Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
The morning found Alexander riding back to Audley with a precious parchment tucked in his tunic. The deeds to Throckmorton Castle, freshly drawn by Christopher’s clerk. He could not help but smile as his horse’s hooves pounded the ground. This paper could change his life in more ways than one.
Thanks to it, his future at Audley was assured. His and that of his descendants. By his generosity, Christopher had watered the seed that had been planted in his mind a few days ago. Now that he was assured of a position, perhaps he could—
No. He ruthlessly stopped the thought before it could fully take form. One thing at a time. First, he should deal with his brother. Then once Hugh was gone, he could think about what—who—he really wanted.
Alexander trotted through the gate. His smile broadened. Soon, he would be able to call this place home.
The first person he saw in the bailey was not his brother, his steward or his groom. It was a woman. The most beautiful woman in the world, standing next to her mare, as if she’d only just arrived herself.
“Gwenllian. What are you doing here?” It was still early, which meant she would have set off immediately after waking up. Why? Had anything happened? His smile vanished, and he rushed out to her. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes. Only, I wanted to see you. I was worried for you.”
Alexander took in a deep inhale. No one, save for Christopher, had ever worried about him. The idea that she did did something to his heart. Warmed it? Caused it to expand? He wasn’t sure.
“Worry not,” he reassured her. “I went to see Christopher yesterday, and we came up with a solution to save Audley. Well, he did, actually.”
With this, he produced the parchment from his tunic and explained to her what it contained. As he talked, the light in Gwenllian’s beautiful eyes became brighter, and joy bloomed on her face. She took both of his hands in hers when he had finished.
“Oh, but this is perfect! I am so relieved. To think that at first, apart from Sian, the people in my family thought Christopher an untrustworthy rogue! But I always knew he was a good man.”
“That is because you, my little Buttercup, are inclined to see the good in everyone.” Hadn’t she been the one insisting they take Old John away from his son?
“Perhaps. And why not? The bad will quickly become obvious anyway, so I might as well give people the benefit of the doubt when I meet them.”
“Is that what you did with me?”
“With you, it was not hard to see the good. You are a good man, Alexander.”
She beamed at him, and in that instant, he knew. He knew that he would not be able to spend his life without this woman. He didn’t think he would be strong enough to. More to the point, he didn’t want to.
“Let me go see Hugh,” he said, eager to begin the new chapter of his life. “Will you wait for me in the room you know, above the great hall?”
“The fourth one in the gallery?” she asked, eyes sparkling with mischief.
“The very one. Go.”
Before I ravish you on the spot.
She seemed to read his thoughts, and her cheeks flushed red.
Alexander’s blood rushed to his groin. To hell with being reasonable, he needed at least one kiss.
He raised his hand, ready to draw Gwenllian into his arms, but at that moment she turned and fled, as if knowing he would never have been able to stop after one kiss.
Once his sanity had been restored, Alexander headed to the great hall where he found his brother at the table, breaking his fast.
“Alexander.”
“Here,” he said without preamble, slamming his hand on the table to deposit the folded piece of parchment.
“I have found a solution. If I can keep Audley, you can have a grander estate to present to Lady Elizabeth’s father.
Throckmorton Castle, belonging at the moment to Lord Ashton. I wager you have heard of it?”
Hugh arched an eyebrow. “Indeed, I have.”
He placed his eating knife down and made to grab the piece of parchment. Alexander moved it before he could reach it.
“Not so fast. You can have this once I have in my possession the deeds to Audley. It will change little to officially hand it over to me, since you never come here or bother with its management.” He allowed himself a smile. “If you want Throckmorton, it is the only way.”
They remained staring at one another a long time, neither backing down.
“How did you convince Lord Ashton to hand his estate over?” Hugh finally asked. “Do not tell me he’s become your lover? Mind you, you two were always thick as thieves; I should have guessed something was up.”
Alexander did not let the slur rile him. “No, we are not lovers,” he said calmly. Though he would make sure to tell his friend that was what his brother thought. No doubt Christopher would be mightily amused.
Hugh stood up, decision etched all over his face. “Well, I will admit that I didn’t think you would rise to the challenge. But this offer is most impressive. Most impressive indeed, and I am tempted to accept.”
His eyes were gleaming with greed. Christopher had been right. More interested in prestige and appearance than comfort, he would swap Audley for Throckmorton in a heartbeat. The fool.
“So, will you?”
A nod. “Tell your steward to draw the deeds transferring Audley to you today. I have business in town, but I will sign them tomorrow morning when I return. Congratulations, little brother. It seems that Audley will be yours.”
Hugh left, slamming the door behind him.
Alexander remained immobile a long moment, savoring his triumph.
Then he poured himself a cup of wine, emptied it, and hurried to the gallery above, seized by the sudden need to see Gwenllian.
He understood that, had she not come to him that morning, he would have run to her.
By coming so propitiously, she had saved him the trouble of riding to Sheridan Manor and making up an excuse for his visit.
Gwenllian was sitting at the bay window when he entered the chamber. She looked as if she had always belonged here, utterly at home.
“You did make it to the right room this time,” he murmured, knowing she would understand the allusion to the night she had walked in on him naked. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” She stood up and took a tentative step toward him. “What did Hugh say, then?”
“He agreed to swap Audley for Throckmorton. The papers will be signed tomorrow.”
She let out a long sigh of relief. “I’m so glad.”
Yes. So was he. And…what now?
“Shall I take you back to Sheridan Manor?” he asked, not sure he wanted to.
“Not yet.” Her eyes sent sparks. “I have told my uncle I would spend the night at Redhill with William. So I’m free to stay here until tomorrow.”
So many lies for him… He didn’t know whether to be humbled or horrified. “Why did you do that? Did you fear the blow delivered by my brother would have addled my mind?”
She flushed, proving that was what she’d thought—in part. “No, as I was certain you would find a solution. But I could not resist the temptation of another night in your arms.”
In his arms.
Everything within him roared. Yes, they would spend the night in each other’s arms and to hell with everything. Alexander took her by the hand before he could act on the sudden desire racing through his veins.
“Come. Let’s go for a ride.”
That night, in bed, Alexander welcomed Gwenllian into his arms. He could not deny the urge he had fought so hard the previous night.
As soon as they’d settled under the covers, he drew her to him and kept her tight against his flank.
And, to his surprise, he did no more. He made no move to kiss her or claim her in any way.
There was no need. He was happy to simply hold her.
Even more puzzling—perhaps even vexing—was the fact that Gwenllian seemed just as content with this chaste arrangement.
She had promised him they would not do anything while his brother was sleeping next door, and she was keeping true to her word.
How was she finding it so easy to control herself?
What did it mean? Had she lost all desire for him?
No… With her so close to him, he could not miss the tension in her body, which matched his.
She wanted him, but she was happy to wait because she knew she would win in the end. And she was right to be confident.
Tomorrow, once everything was sorted, he would have her. In all senses of the word.
“Mm. You smell so good,” she murmured against his neck, the brush of her lips sending goosebumps along his spine.
A smile. “So do you.”
“You feel good against me.”
Another smile. “So do you.”
“You’re so hard. All those muscles.”
He snorted. He was hard, and if she slipped her hand under the covers, she would see just how much. But she was only talking about his chest, where her small, delicate hand was resting. He covered it with his.
“Well, you’re not hard; you’re all soft and warm.” Perfect.
“You’re warm too.”
Yes, and no wonder, since he was burning with the need to have her. Should he tell her that he wanted her, but he was fighting his desire for her until the perfect moment? He had the feeling she would understand, as she seemed to be doing the same thing.
He tightened his hold around her and placed a kiss on her soft hair. She smelled of wildflowers. Buttercups? The idea made him smile again. Of course not, buttercups didn’t really smell of everything, and this scent was unique to her anyway.
“I’m so glad you found a solution to keep Audley,” she murmured. “It’s clear that it is where you belong. The people working here love you, and the tenants would have been sorry to see you go.”
“Mm, I’m happy to have found a solution as well. Although, in truth, Christopher is the one who found it.”
“You or him, ’tis one and the same. Anyway, all will be sorted tomorrow.”
She turned to the chest by her side of the bed and blew out the candle, plunging the room into darkness. Then she took her place back against him and let out a sigh of contentment, as if order had been restored. It certainly had.
“Sleep well, my love.”