Part 40 (2/2)
Virginia started. Then she said hoa.r.s.ely, ”I have never heard you say please before.”
His jaw flexed. ”It's a word I rarely feel the need to use. Virginia-” He stopped.
She stared, realizing that he was distressed, perhaps even uncomfortable, and that he wished to say something. Her heart leapt with hope. ”What is it, Devlin?”
A silence ensued. Then, ”I am so sorry,” he said roughly.
Her heart turned over so hard that there could be no doubt that her feelings remained in full force, that nothing had changed, that she still loved this man. She opened her mouth to tell him that this was not his fault-but it was. Everything was his fault.
”Please turn around,” he said, his tone as rough as before.
Virginia s.h.i.+fted, and his hands nimbly moved down her back, unb.u.t.toning the gown. When he had removed it she began taking down her hair, acutely aware of him in the room, placing the dress on the back of a chair. A huge silence ensued. Virginia became impossibly aware of her state of undress. She wore her new undergarments-the black lace chemise, black linen corset and black silk drawers, all trimmed in ivory and pink ribbons, all sinfully sensuous. She needed a wrapper, she thought, stabbed with a sudden, new urgency. ”Would...” She paused, wet her lips and tried again. ”Would you hand me a robe?”
He glanced briefly at her, and if he noticed her undergarments he gave no sign. He opened the armoire as a knock sounded. ”Come in,” he said very sharply, and perplexed, Virginia thought she heard relief in his tone.
Hannah entered, her eyes wide, carrying a tray with a bowl of water and towels. Devlin slipped a lavender silk robe over Virginia's shoulders, also courtesy of Madame Didier, and she belted it firmly, relieved. ”Oh, mum,” Hannah whispered. ”You had a fall! I'm so sorry,” she cried. She set the tray on the bed. ”Captain, one minute, sir.”
He nodded, standing by Virginia's side, and Hannah went to the door and received another tray from a servant standing outside, this one with a bottle of brandy and two snifters. He took a small towel, dipped it in the water, and then looked at her directly. ”You have blood on your lip,” he said.
Virginia could only stare, amazed at what was happening, her heart fluttering madly.
He sat down beside her and gently wiped the blood from her mouth.
She could not breathe. What was he doing? And more important, why?
He tilted up her chin, studied her mouth for a moment, and then lifted his eyes to hers. ”I'm afraid you will be bruised for a few days.”
She didn't know what to say; she said nothing. His touch was beyond gentle. She had never seen this side of him before. Had she not been so upset, she would have been elated.
Hannah had returned, holding two snifters. Devin nodded at the side table, where she set them down. He lifted Virginia's wrist, which still throbbed. And she saw his face tighten, his eyes turn black. He cursed.
”It's not that bad,” she lied, her heart pounding now with terrible force.
His gaze lifted. ”Like h.e.l.l. I think he meant to snap your wrist in two. It is lucky for him that he did not.”
Virginia could only stare. He cared. There was simply no other possible way to read this man's reaction to her condition now.
He handed her a snifter. ”This will help. I advise you to drink the entire gla.s.s. You will sleep like a baby,” he added, trying to smile. But he failed utterly and gave it up.
Virginia sipped, her mind racing, filled with more amazement, more disbelief and, finally, the seed of elation. But how could this be happening? What if she was wrong? He had hurt her so any times-did she dare hope now, that at long last he had come to really care for her? But what else could it be? This man knew no guilt.
Devlin stood. ”I will sleep in a guest room so as not to bother you tonight, Virginia.”
She blinked hard, in dismay. The last thing she wished was to be alone, even if he slept on the sofa in the next room, as he was wont to do.
”Hannah, please apply an ice compress to her wrist.”
”Yes, sir,” Hannah whispered.
Virginia wet her lips. ”Devlin, no,” she said hoa.r.s.ely.
He stiffened.
”I don't want to be alone-not tonight-please, stay here with me,” she cried softly. And tears filled her eyes.
His own widened, his visage far sterner than before. He could not seem to speak.
”I'll get the ice,” Hannah whispered and discreetly she fled, closing the door behind her.
Virginia could not move. She could only stare up at him, the tears trickling down her cheeks, wis.h.i.+ng she could stop crying, wis.h.i.+ng he would not leave, wis.h.i.+ng he would take her in his arms and gently hold her.
He remained stiff with a conflict she could not fathom. ”Virginia,” he said hoa.r.s.ely, ”this is my entire fault. I have used you shamelessly. I am sorry.”
She gasped, stunned.
He closed his eyes as if agonized, then sat down beside her hip. He took both of her hands in his. ”I will not ask for your forgiveness, little one, because I do not deserve it.”
”You are forgiven,” she whispered instantly, meaning it.
His nostrils flared, indicating huge emotion, and he stared, never releasing her hands. ”How can you be so kind after what I have subjected you to? Tom attacked you because of our charade-the charade I insisted upon. G.o.d, I wish I had killed him,” he cried.
She had never seen him emotional like this before; he was a man who only expressed anger. ”It's all right,” she whispered raggedly. Her own fingers tightened on his hands. ”He didn't rape me in the end.”
His eyes widened. ”Is that what he was about? In a public hall?”
Virginia saw the fury in his eyes and she hesitated. ”I think so.”
He leapt up. ”I will kill him after all.”
She sat up straighter, confused. ”Because of me?”
”What other reason would there be?” he asked in some amazement.
She stared. ”Your father.”
His jaw flexed. ”This is not about my father.”
She reeled, his words having the most profound, dizzying effect, and she sank back against the pillows, stunned. This was not about his revenge.
”I must go,” he said suddenly.
”No!” And her gaze blurred. ”Please don't leave me now.”
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