Blood Lust (9 page)

Katherine watched him, as if she was trying to read his thoughts. He’d said more than he had meant to. He didn’t like to speak of the past. It was no one’s business and it was far too painful.

“I’ll just be a minute,” she said. She carefully placed the puppy back with its siblings and as she did, the puppies mother came in.

Running to catch up, she hurried to meet his longer strides. He slowed a little and together they walked back to the cottage. A breeze had come up, stirring the leaves and branches of the trees.

The thought of her sitting in that stable with the puppies took all his strength not to stop on the stoop and take her in his arms. The image sent a surge racing through him, made his blood heat and pool in his groin. It was getting harder to control.

Tomorrow she would be returned to Sussex Manor. Katherine believed that William had told her the truth, that he would see her returned safely as he had promised. She thought of her time with him, how beneath that hard exterior there was a gentleman.

She retired upstairs where she undressed and climbed into bed. About to blow out the candle, she heard a noise downstairs. She had thought William had gone to sleep as the downstairs had become quiet. But now she heard someone speaking and she swung her legs over the side of the bed. She cross the room quietly, pressing her ear against the door that William had locked every night upon retiring. Why he locked the door, she did not know. He was a very light sleeper and the slightest noise woke him.

She wondered who William was speaking with. She lifted the door latch and to her surprise found it unlatched. Perhaps he had forgotten, or perhaps he believed she would keep her word through tomorrow. Whatever the case, she carefully opened the door. She saw William lying on the sofa and no one else was in the room. He was asleep, covered in perspiration.

She crept down the stairs, worried he might be ill. Certain he would awaken as he usually did when there was a noise, he lay there, then tossed and turned, mumbling unintelligible words. He was dreaming she realized, in the midst of a nightmare.

“William,” she called from the stairwell, but he did not respond. He was caught up in his dream, or nightmare of something menacing.

Katherine descended the stairs, hoping he would wake, trying not to remember how he felt pressing against her when they were kissing.

She stood at his side and he still did not wake. “William?” She reached out toward him, worried that something was seriously wrong. She touched him on the shoulder, then began to shake him. “Wake up, my lord. You’re having a nightmare.” She screamed as he jerked, bolting upright and wide-awake, his hand reaching out to grab her.

“It’s me, Katherine!” She cried out. “Let me go!” It took him a moment to get his bearings.

“Christ,” he bellowed, releasing his hold on her, wiping his sweat from his face with his hand. “What are you doing down here?”

“You were tossing and turning, talking in your sleep. I thought perhaps you had fallen ill.”

He leaned back, taking a deep breath. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?” she rubbed the bruise forming on her arm.

“You didn’t mean to. It’s all right.” She saw him frowning. “It must have been a horrible nightmare.”

“I’ve had worse. I’m sorry. Now go back to bed.”

“You’re sure you’re all right?”

“I’m fine.” His eyes looked away from her face, running down her body, barely covered by a nightgown. He glanced away, fixing his attention on a spot above her head. “I said go back to bed. You should not have come down here.”

She then realized that standing in front of the low burning fire, he cold perhaps see through her nightgown. She blushed and turned away, heading toward the stairs.

“We’ll leave here early,” he called after her. “You had better get down here well before dawn or I shall come up and get you out of bed myself.” He gave her a half wicked smile.

“Perhaps that is the better idea. I promise you that would be a far more enjoyable way to begin the day.”

A hot heat rose in her cheeks. Turning away from him, she crossed the room and quickly climbed the stairs. When she reached the bedchamber, she closed the door, feeling breathless and far too warm.

He wouldn’t come up here. Surely he would not dare! But for the remainder of the night she needed her rest, but she tossed and turned, unable to think of anything but the handsome bandit coming into her room as she was sleeping, of him awakening her with his scorching kisses.

Chapter Seven

Katherine walked down the gleaming tile floored entry-way of Sussex Manor. She was heading to the extraordinary library and her meeting with Benjamin Spencer. She had asked him for a place where they could meet in private. This was not a conversation for servants or anyone else to overhear.

Her footsteps quickened as she approached the tall doors leading into the large room. She had arrived two days earlier and had been greeted with tears by her brother Thomas, who promptly forgot that she had been missing.

She had ridden to Sussex Manor on the back of her abductor’s horse. He had left her at the edge of the tree line, making sure she could see the back of the manor. His face had been unreadable as he bid her goodbye.

“I guess this is goodbye, Duchess. I cannot say I enjoyed our time together.” He looked at her and flashed her a self-important grin. “But then, I cannot say that I did not.”

Knowing that he was thinking of the intimacies they had shared, she found herself turning red. “You are quite a scoundrel, my lord.”

“And you are quite a remarkable woman.”

She smiled, unable to resist the compliment. “I suppose I am better off for the adventure. If Sussex Manor is in as bad a shape as you say, you have saved me from a devastating marriage. That in itself is enough to earn my silence and a measure of my gratitude.”

His eyes looked over her face, taking in her features. “Oddly enough, I believe I shall miss you as well, my lady.”

A lump rose in her throat. She felt the sting of tears rise up in her eyes. “And I you, my lord. God protect you.”

He didn’t say a thing for the longest time. Katherine turned away, trying to ignore the feeling that had settled in her body. She started across the fields toward the mansion, her slippers growing wet with the early evening dew, but the thunder of galloping hooves coming up from behind took her by surprise. She turned around to see William galloping toward her. He bent over in the saddle and scooped her up, positioning her in front of him in the saddle, turned her toward him, his mouth came down hard over hers.

His kiss was hot and passionate, taking command of her lips, making her stomach unfurl. The kiss gentled, becoming a savoring, a creation of a memory. It went on for what seemed to be forever, as Katherine threw her arms around his neck. A last ravishing of her mouth, and William set her free, lowering her to her feet in the meadow.

“Good bye, my lady,” he said in a rough voice. “I vow I will never forget you.” Then, with that, he turned his mount around, and rode like fire in the opposite direction.

Katherine stood there, watching him ride away, her eyes awash in tears. It was craziness to feel this way. She had been his captive for days. She hadn’t imagined what it would feel like when his powerful presence was gone.

She stood alone in the meadow, a thick lump in her throat. It was crazy, but that didn’t make it go away.

It was now there again, as she stood in the library waiting on Benjamin, that sense of something missed, something vital that she would ever have the chance to experience.

Who was he? She wondered as she had many times before. Why had he stopped the wedding? She had sent one of her footmen with a note to her solicitor. She would soon know the truth about the duke of Sussex’s circumstances. Yet she really didn’t need that final confirmation. She had no doubt that William had told her the truth.

From the minute he took her, she had sensed an honesty about him. He had no reason to lie about this. And so she stood waiting for the impoverished duke who would have ruined her life.

She was ready for this meeting. It was imperative it end successfully and she knew exactly how to make that come about.

The doors swung open and the duke walked in. A pair of footmen dressed in red satin livery closed them behind him and he walked toward her smiling, his mouth a thing slash, reddened with a hint of rouge.

“My dearest Katherine.” He brought her fingers to his lips as she swept into a curtsy before him.

“Your grace.” He was dressed as finely as she. The fleeting thought occurred that by society’s standards he was not unattractive.

“Shall we sit?”

Nodding, she replied, “As you wish.” She allowed him to seat her in a large chair near the hearth, then waited as he took a place across from her.

“Shall I ring for refreshments?”

“No, my lord. This should not take long, and as I said I prefer that this be private.”

He leaned back in his chair, crossed one leg over the other. She never had paid attention to a man’s calves before. It occurred to her now that beneath his stockings, Benjamin’s appeared to be padded. The bandit’s, she remembered, had been well formed and heavy with muscle.

“This business you wish to speak of, I gather it is of a delicate nature. Do I dare to guess that this has something to do with your abduction?” He leaned forward toward her. “My dear, if your virtue is the issue of this meeting, never fear, I am not so hard as to allow such a loss to come between us. It is hardly your fault that you were so callously taken away from your betrothed. From this day on, whatever might have happened shall remain our secret, to never be spoken of again. The wedding will take…”

“Your grace, the wedding shall not take place at all.”

Benjamin scowled. “Don’t be ridiculous. I told you I care nothing about. . .”

“My virtue remains intact. That is not the matter at hand.”

The scowl deepened, pulling his brows together until they almost touched in the middle. “Then what, may I ask is the problem?”

“I am afraid I have learned some very disturbing information. Normally, my brother Thomas would be discussing this matter with you, but as you know he is not quite himself. The fact remains that I have by whatever means, discovered your true circumstances. I wish finances were not an issue, but a marriage such as ours, we both know they are. I understand your need of funds, and I am more than sympathetic. But, my dowry will not be used to take care of your problems.”

His expression did not change, but the color started to drain from his cheeks. “I am sorry, my dear, but I haven’t the slightest idea of what you are talking about.”

“You know exactly what I am talking about. I am not faulting you. Marriages are formed to solve financial problems, however, in this case, that is not going to occur.” She shifted in her chair, smoothing her skirt. “As I said, I am very much aware of your problems. I do not intend, however, to discuss them outside this room.”

Benjamin said nothing.

“In exchange for my silence, there is something I must ask of you.”

His eyes focused on her more intently. He understood the meaning of a bargin. He leaned forward in his chair. “I am not, my lady, confirming any of your ridiculous charges, but if you are in need of some sort of assistance, I may be able to help.”

Katherine stood and moved toward the fire, placing herself above him. “These past few days have been trying for all of us. I am certain you well know, this abduction has done nothing to benefit my reputation.” She looked at him. “Should our betrothal suddenly end, people will speculate why. Just as you did, they will question my virtue, and though it remains undamaged, the odds of my taking a suitable match will be lessened.”

“Go on,” Benjamin said.

“In exchange for my silence, I only ask that our relationship continue for the next several weeks. Let it be known that you are still willing to marry me. You will say that you paid some sort of ransom. Tell them money purchased my safe return.”

“I see no problem with that.”

“It will take time to reschedule a wedding. People will expect a delay. Prior to a new date being set, I shall simply back off. We will remain close friends and by then, perhaps, we will each have found another suitable candidate to fulfill our marriage requirements.”

Benjamin assessed her as if she were a woman he had never seen before. He smiled. “I assure you, my lady, the rumors you have heard concerning the duke of Sussex are false. still, if you would prefer to end our betrothal, I am certainly willing to abide by your wishes.”

“Then we are agreed?” she extended a dainty, gloved hand.

“Exactly so, my lady.” He bowed extravagantly over it. She didn’t miss the edge of malice in his voice or the fact that beneath his polite veneer, he was angry. She had thwarted his plan to save himself, and Benjamin Spencer wasn’t a man who liked that.

“I’ll be returning home in the morning. It is my understanding, however, that you had planned a party to be held here three weeks after our marriage?”

A grim smirk crossed his face. “I had thought to have a costume ball, our first as a married couple. The invitations have already been sent out.”