“In a medieval myth, the swallow had no feet. It signifies that one has to subsist on the wings of his virtue and merit alone.”
“Which perfectly describes my brother’s life up till now,” Genevieve said as she entered the room.
Guy smiled at his sister, aware of how much he would miss her.
“I’m for a ride. Who will join me?” Genevieve asked. “I want to see more of the estate.C’est très beau.” A mischievous smile lit her eyes. “I shall be gone from here in two days.”
When Guy glanced at Hetty, she trembled at the hot impatience in his blue gaze. “We will miss you dreadfully, Genevieve,” she said with honesty. “I shall be delighted to ride with you. Let’s change into our habits.”
The crisp air was scented with pine as they rode over the fields. Guy reined his horse alongside Hetty’s while Genevieve rode on ahead. “I want to make love to you, but if we begin, we won’t reappear until tomorrow.”
She giggled. “It’s courteous to remain with our guests until bedtime.”
“Oui, bedtime,” he said with ill-disguised impatience, and trotted after his sister who had disappeared into the trees. Hetty followed, suffering a good deal of impatience herself.
The sun was disappearing behind the mansion’s roof when the three returned to the house. As they climbed the stairs with the intention of changing out of their riding clothes before embarking on a game of whist, Hetty turned to Guy. “You promised to show me the secret tunnel.”
“Not me.” Genevieve gave a shudder and laughed. She continued to her bedchamber while Guy took Hetty’s hand and led her off toward the solar.
With a lit candle, they walked down past the kitchen into the depths of the hall. Hetty paused on the stairs.
“Are you afraid?” Guy asked.
She bit back tears. “When I think of what you endured here, I want to cry.”
He pulled her close. “I have put that behind me, Hetty.” He took her arm, and they descended to the floor below.
“I did wonder if you might prefer a calm and sensible wife like Marina.”
He laughed. “I do not.” He stopped her at the bottom with a hand on her arm, the candle dipping dangerously. “If you change into a milksop of a wife, I’ll lock you up in the tunnel and get myself a mistress.”
“I shall escape and pull out her hair!”
“That’s more like the woman I love,” Guy said with a rueful smile. His smile slipped away. “Vincent’s death has been difficult to bear, Hetty.”
She gasped and slid her arms around his waist. “Oh, my darling, of course it is.”
He groaned as he held her within his free arm. “I don’t want you to change. Just be that spirited young woman I fell in love with. I consider myself a very lucky fellow to have you.”
Relieved, Hetty kissed him. “Come and show me this tunnel.”
The long storeroom was shadowy and dim. Guy held the candle high and took a moment to gain his bearings. He walked to the far corner. With prior knowledge, he had little trouble locating the secret door. It sprung open, revealing a pitch-black passage. Unpleasant smells of damp and rat droppings flooded out.
“It’s horrible.” Hetty edged closer to him. “I’ve no intention of venturing inside.”
“There’s nothing to see as the servants have cleaned it out.” He chuckled. “Unless you wish to follow the tunnel to its end?”
She shuddered. “I’ll view it from the wood.”
Guy dropped the candle. It rolled around, and before he could reach it, went out. “Are you, all right?” she asked.
“I am now.” His arms found her in the dark and his mouth claimed hers. She held on to him as all her other senses came into play, his arousing male scent, the rasp of rough fabric beneath her fingers as his big, hard body pressed against her, his breath sweetened with the wine he had drunk earlier, the slide of his lips over hers, teasing her lower lip with his teeth, and the taste of him when he entered her mouth.
Guy moved to put space between them, still holding her upright. If he hadn’t, dazed and breathless, she might have fallen. “Dash it all, not here, Hetty,” he said heavily. “There are many ways to make love, and I mean for us to try them all. But not here, not now.”
He picked her up and climbed the steps with her in his arms. In the upper passage, they met a maid who covered her mouth with a hand and dropped into a curtsy.
Guy carried her toward the main staircase.
