Lady X (12 page)

His lips touched hers and wild bursting rockets exploded somewhere overhead. She couldn’t think any longer. Their connection was too hot to contemplate. This was what melting in a man’s arms actually meant. She was melting beneath the heat of their bodies touching.

White flames surged through her veins, it wasn’t just lust. It was bursting stardust, the kind her mother had told her only happens once in a lifetime to a White Witch.

That wasn’t possible. He was a human. It wasn’t supposed to happen between a human and a witch.
This couldn’t be
. This was lust, she told herself,
simple, lust
. She had never felt this before. Her pulse throbbed, her heart beat so hard that she thought he would see it through her chest. Her body trembled and her mind screamed go for it, take him now and let him take you.

His tongue teased the tip of hers, licked and joined in a dance with hers. He tantalized her into wantonness and she held onto him for dear life.

His hand found its way to her breast; his touch was bold through the thin material of her blouse. His fingers manipulated her nipples with a skill that left her breathless and wanting more.

He released her and Exerilla reeled with the suddenness of the freedom. He put a finger to his lips to warn her. Someone was coming. Somehow he had heard someone coming. She had heard nothing; she had sensed nothing, only him, his touch, and his kiss.

A moment later, he stood by the sideboard sipping his brandy and she sat with Mrs. Horwich’s knitting basket in her lap. She didn’t know why, because she hadn’t a clue how to knit.

David and the squire walked in, David looked at his lordship with an expression of irritation. The squire, however, walked forward with his hand outstretched and a smile across his face. “You must be MacTorry. They told us at the stable that you were here.” He turned toward David and with a cocked brow said, “My son, David.”

As they exchanged polite, if wary greetings under Exerilla’s watchful gaze, the squire exclaimed, “I see you found the brandy, my lord?”

“Indeed, and squire, while it is quite excellent, I hope you will accept a few bottles I purchased the other day. Though I cannot approve of how they arrived here, for I am told they never saw a custom house,” he cocked a brow and a smile at the squire. “I found this batch exceptional.”

Exerilla frowned. Although she was surprised she kept silent. The squire appeared to be thrilled and obviously would continue to welcome his lordship into his home. She watched as the squire bent his head questioningly toward his lordship and said, “French brandy; nothing like it. It’s all the better when it doesn’t pass through the customs house. We are of one mind, you and I.”

David’s eyebrows came together as he shot his father a strange look. Exerilla asked, “Hold a moment. I don’t quite understand. Are you saying that you deal with smugglers?” She directed her question at all three gentlemen, singling none out.

David hurriedly answered, “No. Of course not, dear. The flaskers run overland and sometimes on ours or a neighbors’ property, as they make their way to London.”

“So you are helping them hide from the excisemen?” she pursued.

“Not precisely, but it wouldn’t do to take a stand against them. It’s risky either way and best not to get involved. They leave a few bottles of brandy as their way of saying thank you.”

Exerilla frowned. “That is the same as helping them for payment.”

“You are a woman and don’t understand,” David said impatiently.

His lordship’s blue eyes twinkled at her. “ Being a sweet lass, ye are quite right.
Gentlemen
these smugglers are called, but gentlemen they
are not
. This business they are in sends gold to the French and we are at war with the French.”

The squire grumbled into his drink. David eyed his lordship thoughtfully and said, “An interesting point, my lord. Yet you purchased smuggled goods.”

“Aye that I did. If I were ye, I would wonder aboot that,” MacTorry said mysteriously. He then inclined his handsome head and moved to take up Exerilla’s fingers and put them to his lips as he bent over her hand. “I look forward to seeing ye on the morrow, Miss Radley.”

“I hope you manage to get back before the rain hits,” she said lightly and sighed to herself as he left.

The squire waited only long enough for the sound of the front door closing before he turned on Exerilla and said, “Where is Mrs. Horwich?”

“I couldn’t say.” Exerilla resented his tone and the manner in which he treated his wife.

“Damn the woman! No doubt off to see a sickly farmer when she should be here, attending
to me
.” He stomped toward the open parlor door. “I will tell cook to get dinner early. If she isn’t here in time, we’ll just sit without her.”

X frowned as she turned to look at David who simply shook his head and said, “One learns to ignore what one cannot change.”

“Hmm, I suppose,” Exerilla allowed doubtfully. She could argue the point, but what good would it do. These two men were already set and not about to change.

David went to sit beside her. “Don’t think poorly of me, Exerilla. He is my father yes, but…”

“It isn’t your father that would make me think poorly of you; only your own conduct that would concern me.”

“You don’t approve of the manner in which I conduct myself?” His brow went up, but his eyes stayed cool.

“I didn’t say that,” she answered softly. She didn’t need to make enemies while she was momentarily stuck at Horwich.

One hand went to her shoulder and the other to her arm in a deft movement. As he tried to draw her closer his voice was low. “Exerilla, don’t think I don’t care how my father treats my mother. There isn’t anything I can do about it. They are what they are. If my father mistreats my mother…” he shrugged. “…she allows it. If she allows it, I can’t stop it.”

“You don’t have to defend yourself to me, David,” Exerilla said wishing she could vanish.

“Oh, but it matters to me what you think of me.” He was moving in on her and she was fully aware that she was going to have to stop him.

Gently, she pulled out of his hold and stood. “I understand your position David. I haven’t known you long enough to think anything.” She got up and started to walk away saying, “Now it is time I go and change out of my horsey scented clothes.”

He stood up and took a long stride toward her, grabbed her arm and held her in place. As she turned to face him, there was shock as she arched her brow.

He said, “No Exerilla! You don’t understand at all…but I mean to show you.”

X nearly screamed. Something inside of her turned inside out with revulsion. She couldn’t bear his hands on her. She broke away before he could kiss her and said, “David, how dare you!
I am a guest in your parents’ home.”

“Don’t fight this. Don’t fight me,” he whispered. “For I mean to have you. Yes, you are a guest in my father’s home and guests come and go.”

She heard the threat in his words. He wanted her to think that if she didn’t come across, he could put her out in the cold. That was what women of the time were subjected to…men like that. She made up her mind about him in that moment.

Before she could respond, his father returned grumbling to his wife about her tardiness. She was quietly following behind him.

Exerilla made good her escape; explaining as she passed them that she was headed for her room to wash and change.

Upstairs, she had to collect herself. David Horwich could turn out to be a serious problem. She wondered how a woman without magic would handle him, and his unspoken threat. Magic was hers, but her mother had warned her she could only use it for life and death.

She knew what she wanted to do. She wanted to
kick him in the balls the next time he tried to touch her
. Although that made her smile, an inner voice cautioned that wouldn’t serve her situation.

She had to wonder if women who were accosted in this day and age, knew what to do. Mary would be no help, because she was a victim herself. She would first avoid ever being alone with him. While he did not live at Horwich House, she would get into the habit of locking her room at night.

~ Eleven ~

SIR JACOB WATCHED Jerry Swit move toward the docks. He was in the company of a seedy looking individual in seaman’s garb. Sir Jacob wondered what the man was up to.

He shouldn’t care, for now at least, until a few moments ago, he could walk off unnoticed.

It was nearing four o’clock. If he didn’t slip away immediately, it would be too late.

He waited until Jerry gave him his back and quickly hurried around the bend in the avenue to a narrow cobblestone alleyway. He felt a fool as he ran down the long, empty alley, thinking that it was a good thing no one was about.

He should have just bid Swit good-bye and taken off. After all he wasn’t a schoolboy about to be called to heel. He didn’t want to take the chance that Swit would either follow him out of curiosity, or simply tag along.

He slowed down and turned into another alleyway, which after twenty feet, put him at a back road dominated by a dirty-looking, unobtrusive tavern.

Worried, Jacob glanced furtively over his shoulder and then hurried into the dark and dingy galley of inn.

The first thing that met his gaze was three seamen at a round table. They had the look of fishermen, tired after a long day; he passed them without thought and moved to the far end of the open galley.

In its darkest corner sat a well-dressed gentleman, whose top hat occupied one of the three chairs which were set at the small square table. This gentleman sat with his back to the corner, his auburn hair loose about his face. His features were hidden by the shadows cast by the dim wall candlelight at his back. Jacob sighed with relief as he saw a small crooked smile spread over the man’s features.

With obvious purpose, Sir Jacob made his way to him and stopped short as the gentleman raised his tankard to him.

“Lucas…
I am
sorry. I would have been here sooner had I been able,” Jacob said taking off his hat and holding it tightly in his hands as he scanned Lucas’s face.

“Sit, puppy and don’t fret it.” His gray eyes twinkled with understanding as ever so slightly he raised a finger to a passing barmaid.

Jacob sat heavily on the wooden chair and eyed his friend unhappily, but the barmaid was now standing over Lucas. She had her hands on her hips and it was obvious to Jacob that the two had become acquainted while Lucas had been waiting his arrival. He grinned. Lucas of Bennington was a good looking man and had a way with women. He wished some of his style would rub off a bit on him.

The barmaid turned to him, and put a hand to Jake’s fair locks as she bent low giving him a view of the swells of her full breasts and Jake’s jaw dropped slightly.

Lucas chuckled and inclined his head.

“What can I do for ye, now, m’lovely?” she asked in a low meaningful tone.

Lucas reached for and found her nipple through the thin material and gave her the smallest pinch as he pulled her into his lap. She groaned pleasurably and he said on a low note, “My friend here will have an ale,
for now
.”

She looked back at Sir Jacob and said, “Aw now…he is a pretty moonling and if ye loike, we can all go upstairs.”

Sir Jacob felt the heat rush to his face and hoped to bloody hell he wasn’t blushing. Lucas saved the moment by giving her rump a pat and telling her, “Go on now, that’s a good girl. Get us that ale.”

She laughed and ambled off. Lucas turned back to Sir Jacob, took a long sip of his ale and said, “She thinks she is in your style, is she pup?”

“For pity’s sake Lucas, don’t pretend you aren’t angry with me. I know that you are, but it couldn’t be helped,” Jacob whined ignoring Lucas’s remark.

“Couldn’t be helped?” Lucas’s dark brow, in contrast with the lighter shade of his auburn hair, was raised. “What about yesterday? That couldn’t be helped either?”

“ If I could have been there, I would have been. I sent you round a note.” Jacob was in full defensive mode.

“Tell me, Jake my boy, why is Swit still with you? Just what the hell is he after?” Lucas played with the curved handle of his mug. His finger took a tour of its shape, as he seemed to concentrate on the occupants of the galley.

“Dashed problem, I haven’t an answer for,” Sir Jacob exclaimed irritably. “I thought it was just his interest in my yacht. He seems to want to sail, but I am not certain.” He ran his hand through his light brown locks with some agitation.

“And MacTorry? What is the Scotsman after?” Lucas shook his head. “There is something very odd in that. Swit is a
skirter
. Perhaps all he means is to sponge off you for a bit. Just what is MacTorry’s part in all of this?”

“His lordship is a good sort.” Jake shook his head. “Blast it all! I don’t have any answers for you! Except, I suppose I should tell you that Swit has hinted…well…I am not sure, but he seems to know…” Sir Jacob sighed as he picked up the tankard the barmaid had set in front of him.

He sipped while the young woman ambled off and finally said with a long sigh, “This is all I know. Swit seems more interested in the use of my schooner than anything else. So then, perhaps it is as you say. He just means to live well as my guest. If there is something more sinister in his mind, I have not yet discovered it. Swit has threatened to make trouble for me if I cut ties with him. As I have already explained to you, Lucas, I am not certain just what he knows. He has not said, but he has hinted.”

‘”So you have pup. So you have. What I want to know is, how did the blackguard find out?”

“I don’t know. He never comes right out and says anything substantial. He only hints and leers. He takes pleasure in jesting about it, and leaving me uneasy.”

“Indeed.” Lucas’s eyes narrowed. “I wonder if he would dare do the same with me.”

Jacob evaluated him as a chill splintered through his mind. “Lucas, don’t involve yourself.” He was accosted by a new fear. “Jerry doesn’t know who you are. He didn’t get a really good look at you and never called you by name. It isn’t necessary for you to defend me. I can put up with Swit for a bit longer.”

“Can you?” Lucas said on a hard note. “However, my puppy, there is just so much that
I
will put up with. Sooner or later, Swit must be out of the picture. If he threatens you any further, I shall have a go at him.”

“
Certes
. Sooner won’t be soon enough and I am not a puppy! I can take care of myself,” Jacob announced whole-heartedly.