Chapter 18

Lucian finally rose with the sun. He barely slept and when he did, he dreamt of Eliza. He’d gone to bed frustrated and angry with himself for giving in. When her sweet lips had pressed against his, Lucian willed himself not to react, but when she started to pull away, he could not let her go. It only grew heated the more they kissed until he had her beneath him as he caressed one perfect breast, her nipple tight with desire. Had he wished to, Lucian had no doubt that Eliza would have allowed him to completely seduce her last night, which would have been a mistake.

He did not know for certain that she was innocent, but suspected that she was, and it wasn’t a question he could ask.

Had he claimed Eliza, he would have had no choice but to marry her as it would have been the honorable thing to do, and while the idea of having Eliza in his bed permanently was something he would enjoy, away from the bedchamber they would not suit.

She was impetuous and undisciplined, proven by the way she had kissed him twice; once almost ten years ago and the other last night. Eliza went after what she wanted without considering the ramifications while he proceeded with caution at every turn, and carefully considered the options in all situations and decisions, until she kissed him.

Bloody hell!

She would be the death of him, of that Lucian had no doubt, or at least see him Bedlam bound, though perhaps Xavier would take pity on him and turn Hardwood Hall into a hospital where he would see that Lucian was cared for by professionals while he spent his days on the terrace watching the sea, a man reduced to nearly nothing because he had succumbed to desire for the wrong woman.

Yes, he was being dramatic, but where Eliza was concerned, nothing was impossible. She was beautiful, spontaneous, and fearless—unless a storm was raging. He was pragmatic, thoughtful, and proceeded with caution.

Yet, he wanted her. Desired her like no other woman, which had been the case since he first saw her step from the lake ten years ago. Over the years, he had come to know other women with potential courtship in mind, but he had compared each woman he met to Eliza, even knowing she was not for him. It was a constant war within him. In his mind, Lucian knew that he needed a calm, reasonable, and thoughtful wife. His heart desired a woman who challenged him, who sparked desire and passion—the woman he burned for.

Once he had dressed for the day, Lucian retreated to the library where estate work waited. He shut the door and was tempted to lock it so that he wasn’t disturbed by her but thought that a bit ridiculous. Besides, he was not one to hide, just avoid. When it came time to break his fast, he had a tray delivered to the library and continued to work and did the same in the afternoon.

Yes, he was avoiding Eliza because he was weak, but he could not continue to do this during her entire stay. Except, concentrating on accounting, and crops, and the tenants were the only items that helped keep her from his mind…that wasn’t true either. He had to force himself to concentrate and keep his arse in the chair or he would search her out and likely nothing else would be accomplished that day. However, as the dinner time came, Lucian could not stand being in the library any longer. He thought to take his horse from the stables for a ride, except, his feet took him toward the parlor where he found Eliza sitting on the settee, sheets of parchment on the table beside a stack of cards that she would look at one and then read from a sheet, then place it aside and pick up another card.

What also held his notice was that she was bent, a coppery curl falling over her shoulder and caressing the top of a perfect breast nearly revealed by the gape in her pale green gown.

Lucian was just about to ask her what she was doing when the butler appeared to announce dinner.

Only then did Eliza look up, her grey eyes widened and then she smiled. “Ah, you have emerged from the library and are no longer hiding from me.”

“I was not hiding,” Lucian argued, and lied. “There were several matters that needed my attention.” That was the truth.

She set the card and parchment aside, stood and shook out her gown. “I am glad to know that it is not my presence that kept you hidden away.” She walked toward him. “I am famished” She announced crossing before him. “What do you suppose Cook has served for dinner this evening?”

All Lucian could do was watch as she walked past him and then down the corridor. Had she been unaffected by what occurred last night?

Had she been able to return to her bed after the storm and enjoy a pleasant and dreamless sleep?

Did she not want him as much as he wanted her and had she just been toying with desire and affection?

If so, and if she continued, Eliza would likely get burned and by him.

Eliza was beginning to wonder when she would see Lucian again.

She feared that she’d gone too far in kissing him and that he had regretted what had happened next, though it was not much, given what all could have occurred. Regardless, he had still walked away, unaffected, while her body had remained achy and she had wondered if she would get any sleep. When she finally had escaped to slumber, Eliza had slept much later than normal and when she had emerged downstairs was told that her host was in the library and asked not to be disturbed. This had left her to eat alone and then she had gone into the parlor and thought to write, then decided to allow her hand to rest one more day. Instead, she sat to study the tarot cards her brother had sent to her.

She had heard of mystics reading tarot cards and how they could tell a past, present, and future, and a diagram had been given to her with the cards, but she wasn’t quite certain she understood how to do a reading.

“How was your day?” Lucian asked politely after the soup was placed before them.

“Pleasant,” Eliza answered. “Was yours as well?”

“Yes, I suppose.”

“The weather has cleared and the sky was a lovely shade of blue this afternoon. It is a shame you missed it.”

He paused and looked up at her. “You left the house?”

“Only so far as the terrace. There was so much rain that it left the ground soft and wet and I did not wish to ruin my slippers.”

Not that she had any intention of going farther than the terrace today. She needed Lucian to know that she would not remain a prisoner, living in fear, forever.

“If you do need to stray from the terrace, make certain a footman accompanies you.”

She blew out a sigh and finished her soup. Nothing was going to happen to her while she was at Wyndhill Park. She had come to that conclusion today. Lucian had enough guards posted that an invading army couldn’t enter the estate so it was likely one lone man would be noticed immediately.

When the soup was removed, a plate of beef, potatoes and green vegetables was placed before her and her wine glass refilled. Lucian said nothing after he warned her not to wander too far as if she were a child. He had not used those words, but the meaning was the same.

The remainder of dinner was silent and Eliza, who usually had no difficulties with conversation, could think of nothing to say.

Lucian’s rejection of her last night, avoidance today, and silence at the supper table was message enough that he wanted nothing further to do with her. In fact, he would probably like her gone, except he would not let her leave because someone was sending letters, which must be quite an uncomfortable dilemma for him. Further, she knew that he didn’t keep her here for her sake, but because he was friends with her brother and was only protecting her until Isaac could come and take her home.

Brotherly!

After dinner was complete, she rose from her seat and decided to return to the parlor. She could be in silence by herself and tried to fuel her anger in hopes that it suffocated the hurt that Lucian wanted nothing to do with her.

He followed her from the dining room and Eliza had anticipated that he would return to his library, but instead he joined her in the parlor. Eliza ignored him and returned to her place on the settee with every intention of learning more about the cards.

“What were you doing?” Lucian asked. “Is it a game involving one person?”

“They are for fortune telling.” She grinned.

Likely he would dismiss such possibilities as he had the voodoo doll.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“Tarot cards. Oliver sent them to me.”

Lucian frowned and stepped further into the parlor.

Eliza held the cards out to him. “Are they not beautiful? Each is hand-painted by a woman Oliver knows and she has written out instructions for each card, and their meaning and how she does readings.”

He frowned and looked through the cards. “They are nice,” he offered. “Is that what you have been doing all day, learning how to tell the future from cards?” One auburn brow hitched as his eyes filled with humor.

At least he wasn’t being cold and distant.

“Yes,” she answered as an idea come to her. “Have a seat and let me read the cards for you.”

“I do not believe in such nonsense, Eliza.” Lucian handed the cards back to her.

“I am not certain I do either, but I need to learn.”

“Why?” he asked with a frown.

“Because I am adding a fortune teller to the book, so I need to do at least one reading to see how it all comes together.”

He narrowed his blue eyes. “Can you not use the cards to do your own fortune?”

“Where is the fun in that?” she asked, though that had been her original intention. But now that Lucian was here, she wanted to do his fortune. “Please?” she nearly begged.

“Very well,” he blew out a sigh and then took a seat opposite of her.

“Would you care for wine or brandy?” she asked, even though they were in his home and he was the host.

“Tea,” he answered. “Neither one of us need to drink brandy again.”

Eliza frowned. Was he blaming their kissing on too much brandy? She really had not drunk that much and didn’t think he had either. Was that merely an excuse he was making to himself for kissing her?

Eliza would ask, but she didn’t want to spoil the evening since he was no longer hiding from her.

“Then we shall have tea.” Eliza rose and stepped into the corridor since there was always a footman about, made the request then returned to the parlor and settled across from Lucian. She then picked up the cards and began to shuffle as she grinned. This would be fun, and she also wondered if there would be any accuracy, though expected none.

She then held out the cards. “You are supposed to cut them then place them on the table.”

Lucian cut near the bottom of the deck and then set them in front of her.

She then referred to the diagram – then placed the first card face down in the center of the table, then placed the second one over the first, but turned sideways. To the left she placed the third card and to the right she placed the fourth, followed by the fifth at the top and sixth on the bottom. She then made a row to the right of four cards, seventh through the tenth.

The footman entered and placed the tea service at the corner of the table. Before turning any of the cards, Eliza poured for both her and Lucian. “Are you ready?”

He accepted the cup with a chuckle. “I eagerly await my future.”