Romancing Lady Stone (A School of Gallantry Novella) by Delilah Marvelle Read Free Book Online Page B

“Thank you.”
    He froze. The feel of those soft lips against his unshaven face made him realize sleep was the last thing he wanted. He really didn’t need this. He didn’t need to start thinking about her, kisses and— She was an aristocrat. It would be like him trying to get involved with the emperor’s daughter. It wouldn’t end well. Though she claimed to have no husband, as beautiful as she was, she probably had a lover. A very territorial one. Hell, he knew he’d be territorial over her if she was his.
    Tightening his jaw, he watched her unfold the linen.
    She regally arranged herself onto the bed with a rustle of her gown, her full velvet skirts bundling up to her knees. A very impressive and very delectable display of slim, stockinged legs now appeared in full view with attractive black lace garters tied below each knee to hold the silk in place.
    Mother of God. He wanted those legs wrapped around his waist.
    With pursed lips and a lowered gaze, she drew up the linen and covered herself, eliminating the view of those shapely legs. She busily patted the linens around herself, clearly unaware he was watching her.
    Her dark eyes eventually cut over to him. She smiled pertly. “Goodnight, Mr. Levin,” she offered, settling herself against the pillow.
    With difficulty, he inclined his head. “Goodnight, Lady Stone.”
    But no, it wasn’t going to be a goodnight. It was going to be a long night.

    Cecilia’s eyes fluttered open. A lone candle in the far corner of the rented room and the red burning coals in the small hearth dimly pushed back the late-night shadows. She turned against the linens, her travelling gown making it difficult for her to move. Pale moonlight beamed through the narrow, dirt smeared window.
    She couldn’t sleep.
    Pushing herself up, she paused, realizing Mr. Levin was not in sight. The lone chair he’d been sitting in had been pushed back. His coat, waistcoat and pocket watch were draped over his wool sack in the shadows a few feet away from the door.
    Cecilia slowly scooted out from beneath the linens, pushing the linen away from her gown so it wouldn’t tangle. Her stockinged feet landed on the uneven wood floors. She cringed knowing the floors were rough. Her silk stockings would never survive.
    She yanked up her gown and scrambled to remove her garters since Mr. Levin wasn’t around to see it. Although she managed to untie both of her garters, her corset made it impossible for her to roll them down far enough to even try to yank them off her feet. Huffing out a breath, she tossed the garters onto the bed and made her way over to the wool sack draped with Mr. Levin’s belongings. She picked up his pocket watch from the pile to check the time. She paused, its weight surprising her as the chain unraveled and swayed against the side of her hand. Oddly, her fingers tingled. It was as if she were touching something incredibly special.
    Noting words were etched on the back of the silver casing, she turned it up and squinted at the faded letters. It was written in English.
    “Eternally yours at midnight,” she whispered.
    What could it mean? Usually, a name or initials were engraved on the back of a watch. The silver was heavily tarnished, hinting it was old. Clicking open the dented casing, she blinked at the uneven hands, realizing it was almost three in the morning.
    Shutting it, she gathered up his clothing from atop the sack and carried his coat and waistcoat over to the chair in an effort to tidy the room. She hated when things were unorganized. Draping everything onto the back of the chair, she carefully set his watch onto the seat, centering it and then glanced around the empty room again. If it was three in the morning, where was he? She hurried over to the closed door. Seeing the key had been left in the lock, she pulled it out and opened the door.
    He had forgotten to lock the door.
    Peering out into the candlelit corridor, Cecilia hesitated and stuck her head further out