Rachel pressed her lips together grimly. “That won’t do, my dear. There should be severe consequences for his violence. I was prepared to let Lord Farnwell keep his title and wealth, but I suspect draining his purse will hurt him more than any punishing blows.”
Daphne looked thoughtful. “It would be good to be independent and make my own financial decisions, without fear of being at the mercy of my brother’s whims.”
“I agree, you should have complete independence also.” Rachel gazed coolly down at the baron. “I promise you, I will never contest your legitimacy, Lord Farnwell. In exchange for my silence, you will provide amply for Daphne. Allowing you to keep half is rather magnanimous. Without my restraint, you would be disgraced and penniless.”
Farnwell again snuck a glance at Hawk and apparently thought better of protesting Rachel’s harsh terms. “Yes, whatever you wish.”
Skye judged that Rachel was indeed being profoundly generous, considering that she could strip him of his entire inheritance and his very legitimacy. She doubted that Farnwell would go back on his word, knowing that Hawk would enforce their agreement. She also doubted he would be so foolish as to threaten Rachel or Daphne ever again under pain of incurring Hawk’s wrath.
With the terms decided, Hawk looked impatient, and Skye felt even more so. She badly wanted to return to the question of his marriage proposal, but for that they needed privacy.
Glancing at Hawk, she cleared her throat. “Now that this matter is settled, may I have a word with you, Hawk?”
Isabella caught the look they exchanged and sensed that something was in the air. “Yes, go, Skye, Hawk. We will supervise cleaning up the horrendous mess. We can cart away the burnt draperies and carpets tonight to diminish the stench. As soon as the rain stops, we can begin airing out the entire house. And tomorrow we will see what can be salvaged.”
Skye gave her aunt a grateful look. Picking up a lamp, she preceded Hawk from the servants’ dining room through the kitchens. The rain was still coming down in torrents as, careful of her bandaged hands, he took her elbow to guide her upstairs.
To her surprise, he chose the newly renovated master bedroom suite in the family wing. Oddly, the bedchamber looked inhabited. “I didn’t realize you had moved into this wing,” she observed.
“I began sleeping here last week before I left for London, to get away from the temptation you presented.”
The moment she set down the lamp, he pulled her into his arms. “I need to hold you,” he murmured into her hair.
Skye was wholly content to oblige. His warmth and hardness were exactly the comfort she needed.
They remained that way for some time, her breasts nestled against his chest, her thighs brushing his. When eventually he kissed her again, heat shimmered through her. She felt his fingertips brush her face, her throat, and she pressed closer, wanting the feel of his bare flesh, needing to touch him. Yearning swept over her, suffusing her body with liquid heaviness.…
Yet Hawk, evidently deciding it perhaps was not the time or place for passion, drew back.
“I suppose we cannot make love now,” she said with a wistful sigh.
Hawk brought the back of his hand softly down the side of her face. “Regrettably we will have to wait. I want complete privacy when I make love to you.”
Skye didn’t want to wait at all, yet this moment was hardly romantic, what with her burns and grime. The smell of smoke was less prominent here but still pervasive.
Hawk must have come to a similar conclusion, for he led her to the washstand, where he proceeded to gently clean her face of the soot smudges from the fire. “Aren’t you fortunate? I am serving as your lady’s maid since you cannot manage on your own, given your bandages.”
Skye laughed. “I am in great need of a bath also. But Aunt Bella will help me wash my hair and change my gown.”
“Later. I’m not letting you out of my sight just now.”
Skye felt the same way. “I must look a fright.”
He curved his palm against her cheek. “Even scorched and bedraggled, you have never looked more beautiful to me. You are radiant.”
“If I am radiant, it is because you said you love me.”
“I do, very much.”
“And you truly want to marry me?”
“Truly. Tomorrow if I can arrange it.”
“So soon?”
“I see no reason to wait, do you?”
Skye couldn’t help a small smile. The minor fact that his house had nearly burned down was perhaps a good reason to delay, but she was reassured by his eagerness. “We ought to discuss the particulars, shouldn’t we?”