Page 39 of Venus in Disguise

Ash reached for a handkerchief and wiped her eyes carefully.

“All right?”

Narcissa nodded and stood passively as he reached for the hem of the wet shirt.

Ash hesitated. “I don’t have many female staff here, but I could send for my housekeeper if—”

Narcissa held his gaze boldly, though her cheeks blazed red. “I c-came to you for a reason,” she said, her chest rising and falling quicker with each word she spoke. “I don’t know if you want me or if—”

Ash pressed his mouth to hers, feeling her cold lips touch his warmth with a shock that ran through them both. He pulled away, the strange and powerful surge of protectiveness sweeping over him again.

“I want you,” he said shortly, and stripped off her shirt before reaching for the counterpane and wrapping it swiftly around her.

Narcissa held it close, her cheeks burning with embarrassment as he knelt and tugged the trousers down her legs.

“Get into bed,” he instructed, determined to keep this as businesslike as he could manage.

A knock at the door caught his attention, and he bundled up the wet clothes scattered about his room and went to the door.

“I’ve sent George for the doctor, and I brought this,” she added, holding out a steaming mug. “A hot toddy ought to warm the poor mite. Shall I run a bath for her?”

Ash nodded. “If you would, yes. And, Mrs Fenchurch,” he added as the lady took the wet garments from him, “as you are dying to know, the young woman is Lady Narcissa Ponsonby, and she is to be my wife.”

“Oh, congratulations, sir,” Mrs Fenchurch said, smiling at him now she knew things were going to be set right.

As loyal as she was, she would not have countenanced working in a house with an unmarried female under the same roof as him and he did not wish to lose an excellent housekeeper, nor to endure one of her morality scoldings. He’d suffered through a good many over the years. It was the cost of having an employee who had known him since he was a snot-nosed boy and had once smacked his arse for naughtiness.

“No one, and I mean no one, must know she is here,” Ash said gravely. “Not until after we are married. Her father is a brute and I fear what he will do to her if he discovers her under my roof. Until she has my name, I have no legal right to keep her from him.”

Mrs Fenchurch’s expression was one of startled surprise, but her voice was calm and reassuring. “Yes, sir. I understand. No one here will breathe a word, I promise you that.”

Ash nodded and closed the door, carrying the steaming drink to Narcissa, who was huddled in the bed. Her eyes were very wide as he approached and sat beside her.

“Married?” she repeated faintly, staring at him with anxiety in her eyes.

“Of course,” Ash replied shortly, avoiding the scrutiny of her blue gaze. “You’ve been missing for days, and you came to me. You’re in my bed. What else did you expect? Drink this.”

“I’m n-not sure I know,” she admitted, not taking her eyes from his as she accepted the mug. “I suppose I hoped you might wish to marry me, but I did not mean to force you into a situation you did not want, though, and if no one knows I am here—”

Ash looked away from her, uncertain of what it was he felt, of what he ought to say, only that he was damned if she was wriggling out of the situation she’d created now.

“We’ll talk about it all later,” he said, knowing that was evasive at best, but he needed time to get his thoughts in order. “Drink up, now. Mrs Fenchurch is running a hot bath for you. Are you hungry?”

As if in answer to his question, her stomach gave a furious growl. Narcissa looked mortified but nodded. “Very,” she admitted.

“I’ll have something sent up,” he said with a smile, getting to his feet.

“Don’t go,” Narcissa said as he walked to the door.

Ash turned, regarding her tucked up in his bed. The desire to stay was almost overpowering, but he needed to get away, to clear his thoughts, which were running in ten directions at once.

“I won’t be long,” he said, and left the room.

Chapter 12

Dear Mau,

It is rainy and dreary here today, and I am feeling a little blue. I usually find a good deal of satisfaction in my embroidery and in books and painting, and the morning calls I make and receive. Trevick is such a beautiful place, and one I have always considered a sanctuary, but I am increasingly restless and out of sorts and I don’t know why.