That didn’t stop her from wanting more, no matter what Roger said.

“I’ve lost you,” he said.

Tilly tilted her head. “Hmm?”

“You have the most extraordinary green eyes, and they are often so full of some magical thing. Some light. I can’t explain it. But every now and again, it fades, and it’s as if you are miles away.”

Instead of answering, Tilly sipped the decadent dark liquid. The chocolate was luxurious as it hit her tongue and sank down into her belly, rich and filling. Delicious for sure.

Henry studied her, watching her as if he was both captivated and hungry.

“It’s snowing,” Tilly said as she pressed her hand against the glass doors. The chill bit her palms. “You’re going to miss Christmas,” she said absently.

“Christmas will happen whether I’m here or in London. I won’t miss it.”

He stood and padded over to her. And she tilted her head to get a better look at him as he stood beside her. He smelled of ink and leather. He looked about as undone as she felt standing so close. She preferred him this way most of all.

“Christmas will happen like any other day on the calendar, but it’s who you spend it with that matters. And you’ll be spending it alone.”

Her breath hitched as he worried his bottom lip with his teeth. His hand reached for the handle to the door, and he pushed it open. A chilly breeze swept into the room along with a flurry of snowflakes.

“I believe the snow should stay outside,” Tilly corrected with a small laugh.

Henry stepped outside and reached back for Tilly’s hand. A shiver chased down her spine as her bare hand slid into his. He drew her close as snow gently fell from the sky around them, dusting over her shoulders, over her hair, and dotting her eyelashes. She gazed up at Henry, her eyes searching for something. For an excuse to avoid what she knew would happen next. But she couldn’t find one.

“Hold still.” Henry reached out and brushed the pad of his thumb by the corner of her lips to wipe away some hot chocolate. Tilly pressed her face into his palm, begging for more. She didn’t wish to stop what was happening between them. She didn’t wish for him to return to London. She certainly didn’t want to have him celebrate Christmas by himself. But she also was afraid of what that meant.

“Kiss me, Henry.” Tilly shut her eyes, terrified. She was determined to keep their lives separate. But that was the thing. She was certain their lives were not meant to be separate. And that meant figuring out what it meant if they were to be together. And throwing off all the shame and guilt that would come with them being together.

“Can you say that again?” he asked.

She laughed, uncertain of his meaning. “I don’t…”

“Say my name again, please Tilly. Say my name and I will kiss you until you forget it.”

Everything within her vibrated. “Kiss me again, Henry. I’ve dreamt of it,” she whispered. “Have you done the same? Tell me you’ve missed me since that night.”

“I crave it,” he said, his voice a low deep growl. Then his lips came down upon hers, possessive and hot and searching, and all she could think of was giving herself over to him, to loving the stranger she met in the woods that one night at a masquerade and had somehow found again.

Tilly stood beneath the snow looking as if she were an angel fallen from the sky. He had said as much in the woods in London that evening.

All his control snapped, and he bent down and pressed his lips upon her mouth, hot and searching. He wanted Tilly to be his. He wanted to be greedy for once in his life and not do as others expected of him.

She sighed against his mouth, urging him on. He could taste the chocolate on her lips, and he wished for more. Tilly, as if understanding, melted, relaxing into his touch. He held the small of her back as he gently held her face in his palm and kissed her as the snow fell softly upon them.

“I like kissing you,” she whispered against his mouth. “And I shouldn’t.”

“If we think of what we should or shouldn’t be doing, we wouldn’t be here now, sweet.”

Tilly glanced up at Henry as big, fluffy snowflakes stuck to her long lashes. “I never thought I would be standing outside in the snow, kissing you.”

“I never thought I would find you again.”

He felt her shiver beneath his touch. He bent down for another kiss, pressing his lips against hers, this time slow and lingering as if giving them both permission to believe, even for a little while, time did not exist.

She began to hum, dropping her head onto his shoulder, and the two rocked together in the quiet hush of winter, on the cusp of Christmas and a new year. Everything could change if they only believed it.

“Bring me inside,” she said at last, running her hand through his hair.

Henry led her inside to sit on the sofa by the fire, then found a quilt tucked away in the corner by the bookshelves.

“Here we are,” he said, draping the quilt over her. He turned to leave, but she reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him backward.

“Stay. A little longer?”

As if she had to ask.

Tilly lifted the corner of the quilt up, and he climbed under to join her. She rested against him, laying her head on his chest. He ran his fingers through her hair, and in the silence that followed, both were happy just to be for a moment.

CHAPTER 7

In the morning, the spell was broken.

Chaos descended Haddington as the rest of the party swept into the house bringing in merriment and Christmas cheer. Tilly was left with a horrible sick feeling in her stomach. She knew why. Or rather, she knew who was causing this feeling. And sure enough, Roger strolled through the door and glanced up at her with a wicked grin on his face.

“Oh, there you are, Miss Brennan,” he announced loudly from across the foyer.

Tilly only nodded and slipped away from the balcony farther out of view.

She would need to find her nerves to survive the next few days with these strangers. And she didn’t wish for Henry to leave. But he had made it clear he wasn’t going to stay last evening. She didn’t wish to be alone for Christmas. And that’s what she would be if he left. She would be surrounded by people, true, but no one she wished to spend time with. No one who she could enjoy the holiday with. She strongly wished for Henry and her family, and both were off-limits to her.

Mrs. Craven shuffled up to her in the hallway, out of breath and red in the face.

“Where have you been?” Mrs. Craven slammed the end of her cane against the floor. “I have been waiting for twenty minutes. You cannot slip by me.”

Tilly quickly wiped the sleep away from her eyes, exhausted, and annoyed that the peace she had felt with Henry cuddled beneath that blanket by the fire last evening was gone.

“I was in the morning room having tea.”

Which was half true.

Tilly had been in the morning room pacing, waiting for Henry to also join her before the others arrived. But he hadn’t. Instead, the rest of the house party was slowly descending upon her, and now Mrs. Craven was suddenly convinced she must be Tilly’s shadow.

Tilly only wished to return to bed if she were being truly honest. She wished to return with Henry and finish what they had begun last evening.