Lady Bess (16 page)

“Well, the lad is in the main house tub, so I thought I’d get mine ready for you.”

She blushed furiously. “Oh thank you, but I couldn’t … not the one in your room, I just couldn’t … and it wouldn’t be …”

“Och lass, I won’t be in the room, not when ye bathe, so where is the harm?” He grinned wickedly. “With ye hurting as ye are, ye just need to let me tend ye, for I mean to whether ye deny me or not.”

“But, my lord,
not in your room
,” she objected still.

“I’ll just draw ye a bath—why should ye wait when soaking in a tub is just what ye need, lass? Ye see, m’man already has a drum of water ready for heating and a fire lit, so it won’t take long, and while ye wait for me to prepare it for ye, why don’t ye rest …” He hesitated and grinned wickedly. “… on m’bed.”

“Oh … oh … I … no … I.” She looked at him and swallowed hard.

He managed to open his door with a dexterity she could not help but admire. A moment later, he had pushed it in with his booted foot and set her on her feet by his bed. “Lie or sit, whichever ye feel more comfortable doing. I won’t be long, lass.” He smiled at her, and her heart fluttered. In spite of her resolve to leave his quarters, she remained. She could not help but stare at his huge bed. She couldn’t lie on it. What a completely brazen thing to do. If she had been years younger, it was just the sort of thing she and Donna would have done had they the chance, just for the thrill and the giggle, but now … oh, no, she just couldn’t.

He stuck his head out of the ante-room and said lightly, “Doona ye have yer clothes off yet? If ye are feeling too modest, m’dressing gown is right there on the chair. Just slip it on when ye have yer gown off—or do ye need me to help ye get it off?” he said, once again with a mischievous grin.

“I can manage, thank you, but don’t stick your head out again until I tell you I am done.”

“Aye, m’lady, as ye wish,” he said softly.

A few moments later, she was in his dressing gown, which hung loosely around her body and to her ankles. She tied the black ribbon tightly around her waist to keep it from slipping off her shoulders, and he said, “Ready?”

“Yes, thank you,” she answered, once again feeling the heat in her cheeks.

“I want to have a look at yer bruises and make certain ye didna break yer ribs,” he told her as he approached.

“Look at my bruises? Well, you can’t … I mean, no, and I am certain nothing is broken. Only bruised. There is no need for concern.” Her voice trailed off as she stared at him. Just what was he asking her to do? She would have to remove the robe if he wanted to look at her bruises, which were considerable and quite vicious in appearance.

“Right then.” He allowed this to drop. “Yer bath is ready, m’lady.”

She arched a look at him because he looked very pleased with himself and managed to murmur, “Thank you.” She stood and waited for him to leave.

He laughed. “I shall leave ye shortly, but I have a notion to wait until I hear ye climb into yer bath safely. I put a chair near it for ye to lean on should ye need a bit of help.”

“You are very kind, but I can manage. You shouldn’t remain here while I am in my bath.”

“And I won’t, but oblige me, woman, and get into the bath while I am here, so I know ye managed the thing without hurting yerself.”

“Oh, very well then,” she said, went into the cozy chamber, and started to close the door.

“Doona lock it, for then I would be forced to break it down, and so I would if I thought ye in trouble. Understood?”

Their eyes met and locked, and she found she couldn’t speak, so she nodded in response.

“Good then,” he said and allowed her to close the door.

He had been right to be concerned. It took her a great deal of effort to lift her leg and get into the oversized tub. She dropped low into the lovely hot water and played with the bubbles a fraction of a moment before she called out, “I am in and safe, thank you.”

“Aye, then, soak for as long as the water remains hot, lass. It will do ye good.”

She heard him stride away and sighed to herself, thinking about his arms holding her as he carried her upstairs.

His teasing could have been taken as the affectionate teasing of a child, yet she sensed he felt more, much more.

However, what she wanted from him was more. She felt an all-consuming love for him, and she wanted him to feel the same.

She wanted him to be devastated by his love for her. She wanted him brought to his knees with adoration. She wanted …

Oh, heaven help her, she wanted him, all of him, his kisses, his touching, his naked body next to hers, and those words, those enchanting words, the ones she was fairly certain he had never uttered to any other woman.

When she had told Donna how she felt about the earl, what sinful things she had been dreaming, Donna had shrugged and told her it was natural and she shouldn’t worry about it. But she did, because it wasn’t just fantasy; it was genuine desire working her and driving her forward to one place: bed—regardless of the consequences.

And her motives weren’t pure. She was honest enough to admit to herself that she wondered if she could make him fall in love with her if she were desirable and irresistible in his bed.

Her body ignited into burning flames as these thoughts played out. She was young, she was beginning to need a man, and he was the man her heart had chosen.

She wished he had kissed her. Why hadn’t he kissed her when they were alone in his bedroom? Why hadn’t he tried to make love to her?
Why?
Because he doesn’t really want you
, came the unwanted answer.

The other night you were probably just convenient, nothing more. After all, that is what he is, isn’t it? A libertine, or so they have called him.

~ Sixteen ~

THE LITTLE PARTY at Searington had enjoyed a light dinner together, although Robby had complained throughout before solving his problem by doubling up on dessert. They then repaired to the library, where an inviting fire made Bess sigh contentedly and sink onto the comfortable sofa to stare into the flames. She had quite a bit to think about.

Thomas had been allowed a game of Ducks and Drakes until, exhausted, everyone had cried uncle and Maddy came to the rescue, telling him he had had quite a long day and ’twas time for bed. She bade everyone good night and left them to enjoy their after-dinner drinks.

Robby was sipping his brandy when he turned suddenly and told the earl, “Didn’t want to say this in front of the boy, but I tell you what, John—I have quite decided that someone needs bloodletting!”

All eyes opened wide as they regarded him, and the earl with a half smile said, “Indeed, I quite agree. The problem is we need to be certain first who that someone is.”

“I think we all know who that someone is, but I understand you are speaking about proof,” Bess added. She was clothed in a velvet wrapper over her nightdress, as after her bath she had found it too painful to pull her evening dress on and had excused herself at dinner. She was quite comfortable and not ill at ease, as she also had a cream-colored knit shawl wrapped around her shoulders. In spite of these warm clothes and the fire at her elbow she felt a shiver scurry through her. “I am, however, at a loss as to how we may obtain any proof and finish the devil off.”

“What a bloodthirsty lot I have.” The earl chuckled. “Aye, proof will be tricky, but doona think we won’t have it, and soon.” He eyed Bess thoughtfully and said, “Ye will jot off a note to Mary Russell and tell her as we discussed that we have the boy safe and sound but suffering the ills of his experience. Let it be known that we have had m’personal doctor visiting me from London see to him, and he says the boy canna have visitors.” He looked at Robby. “Ye will make certain no one enters this house while I am away.”

Robby pulled himself up, and Bess was surprised at the sternness of his expression. “You can put a wager on it and be safe in the winning.”

Bess returned her attention to the earl. “Away? You are going away now? I didn’t realize you would be going so soon. How long will you be gone?”

He smiled at her sweetly. “Only for the day, but I don’t expect to be back until nightfall tomorrow.” He lowered his voice and asked in an odd tone, “Will ye miss me, lass?”

She nodded, and said simply, “Yes, yes I will.”

He eyed her and frowned. “Och, lass, what is wrong with me? Ye look fatigued, and ’tis time ye turned in. Ye’ll need yer strength to heal.”

She was looking forward to this, for she was sure he meant to carry her back upstairs, as he had come to her room earlier and insisted on carrying her down the stairs, saying he wasn’t taking any chances she might be too weak and fall.

Bess sighed and started to get up, but he put out a hand as he rushed to her side and spoke only to her, “
Whist
,
m’bonnie lass. I canna let ye climb the stairs yet—ye must know that?”

She smiled sweetly at him, and he scooped her up as though she were a feather weight. As she called out good night, she caught Donna’s eyes rolling as well as the startled expression in Robby’s face.

She laughed silently as she wondered what they must be thinking, but if she thought she was going to get the passionate kiss she had been hoping for, she was wrong—so wrong.

He placed her on her bed in a sitting position and murmured, “Sleep well, lass.”

She didn’t answer but gave him what she thought was a sensual and inviting look. However, he merely laughed and touched her nose, backed away a step, and then started off.

She frowned as she watched his back, and then he turned, his blue eyes filled with something that gave her hope. He said, “Robby is right, ye know. There will be bloodletting for this work, mark me on it.”

And then he was gone. Bess sighed to herself, and though she thought she would never sleep, she fell right off and into a deep sleep.

* * *

The earl left her with his insides in a turmoil.

The lass was hurting though she tried not to show it, and it made him rage internally. He wanted to march right over to Mary Russell’s house, take Bernard Holland by the collar, drag him outside, and beat the pulp out of him. He wanted to do this so badly that he felt his teeth grind. He could almost taste the satisfaction it would give him.

But that would be a momentary satisfaction, and what he needed was a permanent solution to the present problem.

Thomas needed
a permanent solution.

He liked the young lad and had gone in earlier to wish him a good sleep. The boy had apparently taken to him and stalled him as he left, saying, “My lord, may I tell you something I couldn’t tell Lady Bess?”

The earl turned back into the room and sat at the edge of the four-poster bed. He smiled as reassuringly as he could and said, “Of course, Master Thomas.”

The lad smiled sadly and said, “My father found me a few years ago, you see. He didn’t know about me till m’mum wrote to him that she was dying and asked if he would come for me.” Thomas looked down at nothing in particular and then brought up his eyes to those of the earl’s. “I loved my father at once, and we well, he … I … he is my very best friend in all the world. There is no other like him.” Thomas sighed heavily. “I knew something was wrong the day the doctor came. I knew it. So I listened in, and I heard the doctor telling him how ill he was … and that he didn’t have long.” He paused. “I went in and asked my father to tell me what was wrong because I knew it was bad, very bad.”

“And he told you?” The earl touched the boy’s shoulder, as he already had a feeling just what it might be.

“Yes, he told me he was gravely ill. He said he had made sure that I carried his name even though …” He blushed furiously. “Even though he and m’mum weren’t married. And then he said he wasn’t going to get well, that he would get sicker, and he didn’t want me to watch him die.” A tear rolled down the boy’s face, and the earl gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. “He made arrangements for me to go to Mary Russell.” Thomas shrugged. “I don’t think he wanted me around anymore.”

“He loves ye more than himself, lad. I’m certain he had a difficult time parting with ye, but no doubt wanted to spare ye the pain of watching him suffer over a period of time. Your father is a selfless and brave man,” the earl said directly and frankly. As far as he was concerned, Thomas had been through enough. He needed the facts, not the hurt of worrying that his father didn’t want him.

The boy looked at the earl thoughtfully. “Yes, my father is a brave man, I think.” He shook his head. “I couldn’t tell Lady Bess—she would have been very distressed—but here is the thing. I am telling you, because I want to go back to him. I want to be with him, regardless of what he says. I know that it is very disobedient of me and don’t wish to distress him, but I can’t bear not to be with him at such a time. I was hoping when I got to Mary’s that I would be able to talk her into sending me home to him. She must know. He must have told her why he was sending me to her.”

The earl went silent for a moment and then said, “I will see what I can do. In the meantime, we are keeping you here and telling Mary Russell a falsehood. Do you understand why?”