Page 65 of Broken

Giles framed her face. The average chit would have landed him in the muck without a backward glance. It just went to prove how far above the average London miss Lilly was. “We will say that the fresh air, food and comforts of a quiet country house have gradually restored your health. We could attribute the massages to Mrs. Osprey.”

“But Papa would try to take Mrs. Osprey with us when we leave. And if she will not come, as I’m sure she won’t, he would try to find some other person to fill that role. How could I let a stranger touch me as you do?”

She was right. That could be a problem, and not just for her. Discussing Lilly leaving Cottingstone, and him, unnerved Giles to an alarming degree.

She sounded so stricken that Giles pulled her into his arms and pressed light kisses over her face and lips. But his panic never left.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“Good morning, Papa.”

Those three little words cut through the clatter of silver on fine porcelain like a rampaging bull in a china shop.

Giles was astonished to see her downstairs so early and delighted too. They had talked last night about how they would discuss her recovery, but he had thought the moment would have been private with just her father present.

Lord Winter sat in stunned silence while Lilly glided the remaining distance into the room to stand beside his chair. Only Giles and Carrington remembered to stand; their chairs sounded harsh in the quiet room. Lilly leaned in to kiss her father’s cheek, and then she pulled back to look into his rapt face.

She quirked an eyebrow at her father’s continued silence, then her gaze flicked to Giles in hesitant greeting.

Giles wished he could kiss her good morning and that was unnerving. His weight shifted to step forward to take her hand, but that moment gave Lord Winter a chance to blink and to breathe. Once he had done so, he achieved movement. Winter reached out a hand to his daughter’s pale face and lightly rested it upon her skin. Giles noticed the slight shake of his hand as Lord Winter regained his sense and balance in his mind.

“Daughter!” Winter breathed.

“Surprised?” Lilly rubbed her cheek into his touch like a cat starving for affection. That simple gesture was enough to get the baron to his feet, and he crushed Lilly to him as a shout of laughter escaped him. “Indeed I am,” he said with a hearty chuckle.

Lord Winter’s laugh sounded rusty and a startled gasp drew Giles’ gaze to Barrette’s reaction. The man looked decidedly pale, as if he had seen a ghost. Barrette gulped, and warning bells rang in Giles’ brain. What reason did Barrette have for looking so discomposed?

When he turned back to Lilly, she was wiping tears from her father’s cheeks. “I didn’t know it rained indoors at this time of year, Papa,” Lilly laughed. “Did you have a pleasant trip?”

“Not nearly as pleasant as seeing you looking so well. What has happened?”

“I told you when I was younger that Cottingstone was magical, didn’t I?” Lilly replied, still smiling brightly at him. “It still is.”

“Good morning, Miss Winter,” Giles greeted her formally, as if they were barely acquainted.

“Good morning, Lord Daventry,” Lilly replied with excruciating politeness, but their gazes held.

Trapped by her remarkable eyes, silence lengthened between them. He was remembering Lilly stretched out in his bed last night. Warm and soft—a perfect bed partner. Was she thinking of those hours, too? He did not know what to do or say next, and when Dithers entered the room to set a place for Lilly beside her father, he was relieved for the distraction.

Lilly murmured her thanks to the butler, and Lord Winter relinquished her hands only long enough for her to seat herself comfortably before he reclaimed one again.

“Magical, indeed.” Lord Winter glanced between them, strumming his thumb across the back of Lilly’s hand. Giles hoped Lord Winter wasn’t wondering how well acquainted they’d become. He didn’t have a good answer prepared yet.

Giles busied himself with pouring Lilly’s tea, adding milk and sugar, as well as acquiring a plate of food for her. He supposed he should not have heaped it as high as he did, but he got carried away remembering Lilly in his bed last night and forgot to stop.

When Giles sat down again and glanced her way, Lilly tapped her plate edge to let him know she wasn’t amused by the amount of food. He buried his smile behind a mouthful of egg and let the conversation waft over him.

It was a good thing Giles had managed to return Lilly to her room last night undetected. Her return to her cold bedchamber occurred on the cusp of sunrise coloring the sky a deep purple. He had entertained a woman in his bed last night and had not made love to, nor caressed her to any great degree. That was unheard of for him. His holiday was becoming one of vast surprises.

When their talk had begun to spin in circles about what to do today, Giles had silenced her with a lengthy kiss and tucked her beneath the blankets with him, spooning her back into his front.

It was as if they had lain together for years.

He had drifted to sleep in a cloud of light perfume and long white-blonde hair. Lilly had fallen asleep quickly and had not stirred until nearing daybreak.

To his amusement, she had not wanted to leave his bed this morning. In the end, Giles had lifted the grumbling woman and carried her to his door. She hinted he was developing a mean streak. He thought, perhaps, it was the tattered remnants of a conscience.

“Shall we take a stroll, daughter?” Lord Winter enquired. “There is much we should speak of.”