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But with every passing day without seeing Ian, she cared less and less about that.

He’d told her that he would be too busy to visit her in the coming week or two. And she had thought she would be fine with it. She’d even thought it would’ve been a nice change of pace. A reason for her to stop depending on him this much, a way for her to cool the growing feelings toward him. And yet, five days into her Ian drought, she couldn’t wait to see him.

He hadn’t said anything about her not being able to visit him instead, had he?

Perhaps he was preoccupied with his household business and was locked in his study with not enough time to dress up and sneak into her house. But he could spare a few moments if she was the one to come to him, couldn’t he?

She realized how scandalous her behavior was. To come to the house of a bachelor in the middle of the night unescorted? A few weeks ago, she’d not thought it possible.

But a part of her didn’t care anymore.

She wanted to live the free and glorious life of a widow. Free from society’s expectations and proper behavior. She had a lover, for heaven’s sake!

She’d visited a brothel!

What was an innocent stroll to a gentleman’s house in her most beautiful gown?

Nothing.

So she donned a cloak over her shoulders and sneaked out through the servants’ entrance and into the night.

She knocked on the door and stood there, waiting, as the seconds that passed felt like hours. A chill crawled across her body, and she tightened her cape around her shoulders.

Ian’s butler opened the door, an older man, thin and tall, with short, silver hair. He looked at her with obvious curiosity in his eyes. He didn’t say anything, he just opened the door further, letting Helen inside.

Helen probably wasn’t the only woman to visit Ian in the dead of the night. The thought caused a burning sensation in Helen’s chest, which felt a lot like jealousy.

“I am here to see Lord McAllistair,” Helen said, unease settling close to jealousy in her chest.

“Of course. Follow me.” The butler bowed and led her to a small drawing room. He ignited a few candles and helped Helen into a chair by the hearth. “I shall let the master know immediately. Please, wait here.”

He bowed out and left Helen all alone with her doubts.

Helen immediately stood and started pacing the floor, burning off her nervous energy. There wasn’t a clock in the room, and the time seemed to pass torturously slowly.

She waited, pacing back and forth for what seemed like hours—but what probably was mere minutes—and finally decided that she couldn’t wait any longer.

She left the room and walked down the corridor.

She paused by the staircase landing, wondering if she should have left him a note. Or perhaps she should have waited a bit longer?

She let out a deep breath and looked around. Ahead of her was a passage leading to a glass structure. Curious, Helen decided to take a walk around the house. She would return to the drawing room in a few minutes, she decided, and if Ian still wasn’t there, then she’d leave.

She walked through the passage and pulled the glass double doors open.

Helen didn’t really know what she expected to find when she walked through the doors. But what she did find was the most beautiful place she could ever have possibly imagined.

A conservatory!

Helen looked around in awe at the grand palatial room filled with various plants. If she were to wait for Ian, she might as well spend this time in this grandiose place. She breathed in the smell of flowers, delighting in the warmth of the air.

There was a sound of splashing water somewhere ahead, and she moved toward it. In the center of the room stood a magnificent fountain, carved from the finest marble and adorned with intricate carvings of exotic creatures.

But it was the panther at the top of the fountain that truly took her breath away. Frozen in mid-motion, the majestic animal seemed almost alive, its powerful muscles tense and ready to pounce. Water flowed from its open mouth, cascading down the tiers of the fountain in a glittering spray.

The graceful animal, strong, yet elegant, reminded her of Ian.

He was calm and gentle but contained so much hidden strength. She remembered the feel of his muscles under her fingers, the heat of his body, the steely feel of his arms around her, and shivered.