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“Yes, my lord, young Hendrix told me. But then Her Ladyship sent a message this morning that she wanted to go into Bedford, and I thought you must have changed your mind. It was only after I’d put the horses to that I noticed the wheel, and as I told you, I went to get the buggy wrench to tighten it, and that is when Her Ladyship took the carriage.”
Rick glanced at Reynolds, who was stroking Demeter absently and frowning at his boot. He looked up and said quietly, “My lord, I think we can no longer pretend there isn’t some malevolent force trying to do you a mischief. It would seem that it may have more than one agent, although I believe the head of the serpent is Lord Bidenden. For your own safety, my lord, I beg you, don’t go anywhere alone. I do not believe that Her Ladyship was the target of this morning’s accident. It was most definitely you. I think if you are in her company or with myself or Pagette, you should be safe.”
“I wasn’t safe on the roof of Mrs. Rawlins’s barn,” pointed out Rick. “And I certainly wasn’t alone then.”
“True, but was that a staged accident or a real one?”
Rick shrugged. “I don’t know, and either way, it’s damned difficult to prove anything.”
“Let me do some investigation, my lord,” said Reynolds.
Rick nodded. “Thank you.” He turned to Pagette. “I’ll take the curricle to Clophill tomorrow. Let that be known and we will see what happens. I don’t want to leave the house today while Her Ladyship is still feeling poorly.”
Pagette said grimly, “I will, my lord, and I will check the curricle thoroughly before we leave tomorrow. You’ll permit me to go with you?”
“Of course. Thank you.”
Rick and Reynolds returned to the house, Rick giving the gargoyles a wide berth, and he said, “If Bidenden really is behind this, I should just confront him. I’m tired of this cat and mouse game.”
“Give me a chance to do some investigation first, my lord. You will need some proof.”
Rick nodded. “Very well.”
After a night of rest, Cecey was much improved the next morning, and Rick’s trip to Clophill was without incident. The curricle did not develop a loosened wheel overnight, and Rick returned in time to have luncheon with his wife and the news from Reynolds that he had learned that Bidenden had left the county, confirmed by Berrisford’s servants.
Over luncheon, he gave voice to something he had been putting off because he was reluctant to leave her alone with Bidenden about.
“I think I need to take a bolt to London to visit our bankers. We have been spending money very freely, and the draft I got before the wedding is almost run out. We need more money for all the repairs to the cottages and the house.”
She nodded slowly.
“I won’t be gone long—just a few nights. I’ll probably stay with my brother, Hereward.”
“Could I come with you?”
“Better not. The scandal may not have died down yet. Besides, Hereward lives in rooms. Not suitable for you.”
“We could stay with the duke and duchess, couldn’t we?” she asked.
He grimaced. “God, no! The last person I want to see is Robert.”
“Oh.” The disappointment in her voice made him reach for her hand and squeeze it.
“I won’t leave you alone for long. Now tell me about this party you want to hold? Now that Bidenden’s gone, we can be free to entertain as we like.”
That night he joined her in bed again, having left her alone the previous night to rest. Drawing her into his arms, he held her close and buried his face in her hair, reflecting that she had become someone of importance to him. The feelings had crept up on him by degrees, and then burst into full bloom when he thought for one agonizing moment that he had lost her.
He didn’t have words for how he was feeling, because the emotions were new and he didn’t fully understand them, so he didn’t say anything. He just sought her mouth to kiss her, because touch seemed the best way to express his need of her, which he sensed went much deeper than mere physical desire now.
She responded to his kisses, and he began to slowly make love to her, with kisses trailed down her neck and over her face, returning again and again to her mouth with ever deepening kisses. He gently stroked his hands over her body, and when her breathing indicated her rising desire, he finally reached between her legs to bring her pleasure.
“Is this all right?” he asked, husky voiced. “Do you feel well enough?”
“Yes!” she said, breathless. “Please.”
He kissed her again, his fingers stroking gently, bringing her closer and closer to the edge.
“Please, Rick. I want you.” An unmistakable ache in her voice made his stiffened cock throb in response. He’d been fully willing to forgo his own pleasure for hers on this occasion, but she seemed to want him in spite of his good intentions.
