Part 35 (2/2)
”A girl. My brother's girl. David caught us kissing and called me out immediately. We couldn't duel with pistols because we were the only heirs and my father would've killed us both. David chose rapiers, said we would fight till first blood. I'll always believe he meant to slice open my neck. I didn't blame him, then or now.” Gavin glanced away, as if unwilling or unable to meet her eyes. ”I told you I wasn't a good person.”
”How old were you?”
”Sixteen, same as the girl. David was twenty.”
”What happened to the girl?”
Gavin gave a wry chuckle. ”He married her. Not long after, my parents died. I haven't seen my brother since.”
”How many duels have you fought since then?”
He finally glanced at her, frowned. ”None.”
”Stolen kisses from anybody else's fiancee?”
He shook his head. ”No.”
”Then I don't think you're a bad person. You made a mistake.”
”I make lots of mistakes. I'm impulsive. Careless. Selfish.”
”You may have been in the past, but you're not now. You're the most selfless, caring man I've ever known.”
”That's because you've only managed to be around men who are even bigger p.r.i.c.ks than I am.” He tried to dispel the shame of his words with a smile, but his eyes were tortured.
”Stop it.” She gripped his chin with one hand and crushed her lips to his. ”I wouldn't make love to you if I thought you were an irredeemable blackguard. Over a decade has pa.s.sed since then. You were young. People change.”
”Do they?”
”I think so. I like you just the way you are.” think so. I like you just the way you are.”
His c.o.c.k stirred. ”I like you just the way you you are.” are.”
”Just don't duel over me,” she teased, pulse racing at the thought.
”I will if I want to,” he growled, flipping her over and driving his shaft inside her. ”If you so much as think about kissing another man, I swear I'll meet him at dawn.”
”I would never,” she gasped, locking her legs around his thighs. ”Only you. I promise.”
”Good.” He laced her fingers with his, crushed his mouth to hers, pumped his hips.
She arched against him, hands locked with his. ”How much longer are you mine to command?”
Her heart pounded so loud, she almost didn't hear his whispered reply.
”For as long as I live.”
Chapter Twenty-Four.
Gavin was still in Evangeline's bedchamber when the sun rose. He'd meant to quit the room when she fell asleep, but couldn't make himself leave her earlier than absolutely necessary. So he stayed, stroking her hair, watching her sleep, holding her close.
And realized what a precious gift she'd given him.
Not just her virginity-although that had seemed a miracle, too-but even more precious than that, she'd given him her unconditional trust. He hadn't forced her to do so. He'd somehow earned it.
She would not make love to a murderer. She would not fall asleep in the arms of a man of irredeemable evil. She said so herself, did she not? She believed in him, even when all evidence suggested she should not.
It was a new sensation, being trusted implicitly. He hadn't lied to her-he'd been an incorrigible youth. Amazing that he hadn't been forced to duel on a regular basis. Nor had he lied when he said he'd call out any man who dared to touch her. Sweat beaded on his skin at the very thought. Horrifying.
He pulled her closer into his arms. When she left, he wouldn't have much say over it, would he? He wouldn't even be there. Might never see her again at all.
Unacceptable.
But what could he do about it? They were no closer to solving Hetherington's murder than when they began. Edmund and Francine had flat-out said they believed him responsible. His own family regarded him with suspicion. The way that Stanton woman sent off missives, the constabulary would arrive with a rope and shackles any day now.
Legalities of guardians.h.i.+p aside, he could hardly ask Evangeline to stay with him when he wasn't sure how much longer he'd be able to stay himself. If he truly cared for her, he would have to let her go. Give her a bagful of money. Send her off in his best coach. Hope she thought of him once in awhile.
He should give her something to take with her. A memento of the short time they had together. Something to let her know they would always be together in his heart.
But what? Jewelry? A nice long string of pearls, perhaps. Something that even if she wrapped it thrice around her neck, the longest strand would dip across the slope of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, brus.h.i.+ng against the tender skin where the pale curves met with the trim of her bodice.
No. There was no time to order anything. She planned to leave today.
What did he have to give her? Nothing. Neither literally nor figuratively. She deserved better. She should be in bed with a better man than him. She should be...but he would die before giving her up to another. Bad enough he couldn't protect her from her stepfather. He could hardly ask her to stay at the very house she'd seen herself being abducted from.
He'd rather her leave him for safety than be taken by force. Maybe she'd even let him join her, wherever she planned to go. He'd promised Jane a new wardrobe when Madame Rousseau arrived in a couple days. He could say his goodbyes and slip away in the excitement of new clothes. Perhaps save himself a trip to the gallows in the process. Would Rose let him visit if he were a fugitive from justice? He certainly couldn't visit if he were dead.
Evangeline tilted toward him, snuggled closer, opened her eyes.
”What a grim expression,” came her sleep-thickened voice. ”What are you thinking about?”
”Death,” he answered. ”By hanging.”
She stared at him for a second, then sighed. ”Good morning to you, too.”
”I'm sorry,” he said, instantly contrite. He should've said ”puppies” or ”lemon ices.” Yet another fine example of the many ways he wasn't good enough for her.
He bent down and kissed her anyway. When he lifted his head, her expression was still pensive.
”If I'm leaving anyway,” she said slowly, ”I don't see why I can't just admit I was with you in your office. Who cares about my reputation if I can save you from the gallows?”
He shook his head. ”Wouldn't work.”
”Why not?”
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