Her fingernails scratched lightly through his beard, something about the sensation calming her. Her mouth pressed back to his needily. All of her life, her lessons had excited her, but this was nothing like those.
This … this kiss—it was fireworks lighting up the sky; it was a storm, making the one outside pale in comparison.
Lucien made another low noise that had more heat curling through her, and Elinor scrabbled for any purchase she could find on him?—
Only for a knock on the door to have her jerking away, reality crashing into her like a tidal wave. Even Lucien looked slightly dazed as he regained his breath, gazing at her.
“Enter,” he called out, not breaking his eye contact.
Elinor did, though, turning to see who entered. Mrs. Neal shuffled her way in, her focus immediately going to the untouched soup bowl of Elinor’s, and the half-eaten one of Lucien’s.
“Was the soup not to your liking, Your Grace?”
“It was delicious, Mrs. Neal,” he assured her. “I just found my hunger veering … elsewhere.”
Elinor tried her hardest to fight a blush at that.
Mrs. Neal glanced between the two of them, her mouth lifting slightly. “I see. I’m sorry to interrupt your meeting, but Angelica is rather scared of the storm and is struggling to sleep. She has asked me if you were still here, Elinor.”
“I will go to her,” Elinor said, needing an excuse to slip away from the duke with his burning gaze fixed on her. She glanced back at him for a quick moment. “I will not be long.”
“I hope not.” He smirked. “Especially with all your earlier worrying.”
Elinor pointedly ignored that and followed Mrs. Neal out of the office, up the staircase, and back to the hallway where the children’s bedroom was. There were more beds, as they had all claimed and excitedly spoken about, and she was happy to see it. Some still shared, so Elinor could only hope that another unused room would be turned into a second bedroom.
When she saw Angelica, the little girl was tucked into Toby’s side, who was sleeping soundly through the storm. Angelica trembled, though.
“He said if I got scared then I could wake him up,” she whispered when Elinor drew near. “But he is always so tired, so I didn’t want to.”
“That is all right,” Elinor said gently, sitting on the edge of the bed, her arms opening. Angelica shifted into them, cuddling into her side. “I can comfort you, if you would like.”
Sniffling, Angelica nodded.
“I have always been afraid of storms, too,” Elinor told her. “I do not really like loud noises. Is that it for you, too?”
Angelica mumbled ayesinto her dress, and Elinor held her tighter. From the doorway, Mrs. Neal watched them both with a fond expression. Elinor rocked Angelica back and forth, softly stroking her hair the way her father once had. Her heart ached with the unfairness of these children not having a parent to run to when their fears grew too much.
“The storm always passes,” Elinor whispered. “I promise you that, Angelica. It always does. It does not make the storm less scary, but it is always temporary.”
“I hope it passes quickly,” Angelica answered in her small voice, clutching a piece of her blanket. Elinor tucked it more firmly around her shoulders, waiting out the rest of the storm with her.
Soon, Angelica fell asleep, and the storm indeed passed after another half-hour. Elinor was acutely aware of how long she had been out of Morland House, and her anxiety grew once again. Carefully, she shifted Angelica, so she lay next to Toby.
Rising from the bed, Elinor made her way into the hallway, finding Lucien instead of Mrs. Neal.
“I saw you with Angelica,” he said quietly, “and I did not want to intrude or risk waking any of the children up.”
“Thank you,” Elinor answered, ducking her head, her mind taking her back to their interrupted kiss. Her cheeks flushed warm. “The storm has passed.”
“It has.”
For a moment, none of them spoke, realizing that, for tonight, they had to part ways. Strangely, Elinor did not want to. She had been enjoying his company that night, even in spite of their argument earlier.
“I shall see you out to your driver,” Lucien finally said, but Elinor reached out, stopping herself an inch away from grasping his sleeve.
“No, do not worry yourself. You have already done so much for me tonight. Stay, you clearly had business to see to, so do not let me keep you from it longer than I already have.”
Besides, she thought,I think if I spend another moment in your presence, I will not want to give it up.