There he stood in the doorway looking disheveled and shocked. His hair was askew, his clothing wrinkled, but his eyes and his mouth were clear as a bell. They were fixed upon her as he rushed forward.
She tried to stand. She shouldn’t be sitting on the floor when—
He dropped to his knees before her. He held her hands in his two large ones, and he searched her face.
“Li-Na? Are you all right?”
No!How could he ask her that? She’d fallen in love with him and he…
“Why are you here?” she asked.
He gaped at her, and when she didn’t respond, he ran a frustrated hand over his face. “Damn it, Li-Na, did you think I would send you away and not come for you?”
No. Well, yes. Men promise so many things and never follow through.It wasn’t just the eldest Zhong boy who had vowed to be with her forever and then failed her the very next morning. She had also listened for five years to the women in the Lyon’s Den as they talked about faithless lovers, evil husbands, and all the perfidies of men. They spoke in a single voice as they said,never fall in love.And yet here she was on the floor completely shattered because she had given Lord Daniel her heart.
“I have a painting for you,” she said. “A better one than before.” She had finished it minutes before Mrs. Hocking told her she was to leave on the next post carriage.
He pressed his forehead to hers as he chuckled. It was the low sound of a man with complicated emotions. Neither happy nor sad, it seemed to mock himself or maybe the world. Whatever it was, she had no understanding of its meaning.
“My lord?”
He kissed her. He pressed his mouth to hers and she returned it in full measure. How could she not? She loved him, and she put all her fears into the press of her mouth to his.Don’t hurt me. Don’t leave me. Don’t destroy my life.
He, in turn, held her in his arms, he let her clutch him and seduce him all while soothing her with his own touch. He caressed her back, he teased her tongue with his own, and he eased her fears without saying a word.
And when they separated, he whispered in her ear. “Is it true? Do you love me?”
She pulled back with a frown. “Do not play with me. You heard what I said.”
He smiled. “I did. And I shall hold you to that.” Then he blew out a heavy breath. “But I have come to ask for your help.”
“Mine?”
He nodded. “You have heard that the church court is ready to rule against me. I have convinced them to wait until tomorrow.”
“You must get the countess to speak. You must ask Anne to testify that her husband is lying. You must—”
Daniel shook his head. “They will not be heard.”
“Then the boy—”
“No. They will not listen. I need someone more powerful than Lord Gordon to speak on my behalf. On Stefan’s behalf.”
She frowned. “Who?”
“Prinny.”
To the side, Bessie let out a sharp bark of laughter. “Good luck even seeing him. He’s holed himself up in Carlton House and is having a right sulk.”
Daniel looked up. “I know. But I’m hoping to offer him something,” he said. “Something wonderful enough to catch a king’s attention.”
“What?” Li-Na asked.
He gave her a weak smile. “One of your paintings.”
Her eyes widened. “My paintings? But they are not good enough for a prince!”
“Li-Na!” he said with the harshest tone she had yet heard from him. “I do not argue with you on the stroke of your brush or the heaviness of the ink. I do not tell you what paper to use or what subject you display. You know those things better than I.”