Chapter 10
Of course Poirot insisted on Felicity staying with us. Until Inglethorpe was apprehended, he wasn't going to let her out of his sight. She put up a fight of course, but between us we convinced her that she was better off not being on her own. Two nights in, we were proved correct. A scream of terror from her room saw me hammering on the door. Getting no answer I opened it and Felicity, in a tangle of sheets, fighting a dream fight against an invisible assailant. Seizing her wrists, I spoke in quiet, soothing tones, about nothing in particular. Gradually she settled and her breathing evened out. I was able to wake her and she threw herself against me and wept. Through the tears and garbled sentences, I was only able to understand six words. "Please, do not leave me alone." I quirked an eyebrow at Poirot. He nodded at me and withdrew, closing the door behind him. I knew this meant that he trusted and expected me to behave as a gentleman should, and I could never betray that trust, however tempted I might be. I settled on top of the blankets, assuming that Felicity might feel safer with some sort of barrier between us. A change in her breathing told me that Felicity had fallen asleep, and I felt a peace that was unfamiliar to me. I gazed down at her, elegant even in sleep. She lay on her side. I had one arm laid across her hip, the other trapped beneath her and our hands were entwined. She snuggled closer, pulling my arms tighter around her, as you would pull a coat tighter around yourself. Suddenly I was uncertain what to do. My hand had brushed against her breast. Her hold on me was too tight for me to escape. I thought of Poirot a few metres away, how he would disapprove! I gently began to slide my arm out from under her. Her eyes opened. "You said you wouldn't leave me." Her hushed tones were accusing and edged with fear. I brushed my fingertips down her cheek.
"I should go. You need to rest, and to be honest, the longer I stay here the harder it becomes for me to be a gentleman."
"You said you weren't put off by this" she gestured at the burn on her shoulder. "You said you loved me anyway. But you can barely bring yourself to touch me."
"I was trying not to scare you. Your only experience was one you did not ask for. I didn't want you to think I couldn't wait until you were sure."
"What if I am sure? I never realised I cared about whether a man could be attracted to me before now. I think I need to know. I have never been so in need of validation, partly as a person, but especially as a woman." She reached for me. "I trust you enough to know you'll stop if I need you to."
The last piece of my resolve disintegrated, and I took her in my arms. Bending my head to kiss her, I tried to fill it with tenderness and love. Instead it was passionate and heated. I ran my hand through her soft hair and we collapsed on the bed. When it was over, we lay under the sheets breathing heavily. We had fit together so perfectly it was though she had been made just for me.