Page 55 of To Break the Rules

“Ah,” he said quietly.

“That’s why I came out of hiding this year,” she said, smoothing her hand over his chest. “Dharani had a jewel, you see. A ruby, something she was given when she married. She’s kept it hidden all these years. She said she always knew it had a special purpose, and she’d know what it was when it happened. We sold it last autumn, and I came to London. We spent it on accommodation, and on outfitting me as a fine lady. Dharani said if I just appeared on my birthday, I would be a nobody and the earl would find a way to be rid of me. She said, I had to make a name for myself, to make sure I was noticed, and then… then he’d not be able to hide what he’d done.”

“A wise woman,” Silas said, and she was taken by the catch in his voice and looked up.

His eyes were too bright, soft with sadness and love and Lucia felt her heart give a leap in her chest. Other than Dharani, no one had ever really cared for her, but… but he did. Didn’t he?

“I will be at your side when you face him, Lucia. You’re not alone in this any longer and I won’t let him hurt or frighten or abuse you. I want to make it better,” he said, his voice fierce. “I want you to have everything, love, just as your father intended for you. I want you to be my wife. Let me love you, Lucia. You’ll never be alone or scared or unhappy again, I swear it. We’ll bring Dharani too, if it pleases you and she wishes it.”

Lucia reached out and touched a reverent hand to his face. It was a harsh face, uncompromising rather than handsome, but it had become so dear to her. She wanted to believe he meant it, that he wouldn’t let her down like George had. The idea he could look at her the way George had after he’d discovered the truth made her heart thunder with terror.

Was she being a fool for even considering he could be trusted?

“Ask me again, after my birthday. Please, Silas. Then… when you’ve learned everything, if you’re sure it’s what you want. I… I would like very much to marry you, but I shan’t hold you to it until then.”

He gave a startled sound of pleasure, and before she could say another word, he’d pressed his lips to hers.

Lucia melted into him, allowing herself to dream for the first time in a long time. What might life be like with Silas as her husband? As his mouth searched hers with deep, tender strokes of his tongue, she could not help but believe it would be rather wonderful.

“Lucia.” He breathed the word against her lips, and she wanted to give him everything, her true name and the last of what she’d hidden from him, but then his mouth was on hers again, and she simply couldn’t think.

She tangled her arms about his neck, her hands in his hair as he pressed kisses down her neck, nipping and tracing patterns with his tongue as his hands explored her soft curves.

“I love you,” he said, the words desperate against her skin as her heart soared. “My God, Lucia, I’m out of my mind for loving you.”

Lucia laughed a little, astonished and delighted and dizzy with desire.

One large hand swept up her side and cupped her breast, and pleasure rippled through her.

“I want to kiss you everywhere,” he said, frantic now as his mouth returned to hers and his hand squeezed and caressed.

Lucia jolted with both shock and desire as he gave her nipple a light pinch through the thin fabric of her gown.

“May I kiss you here?” he asked, making her blush like fury at the question even as she quivered with anticipation.

Quite unable to form a reply, she simply nodded and held her breath as he made short work of tugging the little puff sleeve of her gown down her arm and pulling at the neckline until the small, dark circle of her nipple was exposed.

Silas stared down at her, breathing hard now. “Exquisite,” he murmured, sounding awed and overwhelmed. He lowered his mouth, circling the tight little bud with his tongue as Lucia gasped and clutched at him and when he drew her into his mouth, she was helpless. She arched in his arms as the sensation rocked through her making her heart pound and the tender place between her thighs throb with need.

“Silas,” she whispered, quite undone as he suckled at her breast and then returned to kiss her mouth, slow and tender.

“I want you so much, Lucia,” he said, his eyes dark with the evidence of his desire. “I want you beside me always. I want to share all my secrets with you, and for you to allow me the honour of yours. I want you in my bed, to wake with you every morning, and to have the chance to show you what it is to be loved. I won’t let you down. I will never let you down.”

“Yes,” Lucia cried, feeling tears prick at her eyes again, though these tears were different, born of hope and happiness. “Yes, I want that too.”

Silas took a deep, shuddering breath and pulled her sleeve back up, putting her gown back to rights with obvious regret. Lucia decided she regretted it too as he leaned in to kiss her again.

“I should go,” he said, sounding as if it was the last thing in the world he wanted.

Lucia smiled. “I suppose you should,” she replied, sounding no more enthusiastic about the idea.

“I am going to court you now.” There was a rather ferocious look in his eyes, and she could not help but smile, knowing no amount of warnings would stop him. Though she still couldn’t be certain, she simply prayed he wouldn’t ever come to regret it, and she nodded.

“Very well, Silas,” she said, and was thoroughly kissed for her troubles.

Chapter 16

Lucia is spending a deal of time with Lord Cavendish. The whisper is that he’s courting her. Oh, Prue, do tell me it’s true!