The secondary question was even more troubling. It had gradually dawned on her that she ought to marry Edward, despite it being the sensible option. He was not quite irredeemably stuffy, given his willingness to climb trees for her and at least talk about being a highwayman, but he was still an effete aristocrat. How she lamented the loss of Tom’s manly proportions, but that could not be helped. Edward’s greatadvantage was that he loved her.He loved her!The very thought of it sent thrills through her entire body. A man who loved her, truly and steadfastly, as Tom never had. At least, she hoped his love was steadfast, and he would not change overnight into severe disapproval if they married.
And so she stumbled through the days, growing more uncertain by the hour, and at night lay awake long after she should have been asleep.
She was awake one night when she heard noises in the corridor outside her door. She could not tell what the time was, for it was too dark to make out the hands of the clock on the mantel, but the house had been silent for some time.
Slipping out of bed, she crept to the door and listened. Yes, there was no doubt — someone was creeping along, making no noise, but bearing a candle, for the flickering light filtered under the door. There was no time to do more than pick up a heavy candlestick as a makeshift weapon, then open the door.
It was Ulric. The light from the candle lit up his golden head so that he was recognisable even from behind. He was still fully dressed, except for his shoes, which he carried in one hand. He turned round, gazing at Tess with a puzzled expression.
“What are you doing?” he said in his flat voice.
“I was just about to ask you the same question, cousin,” Tess said.
“That’s a silver candlestick.”
“Is it? I had not noticed.”
“Why are you stealing the silver? You are a thief.” He dropped his shoes, set down his candlestick on a table and walked steadily towards her.
And only then did Tess see the danger she was in. Fear roiled through her as she backed away from him. “Ulric, it is I, Cousin Tess — your betrothed. We are to be married, remember?”Her voice rose in terror as he continued to approach, his face suffused with anger.
“You are athief!”he cried, and seized her by the throat.
She screamed once before her cry was cut off. Then there was only pain, and panic, and the terrible, overwhelming fear that she was about to die.
27: A Change Of Plan
Somewhere in the darkness of her pain, Tess was aware of a voice yelling, the movement of someone rushing past her… no, not past her, stopping beside her and then the terrible pain eased as Ulric’s hands were prised from her throat.
Released, she slipped to the floor, curled up on her side. Breathe, breathe… it hurt to breathe. What had happened? As her breathing slowly eased, she opened her eyes to see.
It was Edward! Edward had come to her rescue, wearing only his nightshirt, open at the throat and the sleeves rolled up. He held Ulric by the wrists, and as Tess watched, he pushed Ulric away from him and hit him with such force that Ulric was carried a little way down the corridor and fell, silent and unmoving.
Edward rushed across and knelt beside her. “Tess! Oh my God, my darling! Are you all right?”
She nodded, quite unable to speak. Her throat still hurt abominably, but she could breathe. At least, she would be able to breathe if only there were not a half-naked Edward before her. His throat and half his chest was exposed to her mesmerisedgaze, and his arms! Such strong, well-muscled arms! Arms which picked her up as if she weighed nothing at all.
He sat on the floor and laid her across his lap, those astonishing arms holding her tight, and murmured into her hair. She had no idea what he said, and in truth it hardly mattered. In those few moments, her life had changed. Tom was forgotten. She need no longer regret his masculinity when she had her own perfectly formed specimen. Every difficulty was resolved in the sight of Edward’s unclothed chest and arms.
Wonderingly, she lifted one hand to touch the nearest arm. So powerful! Mrs Edgerton, it seemed, was right after all when she suggested a gentleman might very well appear to manly advantage if the outer trappings of his rank were removed. Why had she never suspected that this athletic Edward lurked beneath the artfully arranged cravat?
“Does it still hurt?” he said.
“A little. I shall be bruised but nothing worse, since you arrived so quickly.”
“I was still awake when I heard your scream.”
“Thank you,” she said shyly, smiling up at him.
“Happy to be of service.”
“And thank you for not gloating. You warned me of this, after all. You told me Ulric was not a suitable husband, and you were quite right.”
More voices arrived, and wavering candles. Exclamations of dismay, as they discovered Ulric. Fanny Peterson’s anxious voice, then her father’s calmer one. Edward’s, explaining what had happened. “He attacked Tess, so I hit him,” he said succinctly. Groans as Ulric began to come round. Fanny’s quiet tones again. Ulric’s roar of displeasure, then a great deal of angry nonsense about thieves. But Fanny talked to him steadily, her voice reassuring, and gradually he calmed down and was persuaded to return to his room. He remembered his shoes, butSir Ernest collected them, and gradually Fanny’s placid voice disappeared into the distance.
Lady Peterson’s face appeared, bending over Tess. “Miss Nicholson, I am so dreadfully sorry this has happened. A terrible misunderstanding… he is not normally aggressive… are you much injured? Shall I send for the physician?”
“No, no! I am… I shall be perfectly well. There is no need for a physician.”
