Free Bound By Temptation by Lavinia Kent

emphasizing the leanness of his features. “I can accept that it is so, but would confess no understanding.” He raised a hand and rubbed his temple.
    She was glad of the gesture. It freed her from the temptation to explain. “You are in pain.”
    “It is nothing.”
    “You should rest. I will have the maid freshen a bed, and you should lie down for a few hours.” She issued the invitation before she could think—and was then left with too many thoughts. Had shewanted him to stay? Or had she only been acting with proper kindness?
    “No. I did not mean to stay. I truly only came to bring your things.” His brows had not relaxed, and she wondered if his expression was caused by the ache in his head rather than her own revelations.
    She picked up the bell and rang it sharply. “That matters little now. You cannot go out in this weather when you are not your best.” She gestured to the window, where the rain was now pouring by barrels not buckets. “And if you will not think of yourself, think of your poor coachman. He’ll drown before you make it back to town.”
    The maid arrived, and she gave direction without further ado, leaving him little choice. They did not speak again until the maid returned and led him away. She should perhaps have shown him to his room, but the desire to be alone was growing upon her.
    She heard one muttered comment about managing women as he left, but it was not enough to bring even the hint of a smile to her face.
     
    “The gentleman is burning with fever, my lady.” The maid’s voice filled the quiet room.
    Clara glanced over at Robert, before carefully putting her wine down. He grimaced, and she could sense the words behind the expression. After their earlier comments that their visitor would find a way to prolong their hospitality, the irony of the situation seemed rife.
    “Are you sure?” Clara could not resist the question.
    The maid hesitated before answering. “Yes, I went to wake him as you asked, and I found him still sleeping and flushed. I tried to rouse him, but he only grumbled at me. There was no mistaking the heat rising off his person.”
    Robert put his own half-full glass beside hers and headed for the door. “I suppose I must check on him. He will have to stay, of course.”
    “Of course,” Clara answered, but she was already speaking to herself. She picked up her wine and downed it in a single swig. She considered Robert’s brandy before repeating the gesture.
    Masters had been sent her to bedevil her. There could be no other explanation. She was being called to task for all the misdeeds of her life. There was no other reason he should leave her so unsettled—cause those strange tingles of awareness that so distracted her.
    A loud crackle of thunder shook the floors, and she resisted the urge to stamp her foot in answer. Instead, she placed Robert’s now empty glass beside her own and went to advise the cook that dinner would be delayed.
    She had only just returned when Robert entered.
    “The maid is correct,” he said. “He has clearly taken a chill. I’ll have the physician summoned, but I am sure either of us could guess the outcome: rest, liquids, a dose of willow tea, and a good measure of hope.” He picked up his empty glass, staredat it a moment, shrugged, and placed it back on the table.
    “I’ll have his coachman advised that they’ll be spending the night. I am sure he won’t regret not traveling in this weather.” She walked back to the door, eager to escape as she examined her own emotions.
    She was not distressed by illness, and not because it required his stay. No, this distress lay deeper, and she feared to examine the reason. Her emotions were raw enough without this added complication.
    She could only wonder what would happen if she was forced to interact with the blasted man on a prolonged basis.

Chapter 5
    M asters wondered if she’d ever take that step into his bedchamber. Everything he’d ever heard of her daring