Page 49

Guilt and Understanding

A few minutes earlier, inside Helen’s room

For the split second after he felt the sting of Lady Helen’s slap, Tom experienced a combination of relief and gladness, eye-opening startlement and empathy.

The first two were understandable, of course.

How could he have been such a fool to think that she, an earl’s daughter, could be a ruined woman, even before he had met her?

The sense of relief he felt at learning the truth was so profound, he wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and shout out loudly of his regard for her.

As for the empathy, he was sure her hand felt the same painful sting as his face was still experiencing. He reached for it, careful to hold it from the back side. He saw her eyes go round with fear, felt her pull against his hold as he turned her hand over.

She gasped when he lowered his head until he his lips made contact with her palm, the kiss as gentle as he could manage.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, her breaths loud in the quiet.

“It is I who am sorry,” he said, letting go of her hand to wrap his arm around her shoulders to bring her closer. “I was a fool to believe you were a ruined woman. That you had feelings for someone else.”

Although she felt stiff beneath his hold, she slowly relaxed, and he added his other arm to pull her forward until she was pressed against his chest. He lowered his face to kiss her forehead.

“You truly thought Bradley was my son?” she asked, finally giving into his hold and raising her hand to his cheek. It was too dark to see if she had left a mark with her slap.

“How could I not?” he asked. At hearing her scoff, he added, “You are so good with him, Helen. I’ve never felt such jealousy of a man I’ve never met,” he admitted. “I believed you were his mother because… because you are the perfect mother.”

From the look she displayed, he knew he had surprised her with his words. “In fact, I am wondering what I will have to do in recompense to ensure you are the mother of my children.” He tightened his hold on her when he felt her inhale sharply.

Despite the dark, he could make out her look of awe and finally let out the breath he had been holding.

“Children?” she repeated, her whisper so quiet he had to lean down to hear it. “ Your children?”

“And yours,” he said.

The words were barely out of his mouth before he closed the distance between their lips and kissed her thoroughly.

That she allowed him to do so, that she returned the kiss so eagerly, had his heart swelling in his chest, pounding hard against his ribs.

When they finally parted, he left his forehead pressed to hers. “I almost wish we had one right now.”

Her eyes once again rounded. “We could make one if you’d like,” she offered, waving to the bed.

Tom chuckled, partly from hearing the enthusiasm in her voice and partly to keep his hardening manhood from making itself apparent.

There had been a moment earlier, when he had first slipped into the room and spotted her standing in front of the cheval mirror, that had him reacting as he had the first night they had met at the ball.

Despite her wearing a chaste night rail and dressing robe, he had imagined her as his new bride.

Imagined he was joining her for their first night together as a married couple.

Imagined what it would be like to remove the garments and smooth his hands over the bare, soft skin of her body.

Kiss her on those sweet lips. Kiss the soft rounds leading to her pert nipples and suckle them until they were red and ripe with need.

Kiss her along the tender flesh of her thighs.

He might have imagined more at that moment, but Helen had finally realized he was in the room with her, and reality had returned him to the here and now.

The wrong reality.

Thank the gods.

Bradley wasn’t her boy. He was her brother.

“Believe me when I say I would like nothing more in this world than to make love to you,” he whispered.

“But?” she prompted.

He glanced towards the door. “I fear the sounds I would make when I experience euphoria with you would be heard by everyone in this hotel. And maybe half of Cairo,” he added, his manner serious.

Helen began to giggle, and she buried her face in his chest as if to stifle the sound. “What makes you think you would be a loud lover?”

Grinning, Tom leaned down again and kissed her forehead. “My brother married Diana last September, and believe me when I tell you, we all know when he’s making love to her.”

“Well, they are incandescently in love with one another,” she said, grinning.

“As I hope we will be,” he murmured.

“I will know we are if you’re as vocal when you are making love to me,” she countered.

“You minx,” he accused.

She inhaled sharply and stared at him.

“What is it?” he asked, quickly sobering.

“My father says that to my mother. Frequently.”

“Which is probably why there is a Bradley,” he said dryly. He once again grew serious. “Truth be told, my father says it to my mother, and I’ve heard my uncle say it to my aunt on many occasions whilst on this trip.”

He watched as she stared at him, as if she couldn’t decide if she should put voice to her thoughts or keep them to herself. “Tell me what you’re thinking,” he urged.

Helen stiffened in his hold. “How many other… minxes will there be, do you suppose?”

Tom blinked, at first not understanding her query. “Other minxes?” he repeated.

“Mistresses?” she clarified. “Ladies of the evening?”

He shook his head. “I don’t employ any, nor do I intend to in the future,” he said. “Why would I if we’re going to be making love so… vocally?” he added, allowing a teasing grin. “And frequently?” He sighed with relief when she settled back into his hold.

“Even when I am round with child?”

“Oh, especially when you are round with child,” he whispered, leaning down to kiss her forehead and eyelids. He made a sound of frustration in his throat. “If I don’t leave this room right now…”

“Then what?” she prompted.

“I’m going to end up holding you in my arms until we both fall asleep, and when we’re discovered in the morning?—”

“Who would discover us?”

“—by any one of my family or yours,” he went on, ignoring her query. “My uncle will string me up by my…” Here he clamped his mouth shut and grimaced. “Well, let’s just say we won’t be having all those children we want.”

Helen sighed with frustration. “Oh, all right. Then be off with you,” she said, giving him a gentle shove.

Tom bestowed another kiss on her forehead, then her lips, and finally on the back of both of her hands before he let go, bowed, and made his way to the door.

He opened it to discover both his uncle and the Earl of Everly standing on the other side of it, his uncle’s arms crossed and their expressions suggesting he would not be long for this earth.

Lord Everly’s fist barely missed the same cheek Helen had slapped only moments ago.