Robin quickly unbuttoned Tessa’s dress and then buttoned it properly, occasionally skimming her undergarments with his fingertips. His fingers brushed her spine and he bit his lip at the softness of her flawless skin. When she was perfectly attired, he let out a shaky breath that he’d managed to hide how much she affected him. Damn, how he wanted to hold her and promise to love her forever.
He jabbed a finger under his cravat and tugged in an effort to compose himself. There was still another hour or more before he could pursue the woman of his dreams, and then he would see. “All done,” he murmured in a shockingly husky tone. He quickly cleared his throat, hiding that he was horribly attracted to her.
From the day he’d met Tessa, he’d known that he had to take things slowly with her. She’d been initially wary of his overtures of friendship, and he’d surmised very quickly that the families that had taken her in before she’d come to him had treated her very poorly. He’d taken great pains to make her feel comfortable and wanted in his home, part of his family. Then he’d set out to become her friend and confided in her often about his own small concerns. Once she believed she was family and not about to be sent to scrub pots, Tessa had seemed to enjoy the time they managed to spend talking together as much as he did.
“Thank you,” Tessa whispered.
Robin stood before her, feeling awkward and exposed, yearning for what he couldn’t yet ask for. He leaned toward her. “What were you and Anna giggling till all hours about last night? I could hardly get to sleep for the noise you were making. It must have been vastly amusing.”
Tessa’s smile faltered, and a guilty expression crossed her face. “She was speaking of her plans for her new life.”
He’d bet that wasn’t all there was to it, judging by the high color of her cheeks now. Tessa and Anna had become firm friends since she’d come to live with them, and he suspected they shared many intimate secrets. He wished to become her confidant. He wished to share everything with her.
Robin brushed a tendril of dark hair back behind her ear gently as his heart began to pound. “Anna, there’s something I need to—”
The knocker sounded on the front door, stopping Robin from finishing his sentence.
“What do you need?”
He smiled quickly, slightly embarrassed that the timing still wasn’t right to propose. “What I want will have to wait until later.”
Her smile slipped away. Their stolen moment had come to an abrupt end. Robin caught Tessa’s elbow and urged her out of the room and down the stairs to greet their guests. Tonight was soon enough to make it clear that he adored her, and always would.
Chapter Three
Tessa wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. Anna was married, and such a beautiful bride indeed. Anna’s new husband, William Leven, couldn’t stop grinning, too, which made it clear to all that their affection was equally felt.
“Freddie is one lucky devil,” Mr. George Leven murmured, nodding his head toward the happy couple. As he handed Tessa the glass of punch she’d asked for, his fingers brushed hers, then paused to caress the back of her hand.
Tessa quickly took a step back.
“Possibly,” Robin said as he joined them, standing very close to her side. “Let’s see what he has to say about marriage after living with my sister for a week, shall we?”
Tessa longed to laugh at Robin’s remark. It might ease the sadness building inside her.
Mrs. Cooper had been positively gloating earlier to their neighbors about her impending trip to the sea, heartlessly ignoring how her bright future meant the end of Tessa’s peace. In just a few hours, the life that Tessa loved would be over. There would be no more breakfast trays sent to her room, no more quiet rainy afternoons in Robin’s company. She’d be on her own with old Mrs. Cooper.
“It is a pity there is no music today,” George complained, but then grinned at Anna warmly. “We could have shown everyone how well we dance together.”
“Dancing will have to wait for another occasion,” Robin told him, sounding cross.
As George took hold of her hand, she felt Robin’s touch at her back. Caught in the middle of the two very different men, Anna could barely breathe.
George Leven was loud and brash, competitive over everything. If his brother William bought a new coat, George would have a new one, too, before the end of the week. Once William’s marriage to Anna had been announced, George had begun dropping hints about wanting a wife himself. Unfortunately, he seemed to have singled out Tessa for that role.
“I have to say, I look forward to dancing with Tessa many times in the future,” George promised with a flirtatious twinkle in his eye.
Tessa eased back into Robin’s embrace a little more, alarmed that George would act so familiar without any encouragement on her part. She had never given him permission to use her given name. Only Robin had her permission for that. Tessa had never encouraged George Leven’s attention, but he continued to pursue her just the same.
Robin’s hand left her back, and he stepped around her. “Mr. Leven, perhaps we should have a private word now.”
Tessa glanced at Robin’s face. His jaw was set in a hard line. “Robin?”
Robin threw a fleeting smile her way. “Nothing to be concerned about. We will return long before the happy couple departs for their honeymoon. Excuse us.”
The pair left the room together. George looked back, smiling, but Robin never did. By the set of his shoulders, Robin was unhappy with George’s overfamiliarity. By marriage, George was considered family, and so some allowances could be made for a greater degree of informality between them. But she did not want anyone to assume she welcomed or encouraged George’s attentions, especially Robin.
Tessa considered following just to be sure the pair did not argue, today of all days. There was no point worrying about what George said or did now, anyway. He would forget about her soon enough and turn his attention elsewhere once she was gone. And yet, she hated the idea of Robin talking about her with anyone, especially a gentleman like George Levin.
As she took a step to follow, her arm was caught, and Anna spun her around. “Where were you going?”
“I…” Tessa floundered a moment. “The punch bowl seems a little low. I was going to ask the housekeeper to refill it.”
“It’s nearly time for us to leave,” Anna said, then she sighed with pleasure. “I am so happy to be married at last.”
“It’s obvious to all who look at you.”
Anna’s new husband joined them, smiling broadly. “Cousin,” he murmured by way of greeting. “I wish you didn’t have to leave us so soon.”
Tessa glared at Anna. “You promised you wouldn’t mention it.”
“I had to tell my husband why I was feeling so happy and yet so sad.”
“Shh, not now,” she begged. She was barely holding herself together.
Mr. Leven nodded. “I wish things could have been different, but I have hope that you may return sooner than you ever dreamed.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m sworn to secrecy, but I expect to hear good news at any moment.” He touched his nose and fell silent.