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Letter sent from Eton
December 1799
Dear Tally,
I’m deeply troubled by what I accidentally did to Starlight last summer and pray you’ve forgiven me by the time you get this letter. I wish to be your friend. Do you forgive me? Please write back.
Signed, Your Vagabond
Reply from Quigley House
December 1799
William,
My brother helped me write this note. Lorenzo says I should forgive you. I won’t.
Natalia Hext
Leah could barely breathe as she looked into Levander’s eyes, but she managed to get one final thing out before he spoke. “If you do this, I’ll never forgive you.” Her entire life flashed in an instant before her eyes. When William finally knew who she was, this would all end, because it meant Julius finding out, which could mean danger for her and Zed.
Levander’s brown eyes held hers for the longest time. “Leah, if you’re hurt, I’ll never forgive myself.”
She softened a little at those words. He truly did care for her, but she’d already warned him about the consequences of telling the Men of Nashwood. Though he didn’t know about her father’s murder, he knew her fear to be real. “A week.”
“No.” William spun her around to face him and touched her cheeks, his hold much gentler than when he’d had his arms around her, making it impossible for her to move. “Leah, you have to trust me.”
“Trust me, William,” she pleaded.
His finger stroked down her cheek, a light caress, but all the while, his green eyes were hard. “You’ve told me nothing but lies from the beginning. Why should I trust you?”
She placed her hands over his heart. “Because you should.” She could think of nothing else to say. She was not only doing this for herself but for him as well. She didn’t want there to be blood. Even as they spoke, a man was following Sarah, learning enough to possibly find something that would keep the woman quiet forever. They just needed more time.
She pressed firmly over the thumping of his heart and hoped he could feel that her intentions were good.
He kept touching her face and slowly his eyes gentled. “Tell me the truth. Are you the blackmailer?”
She bit her lip. “No.”
“Do you know who—”
She cut him off the only way she knew would work. One press of her lips to his and she melted. Another and she forgot why she’d started. William’s arms went around her, and his heat engulfed her. She knew they were doing this in public but didn’t care. He nipped at her mouth and she shivered.
Only then did she realize she should pull away. Her body, however, continued to react to the clash of need and hunger moments after they broke apart.
William lifted her chin and caught her eyes. “A week.” Just in time for the party. He glanced up at Levander. “You and I aren’t finished.” Then he took a step back and started out the door, telling Graves to stay with her.
Leah hesitated before turning to Levander. After the kiss she’d shared with William, she expected to find anger, but what she found instead was a grin.
“No wonder he stormed in here as he did,” Levander said. “He’s obviously in love with you.”
She smiled. “I…” She glanced at Graves, who was pretending to give them privacy, though she had no doubt that he could hear her. She turned back to Levander. “I wasn’t sure that kiss would work.”
Levander laughed. “If you’d ever kissed me that way, I’d have given you the world.” Then he touched her cheek and said, “But you didn’t kiss me that way.”
No, she’d not, and now she knew why. Leah’s first two lovers had never wanted more than her body. It had simply been attraction and easy to give in to, since, as Leah, she’d been no one’s daughter to speak of. There had been no expectations on her life. She’d no longer been the granddaughter of a marquess. As a free woman in France, she could do as she pleased whenever she pleased… but Levander had wanted more. He’d wanted all of her, and she’d not had it to give.
Not to him.
“We should go,” Graves said behind her. She turned to see him glaring at Levander.
Levander only laughed. “Yes, you should go, and I’ll expect a full report by week’s end.”
Ignoring Graves, she hugged Levander and then left.
Graves, no longer feeling the need to pretend he wasn’t there, walked at her side. “I’ve never seen Sir William back down from a goal.”
She glanced over at him and said, “That wasn’t backing down. He’s a man of war. He’ll get what he wants.” And take her heart with it. She only hoped he didn’t break it in the end.