She had the same six dresses that she had worn for a very long time. She tried to change what she could on them, but she knew what people said about her and about how poor she was. They never said the same about Sterling, he somehow always had the money to pay for his new clothes and a valet, but she was never allowed the money for fabric. So, she had made do.
Eden would often cry in her room after hearing the gossip about her and her lack of wealth but would never show the women of the ton her weakness.
She had long ago made peace with the fact that she would never be seen by the men of the ton, simply because she had no money or a title. Her brother was a Baron, which was why they had been invited to events, but she knew deep down that she was only invited so there was someone to gossip about.
After seeing Cole the first time, she felt he was different from the other people of the ton and had prayed it was so. Tonight, had shown her she was at least somewhat right.
She was still shocked that she was standing in Cole St. Andrew’s beautiful townhome. That he had whisked her away from the ball, and now she was in a beautiful dress, with his kind sister helping her get dressed, and he had kissed her hand.
Had wanted to speak with her before this night, and never had. She wanted to know more about that.
Before tonight, she thought he didn’t know who she was. But apparently, she had been wrong. And she needed to know. She knew it was time to speak with him, but she was nervous.
Earlier she had made a fool of herself. She had yelled at him and been so upset, thinking he was married and seeking her out to make fun of her like a lot of people in the ton did. She had been so wrong and now, she was just intimidated to be here.
Taking a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, and with an encouraging nod from Lily, she followed the directions Lily gave her to find the way down to Cole’s office.
She peeked in the door and the sight of him standing in his office made her swallow, hard.
She could see him standing in front of the fireplace, his forearm braced on the mantel. He still had yet to replace his evening jacket and was there in just his waistcoat and shirtsleeves.
He was so handsome, that her breath caught in her throat and when Cole heard her slight intake of breath, he turned.
He smiled at her, a full-blown grin that showed off his perfect teeth, and reached his eyes.
Eden smiled back, intimidated, but feeling more at ease with his smile. He came forward and led her to a chair in front of the fireplace. He gestured for her to sit, so she did so, and he sat in the chair opposite.
He went to open his mouth, and she held up her hand. “Wait, before you say anything, let me say something first. I want to apologize for being so short with you earlier. I was out of sorts, and you were the last person I expected to see.”
Cole smiled again, and Eden almost sighed. “I apologize as well.”
Eden giggled, “I know I said earlier that I didn’t want our first meeting to be that way. I was angry, and things were said when they shouldn’t have. I want you to know I don’t expect anything from you, don’t need you to feel pity for me, or try to pay for a replacement because of my dress, and that it was just a slip of the tongue. All I want you to know is that I appreciate you helping me to leave with my dignity intact. So, thank you. I will get Lily’s dress back to her as soon as I am able.”
She went to rise, and Cole put his hand over her leg to stop her. “Eden, stop. I have waited three years to speak to you. And though earlier was not something I wanted to happen; I am grateful that we are able to speak in privacy. I want you to know that I was too scared of my past to speak to you and I hate that more than you could even know. Seeing you for all these years, your kindness, your beauty, and how wonderful you are, made me want to speak to you more and more. Get to know you in all ways, but I always let my past get in between us. And I apologize. I want you to know that I hated every minute of not speaking to you and it got harder and harder to keep my distance each time I saw your beautiful face.”
His face held so much emotion in it that Eden sat stock still in her seat, the hope rising in her chest. He looked down at his hand still on her leg and then back at her.
“When I was visiting, I had a nice long chat with my brother. He pointed out something to me that made me see the truth of his words. And it bolstered me. Made me see he was right. Then after some horrible things happened, I needed time to recover,”
Cole pushed on. “I realized that I didn’t want to live my life afraid, and that I would rather be happy then let what has happened in the past rule my life any longer. So, I came here on a mission. And that is to tell you that I am in love with you Eden. So much so, that I cannot take it another moment without you in my life.”
He had watched her face, and saw tears starting to form in her eyes after the last confession.
“You love me?” She asked in a whisper and Cole nodded. “I-I cannot believe it. Am I dreaming?”
Cole dropped to his knees in front of her and held both her hands in his. “You aren’t dreaming Eden. I know this is too soon, and it sounds like it could be a dream. Or maybe a nightmare. I don’t know. And I know that this is the first time we have even spoken to one another, but I can't keep this inside me any longer and I don't want to. If you don’t feel the same, that is fine. Truly. But I warn you here and now, that I will never give up.”
Eden pulled her hands from his grasp, and Cole looked down, sadness and defeat written on his face. Her heart went out to him. She needed to touch him. To know this was real. So, she framed his face with both her hands and turned his face toward her.
“Cole, I don’t know what to say, just that I am still afraid this is a dream. The man I have loved from afar for all these years says he loves me too. It’s too good to be true. I want nothing more than this to be real, but I know nothing about you. Aside from what I have seen and read. Although, I am guessing the things in the society pages are completely incorrect.”
She smiled at him, and he watched her carefully, his face blank.
“I have wanted nothing more than to talk to you, to know every secret and thought you have. I long to know everything there is to know about you. For years I have wished for this day. Not knowing this could be real. That I could hear the words I wished for all these years. That the man I love, loves me too.”
Cole stared at her for a heartbeat, then said quietly, “You really love me too?”
Eden smiled and nodded, “I do Cole. So much.”
He broke into a grin and yanked her off her chair into his arms.
She laughed and held on as he stood, her weight seemingly nothing to him, and he twirled her around.
They were both laughing, and Cole threaded his fingers through her hair, and pulled her mouth to his.
She gasped quietly at the feeling of his soft lips touching hers, and she shut her eyes, savoring the feeling of being kissed by him.
She felt the tip of his tongue trace the seam of her lips and she parted them with a sigh.
She felt his tongue touch hers and she melted further into his embrace. Kissing him back harder, she speared her fingers into his hair, needing to touch him. To feel him. Disheveling his hair from the queue.
He tilted her head back, and kissed her harder, sucking lightly on her tongue and then biting softly on her bottom lip before finally pulling his lips from hers to trace a line down her throat with his mouth.
It felt divine, and it left her breathless, and gasping, her eyes squeezed shut, just feeling what he was doing to her.
He brought her head back up and kissed her mouth again, before letting her go and placing her back in her chair.
He backed away from her, his chest heaving, his breath coming in and out of him in hard, fast pants.
She was doing the same, and she put a hand to her chest to try to calm her racing heart.
She looked up at him, and his eyes were full of heat and hunger. Blushing, she looked down.
This entire eveni
ng was not at all what she expected it to be. But she loved every second of it. Looking back up at him, his hair a mess around his head, and his eyes were heavy lidded, she ran her finger over her swollen lips.
He bit his lip, “I would apologize, but I am not in the least bit sorry.”
Eden giggled and Cole shut his eyes. “I love that sound.”
She sobered and blinked up at him. Coming to her feet, she stepped to where he was leaning against the wall. He put his hands on her waist, and she put hers on his hard chest.
“Will you explain to me what you were talking about when you told me you loved me? You said that something horrible happened, and you didn’t want your past to rule over you. I really think these are things I need to know.”
She put her hand up and cupped his cheek softly. He pulled one hand from her waist to keep her hand on his face. His entire hand engulfing her tiny one.
He closed his eyes and nodded. “Of course, I will tell you everything you wish to know. I just was hoping that tonight, we wouldn’t speak of dark things. Only good ones.”
Eden softened toward him and she smiled at him. “I love that. Truly Cole. More than you know. When you are ready, will you tell me?”
Cole nodded and leaned in to kiss her softly. “I will. I promise to tell you all. I was too nervous to eat much, and I have heard your stomach rumble. Let us go eat dinner, and maybe after we can see about that story, yes?”
Eden nodded, and Cole let her hand slip free. But, as they walked from the room, he grabbed it in his and linked their fingers together.
He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it softly, several times.
Eden smiled and Cole led her to the dining room, where Lily was seated at a long table.
There were several trays of food, and two extra places set at the table.
Lily smiled at them both and came around where she pulled Eden in for a hug. Eden hugged her back, and for the first time in a very long time, she felt at home and at peace.
Normally she could only find that at the orphanage and with her brothers, but here, in the house of the man she loved? It was absolute bliss.
“That dress looks stunning on you Eden. I should have said so earlier, but in my haste to have you speak with Cole, it slipped my mind.” Lily said as she took her seat and gestured for them to be seated.
Cole helped Eden into the chair to his left and sat in the chair at the head of the table. With Lily across from her, it was intimate and wonderful. And so unexpected.
They laughed and talked until late into the evening, about everything and nothing, and after the second yawn Eden gave into her hand, Cole pulled her from her chair. “I need to get you home.” His voice sounded sad, and she looked up at him.
“Yes, that would probably be for the best, but will you come with me tomorrow to meet my brothers?”
Cole looked down into her face and his eyebrows rose. “Your brothers? I thought you only had one.”
Eden giggled, “I do have just one, Sterling. But I have no wish for you to meet him. I do wish for you to meet Burk and Brooks. And for you to see my orphanage.”
She gasped, “Oh, I probably shouldn’t have told you that. Oh dear. I just don’t wish to have secrets from you.”
Cole smiled at her, “I don’t wish to have secrets from you either Eden. You should know that I already know about your orphanage. And about Burk. I have never seen Brooks though. So, that is new.”
Eden gaped up at him. “You knew?” Cole rubbed the back of his neck, and his cheeks turned a shade of pink.
“Yes, I have known for a very long time. Right after I first saw you, I wanted to know everything about you. So, I followed you one day to Whitechapel, to the orphanage. -Which, I am not happy about, by the way. You walking those streets alone. - And when I saw Burk, I thought he was someone important to you. That you were in love with him. And you have no idea how badly I wanted to go in there, throw you over my shoulder to get you away from him, and punch him in the nose.”
Cole sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “I didn’t, as obvious and that was the hardest thing I have ever done. Not let the world know years ago that you were mine.”
He pulled her into his arms and bent her backwards. “Because, after all this time and from the very beginning, you are mine. And you will always be mine.”
And then he kissed her. He pulled her back into a standing position, and Eden just held on for dear life.
He slipped his tongue into her mouth, and she let him. She touched her tongue to his, and he let out a groan. He pulled back and backed away from her.
Eden smiled at him. “Cole, I cannot believe that you know everything there is to know about me, and yet I know nothing of you.”
Cole looked at her, “You aren’t angry that I already know all of this?”
Eden shook her head. “I was nervous of what you would think. Because it isn’t something a woman of the ton should be doing. But, even though it’s not what society expects, I cannot sit around and embroider all day. I know most women don’t realize there is a world beyond the next ballroom, the next party. But I was never that woman. I can never be her. I just see the suffering of the children and must help. And, Burk, Brooks and I have helped a lot of them. For some, we help find them homes in the country, and some stay in the orphanage and never leave. The woman who lives at the orphanage is so wonderful with the boys and girls that live there. We helped her too. I just want to do more and help those that have less than I do.”
Cole chuckled and hugged her. She rested her head on his chest, “Eden, I have loved more than anything that you aren’t like them. I have seen the women of the ton for years before I saw you, and not once has any of them turned my head. Except to glare at them for standing too close to me. I have heard them speak, and it disgusts, and shocks me. And then you enter the room and the world slips away. You are this perfect woman, and it got harder and harder every time I saw you, that I couldn’t make you mine.”
Eden looked up at him, her chin resting on his hard chest this time. He leaned down and kissed her lips quickly, and he let out a breath.
“Aren’t you tired? I should take you home.”
Eden shook her head. “No, I am not,” as she let out a yawn.
Cole chuckled, “You are. Just know that until I spoke with my brother, I truly believed I would cause you harm someday, and I would rather hurt myself by never speaking to you and letting you find happiness any other way, than hurt you.”
Eden’s eyes filled with tears. She stood on tiptoe and kissed him. Her arms still holding him tightly in a hug. “Cole,” she went on to say and he shook his head.
“No, sweet Eden. It will hold until the morrow.”
Eden let out a sigh and put her head back on his chest. She let out a squeak when he picked her up in his arms. “What are you doing?” She asked, breathless.
“I am taking you out to my carriage to make certain you get home safely.”
Eden put her head back down, on his shoulder this time and smiled. “You are wonderful Cole.”
Cole kissed her forehead, and she felt him shift as he climbed into the carriage with her.
The sway of the carriage lulled Eden into sleep and when they stopped in front of her home, Cole kissed her forehead again, and whispered her name.
She gently woke and Cole asked, “Can you walk, or should I carry you?” Eden sat up in his arms quickly. She looked out at her house and let out a breath of relief.
The windows were dark, and that meant her brother was out for the night. “I can walk.” She went to get off his lap and Cole chuckled when she swayed against him.
“If it is all right with you, I will carry you. There is no one about. It is very late, and most people are still at the ball we left, or at other pursuits.”
Eden nodded again, and he brought her up the steps, and one of their few servants opened the door for them. He was a very old man, and Sterling kept him around because of appearances, and that was it.
“Madam, welcome home.”
Cole set her on her feet and held her waist discreetly as she steadied herself. When she was ready, he dropped his hands. “Hello, Herbert.”
Herbert let her into the home deeper. “I have turned your bed down miss, and your bed clothes are ready for you.”
Cole looked at her, “Why is this man getting your nightclothes ready for you? Don’t you have a maid?” He whispered to her and she shook her head.
Cole groaned. “Of course, you don’t.”
Eden let out a giggle, “It is all right Cole. He just sets out my clothing. I get myself dressed and ready for everything. I have for a very long time. I can’t believe you didn’t know this.”
Cole shook his head, “I knew you had a skeleton staff, but when I left you had more than one servant. I see I need to remedy this.”
Eden shook her head, “No, Cole. You don’t. I am fine. I have done things for myself for a long time. Truly, it is fine. I am not home long enough to use a staff anyway.”
Cole sighed, “I will let this go for now, since I know how weary you are, but we will discuss this later. What time may I pick you up in the morning?”
Eden smiled, “Thank you. Is ten o’clock an acceptable time?”
Cole smiled, “I shall see you then. I cannot wait.” He kissed her hand softly, “Sleep well my beautiful angel.”
Eden blushed, “Thank you Cole.” He winked at her and turned and left. He still hadn’t put his jacket on, and she loved how comfortable he was, not being so perfectly put together.
She let Herbert shut the door and she hugged the old man. She was grateful to him; he was the only friend in the house she had and she knew he had protected her from her brother more than once.
She didn’t need to worry about him telling Sterling about Cole. He was here to help her, not to help Sterling.
He helped her to her room, lit the fire in the grate, and left without another word. Eden readied herself for bed, and as she pulled the pins out of her hair, and brushed through the long blonde locks, she smiled at her reflection in the mirror.
The Marquess Who Adored Me Page 5
