“Lemon. That is always my preference. Oh, but in terms of song, I do not expect perfection… your playing it would be enough. Spending time with you, in your home, enjoying the things you do,” his tone having grown serious, he half teased, “for that I would even give up my lemon tarts–though only if I must.”
“Never,” she breathed, their teasing having taken a turn she did not fully understand. “And I should gladly play for you; as many and as long as you like.”
“You may grow tired of me?” he said more as a question, his voice so soft she could scarcely hear it above the wind.
“Never,” she breathed again, her heart pounding as she glanced at him; his eyes brighter than she had yet seen.
“Miss Mary,” he began seriously, their quiet moment shattered as a blast of gunfire echoed in the air, several long seconds passing before a second met it.They had been discovered.
“They found our tracks,” he rushed, his arm directing her to quicken her pace, “at the edge of the woods, maybe nearer, but I fear we no longer have the luxury of time.”
Accepting the new laid pace against every want of her body, Mary raced along, the vast, empty expanse beyond the hill reminding that they would receive no earthly help.They were alone, and hunted.
∞∞∞
As night drew in and her muscles began to fail her, Richard guided them to an outcrop of rocks some distance from the nearest hillside, the threat of rain leading them away from its base, though she had been reluctant to leave the imagined safety of its slope.
“Here,” he said, his person all but hidden in the low light, “if the heavens open, no landslide should affect us… I only wish I could offer you shelter or a fire. I had hoped there would be some sign of civilization; tomorrow, surely.”
“Tomorrow,” she answered with forced brightness, the prospect of a night spent on the cold ground, exposed to the wind and likely rain, doing little to hearten her spirits. Already the temperature had dropped considerably with the loss of day, and even the wool blanket wrapped around her had begun to prove less effective.
Squinting as Richard began to spread their other blankets on the ground, Mary frowned, “Are you not going to wrap one around you?”
“Two blankets under us, yours on top, and, if this coat is as dry as I hope… yes, then you can wear that.”
Answer already known, Mary gulped as she bothered to ask, “We are to sleep side by side then?”
“Essentially… rather like in the cellar, though you may prefer my arm in this instance,” he replied, voice stiff as he shook the oversized coat, “Let us exchange that blanket for this, if you are willing? I fear it may be cold at first.”
Hissing as the wind whipped across her, she handed him the blanket. Turning to allow him to slide the sleeves over her arms, she swiftly tucked it around her body, the wool far cooler than that which she had warmed.
His hand wrapping around hers, Mary allowed the warmth of his skin to ground her before a blush formed.Laying with her head on his lap had been embarrassing in the extreme–all the more upon waking to ogling men–but this? Propriety recoiled against such closeness! Yet, what of life? Of health? This was prudent; and Richard a man she might trust entire.
Allowing him to direct her to the blankets he had arranged, Mary’s legs sought to crumple beneath her as she crouched down, the long hours of exertion foreign to her quiet life before.
The heat of his arm coming beside hers, Mary lay stock still as he set the other blanket over them, though her heart beat wildly at their closeness.
Eyes widening as he moved nearer, his arm sliding under her head until she found herself a mere breadth from his chest,she half considered taking one blanket and laying down some distance away, yet, as the comforting warmth enveloped her after a day of never feeling warm, she felt her principles fading.After all,she told herself,they were doing no wrong. He would, as always, prove a gentleman. And both would find far greater rest and energy; a vital inclusion, for who could know how long they would have to run when they awoke?
“Goodnight, Richard,” she whispered.
“Sleep well, Mary,” his soft answer came; the howling of the wind filling the void of their silence as Mary allowed herself to find sleep in the Colonel’s arms.
∞∞∞
Turning, Mary awakened, the absence of Richard at her side causing her to stiffen as she lay there, listening for any sound of danger.
Hand reaching for the knife she had hidden, Mary’s breath slowed as she removed the sheath and prepared to throw the blanket off her.
Taking a deep breath, she leapt upward, her legs shaky as she held the blade ready to defend, yet around her, in the low glow of near dawn, there appeared no one.
The piercing echo of a shot fired, Mary’s head turned as she sought which way it had sounded.
“Richard?” she breathed, the sound barely traveling beyond her. Swallowing her fear, she called his name a little louder, her blood cold as no answer came.
Untold visions of Richard lying bloodied and injured flashed through her mind, a wave of nausea pulsing as she scanned the area.
Straining to hear any sign of life, she froze.
