She hastily wiped her eyes and turned to look at him. He was seated on a chair pulled up next to the bed, and he was leaning over as he touched her. Now that she moved, he straightened up a little, but not enough to separate them. And for that she was grateful. So grateful, in fact, that she put her hand over his.
“My lord?”
He winced. “You called me Aaron this morning.”
“Aaron,” she whispered. God, how sweet his name was on her lips. More, how she longed to throw herself into his arms and sob out the rest of her pain. But he had chosen to sit in a chair beside the bed then to lie beside her. That alone set a barrier between them.
“Lilah, I came up here to pack a bag, then I heard… I saw…” He squeezed her shoulder. “How can I help?”
She smiled, though the muscles felt weak. And she turned on the bed such that she faced him completely, though it crushed her dress and likely worsened the mess of her hair. Then she entwined her fingers in his.
“You are doing everything for me, Aaron. I have a place to live now thanks to you.”
“That was Clara. She didn’t even tell me until an hour ago.”
Lilah lifted her head. “Oh no—”
“I want you to stay. And I’ll stay at my club so you need not fear for your reputation.”
She didn’t fear for it anyway, but she knew Aaron did. Meanwhile, he pressed on, his expression tight as he spoke.
“I don’t understand what happened. Why would your mother throw you out for getting a job? Where did she think you would go?”
“She probably thought I would go to Diana who would convince me to change my mind.”
He grimaced. “She doesn’t know you very well, does she?”
On the contrary, Lady Byrn knew the former her very well. The old Lilah had been happy to do the household work while living on the fringe, neither in the working class nor in the aristocracy. “She doesn’t understand how I don’t want the life she offers.” Lilah looked up at the ceiling. “I’m not sure I understand it either.”
“Because you want something of your own, that’s why. It’s very admirable given how much you’ve had to fight for it.”
She nodded. It was also fairly stupid given what she’d done before coming here. “I went to the registry office this morning. I wanted to see what was involved in the work.” She blew out a breath. “It was overwhelming.”
“Worthwhile endeavors usually are.”
She shuddered, too tired to do anything more than lay there and speak with him. “Have I been a fool? I could have lived a very good life with Lady Byrn.”
He touched her cheek with his thumb, wiping away some of the wetness that lingered. “It’s the easiest thing in the world to do what you’ve always done. But that doesn’t make it the right choice.”
“I didn’t think she’d throw me out.” Her voice broke on the last word. Eventually her throat eased enough for her to continue. “She has always fought for her children, stopping at nothing to see that they succeed.”
“Whose idea of success?” he asked.
Trust him to see the truth. “Hers, of course, and she does not allow any disobedience.”
He drew his knuckles down her jaw, spreading a tingling heat across her skin. “I’m so sorry, Lilah.”
She closed her eyes to better feel his touch. “I will look for a place to live—”
“I won’t hear of it. You will stay here. Get the registry office working as it ought. Then we will discuss things further.”
She opened her eyes, startled to see how vehement his expression was. “I will not oust you from your home,” she said.
“I was going anyway,” he said glumly. “I believe Clara needs some distance from me.”
“Why?”
He ignored her question. “Did you want any dinner? There is plenty to eat. You’ll need something to sustain you tomorrow.”