blankets provide layers of comfort. A huge fire burns in the grate, with a servant bringing more logs. Another servant told me that the estate gets pretty cold during the winter, so they are well equipped for dealing with the cold.
I’ve just taken a hot bath, and my hair is still damp, wrapped in a towel. Wearing only my chemise, I wiggle my toes and drink some chocolate, enjoying the warmth that spreads from my stomach to my body.
“Where is she?” Edward’s voice is urgent, commanding, as though if he’s prevented from seeing me, he’ll put everyone under arrest. The door is flung open, and he storms inside, ignoring the cries of, “But she is indecent!”
He sits on the bed, which sags from his weight. He searches my face, his gaze filled with concern. “Are you feeling well? Any injuries? Has the doctor been sent for?”
“Yes, no, and no. I’m feeling fine now that I’m out of the lake.”
He still looks at me in disbelief, as though I said I just emerged unscathed from a building on fire. “I heard that you saved Thomas from drowning. How did you survive the waters? The lake is much deeper than the river at the Fremont house.”
“Oh. I’m . . . we had swimming lessons in high school,” I say in a low voice. “And my father took me to the pool when I was a kid. I know it sounds impossible, but yeah, it’s not uncommon for a girl to know how to swim where I come from.”
He lets out a sigh and pushes his hair from his face. “I should have known. When they told me you dived into the lake, I . . .” He swallows and looks away. “I thought it was only by a stroke of luck, or because help arrived just in time, that you survived.”
I put my hand on his. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, “but there wasn’t anyone nearby. I couldn’t let him drown.”
“No.” He threads his fingers through mine and tightens his grip. “That is not what you should apologize for.”
Instantly, I know what he is referring to. My stomach tightens, and I look down at our hands clasped together. “Krev visited me.”
“The goblin you have mentioned? The one who is responsible for sending you here?”
I nod. In a low voice, I repeat what Krev told me about my changing Athelia’s history—and about the old Katriona coming back.
“I’m sorry,” I say again, “but I’m scared—worried for you. I’d hate it if you were stuck with someone you didn’t know. What if she is as horrible as Bianca?”
When I look up, my heart jumps. His face is so close that his breath warms my cheeks. His eyes are blazing; my instinct is to back away, but the headboard prevents me putting any distance between us.
“Even if that happens”—his voice is low but underlaid with passion—“it is my choice. I’ll handle whatever comes after you’re gone. But now , all I want is to make the most of my time with you, and yet you choose to foist another girl on me. Did you ever consider how I might feel? Have you forgotten what I told you that day?”
The anguish in his voice is palpable. Remorse, shame, and affection for him rise up within me; a lump forms in my throat, and tears start to gather in my eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I say again, blinking away the tears. “I shouldn’t have tried . . . it was thoughtless of me.”
His expression softens, though the sternness in his eyes is still there. Footsteps approach the door; he looks back for a second but ignores whoever is coming our way.
“I should teach you a lesson for your heartlessness, Kat.” He says it with such a serious face that for a second I wonder if he’s joking.
“Are you saying that what I did warrants a punishment?”
“Correct.”
His hands clamp down on the blankets around my hips. Edward leans in and kisses me, completely disregarding the open door, completely ignoring the fact that I am only wearing a chemise, completely forgetting that he shouldn’t be initiating such intimacy before marriage. Nevertheless, I don’t bother to dissuade him.
I’ve just taken a hot bath, and my hair is still damp, wrapped in a towel. Wearing only my chemise, I wiggle my toes and drink some chocolate, enjoying the warmth that spreads from my stomach to my body.
“Where is she?” Edward’s voice is urgent, commanding, as though if he’s prevented from seeing me, he’ll put everyone under arrest. The door is flung open, and he storms inside, ignoring the cries of, “But she is indecent!”
He sits on the bed, which sags from his weight. He searches my face, his gaze filled with concern. “Are you feeling well? Any injuries? Has the doctor been sent for?”
“Yes, no, and no. I’m feeling fine now that I’m out of the lake.”
He still looks at me in disbelief, as though I said I just emerged unscathed from a building on fire. “I heard that you saved Thomas from drowning. How did you survive the waters? The lake is much deeper than the river at the Fremont house.”
“Oh. I’m . . . we had swimming lessons in high school,” I say in a low voice. “And my father took me to the pool when I was a kid. I know it sounds impossible, but yeah, it’s not uncommon for a girl to know how to swim where I come from.”
He lets out a sigh and pushes his hair from his face. “I should have known. When they told me you dived into the lake, I . . .” He swallows and looks away. “I thought it was only by a stroke of luck, or because help arrived just in time, that you survived.”
I put my hand on his. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, “but there wasn’t anyone nearby. I couldn’t let him drown.”
“No.” He threads his fingers through mine and tightens his grip. “That is not what you should apologize for.”
Instantly, I know what he is referring to. My stomach tightens, and I look down at our hands clasped together. “Krev visited me.”
“The goblin you have mentioned? The one who is responsible for sending you here?”
I nod. In a low voice, I repeat what Krev told me about my changing Athelia’s history—and about the old Katriona coming back.
“I’m sorry,” I say again, “but I’m scared—worried for you. I’d hate it if you were stuck with someone you didn’t know. What if she is as horrible as Bianca?”
When I look up, my heart jumps. His face is so close that his breath warms my cheeks. His eyes are blazing; my instinct is to back away, but the headboard prevents me putting any distance between us.
“Even if that happens”—his voice is low but underlaid with passion—“it is my choice. I’ll handle whatever comes after you’re gone. But now , all I want is to make the most of my time with you, and yet you choose to foist another girl on me. Did you ever consider how I might feel? Have you forgotten what I told you that day?”
The anguish in his voice is palpable. Remorse, shame, and affection for him rise up within me; a lump forms in my throat, and tears start to gather in my eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I say again, blinking away the tears. “I shouldn’t have tried . . . it was thoughtless of me.”
His expression softens, though the sternness in his eyes is still there. Footsteps approach the door; he looks back for a second but ignores whoever is coming our way.
“I should teach you a lesson for your heartlessness, Kat.” He says it with such a serious face that for a second I wonder if he’s joking.
“Are you saying that what I did warrants a punishment?”
“Correct.”
His hands clamp down on the blankets around my hips. Edward leans in and kisses me, completely disregarding the open door, completely ignoring the fact that I am only wearing a chemise, completely forgetting that he shouldn’t be initiating such intimacy before marriage. Nevertheless, I don’t bother to dissuade him.
Similar Books
