Page 32 of Broken

Just as he had arranged, the chaise lounge was well-stocked with pillows for Lilly’s comfort and a tea tray, filled to overflowing, had been set beside it.

He lowered Lilly, shifted pillows behind her back, and handed her a plate of food. Then he poured a cup of tea and sat himself in an adjacent chair, sprawling out to relax and enjoy the view with her. This was more like it—peace, contentment, and a pretty woman by his side.

A few minutes later, Giles heard a muffled sniff and he lazily turned his eyes to Lilly. Tears flowed down her cheeks unchecked.

Lilly’s teacup rattled and he quickly took it from her fingers. He reached into his inner jacket pocket for a handkerchief and brushed her tears away. The way she gazed at him with such profound trust made his heartbeat quicken.

Giles cleared his throat. “You look beautiful sitting there like that. If I could paint, I don’t believe I could capture just how radiant you look today, Lilly. I doubt that anyone could.”

“Thank you, you are very kind to say such outrageous things.”

“Nonsense, merely stating the truth you were denied your whole life.”

Once she seemed calmer, he returned her tea. With his hands braced on his knees, he let his gaze trail over her shining silver-white hair, over blushing cheeks. Even teary-eyed, she was a vision of soft, feminine beauty and, to his considerable alarm, he wanted to keep her all to himself.

Friends would laugh him all the way out of London if word ever leaked out how he was behaving. But honestly, he couldn’t seem to help himself. Giles had never met a woman who intruded on his thoughts the way Lilly did. Her smile was addictive which meant he’d have to do something about her soon.

On the desk in his study, a large bundle of correspondence awaited his reply. Invitations to parties, letters of information on investment opportunities, and a growing pile of heavily scented letters from past and hopeful lovers. They all clamored for his attention, but he hadn’t the slightest desire to answer any of them.

What he wanted, more than anything was to bask in this strange private world where he and Lilly could be friends and companions. With no rules or expectations.

Dithers hurried out onto the patio with a silver salver and a single letter on the top. Giles glanced at it and recognized Lord Ettington’s personal seal. As he tore it open, he noticed that Lilly basked in the sun’s light, her face turned up and a gentle smile playing over her enticingly kissable lips.

Giles shifted in his chair to make room in his trousers, and then scanned the note. “The Marquess of Ettington and his wife are expecting a child, Lilly. Jack is beside himself, and is holding a house party at his estate over Christmas. According to this, I’m to attend without argument. Anyone would think Ettington was the first man to find himself in this position. I wonder how Pixie bears him.”

An unconscious shudder shook him at the domesticated tone of Jack’s letter. Marriage had changed the coldest man in London into nothing more than a lap dog.

“Pixie? Oh, do you mean Lady Ettington? She’s a tiny, dark-haired woman, isn’t she?” At Giles’ nod, Lilly smiled. “I believe I saw her in London. Lord Ettington was hardly able to keep his eyes away from her. I could see him watching from across the ballroom floor. He seemed very intense.”

Lilly might have limited experience in society, but she clearly had been about on the most important evenings. And he enjoyed hearing her talk. “When was this?”

Lilly’s face scrunched as she concentrated, but after a moment, she shook her head. “I can’t remember, exactly. You were there, I think, beside Lady Ettington. Some memories are very confused.”

She looked away suddenly, her face blushing furiously. The unspoken sentiment behind the blush hinted that some memories weren’t quite so forgettable. Instead of being ashamed, he was glad she remembered him so clearly.

“Was Lady Ettington on my arm?”

Lilly nodded. The past was a tricky business to discuss between them. In all of the times that Lilly had seen him, he had been wrapped around a woman. How exactly did a woman of Lilly’s inexperience deal with that kind of memory?

“That might have been the occasion when I tricked my stuffy friend into acting with a bit of uncharacteristic wickedness. And my first attempt at matchmaking, by the way. Given that everyone else paired them together, it was inevitable the marriage had happened so quickly. The announcement the night after they married was the most enjoyment I have had in Town for quite some time.”

“Surely not the most enjoyment, Giles?” she retorted, and then clamped her hand over her mouth.

He would guess that Lilly had just attempted to tease him about his habit of public dalliance. He laughed. “No, not the most enjoyment, naturally. There were all the times I was able to see you.”

Giles watched her skin blush fiery red, and called a halt to their flirting. It would not do to tire her too greatly, and he was truly trying very hard to remain her friend. Discussing his behavior in London was bound to touch on his wicked behavior here. He didn’t need the slightest encouragement. Despite spending considerable time on the subject, he hadn’t managed to come up with a valid excuse for ignoring every rule of society. “Why have you been wandering the upper halls of Lord Huntley’s home all alone?”

Lilly shrugged and a shy smile tugged her lips. “I couldn’t sleep and I was lonely. That night I had no pain at all and I knew you had accepted their invitation so...” She shrugged. “I wanted to see you but of course papa would never allow me to go.”

He frowned. “Did your maids not try to stop you?”

She blushed again. “I sent them away to watch the dancing. It is very dull work watching me sleep.”

“Not from where I’ve been sitting,” Giles protested, and then grinned. “I find it quite fascinating that you make almost no sound.”

“While you snore?” Her eyes danced with mirth.

He winked. “Keep that one to yourself. Along with everything else you know about me.”