Nathan's hands itched with the memory of the softness of Nora's hair, her long slender back, what it felt like to grab a hold of her and pull her toward him. It had felt so natural, so real, so perfect. He did not know loving a person could come so easily. For love was what he was afraid he was beginning to feel. In a few stolen moments and one short week, he knew he was dangerously close to falling for Nora Quinton. That alone was a prospect he did not want to think on in general let alone now. He could not care for Nora as his wife on a War Office salary, and she deserved no less respect than that of an honest woman. But the feel of her body against his radiated through him like nothing ever had, and he feared he would never be rid of that memory. It would plague him for the many long, dark nights his life held ahead of him. And for now, he needed to find Samuel. The boy was smart and pragmatic. He knew more about life than Nathan had at his age certainly and probably more than he cared to admit now. But he was still a child, and he would think on emotion more often than not. Nathan had to get to him before something made Samuel react unknowingly, causing his captors to respond in kind.
