CHAPTER THREE
“Emma,” said Grace, as she punched her pillow once again. “I’m going to miss Mama and Papa so much.”
It was the eve of their parents’ departure and they were in the room they’d shared in the house they’d grown up in. Their few belongings which hadn’t been sold had already been moved into Jasmine Cottage, so they were sleeping on the floor, cushioned by a quilt.
“I know,” said Emma, as she hugged her sister. They had always been close, in part because they’d had to depend on each other during their parents’ many absences. Now they’d be spending all their time together. “But we’ll see Grandpapa in London in a few weeks, so it’s not like we don’t have some family near.”
“I know,” said Grace, wiping her eyes. “I’m just glad you’re here. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’ll never have to find out,” she said as she squeezed her sister’s hand. “I’ll never leave you alone.” That was true. But what Emma didn’t say was that she suspected they’d soon be moving, but not just into Jasmine Cottage. She and Audsley had run into each other each day since their kiss in the cottage. They never planned to meet, but Audsley just happened to show up during Emma’s daily walk and she’d been careful to never stray far from her route. He didn’t say very much, but it was comforting just to have him by her side.
They hadn’t kissed again, but Emma thought the idea had crossed his mind more than once. He didn’t mention it, of course, but there had been a look in his eyes, along with a heat between them, which were impossible to mistake.
Yes. Emma had a feeling she would soon be Mrs. Christopher Aston. She smiled just thinking about it.
“Why are you smiling?” asked Grace.
“No reason.” Grace was her best friend, but for some reason, Emma hadn’t confided in her about this. It was too personal. One day she would simply surprise her sister with the news that they’d be moving into the abbey. It was too bad their parents would be gone, but it would be a lovely surprise when they returned in a year.
* * *
Audsley was in his bed, with the covers flung off, breathing heavily after once again finding his early morning relief. He awakened each day, hard as a rock, with visions of Emma on his mind. It was madness to meet her each day on her walks. He should return to London and Lady Hathaway. But every time he’d made arrangements to return to the city, he’d put it off to spend more time at the abbey. Then he groaned at the falsehood. For once, he didn’t give a fig about the abbey or his estate business. He was postponing his departure because he wished to spend more time with a country miss who brought joy to his life. Just being in her presence lifted his spirits. Emma was happiness personified, with a rapier-sharp wit. It certainly didn’t hurt that she had a body he yearned to take. He’d had a hint of her hidden curves that day at the cottage and it had taken every bit of his considerable self-restraint to stop kissing her. He should return to London immediately.
Perhaps he would tomorrow, but not today.
He looked at the clock and realized he’d need to leave within the hour if he hoped to catch her at their usual spot. But then he remembered this was the day her parents were leaving, and she probably wouldn’t take her walk. That meant he didn’t have to get up now. He could remain in bed and think about that amazing kiss with Emma, when he’d wanted to lay her down and release her breasts from her bodice and…
Damn! He was hard again. Well, now he really wasn’t going to get out of bed on time.
* * *
Emma and Grace were officially in their new home, having said a tearful good-bye to their parents two hours earlier. Their mother had cried and even their father had wiped his eyes, but they were so excited to begin their journey that Emma hadn’t wanted to show how heartbroken she was at their departure, especially since she had to stay strong for Grace.
“Jasmine Cottage isn’t much to look at, is it?” asked Grace. “Although Patsy seems to have taken a liking to it.”
After energetically bounding from room to room in the tiny cottage, their dog had found a patch of sunshine and was now sleeping peacefully on the sitting room floor. Emma hoped it would be as easy for Grace and her to settle into this place, though she had hopes of leaving it in the near future. When she’d passed the spot in the upstairs hall where she and Audsley had kissed she’d blushed so much that Grace had asked if something was wrong. Emma had only smiled and changed the subject.
The only thing that was wrong was that she’d missed her morning walk. But she tried to take her mind off that by working with Grace to put their new home in order.
“Do you think we might buy a few items the next time the peddler comes though town?” asked Grace, surveying the sitting area. Their parents had given them their old settee – which probably wouldn’t have sold for much, given how saggy it was. And they’d bought a small, weathered kitchen table and chairs with some of the proceeds from the sale of their larger dining set. But the cottage lacked the personal touches which would make it a home.
“We don’t have a lot of money for extra items, but I believe we can spare a few coins for some purchases.” She wanted to do whatever she could to help Grace feel better.
There was a knock at the door and Emma opened it to find Audsley standing there, holding a bottle of wine. Emma hadn’t realized just how much she’d missed seeing him on their walk until that moment. “Come in!”
Audsley entered, then looked around the small sitting room. Grace made her curtsey and he did his answering bow. “Good afternoon, ladies. I see you are settling in well.”
“Thank you again, Audsley, for leasing us the cottage,” said Grace. “I am confident that Emma will have this looking like home in no time.”
“I see one of you has already made herself at home,” he said, looking at Patsy, who was still asleep on the floor.
“I believe Patsy would be comfortable anywhere,” said Grace, grinning.
“It is a good skill to have,” said Emma. “You’ve brought wine, sir.”
“Yes,” he said, though he seemed surprised to be holding it, like he’d somehow forgotten. “I thought the two of you might like to drink it to celebrate one night.”
Grace took it from him and smiled appreciatively. “While I am no expert on wine, I know this is very good because it’s French.”
“What other wine is there?” asked Audsley.
Emma wanted to laugh. Only Audsley could be so unaware that most villagers made their own wine from whatever fruit was in season. She had a feeling there were many parts of her everyday existence which would surprise him.
“I’ll get glasses,” said Grace, with laughter in her eyes.
Audsley looked around the room. “Are you certain I can’t bring you any furniture from the abbey?”
“Thank you, but I’m afraid anything from the abbey would be too grand for us. I’m almost certain I’d spill something on it or Patsy might take it upon herself to chew a chair leg.”
“We have awakened her,” said Audsley, as he looked down at their beloved mixed-breed dog, who was gazing at him with her tail wagging. Then the earl did something most extraordinary. He bent down and scratched behind Patsy’s ears. The pup closed her eyes and leaned into his hand. She was clearly in heaven.
“Now you’ve done it,” said Emma. “You’ve made a friend for life.” And he had quite irrevocably stolen Emma’s heart.
“Only one friend?” Audsley asked, with a stare so intense Emma found it hard to breathe.
“I think you already know the answer to that,” said Emma softly.
“Here we are!” said Grace, as she brought the glasses into the room, then stopped, for it must have been obvious she’d interrupted something. “I quite forgot to bring a way to open the wine. I shall be back in a moment.”
“I brought one with me,” said Audsley, pulling a metal contraption out of his pocket. A moment later he had the wine open, then Emma poured three glasses.
“Thank you for this lovely gift, Audsley,” said Emma.
“It was my pleasure,” he said as he lifted his glass. “A toast to the Moore sisters, as they embark on their next adventure.”
“I was under the impression you thought ladies shouldn’t have adventures,” said Emma, as she smelled the lovely wine before taking a sip.
“I was hoping your adventures would be of the mild variety, such as knitting.”
“Oh, dear,” said Grace, who was savoring her wine. “I’m afraid your definition of adventure doesn’t match too well with Emma’s or mine. But I like the spirit of your toast, Audsley.”
Emma offered Audsley a seat on their settee, then Grace quickly sat on the three and a half-legged chair, forcing Emma to sit beside Audsley. He seemed to take up the entire space and Emma could swear the temperature in the room rose as she sat but inches away from him.
“I take it your parents had a good departure,” said Audsley.
“They did. I daresay they will be back sooner than we think.” Emma smiled at her sister. “Dearest, would you like to walk in the woods with us for a bit? There is a lovely wilderness trail near here.”
“Thank you, but I thought I might curl up with a good book. However, do not let me stop the two of you from going,” Grace said with a twinkle in her eyes as she jumped up so quickly she startled Patsy. “Audsley, thank you again for your kindness. Please enjoy this beautiful day.” With that, she all but ran up the stairs leaving Emma with Audsley.
Patsy followed, as if she, too, could sense that Emma and Audsley would like to be alone.
After a moment, Audsley asked, “Shall we go?”
Since Emma couldn’t think of anything she’d rather do, she called up to Grace that she was leaving with Audsley and would be back shortly. A few moments after that, the two of them were walking through the woods, the smell of fresh pine all around them.
As usual, he didn’t say much. Today, Emma’s thoughts consumed her, so it was a very quiet walk, at least at first.
“How do you feel about your parents’ departure?” asked Audsley.
“I am happy for them, of course. They love to travel and a trip to the Orient has always been a dream of theirs.” She didn’t tell him of her disappointment that they’d be gone for so long or that she and Grace hadn’t even been invited to London to see them off. It seemed disloyal to say any of it. But it was just as well since Audsley was only making polite conversation.
They walked in silence for a few moments until Audsley broke it. “Forgive me if I overstep, but I worry that you are not taking this as well as you say. You love your family very much. I cannot think you find it easy to be separated from them and I also know you worry about your sister and how she must feel. I have no solutions for you, other than I wanted to say I am sorry that you are facing this loss, as temporary as it is, and I offer my services to help you feel better, in whatever way that might entail.”
Emma looked at him in surprise. It was an unexpectedly kind and personal thing to say.
Then she started crying.
* * *
Audsley came to a halt, not knowing what to do. He wasn’t sure what he’d said to offend Emma, but she was crying. And not just dabbing at her eyes, as some ladies of the ton did when they played on the sympathies of gentlemen. No, this was real crying, along with gasps and an alarming reddening of her face. He quickly handed her his handkerchief then stood by, utterly at a loss for his next action.
Ever since learning about the Moores’ trip, he’d worried about Emma and Grace. Well, mostly Emma since he was certain she would look after her sister. There were the usual concerns about the safety of two young women living alone without a chaperone or even a servant. At least they were on his land and no one would dare accost them there, not to mention he’d quietly told his staff to keep an eye on them.
But his concern extended beyond Emma’s physical safety to her emotional well-being. He had spent much of, if not most of, his life away from his parents. He was used to it by now and, in the case of his mother, preferred it this way. His father had passed away a few years earlier, and while he’d respected the man they’d spent very little time together. But that wasn’t the case with Emma and her parents. Other than going to boarding school, she and Grace had spent a great deal of time with them and had always seemed to enjoy their interaction – an aspect of family life Audsley found quite different from his own experience.
And now instead of comforting her, he’d made things worse. What had he been thinking?
“Forgive me,” said Emma, as she wiped her eyes with his handkerchief, which looked to be fairly soaked with her tears. “I’ve been trying so hard for so long to not let anyone know how much their departure dismays me. I did not wish to spoil my parents’ trip and I needed to be strong for Grace.”
Audsley had a feeling nothing would spoil the Moores’ trip since they were selfish creatures who cared less for their daughters than for themselves. “You don’t need to pretend with me. I already know how strong you are.” He pulled her to him for an embrace and held her against him. It was the gesture of one friend to another, though he couldn’t remember doing this for anyone else in the entirety of his life. He had held his mother, then his nurse and nanny as a child. And he’d held lovers in bedrooms. But this was the first time he’d ever comforted a friend like this.
He was glad they had the cover of trees so that a passerby wouldn’t misinterpret the scene. This was only one friend comforting another. It was the most natural thing in the world. He so rarely showed his emotions that it might have been odd to stand there in the woods holding his friend, but it wasn’t. It was perfectly innocent.
Until it wasn’t anymore.
After a time, he realized she was no longer crying, but they were still holding each other and swaying just a bit. Her cheek was resting against his shoulder and her arms were around him, just as his were around her. He could feel the heat of her, could smell the light floral scent of her hair. As he slowly rubbed her back – to comfort her! – he could feel the smooth muscles, as well as the indentation of her waist. She wasn’t wearing a corset, which shouldn’t surprise him all that much since he knew she didn’t employ a maid. But, somehow, just knowing she was only wearing a chemise and possibly drawers, ignited a heat inside him.
Was she wearing drawers? Or would his hand find soft, wet, hot skin if he bunched her skirts up with one hand, while exploring with the other?
He chased that thought from his head.
He mostly chased it from his head.
It resided in his head, growing ever more insistent that he learn the answer.
She lifted her head for a kiss and he obliged. Of course, it was only after he’d placed his lips on hers that he realized she’d raised her head to ask a question. He reluctantly pulled back. “Were you about to say something?”
She had a blank look on her face, until she shook herself out of it. “Yes. But I cannot for the life of me remember what it was. Pray continue with your kiss.”
He needed no further convincing. As he turned their encounter into one of long, probing kisses, he looked around for the nearest tree which appeared, if not comfortable, then at least not too painful to lean against. Finding a suitable candidate, he shuffled them over to it, then pressed her against it as he pulled up her skirts.
He kissed her lips, then her neck as she rolled her head back against what he hoped was a fairly smooth tree. He ran his hand against the soft silk of her bare leg, then to her inner thigh. He was inching his way up to the heart of her when his brain registered an unwelcome disturbance. He could hear two laborers talking at a distance. They seemed to be some ways off – too far to see through the trees – but were slowly drawing nearer.
Audsley softly groaned, then let Emma’s skirts fall.
“Don’t stop,” she said breathlessly.
That was the most erotic command Audsley had ever received and for a moment he very nearly obeyed. But he hadn’t lost all sense in the past few moments, even if it seemed so now. So, he stepped back and said softly, “Two men are walking near here. I’m afraid we might be discovered.”
It took Emma a moment to register what he’d said, but once she did her eyes went wide and her lips drew together to whisper “Oh.” She was so adorable he very nearly kissed her again.
Instead, he took a few steps back and watched as she made certain her skirts were down and her hair was not overly mussed in back. Then he offered her his arm and they casually strolled in the opposite direction of the men. They said very little on the way back to the cottage. But Audsley gave thanks that they hadn’t been seen by the men or anyone, for that matter.
Because the consequences would have been significant for everyone.