Chapter 20 #2
She mumbled in her sleep, pulled her cloak closer, and, turning, settled her hip comfortably against his.
He moved over, re-creating the space between them.
It was his eyes he planned to keep on her, he vowed, nothing more.
She sighed, turned again, and slumped against his shoulder, her hand coming to rest on his thigh.
He felt the blood rush to his groin. Absurd, he remonstrated with himself.
It was just a hand. He stared at the slim fingers, curled inches above his knee.
It wasn’t as if the hand was moving, or she was moving.
As if she were naked, creeping slowly up his thighs, toward his aching flesh.
He forced himself to recall her scornful reaction to his refusal to marry her.
Why would you think I would want such a thing after the shabby way you’ve treated me?
He had treated her shabbily. Repeatedly.
Intentionally. It was good that she understood that he was completely unsuitable and that marriage between them was out of the question.
So why did the tightness between his legs now seem to be traveling to his chest?
He looked up and caught Marcus’s eyes on him.
In the dark, it was impossible to read their expression, but when he spoke, he could have sworn there was an undercurrent of sympathy in his voice.
“I don’t suppose we could leave the earl’s sister at the inn in Bristol?”
“And risk Moreham’s wrath?” James shook his head. “And what if she came to harm, left alone at a public inn?”
“There’s an even better chance she’ll come to harm in France.”
He glanced down at Elizabeth’s sleeping form, resisting the urge to put his arm around her. He knew Marcus was right.
“We could leave Andre or David with her, to arrange for her return home. A suitably slow return,” Marcus added.
“We need them both. And while a slow return might buy us time with Moreham, what of our friend in France? He doesn’t have the luxury of time.”
Marcus sighed. “Has she got a passport, do you think?”
“I suspect so. She seems to have thought everything through rather thoroughly.”
“Yes, I must admit, I found her arguments convincing. But then I’ve been cozened by women before.”
James heard bitterness in the man’s voice. He wondered at it but didn’t know Marcus well enough to ask about its source, and Marcus wasn’t the sort to invite confidences.
“Still,” Marcus continued, “I suppose such skills may come in handy considering our purpose in France.”
Oh no, he wanted to say, Elizabeth wouldn’t have the opportunity to practice her so-called skills on anyone. Lord knew the chit was far too dangerous already. He mumbled noncommittally.
Marcus laughed softly. “I nearly forgot, Dinsmore, congratulations on your forthcoming nuptials.”
“We’re not getting married,” James muttered to no one in particular.
“Something about it just doesn’t feel right,” Rafe said to Alix as they lay together against the pillows of their great four-poster bed several hours after Elizabeth’s carriage left the hall.
She ran a finger down his chest. “It feels good to me…” Her hand disappeared beneath the covers. “Very good indeed.”
“Insatiable wench.” He caught her hand before she reached her objective. “I was talking about Elizabeth.”
“She will be fine.” She wiggled up against him and nipped his neck.
“She’s on her way to Hartsdale, where she will undoubtedly enjoy a pleasant visit.
” She ran her tongue up his neck to his ear.
“She’s a lovely girl, Arabella. Quite nice.
And on the subject of nice”—she sucked the lobe of his ear—“this is quite nice, too.”
He turned and kissed her, a kiss that started out slow and warm, his tongue tracing the familiar shape of her lips, sliding into her mouth.
Her arms wrapped around his neck; his hand slid down the soft curves of her body, softer and fuller now that she was carrying their child, pulling her down underneath him.
She could feel him rising against her belly.
She lay back against the down-filled mattress, closing her eyes and letting her legs slide languorously apart.
She felt his fingers rest on her hip, felt him lift himself, just enough for a hand to wander…
or a mouth. She shivered, wondering where and how he would touch her next.
He had amazing hands and an even more amazing tongue.
“Something doesn’t feel right.”
“You…stopping,” she moaned.
“She packed so lightly, left so quickly, didn’t even take a maid.”
Reluctantly, Alix opened her eyes. “She said her maid was suffering from a fever and that it would be a poor thing to bring illness to the Norcrofts. She said Arabella would provide a maid. And she didn’t know how long she might be staying, so she’d send word if she needed more things.
You can always question the coachman when he returns. ”
“I suppose.” He didn’t sound convinced.
Alix raised herself up on her elbows and looked into his eyes. “You worry too much about her. You held the reins too tight and look what happened…”
“I didn’t hold them tight enough…”
“We’ve had this argument far too often of late.
We will not bring it to bed, not tonight.
Regardless of whether you watched her too little or too much, you know Elizabeth has learned a bitter lesson.
You should be glad she’s been invited to Hartsdale.
I should never have expected Arabella’s harpy of a mother to extend such an invitation.
Perhaps it’s a sign that society is prepared to forgive her.
She won’t act so impulsively again, you’ll see.
She’ll think things through, just like you, my love.
” She kissed him reassuringly on the nose.
“She didn’t tell us about seeing James Dinsmore.”
“Jervis told you it appeared to be an unpleasant encounter. No doubt she was too embarrassed or upset.”
She reached over and smoothed the crease that had appeared between his eyes. “If you are so concerned, you could ride over to Hartsdale in a day or two.”
“If she’s there, she’ll know I’ve come because I don’t trust her, and the Norcrofts will know it, too… And if she’s not there, well, then…”
“You’ll create a scandal far worse than the one in London.”
He nodded; Alix slid her hand behind his neck, pulling him down against her.
“You’ll just have to trust her,” she whispered into his tawny hair.
“I know,” he whispered back. “That’s what worries me most.”