Twenty-six

Eveline

When I arrived in the parlor for dinner, Zach was the only one present. He stood near the hearth, looking as handsome as ever in his black dinner coat, burgundy waistcoat, and white cravat. Though I had seen him in fashionable attire a hundred times previously, when he turned and flashed me the smile meant only for me, I thought I might swoon on the spot.

I glanced around for his brother. “Where’s Frederick?”

Zach strode toward me and reached for my hands. There was a lightness to his demeanor that I had not seen recently. It made me tingle. “Frederick had business to attend to in London.”

“Surely his business could wait. He just buried his father.”

Zachary’s smile was almost a smirk. “He would not wait on this business.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You know something.”

He shook his head. “Only speculating. Nothing for certain. Now, let’s not speak of Frederick and ruin our evening.”

“So, we are all alone?” My heart thumped an extra beat.

Zachary took a step forward as if our proximity could accommodate such a move and he let go of my hands and clinched my waist. The enticing scent of spice reached me first and every second that passed before I felt his lips on my skin heightened my anticipation. When he finally made contact, he kissed the hollow between my neck and shoulder first. My head naturally tilted back to allow him full access. His touch stemmed so feather light, it sent gooseflesh rippling down my spine. When his lips slid up my neck then to my ear, each brush blazed a heated trail in its wake. When he reached my lips, it was like a thirst had finally been quenched. Slow, passionate, gentle.

After several seconds, he pulled back. His breath came out short and shallow. “Forgive me, Eveline.” He ran one hand through his hair. “I um, I just can’t seem to get enough of you.”

I smiled wide.

He took one look at me and shook his head. He reached for me, both hands cupping the nape of my neck, then he kissed my dimple before he claimed my mouth. Every thrilling movement from his touch was felt in the corresponding grasp of his fingers against my skin.

He drew back once more and took several steps backward, clasping his hands behind him. I did not want him to stop kissing me but understood the wisdom. We were alone, and if we were not careful, we would not be parting to separate wings of the house tonight. “Yes.” I bobbed my head and lowered my eyes. “We must be careful.” I said this knowing full well that I had very little willpower when it came to Zach. And since he has not specifically asked me to marry him yet, I had to remain cautious. While I believed marriage was in our future, dealing with the death of his father took precedence right now.

When I glanced back toward Zach, his eyes were closed and his jaw tense. I eliminated the space between us and placed my palm gently on his jaw to soothe it. “Let’s proceed to dinner.”

He opened his eyes, breathed deeply, and smiled. “Yes, let’s,” he said with a little sigh. Draping my hand over his arm, he led me into the dining hall where the table, which seated at least twenty, appeared intimate and cozy with two table settings placed side by side to one another. A multitude of candles added to the romantic ambiance.

Zachary laughed heartily and peered at me. I smiled. This was not the way to focus on something other than our sentiments for one another.

“Mrs. Dunlap has outdone herself,” Zach mentioned as he led me to a chair and helped me sit.

I loved the premise that the housekeeper enjoyed the idea of us being together, but now that Frederick was gone, the risk of giving in to those heated sentiments had increased tenfold.

Though neither of us could claim this house as our own, we dined, conversed, and laughed as though it was, at least for tonight. And through it all, glimpses of a future together revealed how truly happy I would be with Zach by my side.

After we finished a delicious slice of Madeira cake for dessert, Zach turned toward me and reached for my hands. “Evie, once again, I wish to apologize for my choice to hire the Bow Street Runner. I will not attempt to justify my behavior beyond my concern for you. I was angry at myself for not making sure you were taken care of before I left for the war and heartbroken upon my return to find that your circumstances had changed, and you had married.”

I lifted his hand gently, the one with his missing fingers, and sweetly kissed his knuckles. “Zach, you did not know my father would pass and leave us in such a desperate way.”

“But I should have told you then, that night at the tree, what my true feelings were.” He lifted his other hand to play with my wayward strand that had come loose. “Were then, and still are.”

“Tell me now,” I whispered.

He released the strand of hair and lifted my fingers to his lips. His warm breath sent shivers through my body as he leaned closer. “You are everything to me, Evie. Everything.” I held completely still as he continued with a gentle, measured pace. “Every waking thought, every smile, every chill down my spine, every touch, every whim, every fantasy… they all lead to you.”

When he stood to his feet, he gently drew me to mine at the same time. Wrapping his arms around me, he held me tight as I rested my head against his shoulder. “I love you,” he said. “I love you more than you might ever know.”

Tears bubbled in the corners of my eyes. This, this right here, was my greatest hope. I pulled back just enough to see his face. “I love you too, Zach. I always, always have,” I cried as I spoke. His hand cradled my cheek and he kissed me again, causing my heart to pound in my ears and my knees to wobble and nearly buckle beneath me.

After several more minutes of our blissful escape from the world around us, we left the dining room arm in arm and returned to the parlor. Every setting we found ourselves in tonight from the moment we met for dinner provided an intimate mood that only stoked our passion. The hearth blazed with a toasty fire, the lowly lit sconces provided just enough shadow to entice privacy, and the sofa taunted with the perfect amount of cherished space for two.

I knew the night was relatively young and, while there were many things we might find to occupy our time, the longer we were alone, fervent sentiments blazed enticingly between us and tested my resolve.

We shared a glance, and my heart thumped in double time. There was no one to stop us. No one to say, “No, Eveline, you cannot invite him to your bedchamber.” The torment was real. I had yearned for so long to be adored by Zach, held by Zach, and loved by Zach.

“I am going to say goodnight,” I said, hating every word that just came out of my mouth, wishing our circumstances were different and we would not need to part so early.

He kissed my hands and nodded. Leading me out to the base of the grand staircase, he stopped us there. Caressing my cheeks with his hands, he muttered, “I fear if I escorted you to your room, I might not be able to say goodnight.” His chest rose and fell at a faster tempo, making it clear that he shared my longing. “And I have too much respect for you to do that.” He kissed my cheek. “One day, love, I will never have to part your side.”

I nodded, recognizing my own weaknesses and reached into my pocket, withdrawing a small missive. “This is for you.” I handed it to him and he moved over to a wall sconce and read it. I watched his face light up and a low rumble of laughter filled the silence of the hall.

“Cornelius summons me.” He laughed again. “And I will most certainly acquiesce.”

Zach leaned in once more and kissed me briefly on the lips and whispered. “I will see you tomorrow morning at eight o’ clock in the stables, love.”

Then he walked away.

I stood as if frozen to the floor for several minutes, long after he departed and left his teasing scent behind. Thank goodness for his willpower, for I had so little.

Once back in my bedchamber, I reflected on the night and especially the memory of Zach’s lips on mine. Though I had been through long nights before, this would prove to be one of the longest.