Chapter 15 Alex
Alex
It was a blasted relief to arrive home.
Alex exhaled as MacDonald, in his crisp butler’s livery, opened Silverburn’s iron-banded front doors for him. Two footmen, the eternally pink-cheeked Cameron and Donnchadh, the son of one of the tenant farmers, moved to unload the palette box containing Savi’s collection.
“MacDonald,” he began, passing over the calamander box, as well as a letter he’d written whilst on the train.
“There’s a pouch of jewellery in here; I’d like you to lock it in the family safe.
I’ve also written a letter of instructions to Murdoch’s, a fine furniture maker in Stirling.
It’s regarding something I’d like to order.
They need to be delivered by Thursday next week. Pay whatever they ask.”
If MacDonald found the request unusual, he didn’t show it, graciously accepting the letter. “Yes, my lord.”
“And don’t let Lady Lakenheath see it when it arrives.”
“Of course.”
Alex inclined his head, glad to have finally dispensed with the plans he’d been mulling over since his train had pulled away from the station. “Is Lady Lakenheath still awake?”
“She is.” Something resembling confusion passed over MacDonald’s expression. “It’s not been long since she collected a picnic basket of food from the kitchens.”
Alex checked the nearest window to be absolutely certain it was as dark as he thought it was. “A picnic basket?”
“I believe she told Morag something about eggs hatching?” MacDonald’s voice tightened at the end, still confused.
“Ahhh.” Alex, however, understood at once. “You say she’s only just been in the kitchens?”
“Indeed. A few minutes ago.”
“In which case,” Alex turned back to the open front door, “I shall be going back out.”
He jogged back out into the night. The scattered stones that comprised Silverburn’s driveway crunched under his feet, but he soon left it behind, flanking the largest of Silverburn’s ancient turrets.
To get to the path to the Dower House, Alex would have had to navigate a fleet of winding stone corridors, but the landscaped gardens were a far quicker route.
Alex smiled as he sighted a hedgehog snuffling around beneath a hydrangea. Did Savi know about the hedgehogs in the garden? He’d have to tell her in case she wanted to camp out—although he’d recommend waiting until the winter, else she’d be eaten alive by midges.
Up above him, the full moon lit the way. Its light skittered as it landed, a river of silver in the night. His steps were quick, tearing up the path before him. There was no sign of Savi ahead, but that only made him more determined to catch up with her.
A queer feeling came over him. His breaths were deeper, his blood hotter, his mind sharper. Alex moved faster, turning off the main path and onto the winding track that would take him to the cottage. Was she on it too? Was he about to catch her?
As the thought crossed his mind, there was an unmistakable pulse at the base of his cock.
The fiery sensations racing through his body finally made sense—as much as they could. It was at that moment that he realised he wasn’t just keen to see her.
Alex wanted to catch her, to hunt, to take her.
The wall of dark greenery parted to reveal the picturesque little cottage. The vivid floral tones in the cottage’s garden were cooled by the moonlight, but he took little notice, skirting around the building to the cottage’s front door.
There she was.
Adrenaline mixed with a blaze of arousal at the sight of his wife turning the key in the lock. “Savi,” he uttered, the words coming out rough and low.
She jumped, her lips parting in shock before curling into a playful smile as her eyes found his. “Hello, stranger.”