“So you’re not a figment,” Jonathan said in a voice so low she barely heard him.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Never mind.If you hadn’t left in such a hurry, you would have been a firsthand witness to my arrest.”His voice came out smooth, deep, and very sarcastic.His hand swept the room.“Sorry, I have no chair to offer you.”
She flushed.She didn’t fail to catch the note of sarcasm in his voice.“I couldn’t believe it when I heard of your arrest.The whole thing is absurd,” she said with bitterness.“Surely you’ll get out of here before long.After all, you did nothing wrong.”
Jonathan made no effort to move.“That is yet to be proved.Have you sent for Adam?”
“Yes, but it will take too long for him to get here.”
“You’re probably right,” Jonathan agreed.“I’ll find out next week when the judge will be in London.Then we will know how much time I have to prove my innocence.Of course, we both know the real truth.”
Since Jonathan still hadn’t bothered to move, Elizabeth took a step forward.He sounded nothing like himself.She felt as though she were talking to a stranger.She wanted so much to touch him ...to hold him.“What are we going to do?”
“Weare not going to do anything.This is my problem, not yours.”Jonathan ran his hand through his hair and drew in a deep breath.“I wish to God I knew.The only thing I can think of is to dispute this witness.”He finally put his foot on the floor and leaned his elbows on his knees.“I wish I knew who spoke against me and then maybe I could prepare better.”
“I want to do anything I can for you.”She caught her lower lip between her teeth and swallowed hard.“Jonathan, I know this makes no difference now, but I’m sorry I ran out the other morning.I—I was frightened and confused.Please don’t shut me out.”
Jonathan finally came to his feet.He wanted her so much, but he couldn’t trust that his vision was real.He felt like a starving man with a feast standing before him.
Her black hair hung loosely around her shoulders, and her eyes were dark beneath a thick fringe of jet-black lashes.Elizabeth was a tempting morsel to say the least.
Jonathan wanted to say something to hurt her, yet he took another step closer until he clearly saw her soft pink lips and delicate cheekbones blooming with color.He was only an arm’s length away from her now.
“Oh really,” he finally snapped.“Running seems to be the only thing that you do well, Elizabeth.”He grasped her by the arms.“First, you tell me you love me, and then you disappear.I should have learned my lesson the first time, but I was stupid enough to listen again.Is this some sick game you enjoy playing?”
He wanted to hurt her, to let her feel some of the pain he’d felt However, he didn’t wait for her to answer, but took her lips in a hard, punishing kiss.What did he have to do to get her to tell him the truth instead of running away yet again?He pressed hard against her lips until she parted hers slightly.Then he plunged his tongue into her mouth, taking everything he wanted and leaving her with nothing.
From the darkness that engulfed him, he heard her whimper, and he immediately softened his kiss.This time when his tongue met hers, hot excitement exploded, and he held her to him.If felt so right when Elizabeth was in his arms.All his cares seemed so far away.But prison wasn’t the place for her to be, so he pulled away, and when he did his anger returned.
He wanted her.No matter where he was, or what she’d done, God help him, he wanted her.He needed Elizabeth.
He’d sworn to stay away from the lady, yet the minute she came near him, he was pulling her into his arms.Was he in love, or just a fool?
Perhaps the bastards that run this place should just go ahead and shoot him now and put him out of his misery!
Elizabeth shook her head wildly.She wanted so much to tell Jonathan the truth.“I-I-no.This is not a game.I do love you,” she told him and looked pleadingly into his cold eyes.
“Well, lady, you have a funny way of showing it.How can I trust or believe anything you say?”His hold tightened and Elizabeth willed herself not to shake his hands away.“What are you not telling me, Elizabeth?”
The door swung open and the turnkey charged in.“Get yer hands off the lady!”
Jonathan dropped his hands, reluctantly, but did nothing to hide his contempt for Stanley.
Elizabeth spun around.“Please, give us a little more time,” she pleaded.
“A little more time,” the man taunted, “and ye’d be rolling ’round on that cot.”
Jonathan swung his fist and caught Stanley in the jaw, sending him flying backward.“How dare you speak to a lady in such a manner!”
Stanley scrambled to his feet and rubbed his jaw.“Ye’ll pay for that, yer lordship,” he threatened.“Get out of here now, milady, or I’ll have to slap His Lordship into irons.”
Elizabeth looked longingly at Jonathan one last time.Impulsively, she leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips.“For now, you’ll have to believe that I love you.I’ll explain everything once we have you out of here.”
“Empty promises?I’ve heard them before.”
With a heavy heart, Elizabeth pulled away.
