Page 89 of Cold November Rake

Slowly, tenderly, with all the love and grief in her heart.

Sutton braced for her to kiss him again.

Instead, she turned toward him.

Her eyes widened in shock, then, instead of horror and guilt, her face lit up with a smile.

"Edward." She hurried toward him, leaving her former—God, he hoped it was still former—lover behind.

He stood there frozen, waiting for her approach. She reached him and took his hand. He let her.

"I was looking for you," she said.

Her hand was cold, her lips pale.

"We should go inside." He tugged on her hand, dragging her behind him.

He pulled her up the steps, through the French doors, and into the house.

"Do you mind slowing your step?" she asked, breathless as they entered the townhouse.

"No."

"Are you angry?"

"What do you think?" he snapped, as they moved down the corridor, away from the drawing room and the guests.

"I was only looking for you," she said.

"And you found your other lover, I see."

She let out a breath. "I hoped you would not react this way, but I suppose I have only myself to blame. It was a simple conversation between two friends catching up."

"Friends?"

"Exactly."

"A friend." He laughed, then looked around and drew her into his study.

The change in temperature was noticeable. The servants had built up the fire against the cold, and compared to the gardens, it was stifling.

Sutton took off his coat, and Temperance pulled her shawl from her shoulders, dropped it over the back of a chair, and fanned herself with her hand. "That dash back to the house took a great deal out of me."

"You did not have to come back, Temperance," he said. "You did not have to worm your way back into my heart with your honest eyes and your promises, only to break it again."

She flinched as if he had struck her.

"That is not what this was," she said. "It is not what you think. Please, will you listen?"

He noticed her breath coming short, her cheeks very pink.

"Would you like a brandy?"

"To add to the boiling heat in my chest? No, thank you."

"Well, speak, then," he said. "I am listening."

"I was looking for you in the gardens, and I nearly froze my fingers off, but you were not there. Landen found me and asked for a brief conversation, and I agreed." She drew a shallow breath. "Ideally I would have warned you, but I could not find you. So I spoke to him briefly. He is in love with his wife, and I..."