He wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her to him. She breathed in his scent, thrilling at their closeness.
“We will be there soon, my love. Very soon,” he whispered, and she allowed herself to believe it.
Chapter 22
The next day, after they had worked on reinforcing the Wards around the castle and on the beach, they found themselves once again at liberty to spend time together. This time, since the weather was amenable, they set out to walk on the high path above the beach.
The evening was theirs to enjoy. Elizabeth slipped her hand under Darcy’s elbow and they set out on the path along the grassy boundary of the sharp cliff. The sea was so close she fancied she could feel the spray on her skin. The wind whipped at her ringlets, sending strands to the edge of her lips. She put up her hand to move them away, but Darcy was there before her.
“Let me help you,” he said, hooking a finger gently into the wayward strands. The light touch seared into her skin, and she leaned into him, her breath catching. An immense longing for him seized her and she looked at him. Shadows were whirling in her eyes, and she shivered.
Aware of the watchful eyes of soldiers and mages on the parapets above them, she had to content herself with hooking her arm in his.
“Do you think we could go down and walk on the beach? I would like to be close to the sea.”
They left the main path, making their way down. The pebbles looked round and smooth, but they felt jagged under their feet. Darcy offered her his arm and they both picked their way gingerly towards the water, the stones sliding and moving apart, making it difficult to walk. Clinging to each other, they laughed at their clumsiness.
The heavy air settled on her clothes and skin. The waves were a rhythm to dance to. The water drummed against the pebbles, over and over. Elizabeth delighted in the unfamiliar music. It invoked something primitive in her, an impulse to run to the sea and stamp on the shore along with the waves. There was a fierce magic to it. She wished she was an Elemental mage so she could connect with it.
"I wish I could take off my shoes," she said. “I want to feel the waves.”
"Your wish is my command," said Darcy. He knelt on the shingle and gently undid her half-boots. She laughed in protest.
"What are you doing? I am perfectly capable of doing it myself."
"Allow me to do something that will give you pleasure."
He put the nankeen boots behind them, out of the way of the tide, and then carefully, slowly, peeled off her right stocking. His hand cradled her ankle, making sure she kept her balance. The touch of his fingers sent ripples of head across her skin. Then he slowly peeled off the other stocking, his fingers brushing against her knee. She splayed her fingers against his shoulders as her legs grew unsteady.
She laughed again, this time in embarrassment, fully aware they were in plain view of the castle. Not that she was doing anything wrong. Darcy was her husband, and she told herself they had the right to a stolen moment together. It made her feel deliciously daring, even as she worried someone would see them.
"Darcy," she said, breathlessly. She could not bear it.
Somehow, he understood her. His gaze grazed over the exposed skin of her thigh before he put down her foot with obvious reluctance.
Flustered by his attention, she lost her balance. The pebbles gave way under her. She waved her hands like a windmill as she began to topple. Darcy caught her by the waist and held her tight. She closed her eyes and brought her face up towards him, a sunflower seeking the sun. His lips skimmed hers, a touch full of reverence. She wanted to deepen it, to discover more, but he pulled away.
“Not now. Not yet,” he said, his voice rugged. “I—cannot. It would not be wise.”
She nodded, trying to calm the tempest inside her. Carefully, holding onto his arm, she braved the stones and made her way to the water. The waves came towards her as if she had called them, and crawled over her. She jumped back with a gasp. The water was colder than she expected.
“That was not a good idea,” she said, blithely.
“No, but you needed to experience it.” Smiling warmly, he gave her his handkerchief. “You will have to make do with this.”
She sat down awkwardly. Darcy looked towards the horizon while she dried herself and put her stockings and boots back on. He did not try to help her this time. She was both amused and gratified that he had to struggle to avoid temptation.
When she was finished, they withdrew further up the beach, safe from the advancing tide. They stood looking out as thesun cast the last of its rays on the rippling water, shoulder to shoulder, hands entwined, listening to the breathing of the sea as it made its way through the pebbles and retreated.
It had been an unsettling day, thought Darcy, as they all returned to their chambers after dinner. As the various Royal mages disappeared into their sleeping quarters, Darcy hung back, reluctant to leave Elizabeth.
“I need to freshen up before I go out again for my Mirror magic,” she remarked with a sigh.
She turned as she opened the door and blew him a kiss. A kiss! As if he could be satisfied with a kiss! Not for the first time, he considered tossing his inhibitions out of the window. His senses were still tingling from their encounter on the beach. He had to draw on every ounce of willpower to stop himself from following her.
No doubt his cousin Richard would laugh if he saw him standing there staring at the door and call him a fool for holding back. Perhaps he was.
One of these days he would give in, but it was not going to happen today.
