He took her then. Restrained as she was, she could only accept whatever he gave, both the tenderness and the fury.
***
“What are you doing out here?”
Padua turned to the door. Ives stood there. He had thrown on trousers and shirt.
She hitched the blanket in which she cocooned her own nakedness. She held her finger to her lips, then pointed to the long carriage house. “Look low. Near the ground, halfway along. There is a deep shadow there. I think it is a small window.”
He peered through the night. “There may be a cellar underneath.”
“I think there is. I have spent a long time looking at that building over the last few days.” She opened the door and returned to her chamber. She climbed onto the bed and drew up her legs. He lay beside her, resting on his elbow.
“I told you I had a plan. I let everyone know I was taking my father’s place, because I think whoever coerced him to take that trunk is connected to this house. If so, perhaps they will now approach me as they did him. Then I will know who else is involved, and can use that information to help him. They sought to catch a whale, you said. Well, I intend to find the whale, or someone who knows where he swims.”
She expected praise for her cleverness. Instead his gaze pierced her. “If you are correct, you have put yourself in harm’s way, Padua.”
“I do not think anyone will hurt me here.”
“You do not know they will not. Men facing a noose will do desperate things.”
“I will be very careful.”
His severity did not dim one bit on her reassurance. He sat up on the edge of the bed. “You will move out tomorrow. I will bring you to Langley House.”
“I cannot leave. I have things I need to do tomorrow.”
His head snapped around. “What things?”
“A walk in the garden, for example.”
He captured her face in his hand. “A walk very close to that carriage house, is my guess.”
“I only want to see if there is a cellar like it appeared tonight.”
“I should have smacked your bottom much harder, and more often. I still may. I forbid you to go within fifteen feet of that building.”
She rose on her knees and wrapped her arms around him from the back. She nuzzled his neck. She thought it charming, and very male, that he did not understand that even if he were her lord, which he was not, she would not always obey him.
“Do not try to work your wiles on me, woman. You are not to—” She nibbled his ear. “Stop that, I am serious. You are not to leave this—” She ran her hands down his chest. “I will not tolerate—” She slid her hands lower yet.
He caught them, turned around, and threw her down. “I will do it,” he said. “Tomorrow night, I will see if there is a cellar and what it might contain. Nothing more than rusting carriage parts, is my guess. I will check if you want. You do not go near it or show the slightest interest, however. Do you understand?”
She nodded, and tried to look meek.
He pushed her over, unswaddled her from the blanket, lay down beside her, and unfurled the blanket over them both. “As for the rest of your plan, I will be here every night. If you are correct, you will not face or meet such men alone if I am alive to prevent it. Since you set things in motion on your own—” He gave her one more glare. “There is no choice but to await developments.”
“Every night?”
“Until it is clear you are wrong, or until it is proven you are right.”
“You plan to sleep here?”
“I’m not going to sit awake in a chair, Padua.”
“It is a fairly small bed.”
He turned, and pulled her close. “We will manage. You do not take up much space.”
