The circling movement of his thumbs and the light pressure on her scalp eased the headache.She grew less restrained, leaning into his touch.
“I shouldn’t let you do this,” she whispered.The more she allowed him liberties, the worse she would feel in a few days when he was gone.
He lifted her hand to his mouth, removing her glove before kissing her hand.“Or this.”
The languid heat of his mouth against her skin was tantalizing.Seductive.She wanted to sit in his lap, as before, and pull his mouth down to hers.
“If you were a prince,” she breathed, “you wouldn’t look twice at a woman like me, after all the scandalous things I’ve done.”
“If I were a prince...”he nipped at her fingers, sliding the tip of her thumb into his mouth “...I would make you a princess.”
He caressed her palm, adding, “I’d lock you up in a tower and come to you at night.”A dark smile crossed his face.“I’d forbid you to wear anything at all, except your hair.”
She jerked her hand away as if it were on fire.Her skin certainly was.His evocative images made her body ache and her mind imagine things that weren’t going to be.
They would never be together, no matter what the future held.The words were part of a game, nothing more.She had to remember that.
Michael reached for her hand again, his long fingers twining in hers, almost as if he drew comfort from her presence.
Hannah stared at the door to the coach, knowing she needed to break free of him.Last night, she had allowed him intimacies that only a husband should know.The pleasure could not eradicate her guilt.
“I’ll be arriving at my cousins’ house tonight,” she said, unable to keep the sadness from her voice.Gently, she pulled her hand away and put on her glove.“I shouldn’t see you again.”
“You’re right.”He rested his forearms on his knees, glancing outside at the clouded scenery.
The evening light was fading, night slipping soundlessly over the land.Barren fields overshadowed the greenery, ploughed in preparation for planting.The dismal landscape darkened her mood even more.
What had she hoped?That he would ask her to stay with him?She already knew there was no future for them.
The tiny space inside the coach was starting to close in on her, as though the bars of her exile were shutting out the rest of the world.
Michael didn’t look at her again, and Hannah closed her eyes so she wouldn’t dwell upon it.The anger and hurt brimmed up inside.Her headache was starting to fade, and she drifted into sleep.
But a few moments later, the coach came to an abrupt stop.Hannah stared at Michael, wondering what had happened.“Stay here,” Michael ordered.“I’ll find out what it is.”
“Did something happen to the Graf’s coach?”
“I don’t know.I’m going to find out.”He stared hard at her.“But do not leave this coach.”
She forced herself to nod, though she could hear the edge in his tone.Fear penetrated her veins, and she rubbed her arms to warm them.
Hannah looked over at Mrs.Turner, who hadn’t woken up.That was good, for if there truly was a threat, the widow would only be more frightened.
She strained to hear the men talking.Perhaps the Graf’s coach had gotten mired or a horse was having difficulty.It was likely nothing more than that.
But when she heard the sounds of gunfire, she ducked down below the window, grabbing Mrs.Turner and pushing her against the seat.The widow opened her eyes briefly, but in her drugged haze, she wasn’t aware of what was happening.Moments later, she started snoring again.
The men were shouting, and more gunfire erupted.Outside, Hannah heard the coachman abandoning his seat, joining in with the others.
Oh God, what was happening?It hurt to breathe, and Hannah closed her eyes, praying that no one would be hurt.
It was a foolish thought, for the fighting continued outside.She tried to glimpse the men from the window but could see nothing.When the shouting stopped and the voices grew low, she suspected the worst.
More minutes passed, but she didn’t leave the coach.Michael had ordered her not to.
But what if he’s dead?her mind offered.Or wounded?
What if they needed help, and she was doing nothing but cowering inside the coach?Hannah took a deep breath, then another.
