A Lily Among Thorns(28)

“What?”

“Well, you needn’t look so shocked. I was a bored young lady once, you know.”

“You did that yourself?”

“For the third time, yes.” Embroidery was a proper, ladylike occupation, and it didn’t require talking to anyone. She could spend hours at it and no one would bother her. The robe was one of the few things she’d taken with her when she left Ravenscroft.

“Would you consider doing piecework for my uncle?”

She laughed. “Where’s my chocolate?”

He held out his hand for her mug. She gave it to him reluctantly, not knowing what to do with her hands when it was gone. He set another mug beside it on the table—this one with Nelson’s portrait on it—and tipped steaming chocolate into them. Then he rummaged some more. Serena would have to take a more careful look at his things one of these days, because she’d never noticed that jar of sugar cubes or the little bottle of—Madeira? He flashed her a wicked smile. “Want some?”

“Of course.” He poured a healthy dollop into both cups. She took hers and sipped. It warmed her cold fingers, and warmth spread comfortably down her throat and into her stomach. Glancing up, she caught Solomon licking away chocolate from the corner of his mouth. A jolt of heat went through her that had nothing to do with chocolate or Madeira.

She looked at her mug. “Solomon?”

“Yes?”

“Why have you been so kind to me? I’ve been nothing but rude to you, and you—”

He looked at her silently for a moment, and suddenly she heard what he’d said when she asked him about the hundred and twenty-five pounds. Because you needed it. Was he going to say it again? It was true, of course, and she knew he knew it. She had needed his kindness, she needed it now, and she could already feel the resentment and gratitude twisting together in her chest—

Maybe it showed on her face. He turned away and picked up another sugar cube. It fell into his chocolate with a final little plop. “I was tired of dining on bread and cheese, that’s all.”

Her heart sank, but she hadn’t earned a better answer, had she? He’d given her more honesty than she deserved already. She hadn’t even managed to ask him to stay yet. She opened her mouth, then shut it and nodded.

He looked at her and sighed. “Serena, I put up with you because I liked you. That’s why people put up with each other.”

He liked her? What did that mean exactly?

He caught her wary look. “And I don’t mean because I want to kiss you. After tonight we both know I do want to kiss you, but that isn’t what I meant.” He crushed the sugar cube against the side of his mug with a spoon. “‘The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.’”

Serena pressed her lips together. “Solomon, about that kiss— ”

He smiled suddenly. “Yes?”

“I was perhaps more harsh than necessary.”

He gave a choke of laughter. “You don’t say?” He took the spoon out of his mug and sucked it clean, slowly. She kept her breath from hitching, but only by stopping breathing altogether for several seconds. He set the spoon down with a smirk. “You enjoyed it as much as I did.”

Her lips twitched. “Well, maybe.”

For a few minutes there was nothing but the sound of chocolate being drunk. Then Solomon collected their empty mugs to put on the worktable till morning.

Serena did not want to go back to her room. You have to, she told herself. What, are you afraid of the dark now? She stood. “Thank you.”

“Any time,” he said, although he still thought he was leaving in the morning.

She paused at the door, hesitating. Go on, damn you!

“Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Of course I am.” She marched smartly through the door and shut it behind her. But it took her hours to fall asleep, and when she did, she dozed fitfully.

To an outside observer, it might have looked as though Serena were entering yesterday’s numbers in the ledger. Actually, she was composing her apology.

Perhaps I was a little hasty. I see no harm in your staying a little longer. No.

In the clear light of day, it is apparent to me that I may have overestimated— No.

I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please don’t go. It was so easy a child could do it. But not Serena. She couldn’t even say the words here, in the solitude of her own office.