Bedding Lord Ned (19 page)

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Authors: Sally MacKenzie

BOOK: Bedding Lord Ned
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Damn it, Percy had done more than anger him—he'd twisted his mind, planting seeds of lust there. He never would have wondered about Ellie's legs or breasts before, but now ...
He wasn't very experienced with women. He'd married young and been a faithful husband, even though Cicely had been a little reluctant about the marriage act—not surprising as he was so much bigger than she—and then she'd conceived and been sick in the early days and large and uncomfortable later.
And after she'd died, he'd been too grief-stricken to take any of the offers he'd received from the local women. Even if he'd been interested, there was no such thing as anonymity in the country or any way to guarantee he wouldn't sire a by-blow. He didn't want to have to bring a wife home someday to live among former lovers and illegitimate children.
And he'd admit he was afraid of having another woman die giving birth to his child. He wouldn't take on that risk lightly.
But he
was
male. He did have urges—he just shouldn't be having them with regard to Ellie.
He started down the hill. He'd check on the bonfire, though it was too late to relocate it. Still, if it was too close to the ice, he could see people didn't skate nearby. And he would be sure the area by the spring where the ice was always thin was adequately roped off.
He was close enough now to see Ellie smiling at Ash, her cheeks flushed, her eyes sparkling. Need struck him in the gut as hard as he would have liked to have hit Percy.
And then, damn it all, they turned and started skating toward the thin ice. Were they mad?
He started walking more quickly.
Chapter 12
Anger is sometimes frustrated desire.
—Venus's Love Notes
 
 
Ellie loved skating: She loved gliding with long, strong strokes over the ice, hearing the hiss of her skates, and feeling the cold air rush over her face.
“Happy?” Ash asked.
She smiled up at him. “Yes.” Unfortunately she'd be much happier if he were Ned.
She glanced around. Where
was
Ned? He'd been at the back of the group with Percy when they'd left the castle. She'd been more than a little nervous about that, particularly when Ned hadn't detached himself immediately from his brother-in-law, since she could think of only one thing they would have to discuss.
She and Ash skated along the pond's opposite bank and then turned back toward the bonfire. She looked up.
Damn. Ned and Percy had stopped on the hill. Percy was talking; Ned was standing as still as a statue.
She tripped over a small bump in the ice.
Ash steadied her. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.” Clearly Percy was wasting no time in putting his extortion plans into motion. She hated that she'd given him anything at all to threaten Ned with. Well, she would speak to Ned as soon as she could and tell him not to agree to Percy's demands, and then she'd admit to everyone that the scandalous garment was hers.
Her stomach twisted. If only she'd never made those cursed drawers. She would destroy them the instant she got home.
Ah, it looked as if Percy had finally concluded his speech. He started down the path to the pond, but Ned stayed where he was.
He must be furious. Why the
hell
did Percy have to be such a thorn in everyone's side?
More couples had joined them on the ice—Jack and Lady Juliet, Mr. Cox and Ophelia, Mr. Humphrey and Miss Wharton, even the duke and duchess—and she'd yet to raise the topic she'd intended to with Ash.
“Let's go over there.” She gestured toward the end farthest from the bonfire near the roped off area. She didn't want anyone to overhear what she had to say.
Ash raised an eyebrow, but changed direction without argument.
“I'm sorry I haven't spent as much time talking with you at this party as I usually do,” she said as the other conversations faded behind them.
Ash's lips curved up slightly. “Don't apologize. You've been making Mama happy by finally paying some attention to the eligible men she's gathered for you.”
Ellie wrinkled her nose. “I'm afraid I'd rather have been talking to you than Mr. Cox or Mr. Humphrey.”
He sent her a sidelong look. “Cox and Humphrey aren't the only eligible males here.”
“No, but you can't think I'd be interested in marrying Jack!” She laughed. “Whatever you do, don't mention that notion to him—he'd be horrified.”
“I wasn't thinking of Jack.”
She looked at him uneasily. “And not Percy either.” The thought was nauseating—and, in any event, after Ash heard what she had to say, there might not be anything of Percy left to marry.
He chuckled. “No, not Percy, either. I can see why Mama has been tearing her hair out over you.”
She decided to let the matter drop. She needed to discuss Percy's perfidy, not possible proposals, and she wouldn't have that much more time alone with Ash to do so. “Actually, it's Percy I wish to talk to you about.”
Ash's expression hardened. “I'd much prefer not discuss him. He quite sours my mood.”
It was true Percy's biggest conflicts had always been with Ash—and then Jess would take Ash's side, and Percy would become even angrier.
“I'm sorry, but I think you should know what I overheard this morning.” She stopped and turned so she could see if anyone was close enough to eavesdrop.
Percy was still by the bonfire, thank God, talking to Lady Heldon and Miss Mosely, and Ned ... oh, dear. Ned was striding along the bank, skates slung over his shoulder, glaring at her. He'd likely be out as quickly as he could to tell them to move away from the thin ice. But at least there was no one else about. Miss Wharton and Mr. Humphrey were the only two skaters at all nearby, and they weren't yet in earshot.
She didn't have much time to talk to Ash.
“I'd rather not know,” Ash said. “Conversations that include Percy are rarely pleasant.”
“But, Ash, he encouraged Lady Heldon to wheedle an invitation from your mother for this party. He wanted her to try to sedu—” She bit her lip. Ash's face was expressionless as if he expected her to say what she was going to say, but she still couldn't say it. “—to try to make you do something you shouldn't. Something Jess wouldn't like.”
She thought pain flashed through his eyes, but it was gone before she could be certain. “I very much doubt Jess cares what I do.”
“No! How can you say that? Of course she cares. She loves you.”
Ash's brow rose, his face as hard as granite. He'd always hidden his feelings much deeper than Ned or Jack. “Oh? She's told you that, has she? Just recently?”
His tone was pleasant, but there was something dark, almost savage, there, too. Ellie sucked in her breath. She was suddenly just a little afraid of him. “N-no.”
Ash stared at her a moment more, and then his expression relaxed. “Forgive me. I know you mean well, Ellie, but—” He shook his head. “Just leave it be, all right?”
“But, Ash, I think Percy may have something to do with the problem—whatever it is—between you and Jess.”
“Of course he does.”
She gasped. “What?”
“You don't think I just—” Ash pressed his lips together, and then smiled and shrugged. “I do thank you for your concern, Ellie, but there's nothing you can do.”
Ellie felt as if she'd just had a door slammed in her face, but she refused to give up. “P-perhaps if you talked to Jess—”
Ash put a gloved finger to her lips. “I will. Jack told me that the rumors in London have got out of control now that I'm turning thirty. It's clearly time—past time—to resolve the situation. I plan to leave for Blackweith as soon as this party is over.”
“Oh. Well, that's good.” Except she felt certain that by “resolve the situation,” Ash meant end his marriage, if not legally, then emotionally, and while Ellie might not be able to swear Jess loved Ash, she'd wager every penny she had that Ash still loved Jess.
She looked away over the pond. Ned had his skates on now, but was still on the bank, impatiently talking to his mother. Percy was by the bonfire, and Mr. Humphrey and Miss Wharton—oh, dear.
Miss Wharton was out of control and screaming toward the thin ice.
“Aieee!”
She had a very healthy pair of lungs.
Ash started to turn, but since Ellie was facing that way, she reacted faster. She darted forward.
“What—” Ash reached for her, but slipped on the ice. She was past him in a flash.
“Ellie, don't!”
That was Ned. He was worrying again, but he needn't do so. She was just going to push Miss Wharton out of harm's way.
Which she did. Unfortunately, she also tripped on one of Miss Wharton's skates. She stumbled, tried desperately to regain her balance, and fell heavily, sliding under the ropes.
She heard an ominous crack and felt the ice shift.
“Ellie!”
Ned sounded as if he were right next to her. He couldn't have got there that quickly.
She raised her head—and felt the ice crack more.
“Don't move!”
he shouted, and then his voice grew calm. “Lay perfectly still, Ellie. Put your head back down and stay as flat as possible.”
“Oh, Miss Bowman, I'm so—”
“Get back, Miss Wharton. Everyone back to the bonfire.” Ned's tone brooked no argument.
“But, Lord Edward,” Mr. Humphrey began, “I believe I can—”
“Yes, Humphrey.” That was Ash. “We all want to help, and the way we can do that is to go over to the bank as Ned said, thereby taking our weight off the ice and not distracting Ned or Ellie.”
“Ah, yes, well, I see that might be a wise decision; however, I do want to make it perfectly clear that I am more than willing to do whatever I can to assist Lord Edward in his valiant attempt to rescue poor Miss Bowman. I believe ...”
Mr. Humphrey's voice faded as Ash shepherded him away, thank God. Ellie's heart was pounding, but she kept the rest of her body as still as she could. “N-Ned?”
“I'm lying down on the firm ice, Ellie.” His voice was so reassuring. “I'm going to grab your ankles and pull you back. Don't try to help me. As long as you stay flat, you'll be fine.”
“Y-yes.” She must not panic. Ned was here. He would save her. This would be far easier than the time he rescued Ash. She hadn't fallen into the water ... yet. “All right.”
Ned's large hands wrapped around her ankles. It was a sign of her insane attraction to him that she felt a little thrill. Good God! Here she was, inches from plunging into frigid water, at risk of drowning or freezing to death, and she was thinking how strong Ned's grip was.
Well, perhaps lustful thoughts were better than panicked thoughts.
“I'm going to start pulling now, Ellie. This will go very slowly as it's hard for me to get purchase, and I don't know if your fall damaged the ice on this side of the rope as well. I don't want to risk dunking us both. So be patient—and keep still.”
“I-I understand.”
“Good. You're doing a splendid job.”
She felt Ned tug, and she slipped an inch closer to safety. He pulled again, and she moved a little more. Unfortunately, it felt as if her chemise and dress were not keeping pace. Another tug and she was certain of it. An icy breeze slipped over the back of her calves.
Her blush risked melting the fragile ice under her. “N-Ned?”
He grunted and pulled again. Now she felt the cold air on the back of her knees. “Ned!”
“What
is
it?” He sounded very annoyed.
Couldn't he see the problem? “My skirts are riding up. It can't be quite ... proper.” She felt foolish raising the issue, but she also didn't care for Percy and Mr. Cox and Mr. Humphrey—well, even Ash and Jack and the duke—seeing her legs.
For some reason, she didn't mind so much Ned seeing them. Well, he had no choice, if he was going to save her. She was just being reasonable.
She didn't feel reasonable, though. She felt oddly excited.
“I'm afraid I can't reach them to brush them back in place.” Ned's voice sounded slightly breathless—he was probably so angry with her he was having a hard time speaking. “I'm more interested in saving your life than your modesty, Ellie.”
“Y-yes. Of course. I realize that. I just thought ...” What did it matter? This embarrassment was minor compared to what she would feel when Percy flashed her red drawers around the company. “Never mind. Please, carry on.”
He tugged again. Soon her thighs would be displayed. She moaned as quietly as she could. At least she was wearing a pair of flannel drawers; she wouldn't be completely naked.
What if she'd been wearing her red silk drawers?
Ohh. She bit her lip.
“Take heart, Ellie. It looks as if Mama has noticed the problem,” Ned said. “She's ushered everyone to the other side of the bonfire. Only Ash is left to keep watch if I need help.”
“Oh.” That was good. She didn't mind Ash seeing her legs so very much. At least he was married, not that she was naïve enough to think that made a lot of difference, but somehow it seemed more respectable.
“I think we're past the most dangerous part now,” Ned said, “so I'm going to try to move more quickly. You must continue to lie still, though. Let me do everything. Don't try to get up.”
“Yes, I understand.” Her waist had reached the ropes. Fortunately when she fell, she hadn't slipped far.
Ned pulled steadily now, and she slid closer to safety—as her skirts slid farther up her legs. Now they were bunched around her waist: her entire backside greeted the afternoon sun. But at least her shoulders were past the ropes.
“I think you're finally off the dangerous ice, Ellie, but don't try to stand yet. I want you to roll toward me, just like we used to do on the lawn in the summer when we were children. Can you do that?”
“Yes, of course.”
It took her a moment to get started, but then she was rolling over and over as though she were again tumbling down the grassy hill by the formal gardens while the duke and duchess sat drinking tea and brandy on the terrace.

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