Their gazes met, and they understood what she left unsaid. Ben’s hand tightened on her backside as he pressed her hips forward, ensuring she felt his rod against her mons. She shifted restlessly, wanting more but unsure how to ease the ache in her core.
“I won’t take your maidenhead until we’re wed. There’s still too much danger surrounding me. If anything happened to me before we married, and you were no longer a virgin, then you might never wed.”
Ben didn’t understand why Jemma’s expression darkened. “If something happened to you, I wouldn’t marry because they’d have me in Newgate for murdering whoever took you from me. I wish to marry you. If I’d wanted anyone else, I’d have married years ago. I won’t replace you and go on about my merry way.”
“My kitten has claws.”
“And I will tear anyone to shreds who comes near you.” The conviction in Jemma’s eyes made Ben feel cherished in a way he never had before, in a way he never knew he wanted, knew he needed. He kissed her cheek before leading them down the path.
“If we don’t continue our promenade, my good intentions will melt along with the snow.”
They spent the next half-an-hour meandering through the estate’s gardens. They chatted about who and what they’d seen before the assembly abruptly ended. Ben learned there was to be another dance on Christmas Eve to make up for the one the government officials ruined. Fresh falling snow forced them back to the manor, and frigid temperatures kept them indoors for the next two days. However, a messenger from Grandma Smith in Lantic Bay warned Ben the excisemen were back and searching for him. He knew they’d look for him at the Rowes’ home.
Chapter Five
“I’ll only be gone a couple hours. I’ll return when I’m certain no one watches the house. I won’t lead them to you, Jemma.”
“And we can hide you here.” Jemma put her hand on Ben’s as he reached for the kitchen doorknob.
“It’s too great a risk,” Ben countered.
“No. The risk is you being in the dark and alone again. There’s a summerhouse at the far end of the estate no one uses. I can take you there. No one will think to look there.” Jemma turned to look at her parents, praying they’d agree with her. “It’s the warmest evening we’ve had in weeks. It’ll still be cold in the summerhouse, but we won’t freeze.”
“We?” Ben, Vinita, and Theo barked.
“I am not taking you with me to hide from those vigilantes.” Ben crossed his arms, despite how it tugged his stitches, and stared down at Jemma, who looked completely unfazed.
“You don’t know how to find it, and I can’t very well traipse back here on my own. My brothers are still out hunting. Papa needs to be here when the excisemen arrive. I’m the only one who can take you.”
Ben glanced over Jemma’s shoulder at her parents, who looked as eager as he did to have Jemma outside while the government officials swarmed the area. But all three knew she made sense. When Vinita and Theo dipped their chins at the same time, Ben relented.
“Put more layers on and get your coat and scarf. It might seem pleasant now, but it likely won’t feel that way after being out there. We can’t light a fire, so bundle up.” Ben already had his coat and gloves on. He wrapped a scarf around his neck, leaving it loose enough to pull up over his nose and mouth. Gemma rushed upstairs to put on a warmer pair of stockings before gathering her outerwear. She rushed back downstairs as she donned her coat.
“Be careful.” Vinita kissed her daughter’s cheek before doing the same to Ben. She’d already accepted he would soon be her son-in-law. Theo engulfed Jemma in a bear hug, and he clapped Ben on the left side of his back, careful not to jar the injured man’s arm.
Then they were off. Ben and Jemma slipped out of the kitchen and hurried to the path. She took his hand and led them away from the manor house. “This way. We’ll weave through the trees, otherwise, the path leaves us too exposed.”
It would also make it more difficult for anyone to track them since they’d leave no footprints in the mud that remained after the snow melted.
Neither Theo nor Vinita was eager to concede Jemma was right, but when they looked between the couple, then at each other, they knew it was the safest place for Ben to hide. If anything happened to him, they were certain Jemma would never forgive them.
“Go,” Theo relented.
They moved with urgency but didn’t dare run. It was too slippery with too many trees. Ben didn’t think he’d manage withhis arm back in a sling. Neither spoke as they walked nearly two miles to reach the far end of the Rowes’ estate, which was larger than Ben knew. They’d emerged from the trees only a quarter of a mile from the house. They’d been exposed the rest of the time, so both were alert to anyone spying them in the daylight. Jemma knew where to find the key, so she hurried to unlock the summerhouse. Theo wanted neither squatters nor poachers to make their home there, so they kept the small building secure.
Jemma pulled the drop cloth from the settee, and they shook it out together before Jemma folded it in half. They wrapped it around themselves as they huddled together. Ben removed the sling to make it easier to embrace Jemma. She rested her head against his chest, and it calmed them both. Ben stroked her back as they listened for anyone’s approach. They whispered even though they knew their voices wouldn’t carry outside.
“How long do you think we need to stay?” Jemma was in no rush to leave.
“Until your parents send out a search party.” Ben didn’t jest.
Jemma shifted until they could kiss. It was languid with no threat of being caught. It carried on as their hands roamed over each other. Ben felt no pain since Jemma’s kisses drugged him far better than any medicine. He longed for more, as did she. Together they moved to lay Jemma back, allowing Ben to shift above her. He rested his weight on his knees and left forearm. As he gazed down at her, it excited him to think they would soon have the right to be in the same position whenever they wished.
“Jem, once we’re married, I will make love to you any chance we have.”
“Promise?”
“Yes. But if ever you don’t want that, say no. Never fear me forcing you.”
