Part 55 (2/2)

Harry smiled.

”I'm so glad you now see my point.” Lucinda blinked, then gestured at the door.

”But he's gone now. You told him not to come back.” When Harry merely raised his brows, she folded her arms and lifted her chin.

”There's no reason you can't leave now.”

Harry's smile turned feral.

”I can give you two very good reasons.”

They came knocking an hour or so apart. Lucinda gave up blus.h.i.+ng after the first.

She also stopped urging Harry to leave; this was not the sort of houseparty at which she felt comfortable.

When the hour after midnight pa.s.sed and no one else came creeping to knock on the panels of her door, Lucinda finally relaxed. Curled up against the pillows on her bed, she looked across at Harry, eyes closed, head back, sprawled in the big armchair before the fire. She didn't want him to go.

”Get into bed--I'll stay here.”

He hadn't moved or opened his eyes. Lucinda could feel her heart thudding.

”There?”

His lips twisted.

”I'm perfectly capable of spending a night in a chair for a good cause.” He s.h.i.+fted, stretching his legs out before him.

”It's not too uncomfortable.” Lucinda considered, then nodded. His eyes looked closed.

”Do you need any help with your lacings?” She shook her head--then realised and answered, ”No.”

”Good.” Harry relaxed.

”Good night, then.” ”Good night.”

Lucinda watched him for a moment, then settled down amid the covers, drawing them over her. Although it was a four-poster, there were no hangings on the bed; there was no screen behind which she could change. She lay back against the pillows; when Harry made no sound, did not move, she s.h.i.+fted onto her side.

The soft flickering firelight touched his face, lighting the hollows, throwing the strong bone structure into relief, shading his heavy lids, etching the firm contours of his lips.

Lucinda's eyes slowly closed and she drifted into sleep.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

WHEN SHE woke the next morning, the fire had died. The chair before it was empty.

Lucinda let her lids fall and snuggled down beneath the covers. Her lips curved in a lazy smile; a deep contentment pervaded her. Idly, she searched for the cause--and remembered her dream.

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