“Anything more.” Those words made her stomach go funny. Living with Nathan. Sharing his life and his bed. Children. She’d cried so many tears thinking those thoughts and what she would now miss in her life.
“Beth?”
“The path is winding; have a care where you step.”
They walked in silence, him holding the spoon and egg in one hand and her fingers in the other. Beth had given up fighting him over that, because she wanted to feel her fingers in his, fool that she was.
“Are there any small buildings or hiding places nearby?”
“Pardon?”
“Around us. Are there any small sheds or hiding places?” Nathan asked.
“Why?”
“Just answer the question, woman.”
“I can’t see anything?”
“That will do.”
“What?” Looking up at Nathan, she saw his blindfold was now lowered and hung around his neck. His eyes were going up and down the path.
“Hold this.” He thrust the egg at her. He then picked her up and ran into the trees toward a small shed she’d not seen until now.
“Stop!” Beth cried as she was jostled. “What are you doing!”
“Sssh, someone will hear.”
The door creaked as he opened it, and then they were inside, and he was shutting it behind them.
“Where are we?” He lowered her feet to the floor. Beth looked about the small dark space. There were a few cracks of light from holes in the wooden boards, and she could walk from one side to the other in four strides.
“I’m unsure. Perhaps a hut for the local gamekeeper. Or to store feed for the animals in the winter.” His fingers plucked at the satin bow of the ribbons at her throat.
“What are you doing?”
“Removing your bonnet.” He lowered it to the floor.
“I see that, just not why.”
“I want to see your eyes.”
“Why did you bring me here, Nathan?”
“I would never have controlled you, Bethany Carlow. I need you to know that.”
The breath quite literally whooshed from her body as he stepped her backward until she reached the wall. His hands then braced on either side of her head, their fingers still clasped.
“I need you to know that.”
“This is silly, Nathan. It doesn’t matter any longer. We are never going to wed… or be anything to each other.” She could hear the anguish in her words, as she was sure he could.
“Now that would be a shame.” He lowered his head.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Beth,” Nathan whispered against her lips as his eyes held hers.
