemed she hadn’t minded his rough treatment. He knew some women liked it, but he hadn’t expected it from her. Well, what had he expected? He was a whore, after all, and he’d asked for this. He’d deliberately shown her what he was, and he could hardly blame her for accepting what he’d so baldly offered. And he wanted her. He would give her whatever she wanted, and take whatever she’d allow.
“Well?” She was still waiting for his answer.
He gave her a mocking bow. “I follow where my lady leads.”
She grinned again. “Excellent! I like to be prepared so I can settle in and really enjoy it. Ross says if you’re going to do a thing, do it well. I know he means duties and responsibilities and such, but I believe it applies equally well to pleasures and enjoyments, don’t you?”
“Indubitably, mignonne.”
“Hold out your arms.”
Recognizing the voice of command, he obligingly held out his arms, wondering what pleasures and enjoyments she had in mind, what orders she would give him this night, and why it should make him feel so … sad. His thoughts were rudely interrupted by a large serving plate.
“Steady, don’t drop it. Do pay attention, Gabriel!”
Bemused now, he watched as she piled it high, a knife and spoons, a half leg of ham, the pie and apples she’d spied earlier, a chunk of cheese, and after a bit of rummaging, a bowl of trifle.
“How are you managing? Can you carry it all?”
Refusing
“Yes, I know. I must look a fright. But I’m nice and comfortable and warm. You missed supper.”
Nice and comfortable and warm
. Yes, she was that, he mused, and yet so powerfully unsettling. “I was riding. I lost track of time.”
“Ah, well, you’re in luck, I think. There’s ham, pie, and apples, on the counter. I won’t keep you from your meal.”
She gathered her cup, preparing to leave, and he found himself desperate to stop her.
“And you?”
“Me?”
“Can you not sleep? I hadn’t expected to find anyone here at this hour.”
“Oh, no, it’s not that. I was sleeping until a half hour ago. I woke myself up and came down to gathermy star-gazing supplies.”
“Star gazing?”
“Yes!” she said. Her face lit up and she almost danced with excitement. “There’s going be a meteor shower over the next few nights. It comes this time every year and tonight will be especially grand because there’s hardly any moonlight. There’ll be shooting stars hurtling across the sky. Hundreds of them! I’m gathering supplies so I can watch the show in comfort,” she said smugly. “It’s best just before dawn.” She’d been trying her best to remain as cool and distant as he was, determined not to intrude on his privacy and not above punishing him for his behavior last night. She simply wasn’t very good at it.
Looking into her shining eyes, Gabriel felt his heart flip and flutter in his chest. She really was the most singular female he’d ever encountered.
“Would you like to see?” she asked impulsively. “We could watch them together.” She regretted the words as soon as she’d said them.
“Where?” he rasped.
“From my room. I have a telescope and a small observatory on my balcony,” she said proudly. “The view is magnificent.”
He wondered at her invitation, especially after last night. He’d found her here, waiting for him. She hadn’t told her brother about what had happened, and now she was inviting him to her room in the middle of the night. Understanding dawned, and he felt asharp pang of disappointment. She meant to take him up on his offer. It seemed she hadn’t minded his rough treatment. He knew some women liked it, but he hadn’t expected it from her. Well, what had he expected? He was a whore, after all, and he’d asked for this. He’d deliberately shown her what he was, and he could hardly blame her for accepting what he’d so baldly offered. And he wanted her. He would give her whatever she wanted, and take whatever she’d allow.
“Well?” She was still waiting for his answer.
He gave her a mocking bow. “I follow where my lady leads.”
She grinned again. “Excellent! I like to be prepared so I can settle in and really enjoy it. Ross says if you’re going to do a thing, do it well. I know he means duties and responsibilities and such, but I believe it applies equally well to pleasures and enjoyments, don’t you?”
“Indubitably, mignonne.”
“Hold out your arms.”
Recognizing the voice of command, he obligingly held out his arms, wondering what pleasures and enjoyments she had in mind, what orders she would give him this night, and why it should make him feel so … sad. His thoughts were rudely interrupted by a large serving plate.
“Steady, don’t drop it. Do pay attention, Gabriel!”
Bemused now, he watched as she piled it high, a knife and spoons, a half leg of ham, the pie and apples she’d spied earlier, a chunk of cheese, and after a bit of rummaging, a bowl of trifle.
“How are you managing? Can you carry it all?”
Refusing
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