Chapter Fifteen #2
Robert moved over and opened one of the candles, Abigail watched him fiddle away until a plume of light brightened up the dim kitchen walls, and he walked closer and passed her a single sheet of paper. “I think this might explain things.”
Bending her head, Abigail read the scrawled script with interest—
Departed to intercept Mrs. Fossey, would expect her to be home on the morrow. There is enough food in the cupboards and a shilling in the special tin should you need it, otherwise keep to one room so reduce usage of firewood if you can.
“Your sister should have taken greater care of your situation before she dashed out to find your mother.”
Abigail nodded absently as she reread the note.
Perhaps Robert was right about her sister, although she knew this was not Judith’s handwriting.
Why on earth Miss Schillers would be sent in Judith’s place to collect her mother made very little sense to Abigail.
What could Judith have to do that was more important?
Perhaps Miss Schillers and Judith had gone together, not that Judith would ever admit she needed a chaperone.
What their combined absence meant was dawning on Abigail in deliciously exciting waves—she was alone in her own house, with Robert, and there was the distinct possibility that there would be no interruptions until daybreak.
They had hours alone together.
As Milton most certainly did not count as a chaperone. Excitement spread through Abigail at the thought, and she could hide her smile as she took a step closer toward Robert.
“Perhaps I can give you a tour of my home.”
“I do not know if I can condone the wisdom of that course of action.” Robert had lowered the candlestick on the kitchen table, and the shadows danced over his chiseled face, both hiding and highlighting the strong lines of his face. Abigail resisted the urge to reach out to stroke his cheek.
But she had her confidence from today’s experience, as well as knowing the limited amount of privacy they had buoyed Abigail forward, and caused her to snatch Robert’s hand.
“Please.” Urgency was alive within as she looked up at him, hoping that he would not raise such petty concerns and worries as society, and the outside world.
Not when it was the symbolic day. Now after all, this was their stolen time, hidden night as the rain peddled down, when everyone was finally away and there was no choice of an interruption until dawn.
Robert returned the grasp of her fingers, lowering his head and brushing his lips against hers.
It was enough. It was an agreement, and Abigail felt her heart soar.
With her free hand she snatched up the candlestick, and led him back up the staircase, through the silent house.
Excitement burnt under her skin, nerves burnt through her, and she had to force herself not to speak, to share every thrilling and daunting idea that threatened to launch out of her mouth.
Turning the corridor on the second floor, Abigail neared her bedroom, releasing his hand to push the door wide and stepped inside.
In some ways she was lucky as Abigail had never truly had to share her room, Sophia and Judith had, whereas she’d been given the smaller narrow room, that only had enough space for a bed, fireplace and a narrow cabinet under the window.
Moonlight poured through from the partly open curtains shining over the messy chamber—strewn bedding, a discarded book, and an unmade bed greeted them.
A small chuckle came from Robert, and Abigail placed the candlestick on the fireplace ledge. His arms encircled her waist and pulled her flush against him.
“No one would ever mistake you for a lady.” His voice was husky in her ears. Abigail turned her face to look at him. Even in the dimness, she could see his smile.
“Why don’t you care?”
“Manners and whatnot all seem rather petty when compared to…” he trailed off, as he frowned down at her, biting back whatever his answer might have been.
“I suppose I realize there’s more important things, better things to be doing.
” His hand came up. He fingered her jawline, bringing her face close to his, as he kissed her.
Pleasure crashed through Abigail as she surrendered to the taste of his mouth, giddy from the feel of him all around her.
When Robert broke the kiss, his hand cradled her face, his fingertip tracing the edge of her jawline.
“When I first saw you, I thought this…” He touched her chin.
“I thought…it doesn’t matter. Now I consider it the most beautiful sight.
” With that uttered, he bent and scooped her up in his arms carrying her over to the bed, Abigail twisted her body so she could better hold onto his shoulders.
To better cling to him. With great care Robert placed on the bed, and then leaned over, his hands coming to rest either side of her head as he loomed over her.
There was such strength, power and masculinity resounding off him, that Abigail almost wanted to press her head back on the sheets beneath her, and give in to it.
Yet when his fingertips touched the apple of her cheek with such delicate care, she knew never could.
This physical side of their dynamic needed to be embraced by her wholly or she’d regret it.
Leaning up she kissed him keenly, her tongue touching his lips, and when he parted his mouth, her tongue stole inside, eager to taste him.
Robert’s hands roamed her body, loosening and discarding the unnecessary bits of material, letting out a small cry of surprise when he found she did not wear stays.
“It must see these by daylight,” his mouth trailed between the valley of her breasts as he kissed an enthralling pathway between the two, before teasing her left nipple in his warm mouth. His touch was soft, and he made soothing noises when he saw the bruises left by the landslide.
Abigail would have liked to agree, but the words were lost as his tongue started to laver the point of her nipple, and all sense seemed to leave her.
It was the most extraordinary thing, the more of her clothes that were thrown heedlessly aside, the more naked the two of them became, all of the famed logic she had treasured for all of her life vanished, and yet Abigail could not find herself caring.
Not when his hot and ready body was pressing her into the tangled sheets, his whispered praise and endearments uttered, and the touch of his hands eliciting similar responses to what had happened just earlier today.
When Robert reached between her legs once more, stroking at the sweetly sensitive spot in amongst her sex, Abigail could feel the pressure in her limbs coil and tighten as her body prepared itself for the same roiling, wondrous release.
“Do you feel the same as I do?”
Robert paused as he looked down at her. “The same?”
With trailing fingers Abigail traced her right hand down his strong torso, catching and feeling the muscles that graced her hand.
Daringly she leaned up and kissed his chest, before her curious fingers wound their way down to his erect member.
When she touched him there, Robert flinched, his eyes fluttering close.
“God, I hope so,” he said as he pulled her fingers away.
“You make me feel more alive than I ever thought possible. You make me feel grateful that I lived to this day, in this moment with you.” He kissed her and eased Abigail back amongst the linens, only pulling back half an inch to look down at her. “Is that what you mean?”
Abigail who now feel the insistent press of his member between her legs, the end of his cock twitching between the curls of her sex, inexpertly lifted her hips up to ease some of the pressure within, and heard the soft groan from Robert, nodded to him when his eyelids fluttered open.
“Yes,” she said, agreeing that his sentiments were precisely what she had meant, agreeing to what came next.