Looking at his square jaw, she remembered how stubborn he could be.Would he be able to accept the fact that she’d had another man’s child?Would he be able to forgive her?What she really wanted to do was get down on her knees and beg.Jonathan, please love me no matter what I’ve done in the past.I did it for you.
Her breath came so fast, Elizabeth felt as if she might faint.Then she remembered Jonathan’s words:If any other man touched you, I don’t know what I would do.I can’t bear to think of you with someone else.
She couldn’t do this.
She couldn’t face him.
Not now.Not until she was sure how Jonathan would react.Maybe later.
Turning, she very quietly eased her way to the door.She didn’t know what to do, but she couldn’t stay and answer questions.At least not now.She was terrified that her confession would destroy the fragile connection they’d made last night.She’d tell him later.
Later, her mind screamed.Always later.
As she eased out the door, it came to her.She would do what she always did when she was frightened and alone.
She would go home to Briercliff and Annie!
Annie would help her sort out her fears.Annie would know what to do.And if Jonathan really loved her, he’d come after her.That was the answer, Elizabeth told herself as she fled from Jonathan’s town house.The rain still fell heavily as she stumbled down the steps, but she didn’t care.She darted across the street to Trent House.
Sometime later,Jonathan rolled over and smiled contentedly.He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept so peaceful.How long had it been since he’d felt so rested?
The wonderful night of lovemaking with Elizabeth had everything to do with it.He would never get enough of her.He reached for her, but her place by his side was cold and empty.
His eyes sprang open and cold certainty grabbed hold of his stomach.He was in bed alone.
He sat up and scanned the room.Elizabeth was nowhere in sight, and her clothes were gone.
She was gone!
Would this nightmare ever end?Would Elizabeth constantly leave him without an explanation?She had said that she loved him; that much he remembered.If she had meant it, she had a damned strange way of showing it.
He slid from the bed, walked over to a chair, and retrieved his trousers.Had she lied?He wondered as he dressed.Why would she lie?He was puzzled, to say the least.If he could only figure out this game.
Before, he’d blamed Elizabeth’s leaving on his damaged arm.Now he couldn’t use that excuse.
Was there something else about him that she couldn’t abide?No, she wouldn’t have stayed with him last night if that were the case.There was something else that Elizabeth wasn’t telling him, and he had to know what it was.
Now!
He jerked on the rest of his clothes.He would go to Trent House and demand that Elizabeth give him the answers, even if he had to shake them out of her.
A loud knock sounded at his bedroom door just as he reached for the knob.Jonathan jerked it open.“What is it?”
Jeffrey was as white as a ghost.“Begging your pardon, sir,” he stammered awkwardly.He cleared his throat “But there are men downstairs demanding to see you right away.”
“Get rid of them,” Jonathan snapped, his voice lashing out at the old servant.“Where is Elizabeth?”
“I have not seen Lady Elizabeth.But these men are the police, and they have come for you,’’ Jeffrey persisted.
“Bloody hell,” Jonathan swore and swept past Jeffrey.“Why do they want me?”This morning was going straight to hell!
When Jonathan got to the lower level, he saw the three petty constables dressed in blue.He glared at them.“What is the meaning of this?”he said in a menacing tone that cut through the uncomfortable silence.
“You are under arrest for treason against the crown,” one of the constables announced.
“Treason?”Jonathan ground the word out between his teeth.He couldn’t have possibly heard the man correctly.“You must be mad.Do you know who I am?”
“Indeed, we do, my lord,” the bigger officer replied.
