Robert looked at her for a couple of seconds, but as the sobs started to rack her body Louisa felt him sit down beside her and suddenly she was in his arms.
Her body instinctively stiffened at the contact, but gradually she relaxed as he held her, glad of the comfort he provided. He made her feel safe, Louisa realised. In this world where it seemed everyone was out to hurt, her he protected her time and time again.
‘It’s okay,’ he said soothingly. ‘You’re safe now.’
Louisa sniffed and tried to stem the flow of tears, but found now she had started she just couldn’t stop.
‘I’ve got you,’ he whispered. ‘I’m not going to let anything happen to you.’
In that instant Louisa was inclined to believe him. He’d saved her from the asylum and just now he’d saved her from her own foolishness.
With an effort she wiped the tears from her cheeks. She felt her fears slowly ebbing away as he held her, knowing somehow that with him she was safe, at least just for a while.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, Robert seeming to understand she needed a little while to collect herself. As she dried the last of her tears, she felt him pull away slightly so she was still in his arms but could look up at his face.
‘We need to discuss what you’re afraid of,’ Robert said. ‘And this time I need you to be honest with me.’
Louisa nodded. She supposed she owed him that much at least.
‘I understand you haven’t been able to rely on anyone for a very long time and I know me asking you to trust me is an impossible task when you’ve known me for less than a day, but I do need you to at least be willing to see if I can earn your trust.’
She looked up into his sincere eyes and wondered for a second what would happen if she did just trust her life to this man. He seemed so genuine and caring, yet Louisa knew it would be a mistake to trust him. It would be a mistake to trust anyone, but maybe she could just give him a chance.
‘London is a very lonely city,’ he said with a sadness that made Louisa wonder again why he was quite so serious all the time. ‘And it is a dangerous city, especially for beautiful young women.’
She felt her pulse quicken at his description of her. Did he actually think she was beautiful or was he just being kind?
‘I would feel much happier if you would agree to stay here with me, under my protection,’ he said, ‘but I’m not going to force you to.’
She couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing.
‘So I can leave at any time?’
He grimaced.
‘Yes, you can leave at any time, although I’d prefer it if you didn’t choose the middle of the night.’
‘You wouldn’t stop me?’ Louisa needed the confirmation.
‘I’m not going to lock you in, Louisa. I would much prefer it if you choose to stay, but if you want to go I will not protest.’
Louisa looked at him, still not quite able to believe what he was saying.
‘I suppose you think with no money and no contacts I have no choice but to stay.’
‘If you choose to go, I will give you money,’ Robert said. ‘Good God, Louisa, do you think I could let you go out on to the cruel streets of London without any means of supporting yourself? I’m not a monster.’
It was the first time since the asylum he’d called her by her first name. Louisa rather liked the sound of it coming from his lips.
‘You’d give me money?’ she echoed.
‘Yes. And contacts. But I really hope you decide to stay, at least for a little while.’
She thought it over. Part of her wanted to grab the money and go, start a new life not having to rely on anyone but herself. The other part was still scared from her first experience of London on her own.
‘If you do decide to stay, you can of course change your mind at any time,’ Robert said.
‘So I could stay for a week, but you’d still help me if I decided to leave after that?’
He nodded. Louisa felt torn. She looked up at Robert and searched his face. How could she tell if he would hurt her, if he would betray her trust at some point in the future? Everything she knew of him so far pointed towards him being honest and trustworthy, but how could she judge a man on such a short acquaintance?
‘Maybe I could stay for a couple of days,’ she said, ‘at least until I get to know London a little better.’
The relief that flooded over Robert’s face was obvious and Louisa dared to wonder if she had found someone who actually cared for her. She suddenly had an overwhelming urge to lean forward and kiss him. His lips looked so inviting and the way he held her made her feel so safe and secure.
Stop it, she told herself, do something like that and he’ll march you out the door himself.
Still, Louisa couldn’t quite make herself look away.
She was suddenly very aware of every place his body was touching hers: the way their thighs were pressed up against one another, the bare skin of his arms looped around her back and how her body was cradled against his chest.
Louisa watched his face as he registered her desire for him and for an instant she thought he might lean in and kiss her. His eyelids seemed to grow heavy and Louisa thought she saw the flash of desire brighten in his eyes.
As quickly as the moment had come, it passed and Louisa was left wondering if she’d imagined it. Robert stood and paced to the window, a hand running through his hair.
Louisa felt suddenly bereft. She wasn’t used to such close contact, but it seemed she missed it when it was gone.
‘You should get some rest,’ Robert said, his voice thick and directed towards the window. ‘Just promise me you won’t leave again tonight.’
She owed him that much at least.
‘I promise,’ she said quietly. Standing from the sofa Louisa crossed to the window and waited until Robert turned to face her.
‘Thank you,’ she said, looking Robert directly in the eye. ‘You’ve saved me twice in the space of twenty-four hours.’
She stood on tiptoe and planted a light kiss on his cheek, her lips brushing momentarily against the fine stubble, the sensation sending a shiver down her spine.
Louisa didn’t wait to see his reaction, instead turned and walked from the room, knowing she would probably dream of this quiet, serious, chivalrous man when she eventually fell asleep.
Robert sipped at the scalding cup of coffee and tried to focus on the newspaper he held in front of him. He’d been attempting to read the same article for the last fifteen minutes and he hadn’t got past the first paragraph. Every few seconds he would find himself glancing at the door, wondering if and when Louisa was going to show up for breakfast.
He’d recovered from the scare she’d given him the night before and he thought she would probably decide to stay with him for the time being. Robert told himself it was just friendly concern that made him look up from his newspaper every time there was a creak in the hallway, but deep down he knew that wasn’t true.
There had been a moment in his study last night, just as Louisa had agreed to stay for a while at least, when she’d swayed towards him. Her body had been pressed up against his after he’d cradled her in his arms for comfort. He’d become aware of her womanly curves under the sack-like dress and a flicker of desire had ignited within him. For a second he had nearly