Chapter Twenty-Five
When he finally tracked her down to an afternoon garden party on the extensive lawns of the Duke of Ampleforth’s estate, his heart practically stopped in relief to see that she was whole and healthy and apparently unharmed.
All those days he couldn’t find her; she hadn’t been in danger… she’d just been avoiding him. Wonderful.
The Ampleforths’ garden was enormous by London standards, stretching over a few acres. There were gravel paths, wide green lawns with beds of flowers and trees of all kinds, fountains, statues, and curiously shaped topiary. There was even a small hedge maze.
The party was set up on one of the lawns.
Tents covering tables filled with refreshments had footmen at the ready to assist people in filling their plates with delectable finger foods.
Blankets spread on the grass held small groups; chairs were arranged for the older guests to enjoy a bit of rest. But most of the guests strolled the many paths or milled about.
He spotted Lady Lydia almost the moment he stepped into the garden. She strolled slowly with her cousin Miss Martindale; arms linked in easy companionship. Her expression was relaxed and full of humor as the other woman leaned close, apparently imparting something very amusing.
Despite the anxiety he’d experienced since finding the notes in her writing desk, he couldn’t help but smile in reaction. The lady’s good humor and easy enjoyment was not a common thing to witness, and he appreciated it all the more for its rarity.
Unfortunately, though he wanted to rush to her side and confirm without question that she hadn’t faced death or worse in their time apart, with so many curious gazes sweeping about, he forced himself to a casual pace as he circled about the party.
He even stopped to engage in a bit of small talk here and there. But he kept Lady Lydia in view.
Since he was essentially following her path about the garden—albeit at a distance and not exactly—he remained behind her, so it took some time before she noted his presence.
It finally happened when she and her cousin entered the refreshment tent to sip a bit of lemonade.
Her gaze flickered over the rim of her glass.
Through several groups of people, over an expanse of green grass, her sea-storm eyes found his as he stood beneath a large oak.
Even at the significant distance, he felt the force of her attention. His body—blood, muscle, bone, inner spirit—reacted in an instant. He experienced her gaze. He felt her. In every part of him.
Fuck.
He had to force his gaze in another direction to regain control of his reaction.
When he glanced back toward her again, she was no longer standing at the refreshment table. Miss Martindale remained, casting him a sideways glance while she hid her delighted smile behind her glass.
His focus darted about. Where had she gone?
A second later, he spotted her striding confidently and without hesitation toward the entrance to the hedge maze.
Because, of course she did.
He lowered his chin and smirked as he glanced to his pocket watch. He waited an anticipation-filled five minutes. Then he went after her.
As he entered the labyrinth, he had to remind himself that his intention was a serious conversation about the threatening notes she’d received.
This wasn’t to be an amorous tryst. It was midday with hundreds of people strolling about, and even though that wasn’t a great deterrent to him, engaging in anything here could be a greater risk than the balcony of the ball.
At least there, they’d had cover of darkness and the other guests were mainly contained to one area. Here people wandered about freely.
Entering the maze, he made it to the first intersection before he paused to wonder if this was such a great idea.
How in hell was he supposed to find Lydia in this?
The hedges of the maze reached at least seven feet tall so there was no peeking over them.
He didn’t dare call out for her as it would draw attention to both of them.
There could be someone standing on the other side of any hedge surrounding him and he wouldn’t know it. Quiet was key, then.
But how was he to go about finding a single clever woman in all this?
He realized then that she’d likely chosen this exact sort of challenge intentionally. No doubt, she loved imagining him getting lost and frustrated and turning this way and that in search of her. Perhaps, she even expected him to give up if it proved too difficult.
Not a bloody chance. He was not letting her get away again so soon.
With a predator’s grin, he chose a path and strode confidently forward.
A full hour later, he was lost and frustrated but determined not to give up.
This damned labyrinth wasn’t that big. And he’d been down every path at least twice by now.
In truth, he probably should’ve come upon her by accident at this point.
He’d encountered others exploring the maze more than once.
Three young ladies who’d all twittered as he nodded in passing.
A group of four who seemed more intent on arguing which way to go than enjoying the mystery of the experience.
And a singular middle-aged gentleman with a stoic expression who strolled with his wrist clasped behind him.
His confidence was apparently not misplaced as Edmund only encountered him once, suggesting he’d made it through the maze with no trouble.
Stopping in a small courtyard, he took a seat on the marble ledge surrounding the central fountain.
This was one of three of these little central areas, which he knew because he’d come upon each of them multiple times and could differentiate between them by the different figures depicted in the fountain statuary.
This one was of Dionysus.
Though it was terribly ungentlemanlike, he loosened his neckcloth then dipped his fingers into the water pooled at the base of the fountain and dampened the back of his neck.
The cooling effect was more teasing than soothing, so he turned more fully toward the fountain and cupped both hands in the water to splash his face.
The cool water ran down his throat to soak into his shirt as he shoved his hands back through his hair. Better.
Was the lady playing him for a fool?
Had she left the maze ages ago?
He didn’t want to think so. But truly, he couldn’t understand why he hadn’t encountered her by now. It defied the odds.
“There you are.”
At the sound of her voice, his body tightened with a rush of intense awareness and his heart bounced around in his ribcage. He turned to see her approaching from what appeared to be a thick hedge wall.
“Did you just form out of thin air?” he asked, partially in earnest.
Her smile was slightly smug and utterly beautiful as she shrugged. Continuing toward him, she held his gaze. “Have you had some trouble with the maze, Lord Darlington?”
“Not with the maze so much as with finding you within it.”
She came to a stop beside him and braced herself with her hand on the marbled seat surrounding the fountain to lean forward and slide the fingers of her other hand across the surface of the water.
“Is that what you’ve been doing? Searching for me?”
Her tone was excessively casual, but he heard the pleasure in it.
Following a dangerous impulse, he swept his arm around her waist and pulled her into his lap. She gasped but didn’t resist as she looped one arm around his shoulders.
Now that she was in his arms—finally—and the warm, sweet violet scent of her filled his nostrils, desire rushed through him like an elemental force. His tone lowered gruffly. “Have you intentionally been evading me?”
A light in her dark eyes flickered like moonlight across the sea. “Not at all.” She lifted her hand and brushed the tip of her middle finger along the curve of his lower lip. “Did it never occur to you that you could simply stop and allow me to come to you?”
A deep growl rolled through him, and though he knew his expression turned thunderous, it was a false display, meant to distract from the wealth of pleasure consuming him in reaction to her words.
He tightened his arms around her, grasping the curve of her hip in his hand. “You mean I could’ve had you like this long ago if I’d just given up?”
“No,” she corrected with a stern look. “Setting aside ego and the selfishness of pursuit to allow someone to meet you where you are is not giving up.”
Edmund smoothed his hand up her spine to cage the arch of her nape. Leaning toward her, he ran the tip of his nose up along the side of her throat to nuzzle the sensitive spot behind her ear. “What is it then?” he murmured gruffly.
“It’s trust,” she answered on a breath as she arched in his arms and tossed her head back.
He closed his mouth on her flesh and sucked her skin against his teeth. She tasted like magic and starlight and so many secrets he’d never known existed.
“Where have you been?” he asked gruffly.
“Just a few steps behind you.” Her voice was throaty and breathless.
“No,” he grunted, swirling his tongue over her pulse. “Where’ve you been since the terrace? I had no idea where you were,” he confessed. “I was worried.”
She stiffened very subtly before a soft laugh bubbled to her lips. “It hasn’t even been three whole days.”
Three days? It had felt like an eternity. He growled.
“Were you intentionally avoiding me?” The way her gaze slid to the side and her lips pursed for just a moment told him she was. His chest tightened. “Why?”
Bringing her focus back to his face, she gave a little shrug. “I just needed a little time to…reassure myself of something.”
The urge to ask her to explain pressed high in his throat, but he resisted. He’d pried into her privacy enough already—as she’d soon discover.
Right now, he was just relieved to find her safe and more than thrilled to have her in his arms.
With his hand still supporting her nape, he brought her mouth to his for a deep thrust of his tongue.
Her arms wrapped around his neck and she tangled her tongue with his.
But far too quickly, she pulled back and tried to free herself from his arms. It took him a moment to let her go, but as soon as he did, she stood.
“Come,” she whispered as she took his hand.
Of course, he followed. With his heart thundering and his blood on fire, he followed her to the corner of the small hedged courtyard.
Within a few steps, she slipped out of sight.
A false wall created a deep, private arbor, unseen unless you were right upon it.
She turned and pulled him toward her. Slipping her hand around his neck, she lifted her lips to his.
She was hungry for him. Every instinct urged him to satisfy her craving. A harsh voice in his head reminded him he had a different purpose in searching her out.
A soft whimper escaped her throat as she deepened the kiss.
He’d bring up the notes in a minute. The lady needed him.
He doubled his arms around her and indulged her desire. And his. In the full light of an early summer day, surrounded by walls of greenery and judgmental strangers who could come upon them at any moment, he kissed her like they were the only two people in the world.
Deep and languid and ravenous.
He reshaped her lips and claimed her breath and explored the secrets of every sigh and gentle moan. He held her to him—tightly wrapped in his embrace. He wanted no space between their bodies. The clothing was far too much already.
It was that closeness that ultimately forced him to pause as she shifted against him and the crinkled paper in his breast pocket gave a subtle sound.
Damn. He’d lost himself.
With a growl, he brought his hands up to frame her face as he withdrew from the kiss.
She released a puff of breath from her parted lips as her eyes fluttered open. The sunlight reflected in the sea of her gaze, turning it a turbulent blue.
“Wh—?”
He stopped her question with another kiss. Intended to be soft and chaste, he nearly tumbled back into passion as she palmed the back of his head and swept her tongue over his bottom lip.
Pulling back again, he aimed for a stern and serious look.
She arched a brow.
“There is something we must discuss.” His words were roughened but clear enough.
“Is there?” she asked, sweeping her hands down his back then up again in a soothing stroke that awakened every nerve of his spine.
Against every physical demand in his body, he stepped back—not out of reach, but far enough to allow him to slip a hand into his pocket.
Her hands dropped to her sides, and her expression was curious as he withdrew the note.
He watched for a sign of recognition and didn’t see one, so he handed it to her.
“I found this,” he said simply.