Scandalising the Ton. Diane Gaston

crossed the room to the small fireplace, its mantel of carved marble holding another empty vase. To his surprise, the fire had not died out at all. It was all set to be lit. He found the tinderbox and soon had a flame licking across the lumps of coal.

      He returned to her. She had removed her cloak and clutched it in front of her. Adrian took it from her hands and draped it over a nearby chair. It contained something in its pocket. Adrian felt a purse, heavy with coin.

      He turned back to her and their eyes met, hers still shimmering with tears.

      He touched her arm. “Are you certain you are not in pain? You look near to weeping.”

      She averted her gaze. “I’m not in pain.”

      He knelt in front of her. “Then let me have a look at that ankle. If it is broken, we will need to summon a surgeon.”

      She drew up her leg. “A surgeon!”

      “A surgeon would merely set the bone,” he said, puzzled at her alarm.

      Her hand fluttered. “I was thinking of the cost.”

      “The cost?” Concern over the cost was even more puzzling. Adrian gave her a reassuring smile. “Let us not fret over what is not yet a problem. Let me examine it first.”

      She extended her leg again and Adrian untied her half-boot. He slipped off the shoe, made of buttery soft white kid, and held her foot in his hand, enjoying too much its graceful shape.

      She flinched.

      He glanced up at her. “Am I hurting you?”

      “No,” she rasped. “Not hurting.”

      He grinned. “Tickling, then. I’ll be more careful.” He forced himself to his task, feeling her ankle, now swollen. His hand slipped up to her calf, but he quickly moved it down to her ankle again, gently moving her foot in all directions.

      She gasped.

      “Does that hurt?” he asked her.

      “A little,” she whispered. “I—I should not be allowing you to do this.”

      Indeed. He was enjoying it far too much, and desiring far more.

      He cleared his throat. “I believe your ankle is sprained, not broken. I predict you will do nicely in a day or two.” He did not release it. “I should wrap it, though, to give you some support. Do you have bandages, or a strip of cloth?”

      Her eyes were half-closed. She blinked and pointed to a chest of drawers. “Look in the bottom drawer.”

      Adrian reluctantly let go of her leg and walked over to the chest. The bottom drawer contained neatly folded underclothing made of soft muslin and satiny silk as soft and smooth as her skin.

      His thoughts, as if having a will of their own, turned carnal, and he imagined crossing the room and taking her in his arms, tasting her lips, peeling off her clothing, sliding his hands over her skin.

      He gave himself an inwards shake. He would not take advantage of this lady. Her peace was disturbed by reporters hounding her for a story, and her whole world had been turned head over ears with news of her husband’s crimes. And his death.

      He frowned as he groped through her underclothing, finally coming up with a long thin piece of muslin.

      He returned to her and knelt again. “I must remove your stocking.”

      She extended her leg.

      He slipped his hands up her calf, past her knee, until he found the top of her stocking and the ribbon that held it in place. He untied the ribbon and rolled the stocking down and off her foot. Her skin was smooth and warm and pliant beneath his fingers.

      Adrian quickly took the strip of cloth and began to wind it around her ankle.

      “Did you study surgery?” she asked, her voice cracking.

      He looked up and grinned at her. “I fear it is horses I know, not surgery.”

      She laughed, and the sound, like the joyful tinkling of a pianoforte, echoed in his mind.

      He tried to force his attention back to the bandage, but she leaned forwards and gave him a good glimpse of her décolletage. “Are you so gentle with horses?”

      He glanced back to the bandage and continued wrapping, smoothing the fabric with his other hand.

      “What is your name?” Her tone turned low and soft.

      He glanced up. “I thought you said you knew me.”

      “I do not know your given name,” she said.

      “Adrian.” He tied off her bandage and reluctantly released her.

      “Adrian.” She extended her hand. “I am Lydia.”

      He grasped her hand. “Lydia.”

      Lydia’s heart raced at the feel of his large masculine hand enveloping hers. His grip was strong, the sort of grip that assured he was a man who could handle any trial. She now knew better than to make judgements based on such trivialities as a touch, but she could not deny he had been gentle with her. And kind.

      It seemed so long since she’d felt kindness from anyone but her servants.

      And even longer since she’d felt a man’s touch, since her husband left for Scotland, in fact. It shocked her how affected she was by Adrian Pomroy’s hand on hers. He warmed her all over, making her body pine for what only should exist between a husband and wife.

      She took a breath. She’d always loved that part of marriage, the physical part, the part that was supposed to lead to babies…but she could not think of that. It was too painful.

      It was almost easier to think of her husband. The Earl of Wexin.

      The newspapers wrote that her husband had killed Lord Corland so that Wexin could marry her. Lord Corland’s death had been her fault.

      She gripped Adrian’s hand even more tightly, sick that Wexin’s hands had ever touched her, hands that had cut a man’s throat.

      She thought she’d loved Wexin. She’d trusted him with everything—the finances, the decisions, everything. But she had not known him at all. He’d betrayed her and left her with nothing but shame and guilt.

      Her happiness had been an illusion, something that could not last, like the baby that had been growing inside her the day Wexin left.

      The cramping had started the very next day after he’d gone, more than a month ago now, and she’d lost that baby like the two others before.

      She swallowed a sob. Now she had nothing.

      “Lydia?”

      She glanced up into Adrian’s eyes, warm amber, perpetually mirthful, as if his life had been nothing but one long lark.

      He smiled, and the corners of his eyes crinkled. “You are squeezing my hand.”

      She released him. “I am sorry.”

      He stood and took her hand in his again. “It was not a complaint. You look troubled.” He lifted her hand to his lips, warm soft lips. “You have been through a great deal, I suspect. I will act as your friend, if you will allow me.”

      Her senses flared again and her breathing accelerated. “If you knew how I need a friend.”

      He smelled wonderful. Like a man. And she felt his strength in his hands, in his steady gaze. She took a deep breath and reached up to touch his hair, thick and brown with a wayward cowlick at the crown that gave him a boyish appeal.

      His eyes darkened and the grin disappeared, though his lips formed a natural smile even at rest.

      This man pleased women, it was said. He was a rake whose name was always attached to some actress or opera dancer or widow. Well, she was a widow now and her whole body yearned to be touched, to be pleased, to be loved.