Page 49 of A Shop Girl’s Christmas (Pennington’s Department Store #3)

The knock at Lawrence’s front door startled Cornelia, who was reading a novel in the drawing room. Who on earth could be calling at this time in the evening? She’d insisted everyone, including the servants, go to the pantomime tonight, because she’d wanted time alone to think. Time to contemplate how she would heal her broken heart again.

A second knock.

Unsure whether it was wise to answer the door, she slowly stood and walked downstairs. When she reached the front door, she took a walking cane from the stand beside her. Gripping it tightly, she straightened her shoulders. ‘Who is it?’

‘Cornelia? It’s Stephen. I need to see you.’

‘Stephen?’ She hurriedly returned the cane to the stand and looked down at her body. She only wore a nightdress and robe. The tone of Stephen’s voice had indicated something was wrong. She unlocked the door. ‘Whatever are you— My God, what happened to your face? Why are you dressed like that?’ She waved her hand, urging him inside. ‘Come in. Quickly.’

He stepped inside, where the light in the hallway starkly illuminated his injuries. A bruise bloomed grey-purple at his jaw, his hair was dishevelled, and he bore a cut to his lower lip.

‘Have you been involved in a fight? You have blood…’ She gaped at him, her hand rising to her chest. ‘Stephen, what have you done?’

‘Disturbed your evening by the looks of it. I’m sorry. I’ll go.’

She clasped his hand. ‘You will do no such thing. What happened?’

‘Don’t worry. Everything is all right. Can we go into the kitchen? Maybe I shouldn’t have come here, but I wanted to see you.’ He grimaced. ‘Plus, I was hoping you could clean me up enough to prevent my mother seeing me like this.’

‘Oh, Stephen.’ She pushed her arm through his. ‘Come with me.’

Carefully, she led him along the hallway and down the short staircase to the kitchen.

‘Have a seat at the table and I’ll find Helen’s box of bandages and ointment. You really look a frightful mess.’

‘Are we alone?’

‘Yes. Everyone is at the theatre.’ She opened two cupboards before she located Helen’s box of tricks and then dampened a cloth. When she turned, her eyes met his.

He frowned. ‘I should go. I didn’t think—’

‘We’re alone, Stephen.’ Please don’t go . ‘They won’t be back for a long while yet.’

‘Well, I’m glad about that, considering the state of me, but as for you being alone in a house at night, that’s a different matter.’

‘I was armed with a walking cane. I am more than capable of looking after myself. Ask David.’ The second she mentioned David, she regretted it. Stephen’s eyes darkened, his jaw a hard line. ‘Sorry. David’s treatment towards me is not something to joke about.’

‘No, it isn’t.’ His gaze softened and tenderly moved over her face. ‘But I’m glad to know you didn’t meekly accept his violence.’

She put a sponge to the opened bottle of ointment. ‘No, I didn’t. I can promise you that.’ She dabbed the broken skin at his jaw. He winced. ‘Sorry. So, are you going to tell me what happened?’

‘Herman Angel and I got into a scuffle with a vagrant at the bridge.’

‘Herman? The man who came to Pennington’s?’

‘Yes. I went to Pulteney Bridge tonight, in the hope of finding another lead for Lillian’s killer. After speaking to Joseph at Christmas, I think it’s highly likely Lillian was targeted as part of a larger group of charitable women. Herman told me he believed this man might return to the bridge and I’d hoped to get lucky.’

Sickness rolled through her imagining him skulking about in such a horrible place at the dead of night. ‘So, you’re dressed like that to go unnoticed amongst the vagrants?’

‘Yes, but it was fortunate Herman was there. When push came to shove, we got this man to talk and now I know where I can find the killer. He’s in the city.’

‘In Bath? Then you must tell Joseph. He’ll—’

‘Telling Carter is the last thing I want to do. God only knows how he’ll react. It won’t help him, or Elizabeth, if he’s arrested and imprisoned. I have to deal with this the correct way.’

‘You’re right. Of course, you’re right.’ She briefly closed her eyes. ‘What will you do?’

‘First thing tomorrow, I’ll go to the police station. My inspector promised to speak to them today, so they should know the gravity and urgency of the case by now. Now I know where this man is likely to be, they can apprehend him.’

She gently wiped his face. ‘Good. If this vile situation can be brought to an end, it’s much more likely nineteen-twelve will be a wonderful, wholly freeing year for Elizabeth and Joseph. Finally. They deserve that.’

‘They do, I was grateful that I had someone else with me tonight. The river is not a place to go alone. It only tells me more about the sort of woman Lillian Carter must have been. It makes me understand that Carter is as attracted to strong women as I am.’ He stared into her eyes. ‘Women like you.’

She dropped her gaze, fearful of the growing connection between them; fearful of the foolishness of falling in love with him. She had made her decision and was leaving. Doing what was best for her children. She purposefully changed the subject. ‘Have you heard anything more about your case?’

‘My case?’

She lifted her eyes. ‘From the Board. Have they made a decision yet?’

He stared at her before slowly nodding. ‘Yes. Yes, they have.’

A horrible insecurity pressed down on her. She was leaving and, if Stephen was acquitted, he would undoubtedly return to London. If found guilty…

‘I’ve been exonerated. I can go back to my work at the Yard whenever I’m ready.’

‘Oh, Stephen.’ Tears pricked her eyes. From happiness for him or pity for herself, she couldn’t be sure, even though she had no right to such feeling now that she’d no longer be here. ‘That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for—’

‘I came to Bath to get away from my work, my life, only to meet you.’ His pained gaze bored into hers. ‘A woman I have come to care for deeply. A woman I could love.’ He lifted his hand to her chin and brushed his thumb across her lips. ‘And I have no idea what to do about it.’

He leaned towards her and although her brain screamed at her to move away, stand up, anything to open the space between them, Cornelia moved closer. To see him hurt, to know he had put himself in danger in order to bring Joseph Carter peace, only made her want him more, love him more. He was an innocent man. A good man.

They kissed, moving closer to each other, kissing deeper, until she eased back to catch her breath. ‘I have to think of the children.’

He softly stared at her. ‘I know you do.’

She swallowed, her heart heavy. ‘I’ve decided I must return to Culford. Permanently. Alfred and Francis are so happy whenever they are there, and their happiness means everything—’

‘Of course, it does. You have to do what is best for them. I would never ask you to do anything that meant your children didn’t come first.’ He took her hand and lifted it to his mouth. He closed his eyes and pressed a firm, lingering kiss on her knuckles before looking into her eyes. ‘The fact you’re returning to Culford only makes it easier for me to tell you I’ll be leaving Bath, too. As soon as possible. When I was at the bridge, when that vagrant was sneering at me as though I was little more than dirt, I knew my work with the police is far from over. That I need to go back to London. To do something to stop criminals from getting away with violence, theft and murder. I’ve made mistakes, but those mistakes are lessons I’ll never forget.’ He touched his hand to her cheek. ‘But I have to go back.’

Her heart thundered as understanding of their lost opportunity swept through her, but so did strength. They had to follow their different paths. Even if these took them in opposite directions.

But she loved him and wanted him… even if only for this one night.

Slowly, she returned the ointment to the box and stood.

‘Cornelia?’

‘You’re right.’ She ran the cloth under the tap and laid it out on the drainer to dry. ‘We have to do what is right for each of us.’ Opening the cupboard beneath the sink, she replaced the box and smiled, tears burning her eyes. ‘So, now, it feels right that we go upstairs, wouldn’t you say?’

A muscle in his jaw twitched and a raw hunger shone in his eyes. They stood inches apart, their eyes locked and her body humming with the desire to touch him, pleasure him, have him deep inside her.

He lifted her into his arms. She gasped and put her arms around his neck.

‘Tell me the way.’

His voice was a rough, arousing growl and she pressed her mouth to his.

‘Upstairs. Second floor.’

Once they reached her bedroom, she leaned over to open the door and Stephen kicked it shut behind them.

She laughed at his self-satisfied expression as he carried her to bed. He laid her down and removed his jacket, his tie, boots and socks before joining her.

She pulled him close and roughly kissed him, her entire body simmering with need. It had been so long since she had made love, so long since she had felt desire like this. Now, Stephen had set her body afire.

He fumbled with the ribbons at the edge of her nightgown.

Impatient for his touch, she moved away from him and, with a gentle nudge, pushed him back. He collapsed against the pillows, his gaze hungry on hers.

She shrugged her robe from her shoulders and tossed it to the side. Without fear or embarrassment, she lifted the hem of her nightgown and pulled it over her head. The cool air made her nipples harden as she basked in Stephen’s admiring gaze, his study moving over her body, lingering on her breasts, her stomach, her centre…

A new confidence swept through her as Cornelia unbuttoned his breeches and pulled them off his feet, absurdly pleased that he wore no underwear. With Stephen, she felt attractive; with Stephen, she felt powerful and strong. Her core tightened as she lay against his chest. They kissed, his hands slipping into her hair as she pushed her fingers into his hard shoulders, the muscle and tendons like rope.

He shifted his weight so they were side by side and ran his fingers over her breasts, inched lower with a featherlight touch to her stomach. She pulled back and closed her eyes, her body quivering.

At last, he reached the place she wanted him to explore and her breath caught. She writhed against his fingers as he teased and rubbed until heat washed through her, her yearning unbearable.

‘Take me, Stephen. Please. I want this so much.’

He moved over and kissed her. She opened her legs wider, urging him, wanting him, and he entered her with a dominance that was thrillingly erotic. She groaned aloud. Never before had a man shown such passion towards her, such utter lust and desire. Her body responded, and she gripped his buttocks, urging him to take her harder, deeper, wanting him to fill her completely.

‘Open your eyes, Cornelia.’

She did as he asked, and he thrust again. She gripped him tighter. He growled and kissed her, his teeth grazing her lip, igniting another rush of sensations.

Their bodies grew slick with perspiration; need and desire filling the room as their moans grew and then…

Stephen’s groan mixed with her whimpers as her orgasm exploded, lighting her up and sending her spinning to a place of love she had wanted to believe existed but never really known for certain.

Until now.