Afraid the servants might return at any moment, Robert opened his eyes to make sure that they were still alone as she turned them around. He still couldn’t believe that she was kissing him after what he’d done to her.
“Anyone coming?” Elizabeth mumbled.
“No, no one,” he murmured against her lips.
“Good.” She ran her hands down his chest to his waist, where she began to undo his trousers. Alarm and joy shot through him. “Minx?” Robert asked breathlessly as she deepened the kiss. Good God, they were going to make love in the kitchen, he realized with a possessive growl as he took over the kiss.
He felt his pants drop down around his boots the same moment that he felt something hard bump against the back of his legs. She pulled back, smiling seductively up at him. Her hands traced back up to his chest, where they flattened.
“I think you need to cool off,” Elizabeth said as she shoved him.
“Wh-”
Thanks to his pants around his ankles and the edge of the barrel behind him, he lost his balance. He landed in the ice-cold tub of water with his pants around his ankles, making it difficult to climb out.
“I believe now, sir, that we are even,” Elizabeth said with a curtsy.
“You brat!” he roared.
She stepped back, biting her lip nervously. Perhaps just dumping him in the water would have made them even. Dropping his pants might have been too much. After a short struggle, Robert managed to climb out of the tub and yank his wet clothes up with great effort. He quickly fastened his pants just in time, too, since their fathers stormed into the kitchen seconds later. They took one look at both of them and started laughing.
“Run,” Robert bit out coldly.
“Exactly my thoughts on the matter,” Elizabeth said as she turned and bolted past her father.
“Too far?” her father asked, laughing.
“Yes!” she squeaked.
Robert watched her leave. If he took one step after her, he was sure that he was going to kill her with sex. Even after an ice-cold bath, his excitement for her wouldn’t diminish. God, she was wonderful and he was going to enjoy getting back at her, he decided.
“I don’t like that smile, Robert. Just promise me that you won’t kill her,” Richard demanded, still looking amused.
“I promise, my lord,” he said. That was the only promise anyone would get from him where Elizabeth was concerned.
His father slapped Lord Norwood on the shoulder. “At least our time here won’t be boring.”
Richard laughed in agreement as they left the kitchen, leaving Robert to plan his revenge.
“That’s lovely, my Lady,” Jane said.
Elizabeth looked her dress over. The neckline was low, but not low enough to cause a scandal. She liked the color, light green. It reminded her of Robert’s eyes, which was not the reason she chose to wear this dress, not at all. She hated the man, after all.
It was his fault that she’d been forced to hide in her room for the last week, pretending to be sick. She would have stayed longer if her father hadn’t put his foot down and called her a coward. She was not a coward. She just wasn’t foolish enough to come out and face a madman waiting to kill her. Self-preservation had been at fault here.
She had to go out tonight anyway. It was the Blackward’s annual ball and her mother would never forgive her if she missed it. It was one of the more popular balls, and only the elite were invited. No one dared miss it, or they risked being snubbed next year.
At least for tonight, she was guaranteed a Robert-free night. Earlier, Jane had told her that the gentlemen were all going to their clubs tonight, saying something about a card game. Good. That meant that she would be able to enjoy a few hours without living in fear.
For the past week, she’d thoroughly inspected all her food for anything nasty that he might have added before she ate it. She’d also checked her bath water to ensure there wasn’t any dye waiting to turn her skin blue. The man was devious, after all.
She quickly made her way downstairs while keeping an eye out for traps. Her nerves were frayed. Damn that man. As soon as she was downstairs and she was positive that he wasn’t waiting for her, she went straight to the protective bosom of her mother and Lady Bradford, who were waiting patiently in the foyer. Heather was already gone. She was now officially a spinster. It was a shame and, although it was her future as well, Elizabeth would never be anyone’s companion. She would be her own master.
“Shall we go?” Elizabeth asked with a forced smile as she rushed them out the door.
“You’re certainly excited tonight,” her mother noted approvingly. Normally it was like pulling teeth to get Elizabeth out of the house for one of these affairs, but tonight, she welcomed the safety that a ball offered. In fact, she fully planned on staying until they kicked her out.
She waited anxiously as her mother and Lady Bradford climbed into the dark carriage with the help of a footman. Her job, in her mind at least, was to keep a lookout for Robert. He was sneaky, after all.
