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CHAPTER EIGHT

Elizabeth was chopping vegetables for luncheon when she heard someone arrive home. Footsteps drew near, and Matthew stood in the doorway to the kitchen.

She smiled at him, her pulse fluttering. “Good morning. You left the house very early today.”

“I had an important errand to run.” He approached, his hand coming from behind his back, holding out to her a package wrapped in brown paper.

“What’s this?”

“Open it.”

She wiped her hands on her apron and took the package, feeling its weight. She untied the string and carefully unfolded the paper, surprised to see her own reflection. She glanced up to find Matthew wearing an anxious expression.

Pulling the rest of the paper away revealed a familiar handle. Her heart beat faster as she turned it over to see cherished figures of lions, leopards, and deer greeting her.

“I took it to a local glassworker. He replaced the mirror glass. I cannot express how sorry I am for damaging it.”

Elizabeth looked from the mirror to Matthew’s face, which had quickly become so dear. His vulnerability as he awaited her approval sent a pang through her.

Setting down the mirror, she turned to him and slipped her arms around his waist, her head resting against his chest. “Thank you.”

His arms came around her in a light hold. She could hear his heart beating in his chest, the thump-thump increasing as they embraced.

She lifted her face to find him staring down at her in wonder. Rising onto the tips of her toes, she waited, not daring to breathe, until he closed the gap.

Matthew’s warm lips brushed over hers once, twice, before pressing them against her in a tender kiss.

Sliding her palms up the fabric of his waistcoat, she cupped his face, her thumb gently stroking his scarred cheek—a symbol of what had brought him to her.

She pressed against him, and his warmth heated her everywhere they touched.

When her lips parted, he slipped his tongue between them, stroking inside.

His breath hitched when she sucked his tongue. His large, warm hands rested along her sides, curling into her when she repeated the gesture.

Matthew’s kiss turned hungry, then abruptly stopped. Wiping one thumb over his lips, he stepped back from her, his expression unreadable.

Confusion flooded her. “I—I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have kissed?—”

He interrupted. “Don’t be, it was lovely. But we shouldn’t do that again. It’s…not for us.”

Elizabeth felt her cheeks heat. “Of course. It was a thank you kiss, that’s all.”

The sound of steps approaching outside and the doorknob turning separated them further. She turned to see her father entering with the same somber look he always bore.

He nodded to the earl before looking to her, then pointedly at the empty table.

“Hello, Papa. Luncheon will be ready in half an hour.” She moved to the stove, turning up the flame beneath a pot before hurrying to get what else she needed as her father went to his study.

Lord Hadleigh hesitated before finally going upstairs.

She bit her lip as she stirred the vegetables in the sizzling fat, willing the burning in her eyes to cease. She would not cry. She felt grateful to the earl for a kind gesture. It was nothing more, and she had no reason to feel hurt.