held her shoulders to steady her, but she wasn’t sure if it was only for her sake. “Forgive me,” he said again, shaking his head as he quickly left her.
Watching his back recede out of the room, Victoria could only stand there in shock at what had happened.
Chapter 9
It had been a month since that searing kiss, and Victoria still didn’t know what had happened. Everything might have been clearer to her, but she hadn’t seen much of the Earl since that night.
She was beginning to think he was avoiding her. While he made a point of coming down to dinner every once in a while, it was more often than not that he took a tray in his room late at night after an exhausting day of work.
If she didn’t know better, she would worry for his health, but she knew that he wouldn’t endanger himself just to avoid her. At least she didn’t think so.
Thoughts of that passionate kiss had kept her up at all hours of the night, reliving the touch of his lips over and over. She had allowed others to kiss her before, but none of those small, stolen moments had compared to the raw passion she had felt from him.
Aching, she woke from dreaming of him, her body sensitive, tossing and turning in her sheets until they twisted around her.
If only she could see him, if only she had a moment alone with him to figure out why he had initiated the intimacy with her, she might be able to put it behind her. But the memory kept floating through her mind, heedless of her struggles to suppress it.
Surprisingly, she relished them, thinking of the dreams and the kiss at times like now when she needed to be focused on her work.
While no other servants had been hired, their new routines had been performed flawlessly. And thankfully, none of the servants had taken ill.
It was Monday, and therefore laundry day. Victoria couldn’t help but think of her confrontation with the Earl so many weeks ago. Why was he constantly on her mind? Frustrated, she forced the thought away.
The steam was swirling in the air as Elizabeth and Molly worked together, laughing lightly at something. Feeling her smooth hands as she stood on the side of the room, overseeing this chore, Victoria was quietly grateful that she hadn’t been placed in a position where she had needed to lend a hand.
But regardless of what the Earl had said, Victoria would be willing to jump in to help either Molly or Elizabeth if the need arose.
“Are you excited about the fair, Your Grace?” Elizabeth asked, looking up, her cheeks pinkened from the steam.
“Elizabeth, do I need to ask you again to call me Lady Victoria?” A small laugh of disbelief rose to her lips. She hadn’t ever thought she wouldn’t like the title, but it was beginning to grate. Becoming a duchess was in her past and she wanted to make a fresh start.
I already have, she thought, looking at the two women who had become her friends regardless of their station.
“Sorry, Lady Victoria. It’s hard to break the habit.” Elizabeth smiled shyly as she rinsed out a heavy sheet.
Victoria waved away the girls’ concerns. “Yes, I am very excited about it. I can’t believe it’s tomorrow. Finally, more help.”
Both the girls nodded. Sighing gratefully at the thought of having another servant around. “I wouldn’t mind taking a week off of laundry duty in the near future.” Molly looked up with a wry grin.
“Me either.” Victoria muttered. “Don’t worry, we’ll do a rotation so no one is stuck doing it every week.” Both women looked relieved by this announcement.
“Thank you again for allowing us to leave early tomorrow night. We’re excited that we’ll be able to see everything.”
Victoria laughed again, walking toward the women. “Don’t thank me. His Lordship was the one that made it clear that everyone should have the night off.”
Molly shrugged. “Still. It was very good of you both. I can’t wait to see the ribbon cart.”
“Me either. I’m in need of a few new colors.”
“Oh,
Watching his back recede out of the room, Victoria could only stand there in shock at what had happened.
Chapter 9
It had been a month since that searing kiss, and Victoria still didn’t know what had happened. Everything might have been clearer to her, but she hadn’t seen much of the Earl since that night.
She was beginning to think he was avoiding her. While he made a point of coming down to dinner every once in a while, it was more often than not that he took a tray in his room late at night after an exhausting day of work.
If she didn’t know better, she would worry for his health, but she knew that he wouldn’t endanger himself just to avoid her. At least she didn’t think so.
Thoughts of that passionate kiss had kept her up at all hours of the night, reliving the touch of his lips over and over. She had allowed others to kiss her before, but none of those small, stolen moments had compared to the raw passion she had felt from him.
Aching, she woke from dreaming of him, her body sensitive, tossing and turning in her sheets until they twisted around her.
If only she could see him, if only she had a moment alone with him to figure out why he had initiated the intimacy with her, she might be able to put it behind her. But the memory kept floating through her mind, heedless of her struggles to suppress it.
Surprisingly, she relished them, thinking of the dreams and the kiss at times like now when she needed to be focused on her work.
While no other servants had been hired, their new routines had been performed flawlessly. And thankfully, none of the servants had taken ill.
It was Monday, and therefore laundry day. Victoria couldn’t help but think of her confrontation with the Earl so many weeks ago. Why was he constantly on her mind? Frustrated, she forced the thought away.
The steam was swirling in the air as Elizabeth and Molly worked together, laughing lightly at something. Feeling her smooth hands as she stood on the side of the room, overseeing this chore, Victoria was quietly grateful that she hadn’t been placed in a position where she had needed to lend a hand.
But regardless of what the Earl had said, Victoria would be willing to jump in to help either Molly or Elizabeth if the need arose.
“Are you excited about the fair, Your Grace?” Elizabeth asked, looking up, her cheeks pinkened from the steam.
“Elizabeth, do I need to ask you again to call me Lady Victoria?” A small laugh of disbelief rose to her lips. She hadn’t ever thought she wouldn’t like the title, but it was beginning to grate. Becoming a duchess was in her past and she wanted to make a fresh start.
I already have, she thought, looking at the two women who had become her friends regardless of their station.
“Sorry, Lady Victoria. It’s hard to break the habit.” Elizabeth smiled shyly as she rinsed out a heavy sheet.
Victoria waved away the girls’ concerns. “Yes, I am very excited about it. I can’t believe it’s tomorrow. Finally, more help.”
Both the girls nodded. Sighing gratefully at the thought of having another servant around. “I wouldn’t mind taking a week off of laundry duty in the near future.” Molly looked up with a wry grin.
“Me either.” Victoria muttered. “Don’t worry, we’ll do a rotation so no one is stuck doing it every week.” Both women looked relieved by this announcement.
“Thank you again for allowing us to leave early tomorrow night. We’re excited that we’ll be able to see everything.”
Victoria laughed again, walking toward the women. “Don’t thank me. His Lordship was the one that made it clear that everyone should have the night off.”
Molly shrugged. “Still. It was very good of you both. I can’t wait to see the ribbon cart.”
“Me either. I’m in need of a few new colors.”
“Oh,
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