“I don’t think so.”
But he didn’t know for sure, from the sounds of it. It would help if excitement did not keep sparkling in her blood. It would be hell to deny herself, and yet she must.
“They are good people,” he said. “I am glad you had them with you these last years.”
“For what little they received in the bargain they were saints to stay. You must promise to take care of them.”
He neither responded nor left. She felt him still behind her. Felt his desire reaching for her.
What he contemplated could not happen.
“You should go above now. You really should,” she said, keeping her back to him.
No sound. Then slow boot steps, coming closer. She closed her eyes and tried to contain what that did to her. She imagined caresses like she had experienced in the stable, and hot kisses on her nape, and arms surrounding her. Then more. Much more.
The steps stopped. Then they sounded again, firmer now, walking away.
Chapter 9
Lord Thornhill was gone.
Caroline accepted the truth after breakfast. He had not been down to eat while she was in the kitchen. She went looking for him afterward and finally ventured up to the attic chambers. The garments she had brought him and that he had worn yesterday waited on the bed, folded neatly. All of his own things had been removed.
She ran out to the stable. Only one horse greeted her. Thornhill had taken the other and broken his parole.
She had been a fool after all, to believe him and trust him. He had lured her and charmed her and taken advantage, just like he had with Amelia. Nor had she proven stronger than her sister. She had softened and melted and surrendered her good sense. He had not even had to try very hard.
It would be a miserable Christmas now, not one with some joy. They would all spend the day waiting for the county magistrate to come and take them all to gaol.
She went about her day, doing the chores. Tom insisted on driving the wagon when they brought hay to the horses. She should have refused, but she needed the help. Neither he nor Mrs. Hoover even asked where His Lordship was. Everyone agreed without words not to speak of the failure of the plan.
In the afternoon, Caroline took one of the muskets from the gun rack near the kitchen, mounted her horse, and headed toward the woods. Tom couldn’t hunt, so someone had to and it would have to be her. She had a good aim and brought down two pheasants before long. She tied them to her saddle and headed home.
Just then the crack of another shot broke the snow-packed silence. She followed the sound to see a poacher lifting his prize off the ground. She trotted closer to warn him off. As she neared she recognized the greatcoat.
Thornhill held up a large hare. “Mrs. Hoover should be able to do something with this, I think.”
“Where have you been? I thought—”
He came over to her horse. “You won’t mind if I tie these here, will you? I don’t want the blood to get on my coat.” He looked up at her. “You thought what? That I had run off? Tom knew I would be gone today. He is the one who gave me the musket.”
“I hope you got more than one hare if you have been hunting all this time.”
He swung up on his horse. “I only now started hunting. Since you did so well, I can skip the rest and go get warm.”
“Then where were you?”
He smiled. “Does it matter? I am back, true to my word.”
They turned and aimed back to the house. Her mood lightened with his return. She couldn’t stop smiling, her heart felt so bright. She had been imagining Amelia giving birth to a child with no father while her sister faced a merciless judge. Also she had been picturing her never seeing Thornhill again.
“It is a fine day again,” she said.
“I would prefer it were summer.”
“You seem to do well enough in the cold.”
“I enjoy all seasons. But right now, if it were summer, you would not be wearing that coat that hides your breasts.”
