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Edward knocked on Dr. Shannon's door, waiting impatiently for someone to answer. Finally, the door opened, and a child's face shined back at him.
"Where are your mother and father?" Edward asked Dewey. Dewey giggled and ran off, leaving the door open. Edward sighed and stepped inside.
"Hello?" he called. "Gilbert? Mrs. Shannon?"
A moment later, Caroline appeared. She started when she saw him.
"Goodness," she exclaimed. "I didn't know anyone was here. You gave me a fright."
"Forgive me. Dewey opened the door for me then ran off."
Caroline shook her head. "He was just with his nanny but a moment ago. I swear to you that boy has more energy than a volcano ready for eruption."
Edward chuckled. "I wondered if I might see Lily."
Caroline let out a sigh. "Against my better judgment, Lily has decided to return home."
"What? You mean she's not here?"
"I'm afraid not."
Edward's mind began to rattle with thoughts of Lily in danger. He envisioned Ray coming in through the back door of their home when she was sleeping in her bed, so sweet, so peaceful... so vulnerable.
"Thank you," he said and hurried from the Shannons’ residence.
Outside Lily's house, he paused to listen for anything untoward. He went back and forth as to whether he believed Ray still alive. During the day it was easier to imagine that some enemy had struck him when he wasn't looking and disposed of his remains. At night though, he could picture a scenario where Ray had gotten the upper hand over his attacker. In fact, for all he knew, it was the attacker's blood that had been on the floor of Lily's kitchen. Funny that thought hadn't occurred to him before.
"Lily?" he called, knocking loudly on her door. Mrs. Ruthers poked her head out her own front door and glared at him.
"You again," she said.
Edward sighed. "I'm not looking for Ray. I'm here to see Lily."
"I know what you're here for. The whole neighborhood knows what you're here for. It's quite scandalous... a boss and his employee." A sly smile spread across her face. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone I saw you. Why should you be denied a little fun?"
She stepped out onto her porch, which was little more than a small square of wood that was rotting away. She leaned toward him.
"I'll tell you something," she said almost conspiratorially. "I never liked that husband of hers. I could hear him wailing on her in there some nights. She's a sweet woman. Brought me soup once when I was sick. If you ask me, he got what he deserved."
She went back to her house then, leaving Edward alone. Lily had still not come to the door, and he was beginning to think she wasn't at home after all. He went around to the side of her house and attempted to peer in through a window, but the curtains were drawn. He turned in a huff and observed something in the back of Mrs. Ruthers' yard that he'd not noticed before. A well.
He moved back around to the front of Lily's house and the door suddenly opened, startling him. Lily smiled when she saw him, though he noted that her eyes were darker than normal and her face slightly paler.
"May I come in?" he asked.
She nodded and opened the door for him. He stepped inside and looked around the house he'd been in only once before. He had yet to tell Lily about that encounter with Ray. For some reason, he feared her finding out that he'd offered Ray money. He knew his intentions had been good, but it might come across differently. She had already been through so much, he didn't see the need to burden her with the rest of his story.
When the door was closed to the prying eyes of people like Mrs. Ruthers, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. Even though he'd just kissed her yesterday, it already seemed like a lifetime ago. Her kisses were as sweet and tender as he remembered them.
"I'm glad you came," she said in his ear, nibbling seductively at his neck between words.
He pulled back slightly so that he could meet her eyes. "Why did you not tell me that you intended to leave the Shannons’ home today?"
"I didn't know that I intended to leave until later in the day when I was through with my errands."
"What errands?" he asked, sensing she was purposely being vague.
She blinked and looked guilty, her cheeks going to roses. "I went to Madame Rita's brothel this afternoon." Her voice came out as little more than a whisper.
Edward's eyes widened. "You went there? Alone? Have you lost your head? I thought I told you that now I'm a free man again if there were any further places you or my father wanted to explore I would go with you."
"I know."
He took a seat on her couch and pulled her into his lap, holding her tightly so that she could not get away no matter how much she squirmed. She looked at him with wide eyes as he reached around her neck and pulled her mouth down to his. His tongue worked its way between her lips, and soon she was moaning against him.
His hands clutched at the small of her back, and he pushed his hips lightly upward so that she could feel his passion. She gasped in surprise and giggled nervously, daring to touch only his chest. Her hand moved inside his shirt, and her body trembled.
Quickly, he picked her up and set her on the couch so that she was on her back, then he climbed over her, grasping her hands in his so that she could not get away.
"The next time you defy me," he said, "I shall have to be more severe. I shall plant a thousand kisses all over your body, anywhere I wish, and there will be nothing you can do about it."
For demonstration, he pulled at her dress’ collar, exposing an inch of skin that was pure white, and placed his lips to it.
Her body shook. She groaned lightly and said, "Edward."
"Imagine a thousand of those planted over every inch of you," he said in a deep voice.
She shuddered again and looked into his eyes.
"It doesn't sound like much of a punishment," she giggled.
"It will be when, after those thousand kisses, I simply stop."
To finish his demonstration, he rose from the couch and stood up, even though it pained him to do so.
Lily sat up, bewildered.
"You mean we're done?" she panted. "But... but..." He could see the want in her eyes. They were a luscious green that complemented the red of her hair, which had come undone from the twist she'd had it in. Her body was quivering. Perspiration had broken out across her brow.
"We're done," he said finally and crossed his arms over his chest.
She pouted, a look that appeared surprisingly seductive on her, but he forced his body to quiet itself.
"But that's not fair. What if I told you that I love you?" she asked.
"You've already declared yourself to me," he said. "I love you as well. That is why I must get you to stop running around to brothels and saloons. If anything were to happen to you, I fear I might lose my mind entirely."
She got shakily to her feet. "And if anything were to happen to you, I fear I would destroy the person who hurt you and land myself in jail as you were, only there would be nothing on which to acquit me. I should appear guilty as sin because I would be guilty as sin."
Edward paused. "Did you learn anything useful at Madam Rita's?" he asked, curious.
"Only the name of one of Ray's enemies."
A minor cough escaped Edward's chest. "You don't mean Madame Rita?"
"I do," she said and related to him the information she had gathered.
Edward scratched his head. "I have another name to add to our list. "
Lily raised her eyebrows.
"Mrs. Ruthers," he told her.
She burst into laughter. "My neighbor? Mrs. Ruthers is a harmless old woman—"
"Who has always hated your husband."
Lily paused, blinking. "She told you that?"
He nodded. "I happened to notice the well on her property when I was standing on your doorstep.
Lily's eyes widened. "You don't think that..."
He shrugged. "Shouldn't we at least look?"
She took in a deep breath and nodded. "When?"
He cast a glance out the window. The sun was just setting. "Let us go now while we still have some light, though it may not be enough to see into the well."
"I have a lantern," she said and hurried to get it. She paused once outside. "You don't think we should wait until nightfall?"
He looked around. "I think I'm tired of waiting for the truth. If Mrs. Ruthers is responsible for Ray's death, then I want to know, and so do you. Besides... even if she were to see you, I doubt she would hurt you. She seems rather fond of you. Me, I'm not so sure of. But you, I believe, are safe."
"Then you'd better stay close so that I can protect you," Lily whispered, giggling, and took hold of his arm. He led her toward the well.
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