Chapter Fifteen #2
“You made it quite clear earlier how you felt.” It was impossible to see his expression in the darkness, and though the bonfire was off to one side of them, it was too far away to provide helpful illumination.
“I didn’t believe you wished to talk further.
” Off to the left about an eighth of a mile away was the hedge maze that was shrouded in shadows and the inky night.
“I never figured you for a fool, Laurence.” Then she let the arrow fly. It found purchase in the grass between his boots. “And I’ll wager you’re not that familiar with a woman’s mind.”
“You’d be correct.” He nodded but made no move to close the distance between them. On the other hand, he didn’t retreat either. Perhaps he wasn’t a fool after all. “What do you want?”
“Simply speaking? You.” She removed another arrow from her quiver hanging off her hip. “In more complicated terms, everything that life still holds for me.” It was a gamble, but she had no patience for games and pretty words. They’d not served her well in the past. Now, she wanted real.
Laurence cleared his throat. “Let me find my sister. Then I’ll come back to Landry Hall and talk.”
“No.” Once more, she nocked the arrow.
“You don’t trust me to come back?”
“It’s not that, but something that is so important to you is important to me.” Slowly, she pulled back on the arrow. “Every day that goes by, I remember the baby that was taken away from me, and he’ll always occupy a place in my heart, but I am also tired of grieving, of being lost in that haze.”
“Meaning what? How does that relate to what is facing me?” A hint of exhaustion mixed with annoyance went through his voice.
“Meaning that we both can’t lose a family member. You have a chance to find your sister, and I’m ecstatic for you about that, but I’m going with you.”
“I can’t allow that. Your life is here, and us together, traipsing over the countryside with no place to stay is a scandal I don’t want for you.”
“You don’t have a say in my life, at least not yet.” Seconds later, she let the arrow fly. This time, one of the feathers scratched her cheek. The steel tip of the arrow buried itself into the side of his knapsack.
With a yelp, Laurence dropped the bag. “You shot me!”
“No, I shot your bag, and I never miss. If I’d wished to shoot you, I would have, so choose your next words carefully,” she said as she withdrew her fourth arrow.
“If you would like to discuss how I live my life, then I believe there is one question you can ask me that would give you that right.” It was heavy handed of her and quite assumptive, but she didn’t care.
After everything she’d been through the past few years, it was time to go after what she wanted.
His eyes widened, and this time, he took several steps toward her as she nocked her arrow. “I’m not good enough for you, Rose. We both know this.”
“So you think. As I said before, you have potential, Captain, and that is something I appreciate.” Now she had to speak from the heart.
It was both terrifying and exhilarating.
“You are a good man, a decent sort, and since you’ve come to Landry Hall, spent time with you, been the recipient of your regard, I’ve let myself start to dream. ”
“That’s a dangerous prospect, for I might disappoint you.”
He let his bag fall to the grass. “And I might do the same to you.” When he came close enough, he put a gloved finger to the arrow’s tip and slowly encouraged it downward until it pointed at the ground. “As I told you before, all I have to offer you is my reputation.”
“That is a good start, don’t you think, especially since I don’t have even that?” Her chin trembled. “I’m the one who should feel unworthy. You are a stranger to scandal; I’ve caused it.” Suddenly fearful, Rose dropped the bow and arrow. She turned to leave. “I apologize. This wasn’t a good idea.”
His fingers went around her wrist to halt her flight. “You’ve come so far. Please, don’t stop now. I’m curious as to what you’ll say.”
The heat of him as he reeled her backward and against his body set fire to her blood. When he wrapped his arms around her, she was fully aware of the strength in his lean form and the power he exuded without being intimidating. “I…”
“Tell me the truth, Rose.” He tugged at the ribbon beneath her chin, and they both said nothing as her bonnet fell to the grass.
“Speak the words you’ve wanted to. Tell me what I’ve only glimpsed in your eyes, in your touch.
” Gooseflesh crept over her skin. His breath warmed the shell of her ear.
“Or have you changed your mind? After all, that’s why you chased me down tonight, wasn’t it? ”
“Yes.” Excitement buzzed at the base of her spine as her nipples tightened, but she couldn’t allow herself to be distracted.
A shiver went through her. It was now or never.
“I’m coming to care for you, Captain. Probably more than I should, and though it will seem nothing but insanity to everyone in society, I’m keen to see where this relationship goes. ”
“Then let us begin.” He nipped at the underside of her jaw while at the same time, he strummed the fingers of one hand over a nipple, chuckling when she gasped and wriggled in his hold.
“While I don’t mind your touch, at least let me say what I need to before I lose my nerve.”
“Very well,” he whispered into her ear. “I’m listening.”
“I know I can’t accompany you to find your sister due to scandal, even after what you and I have already gotten up to, so I have a solution.”
“Such as?”
“Marry me, Laurence.” She turned her head slightly in order to catch his gaze. “I’m already halfway in love with you, and if you feel the same for me, where is the harm? We would make a good match, don’t you think?”
“Never in my life did I think a woman would propose to me.” When he slid his heated mouth to the side of her throat, her breath stalled. “It’s an intriguing concept, but again, how can I live with myself if I have no way to support you or a family we might have?”
It was becoming more difficult to think with him so near. “There might be a solution to that.”
“Oh?” Again, he strummed a finger over her nipple, and even through the fabric of her gown, the sensations he imparted from that touch were enough to weaken her knees.
“Madison told me that my father’s estate foreman for Landry Hall has retired.
Which means my father will need a new one, and having someone familiar with the area would prove helpful.
As well as having military training, keeping a schedule, has knowledge of working with his hands…
” She gave into a shiver. “If you agree to marry me, I’ll write to Papa and ask him to hire you.
Then you’ll have a living, and we can possibly rent a cottage nearby.
Or live at the hall until we can sort our affairs. ”
“That is a good solution, but what makes you think your father will even accept me as a suitor for you?”
“Why wouldn’t he? I’m ruined, remember? Any offer will be snapped up by my parents, and I won’t be a failure any longer.”
He grunted. “He might still ban you from London.”
“He can try, but once I’m wed, I’ll no longer need to take orders from him. I’ll be your problem at that point.”
A chuckle left him and tickled through her chest. “This is so.”
While it felt far too lovely in his arms once again, he hadn’t answered her question, and without it, they couldn’t move forward. “Does that mean you’ll marry me?”
“That depends.”
A frown tugged the corners of her mouth downward. “On what?”
“Do you truly believe you’ll find happiness with me? That you’ll love me, and that you aren’t merely offering this as a solution for us both?”
“Must you ask that? I thought you said you saw the answer in my eyes?”
“I did, but perhaps I’m vain and wish to hear the words.” The insistent brush of his tongue over her shoulder and nape scattered her thoughts.
“Damn you.” She huffed out a breath. “I’m falling in love with you. Now will you make me fly, Captain?”
“I will, of course, and it will prove all the sweeter this time.”
“Why?”
“Because, as it turns out, I am falling in love with you as well. Quite rapidly and without any sort of logic.”
“Good.” Even though he still hadn’t answered her question, she didn’t care.
As her pulse tripped erratically through her veins, she tried to keep her breathing even, but from his kisses and touches, he would soon drive her to madness.
Yet a stab of disappointment went through her chest. Was he truly only using her after all.
“If you only want a place to dip your wick as it were, you can forget all I’ve said.
” When she would have broken the embrace, Laurence growled, took hold of her hips, and kept her backside flush to his front.
“Do stop, Rose Leigh Landry.” With his teeth, he tugged the gloves from his fingers and let them fall to the ground at their feet.