XX

Kama Sutra

"Sir," The butler said, turning to bow respectfully to Rathbone as he entered the library. Two stacks of books sat atop the table. "The books on the left are in need of repair or replacement, the books on the right will be returned to their proper place when the shelves have been repaired. The chairs have been removed for…"

"-Repairs, yes." He nodded, hands clasping behind his back as he strolled inside, overlooking the entire room. His eyes trailed over the portrait that had once been torn… or rather, was and was immediately replaced. Each of the royal guards that had witnessed his secret room had been bribed, threatened or already sent off to serve England over sees…depending on their personal response to Rathbone's questioning them.

A hand ran over the disturbed dust of the shelves where the books had been removed for surveying. The butler approached him once more, removing a pad of paper from his coat pocket, "Sir. A list of the books if you wished to chose which ones to order. And there's one book missing. We're still searching for it."

He shot the man a curious frown before he folded the first leaf back: 'Kama Sutra'. A brow lifted, "That was an autographed copy…" He said with bafflement. "It's probably the least worthy of stealing, it couldn't amount to anything on the market."

The butler shrugged apologetically.

Rathbone tucked the pad of paper into his vest pocket, "It wasn't even on one of the shelves destroyed." They both shook their heads with puzzlement before he stepped from the room.

"Sir, we've rounded up your missing horses. They've been spotted over the hill this morning. They're all back and in the western stables, sir." The hostler said, grinning ear to ear at his own triumph.

Rathbone nodded, "Very good, thank you, excuse me."

Making his trek up a flight of carpeted steps, he hustled his way to his study. The sudden urgency to be alone welled up so suddenly it had nearly caught him off guard. Another panic attack was surfacing and he wished not to make a display of it. Show of weakness was not something he wanted to be remembered for. The door closed behind him, shutting out the rustling of skirts as Lady Rosenthal quickened to catch him. But the door closed too soon. He was safe. Sighing heavily, he moved to the window overlooking the short maze garden and fountain below. Late afternoon birds chirped and fluttered about in the unique way only an early summer could offer.

He sat on the cushion seat beside the window, catching the faint sound of soft steps from behind. He'd grown so accustomed to the sound he no longer jumped with surprise.

"I thought you left already." He said, looking out the window, though catching the reflection of red and black standing behind him.

She said nothing, fiddling with her fingers as she watched him through the reflection.

"I probably shouldn't have told you off like that. My nerves are on edge and I thought I needed a scapegoat – someone or something to blame for all this other than myself. Of course listing off your problems didn't make mine look any better. I never felt so low as when you left."

Lin's face tilted in the reflection, her dark eyes blinking at him in silence.

His voice was cracked, either by an uncertainty or a despair, "Now that the seal is gone, I suppose there isn't any reason for us to keep fighting. Or for you to remain here anymore."

Lin's steps were near silent as she stepped close and lowered to sit behind him. His ear turned ever so slightly, anticipating she would speak. But Lin said nothing. A hand settled to his shoulder, her hope of silently comforting them both.

"A little late for a truce, isn't it?" Spoken dryly as he peered out the window once more.

She slid her hand up until she slowly hooked her arm around his neck, linking her fingers together over his chest as she pressed her cheek to his back, leaning her head against him. He didn't move, but instead stiffened uncomfortably.

Finally she spoke, "I did not think it through. I'm sorry."

Rathbone's dark head tilted ever so slightly with curiosity. After a moment, he sternly replied, "You promise me one thing. That you will never interfere again…"

In a small voice, she replied, "I promise." Sniffing once, she straightened up and pulled herself higher to rest her chin on his shoulder. They looked awkwardly to one another. "I want to stay."

He snorted, "You know you can't. If my household staff discovers I'm hiding an insane Chinese woman in here who's already attacked me twice gets out…"

But Lin turned down her mouth, looking dramatically unhappy. Her eyes suddenly lit up with an idea. She kissed his cheek once, returning her chin to his shoulder. As his cheek grew red, so grew her smile.

His stern face finally broke into a crooked smile as he grasped her linked hands over his chest. "…All right, maybe for a while." He pried them apart and stood from the bench, turning to her. "Don't get too comfortable."

"Thank you."

Inhaling with some new hope, Rathbone raked a hand through his hair, "I think since we're on the same page now, we should clear the air as best we can. I'll start first." A deep breath was taken before he cringed somewhat, hesitant on the words… "I'm apologize for shooting at your brother and Mr. O'bannon. Things happened so quickly." The apology sounded ridiculous, and his face reddened at it. It was truly embarrassing.

Lin looked up, offering a thin, but encouraging smile. Standing up, she moved to stand before him. "I'm sorry I ruined your painting. It also happened so fast."

Rathbone leaned backwards, looking to her with some strange tone. "Why is it whenever I try to put some respectable amount of personal space between us, you have to violate it?"

Her cheeks went pink as she fiddled once more with her fingertips. "I suppose I … like being around you."

"Lin," He cleared his throat, resisting the urge to take her hands or shoulders, even for honesty's sake… "If we're going to be just friends you need to learn to stop leaning on me, hanging on me, falling asleep on me, walking into my bedchamber, and stealing my maid's undergarments. It hints to me that you want something else, even though I'm very certain you're not interested. You make it very difficult for me to remain a gentlemanly friend otherwise…except of course the prior battles." He smiled, having attempted a joke.

Lin quietly chortled, her face tilting at him with curiosity before she stepped closer again, fingers tugging nervously at the buttons of his vest. "I promise to only stop stealing their undergarments." Her chin tilted upward as she raised her lips close to his.

Her lips brushed lightly over his own, teasing lightly at him until he gave into returning her feathery soft kiss. Whether the world truly faded or whether they both fell into a delicate euphoria and closed their eyes would never be known. Nothing else mattered outside of the space between them, and even that was to be terminated when she yanked him against her. It woke him up from the daze and with a small pause he reared back to lock his gaze with her. He read no regret in her foreign eyes. The thought of anyone catching him in his own study with her suddenly drew incentive for him to move in again. In time their kisses grew hot.

While he clumsily unclasped her vest, letting it slip down her arms to pool onto the floor, Lin took a firm grip of his coat's lapels and began peeling it off his shoulders all the while their lips remained locked.

His coat was halfway down his arms when Lin froze and pulled back. "Wait! I forgot to tell you…"

Rathbone blinked, blankly looking to her with anticipation.

"I saw Roy steal one of your books."

"He can keep it," He said, brushing the matter aside as he closed in on her neck, his arms bound behind his back as he struggled to wiggle them free from the sleeves.

"But it's your book!" She said with surprise, reaching around to help pull the coat free. It fell silently as she began tugging at his tie.

His voice hummed against the bare skin below her ear, "I've memorized it."

"…Oh…" She sighed