Harry had to resist brushing a hand across Maisie’s reddened cheek as she slept. His heart pulled. Heat still blazed from her skin but at least she was sleeping—which was more than she had been able to do all night. The illness had made her feverish and addled. His daughter had swung between sobbing because of monsters in darkened corners of the room she shared with his sister to tossing and turning in a frenzied state of sleep.

Thankfully the fever had begun to leave her, and she slept peacefully now having had some sips of broth and tea. With any luck, Maisie would rest, and his sister could too after tending to her most of the night until he had returned from work.

He smiled at her mussed hair, tangled around her face and pillow, and the tiny delicate hands, splayed out either side of her head. She had slept like that as a baby—not uncommon for babies so he had been told—but he still caught her doing it even now she was three. As if she wanted to remind him how precious and how strong her hold on his heart had been then and always would be.

Harry eased out of the room, avoiding the creaky floorboard and drawing the door shut enough so that he could move around without disturbing her. He had a feeling Maisie would sleep for the rest of the day to regain her strength and if he knew his daughter would be a bundle of energy by the time it was bedtime again. He smiled to himself as he poured some water into a pan and set it on the stove. He’d need his energy for when Maisie was better. Lighting the stove, he sat on the wooden chair and waited for the water to boil before adding it to coffee grounds.

A light tap at the front door prevented him from taking a much-needed sip of the drink and he eased himself from the chair with a groan. He could swear looking after a sick child was harder than looking after an entire stable of horses all day long.

When he eased open the door, his heart slammed hard against his rib cage. “What are you doing here?”

The words were uncouth and unprepared, and Lady Lilith’s eyes widened. He had not expected her here, at his house, in a hundred years, let alone looking so lovely. Underneath a delicate straw hat, glossy, black curls framed her face and danced over her neck. Tied with a light pink ribbon that matched her spencer and the lace under her bust, she was the picture of beauty and innocence. Her lips were rosy and curved into an uncertain smile and a stain lingered on her cheeks.

“Forgive me,” she said breathlessly. “I did not mean—”

He held up a hand. “No, forgive me. It has been a long night.”

“William said Maisie was sick. I assumed you were nursing her when I did not see you at the house today.” She glanced at the floor as though not wanting to admit she had seen his absence.

Which she should not have done. He should not even pass her notice. But he could not help but like that she had noted it.

“Yes, Iris has had a time of it and is not yet recovered from her own illness so I could not bring myself to leave them. They are both sleeping off a rather eventful night.”

“I am sorry. That sickness is really taking its toll recently. Several of the children at the orphanage have been suffering.”

He nodded. He’d heard as much though he had not realized Lilith had been visiting while some of the children were sick. If he were her brother, he’d probably want to keep her well away from them for fear she’d fall ill too.

Lilith lifted a parcel in her hand, carefully bound with string and with a little label that he could not read. “I brought her a little something. It’s a book of Welsh myths and legends. She showed quite the fascination with stories like that at the library.” She smiled. “There’s plenty of beautiful illustrations,” she added.

“You really shouldn’t have done.”

If the book was from the marquis’s library, it was probably worth more than a year’s wage. Of course, Maisie would have no idea of it’s worth and would not care one jot. She’d probably have honey-covered hands skimming over it in a trice if she could.

He glanced inside. “Will you…er…would you like to come in?”

Lilith nodded, and his heart sank a little. On the best of days, his more than humble home was not fit to entertain a lady, but certainly not after he and his sister had been occupied looking after Maisie. Cups and bowls were littered over the kitchen table and a blanket had been abandoned over the chair. Remains of yesterday’s dinner had yet to be cleared away. He motioned for her to move into the drawing room.

“My sister is sleeping. She’s still not fully recovered and two nights of no sleep with Maisie have taken their toll.”

“If there’s anything I can do to help…”

Harry shook his head and kicked aside his muddied boots that were sitting by the empty fireplace. The small and dark room with its low beam ceiling was a stark contrast to the huge, airy, elegant rooms of Easton Lodge. Even the smallest room was likely bigger than his entire house. Not at all fit for a lady of Lilith’s breeding.

She sank onto the tired armchair by the fire and smiled at him, looking as though she had no other place she would rather be.

He pushed a hand through his hair. “I just made coffee if you would like…”

“Coffee would be wonderful.”

He mentally searched for anything else he could give her while he poured the coffee but with his sister ill, she had made no cakes or biscuits recently. Not even a slab of hard bread. Not that he could give her such a thing.

Ducking into the room, he gave her the cup and sat on the chair opposite. “I—”

“How—” She paused. “What were you—? Sorry.”

“Go ahead,” he said.

“I was just going to ask how Maisie was doing now.”

“She is much better, thank you. I think after some rest she will be back to normal.”

“It is amazing how quickly children can recover compared to adults sometimes. The youngest children at the orphanage had a few hours’ sleep and were back to running about and chasing butterflies but the older ones slept through entire days.”

He nodded. “I envy them that ability sometimes.”

“What the ability to sleep for entire days or to recover quickly?”

He chuckled. “Both I think. A few day’s sleep sounds quite pleasant.”

“Is the foal depriving you of sleep still?”

“No, she is doing well.”

“I must come and visit her again soon. Life has been keeping me busy between preparing for this ball and visiting the orphans.” She pressed her lips together. “That is…I am sure you are busier…”

Inwardly, he grimaced. The last thing he wanted was Lilith to feel guilty. Were there times when he envied the nobility their wealth and freedom? Indeed. But he could not say he would want the pressure of it all. He’d seen how Lilith had suffered with everyone watching her each move. Wealth bought many things, but it caused too many problems too. For certain he wanted a better life for Maisie, but he would never wish one that was so constricted upon her.

“Mary tells me ball preparations have been keeping everyone busy.”

Lilith nodded. “The Duke of Westholm will be hiring in extra hands for the week, I believe. The servants have been talking of it more than we have.”

“It should be quite the event.”

“Another chance to prove myself, I suppose.”

“Are you not excited too, my lady?”

She took a sip of coffee and forced a smile. He knew it was forced. Her normal one did not crease the corners of her mouth like that and usually revealed her even, white teeth. He knew that because he’d spent far too much time looking at her mouth and studying its inflections.

“I am, of course. But—”

“But?”

“Well, I wish everyone would cease talking of it as though it is my debut all over again. I had my chance, and this isn’t even going to be held by my brother. All I am is a guest.”

“Your friends are excited to have you in society. I cannot blame them for that.”

“If it was up to me, I would slip quietly in and pass everyone’s notice. I have had my taste of attention and I could quite happily do without it now.”

Except as sister of a marquis, she would always garner attention, be it good or bad. But he had no doubt some gentleman would snap her up before long. They might not see her for the sweet, caring lady he did, but they would forget the gossip columns with ease because of her connections.

“Is it silly that I would rather be here with you than twirling around a ballroom?”

Her honesty hurt him. It dug deep into her chest like a knife carving away at his heart. He wished to God she had stayed quiet and maintained an awkward politeness that was so at odds with their friendship—a friendship that had been changing and evolving into something neither of them could accept recently.

He’d rather she were here than twirling around a ballroom in some gentleman’s arms too. But to admit as much did neither of them any favors.

“I should think you’d tire of sitting here, waiting for a sick child to wake up before long.”

She looked at the cup in her hand but not before he saw the little spark of hurt in her eyes. Did she not understand why he said these things? Was she really so clueless as to why he had to protect himself? And Maisie? Neither of them could get too used to her. It was too dangerous.

A creak came from the bedroom then gentle footsteps tapped into the room. “Oh goodness,” declared his sister. “Lady Lilith, I did not know we had company.” She patted her hair. “If I had known—”

Lilith waved Iris’s apologies away. “Please, I know you have been kept busy with Maisie, and that you have not been at all well yourself.”

“I must be a state.” Iris smoothed her skirts. “Is Maisie sleeping?”

Harry nodded. “I think she’ll be fine now for a good few hours.”

“That’s a relief.” His sister glanced at the cups in their hands. “Goodness, we have no cake or anything to offer you. You must forgive me. I have had no time to bake at all…”

“Coffee is just fine, really.” Lilith placed the cup down on the side table, the cup still almost full. “But I am imposing, and you have enough to do.” She put the book next to the cup. “Please do give this to Maisie when she awakens and tell her I am thinking of her.”

“Oh, do not rush off on my account,” Iris flustered. “I am sure I could rustle up—”

Lilith pressed a hand to Iris’s arm. “Perhaps I can visit when you are both well and recovered?”

Iris nodded eagerly. “Maisie would love it and I would appreciate the female company to be sure.”

Harry resisted the urge to rub a hand across his face. Why Iris would encourage a visit from Lady Lilith, he did not know. Maisie would talk of it incessantly and it would not pass their neighbors notice that a lady had called on them not once but twice.

“Harry, you should walk Lady Lilith home, I think,” his sister insisted. “There have been some reports of theft near the woods recently.”

“Actually, I intended to stop by the orphanage. They have their hands full with this illness,” Lilith explained.

Iris’s brows rose. “Your brother does not mind you doing that? Does he not fear you will sicken, my lady?”

Lilith shook her head and smiled. “I have a strong constitution.”

“You should still accompany Lady Lilith, Harry.” His sister gave him a nudge with an elbow. “She will have to go past the woods to get to the orphanage.”

Harry resisted rolling his eyes. There had been one minor incident in the woods recently with a young lad trying to hold up a gentleman with a large stick. Suffice to say, the lad had been unsuccessful and had received a beating from said stick. But his sister liked to fear the worst.

“I’ll take you up to the road,” he offered. Any further and they were at risk of being spotted together. He would not damage her reputation for anything in the world and no matter how harmless their interactions might be, there was nothing this village liked more than gossip.

If only his thoughts were as harmless.

Lilith remained quiet as they made their way down the track away from his single-story dwelling. When he had first arrived in Hampshire, his sister had been living there alone, barely able to keep a roof over her head. He’d made significant improvements now, but it always ate into him that she had been living destitute for so long while he lived with his family in Northumberland in relative comfort. They had not been rich by a long stretch, but they had warm clothes and a fire when needed.

If things went the way he planned, they would have more than a warm fire. The living that came with being head groom was about the finest a man of his profession could get. He’d be well-respected too. Not quite high up enough in society to be worthy of a lady like Lilith, but for him, it would be several steps up.

“Your sister looks a little better,” Lilith said, splitting the silence and forcing him from his thoughts.

“Yes, though she’s still tired. Maisie can be challenging work, though, so it’s not surprising.”

“She’s at an age where she wants to know everything.”

A smile tugged at his lips. “Yes, and she wants to know it all right now.”

Lilith giggled. “Naturally. I know I used to drive Thorney mad with all my questions. I probably still do, I suppose.”

It jarred him to hear the marquis called Thorney. He was not unaware of Lilith’s nickname for him, but he never thought of Lord Thornefield as anything other than lord or marquis.

A rustle in the trees set him on alert. He snatched Lilith’s hand and drew her in between the trees, tucking her against a tree.

“What is it?” Her eyes were wide behind her spectacles.

“A noise.” He peered around the trees and shook his head. “Iris’s fear of the woods must be getting to me. There’s nothing there…” His words vanished when he looked at her.

Gray eyes searched his. A gap of no more than a foot separated them. Her body seemed to draw him in, beckoning him to his doom. He closed the gap and stroked a finger over her cheek.

“So soft,” he murmured.

Her palms were pressed against the bark. Her lips parted. He saw her throat work. Lilith closed her eyes while he traced a path with one finger down her neck and paused at the dip in her collar bone. He could see her pulse hammering furiously at the base of her neck.

The delicate, subtle movement of the blood rushing beneath her skin jarred him. What the hell was he doing? She opened her eyes as he backed off. Her fingers curled around his arm.

“No.”

He froze. “No?”

“Just hold me. Please?”

Hold her? How could he refuse? How could he accept? If he held her, he’d want more. But her eyes pleaded with him and he had no choice. He took her into his arms, tucking her head against his chest. Her softness against his hardness made his jaw tense. She wrapped her arms around his waist and sank into him. Why did this have to feel so bloody right?

It wasn’t right. It was wrong. He broke away, hardly able to look at her. “We had better hurry. You have an orphanage to get to.”