She was watching him and was as absolutely stunning as always with her eyes wide and framed by her long lashes and her lips parted as though she intended to trade more quips with him. He wanted to keep the lens on her and memorize every curve and line and freckle on her face.
But he stepped away from his camera so that he didn’t do something to humiliate himself, like walk over to her, draw her up into his arms, and start placing kisses all over her face. “We’ll turn the sitting room into a studio, and I’ll take photographs of everyone.”
Her lips quirked knowingly. “So that you have my picture to take with you when you leave?”
“Of course I want your picture. But you have to know I won’t need it to remember you, since you are unforgettable.”
Mrs. Keller smiled at his compliment, as if he’d paid it to her instead of Felicity. And although Felicity didn’t respond, her lips curled up into a fuller smile.
“Now, ladies.” He waved his hand with a flourish. “Go don your very best gowns and prepare yourself for the finest portrait you’ll ever have taken.”
They both stood in a flutter of excitement, and Mrs. Keller patted her hair. “I haven’t had a photograph taken since our wedding day.”
Felicity brushed a few strands of her hair back too. “I haven’t ever had a photograph.”
In the process of securing the camera to the tripod, Philip straightened. “Never one?”
“Never one.”
“Then we must most certainly rectify that today. I shall take a dozen of you.”
She laughed lightly, the sound tinged with delight. “I’m sure one will be sufficient.”
“Not for me.” He didn’t bother to hide his desire but let it rumble into his voice.
She just shook her head and started toward her bedroom off the kitchen.
Mrs. Keller hesitated at the bottom of the steps.
He offered her a smile. “I’ll watch Mr. Keller while you take your time getting pretty.”
“Thank you, Philip.” She started up the first step, then stopped and glanced over her shoulder at him. “Mr. Keller was always generous with his compliments toward me the way you are with Felicity.”
Their gazes shifted to the older man on the sofa, his eyes closed, his expression peaceful in sleep. “I can tell he still loves you by the way he looks at you.”
She nodded and dropped her gaze shyly. “Don’t ever stop telling Felicity how much she means to you. Do it every day for her whole life, as much as you’re able.”
He could only watch in silence as Mrs. Keller raced up the stairway. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that he wouldn’t be in Felicity’s future, that he didn’t even have a right to compliment her in the present.
So why was he paying attention to her and flirting as if there were no tomorrow? Why wasn’t he taking more care with his words? And his touch? He’d grazed her cheek this morning to stop her from going outside. After touching her fingers last night, he’d told himself he wouldn’t use the power of their attraction to his advantage. But it was so hard to refrain . . .
Since their first meeting, their banter had been harmless and in good fun—at least on his part. But over the past couple of days, something had shifted and become more serious, and he wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was because she’d collapsed in front of his eyes. Maybe it was because he’d learned just how deeply caring she was to sacrifice her health for the Kellers. Maybe it was because the storm had forced them into proximity. Maybe it was because they’d gotten to know each other in a way they hadn’t been able to do at any of Mrs. Bancroft’s dinner parties.
Whatever it was, he didn’t want to lead her to believe they could have a relationship, only to end up hurting her. Yes, she was a strong woman and didn’t take him too seriously most of the time. But surely she was feeling everything he was, if he was reading her correctly—and he was fairly confident that he was.
He rested his head against his camera, the war inside him raging. He should have left Fairplay several weeks ago when he’d originally planned—shouldn’t have allowed himself to stay. But he’d been too enamored with her and too weak to tear himself away. And he still couldn’t.
He lifted his head and glanced toward the door and the layer of snow that had blown underneath and was now crusted to the floor. He couldn’t go anywhere, not anytime soon. And the honest truth—the deep, gut-wrenching truth: now that he was here with her, he was not only relieved to be by her side during this dangerous storm, but he didn’t want to be anywhere else.
All the while he finished setting up his camera and the dry plate, he strengthened his resolve to treat Felicity as a friend and nothing more. When Mrs. Keller returned in a lovely gown, they tended to Mr. Keller, suctioning his mouth and repositioning him. All the while, the older man’s eyes never once left his wife and were filled with both love and adoration.
As Philip helped to situate Mrs. Keller in a chair, he couldn’t keep from noticing how she seemed to grow more beautiful under her husband’s admiration, almost as if he were the fertilizer and water and sunshine that she needed.
Philip focused the lens, slipped in the dry plate, then draped the black cloth over his head. As he readied to take Mrs. Keller’s picture, he could sense Felicity’s presence before he heard her footsteps. He had the urge to pull out from underneath the dark linen. But he held himself steady and forced himself to pay attention to Mrs. Keller.
Only after he’d made sure he had a perfect shot of her did he flip the cloth up and emerge. He couldn’t keep himself from seeking out Felicity before he looked anywhere else.
She stood just inside the door.
At the sight of her, his jaw dropped open.
He’d seen her in her fanciest gowns during the dinners at Mrs. Bancroft’s, but she’d never worn this particular one. It was a dark purple with a narrow fit that showed off her curves to perfection. The bustle on the back highlighted her womanly figure too, as did the sleekness of the bodice.
She’d piled her hair into a fashionable twist at the top of her head, which left her graceful neck entirely exposed. Adorned by a simple gold necklace and delicate gold earrings, she had an understated elegance.
She held herself with poise, and yet, from the slight tilt of her head, she seemed to be waiting for him to comment on her appearance.
But what could he say that wouldn’t turn him into a milksop? He certainly couldn’t tell her how he really felt—that she was the most ravishing woman he’d ever met and that he wanted to stare at her all day, all night, and forever.
“It’s too much, isn’t it?” She finally spoke, her tone edged with embarrassment.
He managed to close his mouth. “You’re perfect.” The words came out with so much awe that he should have been embarrassed himself except that he was rarely embarrassed about anything.
She offered him a small smile.
He needed to see that smile grow large, wanted to give her something to smile about all the time. “You’re so perfect you will probably break the camera with how pretty you are.”
Yes, he was turning into a milksop. But he didn’t care, because her smile widened, just the way he’d hoped.
Mrs. Keller was standing beside her husband and was holding his hand as she wiped liquid from his chin. “She looks like a princess.”