"Do you know what it means?" Lily asked, leaning toward Prisca who shook her head.
"I asked Will once. I've never seen him so furious. He refused to talk to me about it and… Well, things between us haven't ever been the same since."#p#分页标题#e#
Lily felt the wind whoosh out of her lungs. What a horrible tale. What if Simon reacted the same way? She didn't want things to change between them, other than she wished he'd trust her with whatever this was. She didn't want them to constantly hurt each other the way Prisca and Will did.
Maybe it was best not knowing. As long as Simon stayed with her, she could be content. Losing him wasn't an option, even if it meant never learning his secret, even if it meant he didn't fully trust her. At least for now.
Forty-One
Lily stopped before entering Simon's study. He'd never summoned her before, and she couldn't imagine what he wanted with her. She took a deep breath and smoothed her skirts with her hands. Then she knocked softly.
"Come," he called.
She pushed the door open and stepped inside. Simon sat behind a new oak desk, and he smiled when she entered. "Ah, there you are, love," he said, rising to his feet.
"You wanted to see me?"
Simon nodded and gestured to one of the two leather seats in front of his desk. "I am terrible at correspondence. Perhaps you've noticed."
Lily laughed and then fell into the first seat. "I am painfully aware of that fact, Simon."
One dark eyebrow rose. "Yes, well, you wouldn't have sought me out if I had been more communicative. So I can't really feel remorse for my failing in this regard."
Lily couldn't help but smile. "I suppose that is true."
"Anyway, I thought you could help me become a bit more organized. Help me go through my post, to be more responsible in this area."
"You want me to go through your post?"
He nodded. "I really have no patience for it alone. But I thought if you assisted me, I might manage to get through it."
"Meaning?" Lily asked.
"Most of my correspondence is destined for the rubbish bin. People wanting things of me. To attend a function or sponsor a charity, things of that nature. Anyone who knows me well would never write to me. Except for Will and Ben. They're the exception to the rule. Even still, neither of them write to me very often."
How did one live like that? Lily couldn't imagine. "Have you ever thought about sponsoring a charity?"
He sat back in his chair and folded his arm across his chest. "I am quite philanthropic, Lily. Major Forster runs a charitable organization that I donate liberally to."
Lily had no idea. All the years she'd kept up with his exploits, she'd believed him to be a self-involved rakehell. "The man who found a boy to mentor Oliver?"
"Yes. He was an old friend of my father's."
"So you mentioned. What does his organization do?"
Simon hesitated, studying her a moment before answering. "The Lycanian Society helps individuals and families who suffer from certain ailments. Food, shelter, clothing, things of that nature. Will devotes much of his time to The Society."
Lily had never heard of it. "Isn't it usually women who spend their time with charities?"
Simon quirked a grin at her. "I'll be sure to mention that to Will."
Flustered, Lily sat forward, her hand on her chest. "Oh, don't you dare!" Will was such a dear man that she'd never want to insult him.#p#分页标题#e#
Simon's warm chuckle put her at ease, and she sank against the back of the chair. "So," he continued, "will you help manage me, Lily?"
She would never refuse an opportunity to spend time with him, and it warmed her to her toes that he wanted the same. "Of course."
"Excellent." He rose from his seat and walked around his desk. "We'll start tomorrow." He pulled Lily from her seat and slid his arms around her waist. "I don't know what I'd do without you, love."
Lily smiled at him. "Oh, you'd probably still be making a name for yourself amongst the society rags, breaking hearts as you went."
Simon smiled wolfishly and then dipped his head down to kiss her right above her heart. "Still intact," he murmured before kissing his way back up her collarbone, her neck, and finally her lips.
The flutters that raced through her nearly robbed her of her breath, and she actually swayed. Simon's arms tightened around her as his tongue slowly traced her lips. When he swept inside her mouth, Lily thought he might devour her. All of her hoped he would.