Dilly didn’t respond as she ran off to get
the front door. She opened it wide and smiled brightly as she stood
aside to allow Sir Edward to enter.
“Hallo, Dilly,” he said warmly.
Dilly smiled in spite of her shyness. She met
his gaze for the flash of a moment and appeared happy to tell him,
“Hello sir. Miss will be that glad…Oi mean…his lordship would be,
if he were here, that he would. But Oi’m certain Miss Berkley would
be pleased to receive ye as she has just been moping around, Oi
suppose on account of the rain and such.”
“Thank you, Dilly,” he said and winked at
her. “Is she in the library? I fancy I know the way.”
Dilly giggled and hurried off and Sir Edward
made his way to the library door, and opened it ever so slightly.
He stood for a moment looking at Star and it was as though
everything inside of him, from his brain right down to the nerve
endings in his toes lit up. A warm and glowing amber light, seemed
to surround her and that glow pulled him toward her.
She didn’t hear him as he approached though
he thought she must for his heart pounded loudly, unrelentingly in
his chest. He saw that she was deep in thought and wondered what
was wrong. He could sense something was wrong. Had such a bond
already struck up between them? Did she feel it as well?
She was a beauty and in her simple summer
muslin gown of green, with her flaxen colored hair sweeping
perfectly around her piquant face. He was mesmerized by its waves
as they cascaded just to her neck. He was aware that the sight of
her, took his breath away. He had always laughed to hear this said
and now he knew just what it actually meant. He couldn’t breathe,
he couldn’t think, he couldn’t speak.
He found himself sucking in air, as he tried
to fill his lungs, but all he could do was stand very still and
admire and remember the feel of her in his arms. Her skin so like
silk, her heavenly thighs and that tempting honey box hidden
between. He wanted her all at once and didn’t know how he was going
to keep his hands off her. He had to because he adored her and
wanted everything to be perfect for her.
He loved everything about her—everything!
Jules had told him he wanted her to grow her
hair long, but he didn’t at all agree. He found he liked it
clipped, as the style suited her. He loved the way strands of its
white gold curled around her delicate ears, strayed across her
forehead.
She turned then and her dark eyes found his
eyes and filled his soul with a sensation he had never dreamt
possible to feel from just a look, ah, but that look.
She went toward him in a rush of feeling. Her
voice was scarcely audible as she said, “Edward…oh Edward.”
He took her up in his arms in one sweeping
embrace and before his lips brushed her own he whispered, “I have
been waiting for this moment…oh by all that is good and right, I
can’t tell you how wonderful you feel to me.”
His mouth covered hers and all he could think
was her kisses were as delicious as they had been the first time he
had brushed her lips with his. He knew in that moment that she
would always taste delicious, audacious, and completely
irresistible.
The sound of her voice was like a sweet
melody he wanted to hear over and over and he knew he would never
tire of it. The touch of her body was magic against his own and
filled him with need.
He came away from her kiss and she said,
“Edward, you should run from me as fast as you can.”
Surprised, he leaned away from her to study
her face. “What has occurred and don’t tell me nothing, something
has for you to say such a thing to me.”
“I…we…I…”
He took her hand and led her to the sofa, “I
think you and I must talk, for you know, you must know,
how I
feel.”
* * *
All the pent up worry, and doubts vanished
when Star turned and saw him standing there with a look on his face
that gave her hope to think perhaps…just perhaps and then just as
quickly, she told herself, she wasn’t worthy such a man!
She went to him in a rush of emotion. The
feel of his arms took her to a place where she was safe, forever
safe and filled her with the desire to stay right where she was, in
his embrace. His kiss opened up her doubts with an explosion of
love, a love she was certain she would never feel ever again for
any other man. She had told him to run from her and a good part of
her wanted him to do just that, though it would break her heart.
She wanted him safe from the ruin she and her brother were falling
into.
She loved him, so then, she could not allow
him to lower himself by aligning his name with hers…if that was
what he meant to do and from the look on his face and the sound in
his voice, she thought he was approaching that point.
He took her to the sofa and wrapped her up in
his arms and repeated,
“Talk
. Tell me everything.”
“I don’t know where to start…” she felt her
voice begin to tremble and said instead, “First, tell me did you
enjoy your day, yesterday? Did you visit with friends? Jules said
something about he rather thought that was where you had gone off
to…some friends you both know in Hastings.”
“You are prattling. I do wish, with all my
heart, that you could find it in your heart to trust me. Star, my
dear heart…don’t you trust me?”
“I do, oh, I so do,” she said desperately.
“Things, however, are in such a muddle.” She turned from him and
pushed out of his hold.
Although she wanted him to hold her and tell
her everything would be fine, she knew that things were in jeopardy
and there was nothing he could do to help.
In addition to that, she had to steer him
away from the subject of her trusting him. It wasn’t about trust,
but about her brother’s honor. While honor was an intangible, she
knew how her brother felt about it. He had left saying he would
handle things and she had to allow him to try.
She was distracted and confused, but she
managed to put on a bright smile and tell him, in a purposely
teasing tone, “It
is you
who still does not trust me.”
His thick defined brow arched, “Now what can
you mean?”
She laughed and peeped at him, for the moment
lost in the aura of what she felt. “I am speaking of the mystery
that hangs around
your
head, sir.”
“A mystery?
Me?”
“Indeed,” she said nodding at him. “When you
first came to us, Jules said you were recovering from a broken
heart…”
“Ah, of course…my broken heart?” he grinned
broadly.
“So then, was Jules correct, were you
suffering from a broken heart?” she countered.
“Do you think so, minx?” He flicked her nose.
She eyed him quizzically,
“No, I never thought so. I think your pride
was wounded, not your heart,” she said audaciously.
He reached for her and brought her in close.
She allowed it, for when he was near, everything seemed right with
the world. “You are an impertinent girl.” He bent his head and
kissed her neck, nibbling toward her ear.
“So I am,” she murmured. “Do you mean to
answer me?”
He stopped his ministrations and put his head
back, “I suppose I must. Yes, it was my pride. In truth, the young
lady in question served to expand my heart, ready it… not break
it.”
“Ah,” Star eyed him happily. “How very
interesting. I like that, but…did you love her at all?”
He sighed, “Now that I know what love is, I
suppose, I did not. She was a beautiful, intriguing woman, quite
sought after. She caught my interest and I did think she might be
the one. She rejected my suit for as you know, another man and
lucky I am that she did.”
Star felt a twinge of jealousy that she
immediately shook off. Her hand went to his chest. He covered her
fingers with his own.
She frowned. Had she made him think of
something that hurt him? She was at once repentant, “I am sorry. I
did not mean for you to recall something painful.”
“That is just it, love. It isn’t painful at
all,” so saying he brought her in for his kiss, gently brushing his
lips with hers, tickling the tip of her tongue with his own before
he pulled away and sighed.
“I shouldn’t…I don’t wish to be found like
this alone with you. It isn’t seemly,” he said softly taking her
hands to pull her up from the sofa.
“Nonsense. Who would come in upon us? Vern is
off to town and besides that, he knows what I am…” she said
saucily.
“And what are you, my love?”
That he called her ‘his love’ thrilled her to
her bones. She wanted more of this with him, more teasing and more
kissing, more of everything that had anything to do with him. She
eyed him and said, tongue in cheek, “A veritable hellcat.”
He threw back his head and laughed, brought
her in for an embrace, kissed her forehead and said, “A darling
one, the only one…but, now I must go. I have business in town as
well.”
She walked him to the front door, her hand in
his and he turned to put her fingers to his lips, “Star, before I
go, I ask for a promise. Would you trust me enough to give it?”
“What sort of promise?”
He smiled ruefully, “After you trusted me
with your kisses, your touch, your body, will you hold back your
trust?”
She hugged him tightly, “No, no, yes then, I
promise.”
“So then, allow me to spell it out for you so
there can be no misunderstanding. All I ask is that you come to me
first
…
me
…before any other, me before your brother
even. Don’t allow doubts to sway you. Think of this moment and come
to me, only me when you find you need help.”
“Before all others,” she said softly. She
hoped her meaning was clear because saying the words ‘I love you’
was so very difficult when he had not, and had not even talked
about a future with her. He was kind. Perhaps he meant to extend
his help but not his heart.
He looked at her and for a moment she thought
he was having a difficult time tearing himself away. He said
softly, “Thank you, Star and remember this moment until our
next.”
She closed the door at his back and leaned up
against it.
Oh Faith, how she loved him.
Chapter Twenty-One
“WELL, I’VE DONE it!” Vern exclaimed looking
as proud as could be, as he strode through the library door and
moved toward his sister. He took her hands and shook them
gleefully, “Star, we may yet come about.”
“Well, look at you…Vern, take your damp cloak
off, you will get sick all over again!” Star pulled at his wet
cloak and took it to drape over a wooden chair and set up by the
fire.
“Star, aren’t you listening
? I’ve done
it!
Just like that! Don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner,
for I never liked sailing.”
“Have you done it, dear?” she said
absently.
“What is wrong with you?” he ignored his own
question and hurried on. “I put together a deal and he couldn’t say
no, I tell you. I didn’t wait for Miles on this, but managed it
myself. This will see us through and get you a London Season to
boot. Star…
I’ve sold the yacht!”
“Oh Vern, that’s wonderful, to Mr. Duncan?
You told me last month he had approached you. I didn’t think you
took his offer seriously. Did you get your price?” she said taking
some interest.
“I did. He said I was more than fair
and had his account manager transfer the funds immediately. The
yacht is now his.” Vern grinned.
“And so, it is good-bye to Papa’s yacht.” She
sighed and added, “But I suppose it was time for us to move
on.”
“Yes, yes,” he frowned suddenly. “There is
only one thing troubling me…but I daresay, it isn’t anything.”
“And what is that?”
“I bumped into Sir Edward at the bank. He
came in just as we were finalizing the paperwork and I overheard
some chatter between two of the clerks. It didn’t quite make sense,
but, it was disturbing.”
“Sir Edward? Chatter?” Star felt something
catch in her throat. What could it be? She was almost afraid to
ask, but she did. “What chatter, Vern?”
“As I said, two of the clerks who had been
working on his file caught my attention when I noticed they glanced
my way…oddly. A few moments later when I got up to stretch while I
waited for Mr. Duncan to transfer the funds, I heard them
conversing.”
“About what?” Star was surprised.
“Well, they asked Sir Edward’s account
manager if he wanted to set up a payment schedule for the property
and he said that it wouldn’t be necessary as Sir Edward meant to
offer it in one lump sum.”
“Property…payment schedule…why should that
trouble you? No doubt he has purchased something in the
vicinity.”
“No, I don’t think so, and it worries me as
someone has purchased our
mortgage…and could foreclose. I
had the impression that someone was Sir Edward.” He shook his head.
“I have enough now to make reasonable payments either monthly or
quarterly but not enough to pay the entire mortgage at once,
especially if it has the mortgager’s profit added to it.” He
shrugged. “I daresay I am worrying myself over nothing.”
“Sir Edward wouldn’t do that to us…it must be
some other property…it must be,” Star said feeling sick in the pit
of her stomach. “Why, he was just here this morning, and didn’t say
a word.”
Vern eyed her for a long moment, “What did he
want?”
“Oh…I don’t know…” she did not meet his
gaze.
“Brat. What do you mean by such behavior?
Entertaining a man in my absence alone here in the library?” He
wagged a finger at her.
She saw that he was only half in earnest,
still too excited by his successful sale of the yacht. “Well, as to
that, waywardness must run in the family,” she teased.
He caught her up and swung her around saying
before he put her down, “Devil-child.” He sighed then and added
more gravely, “It won’t do, you know that, don’t you?”