Chasing Eliza (25 page)

She was
frowning herself by the time she got to the long hallway lined with
doors.

She soon
found herself standing in the last room overlooking the main street
watching Edward close the door behind him with a thump. She
frowned, uncertain whether she should protest or not. Turning
towards the bed, she eyed the vast expanse of sheets and blankets
with a frown.

“
If you think about getting into that bed covered in dust,
then think again.” Edward muttered, tugging off his cloak and
dropping into the chair beside the bed with a grunt.

“
I can’t sleep with you again.” The words were out before
Eliza could call them back. Inwardly she winced at her bold
declaration and valiantly ignored the tell-tale burning in her
cheeks.

Edward
quirked a brow at her, still disgruntled at the ease in which she
had closed him out throughout the day.

“
I can’t believe I asked you to.” He muttered shooting her a
baleful glare. “Right now I don’t have the energy to tug my boots
off, let alone start anything with you; as delectable as you may
be.”

She
wasn’t certain how to take that remark and decided not to make an
issue of their sleeping arrangements for now. After all, it
wouldn’t be the first night they had spent together fully clothed
when nothing happened. At least they would have a nice, soft bed to
lie on rather than a smelly earth-packed floor.

Several
hours later Eliza found herself sitting in the private parlour with
a full stomach, listening to desultory conversation of the now
malleable men. Despite his initial nervousness, the Innkeeper had
done a fine job in attending to his guests’ requirements. The food
they had just consumed had been fresh, delicious and plentiful but
now she had eaten, and the warmth of the roaring fire had chased
away her seemingly constant chill, Eliza felt a wave of exhaustion
settle over her and knew she was about to embarrass herself by
falling asleep at the table.

The men
were finishing their brandies when she stood, waving them back down
into their seats when they instinctively made to rise.

“
No, stay and finish your brandy. I’m off to bed. I’ll see you
all tomorrow.” She said around a huge yawn before bidding everyone
a sleepy goodnight.

She was
fast asleep by the time Edward joined her only a few minutes later.
Still fully clothed, she had summoned enough energy to tug her
boots off before falling on top of the covers. She hadn’t even
climbed between the sheets.

Edward
stood beside the bed staring down at her. She had unpinned her
hair, which now fell in glorious abandon across the pillow but had
done little else to see to her own comfort.

Tentatively he slid a hand across its silken length scattered
across the white pillow. He knew from running his hands through it
last night that the curly tresses were really was as soft as they
looked. He closed off the mental image of it tumbling down around
her shoulders as she rode him. Shaking his head, he stifled a yawn
and tugged his own boots off before contemplating the feminine
bundle pinning the sheets down.

He could
just leave her as she was and wait until the room cooled enough to
wake her up, but wasn’t that heartless. Lifting her shoulders
slightly, he tugged the sheet down and out from under her before
contemplating her clothing for several minutes. There wasn’t
anything there he hadn’t already seen, but would she be angry with
him if he undressed her? She had categorically stated she didn’t
want to make love with him again. Had he hurt her? Or was it that
she knew the timing was wrong and didn’t want to run the risk of
getting with child?

Running
a hand wearily down his face as he contemplated the complexities of
the female mind, Edward drew the sheets over her before climbing in
beside her. With one last lingering look at her lying so temptingly
beside him, he rolled over to face the door.

At least she couldn’t claim he was making advances while she
was asleep.
He mused as he yawned widely
and found a more comfortable spot on the pillow. Within moments he
was sound asleep.

Sometime
during the night, he instinctively gave in to the need to hold the
woman laying claim to his heart and curled protectively around her,
relieved when instead of protesting against his familiarity she
wriggled against him until she found her usual spot against his
shoulder.

Eliza
awoke the following morning with her nose buried in his chest. Her
leg was lying in wanton abandon across his hips, held there by the
persistent pressure of his relaxed hand. Her arm was draped across
his waist, her fingers held captive by the coarse hair on his
chest.

She knew
she should move. Any minute now, she should leave the comforting
warmth of his embrace and get up and pretend she hadn’t really
spent the night with him. Again. Despite her exhaustion the
previous night, she knew she had been alone when she climbed onto
the bed. Sometime during the night she had found her way beneath
the covers and had been joined by Edward, who had clearly decided
he needed to prevent her from leaving the bed.

“
Good morning.”

Edward’s
voice rumbled huskily from above her head. Slowly Eliza tipped her
head back. She tried to remove her leg only for Edward’s hand to
tighten on her knee, keeping her still.

“
Morning.” Eliza replied, blushing at their intimate position.
“We should get up.”

“
Yes, we should.” Instead of letting her knee go, Eliza felt
his hand slowly slide over her thigh, slowly trailing upwards over
her hip before traversing the inward dip of her hip. His fingers
brushed the sides of her breasts as they swept gently over the
curve of her chest before gently cupping her chin.

“
Edward.” She whispered softly as his head slowly dipped
towards hers.

“
Ssshhh.” The soft glide of his lips against hers stole any
further protest, and most of her thoughts. Briefly she tried to
hold back from the sensual onslaught, but found herself unable to
withhold her instinctive reaction to the tender caress of his mouth
against hers. Sliding her hands over his broad shoulders, her
fingers tangled in the soft curls at the nape of his neck, tugging
him closer as he deepened the kiss.

He was
determined this time she wouldn’t have regrets and wouldn’t draw
away in an attempt to pretend nothing happened. This time, she
would spend the day knowing she had been thoroughly made love to,
totally compromised and completely his.

Later
that morning, they ate breakfast in companionable, if hurried
silence before ordering their horses. It was agreed they would ride
throughout the day to try to get to Leicestershire sometime before
midnight - if they were lucky. It would mean a long day riding;
something that Eliza didn’t relish, but given the current threat to
Jemima’s life, was necessary.

“
Will you be alright?” Edward murmured, drawing her to stand
behind him as the men left the small parlour just after dawn. He
towered over her protectively, a look of concern on his face as he
studied her. Although the smudges beneath her beautiful eyes were
still there, they had lost some of the darkness. A sign that she
had slept well. He had ensured she had eaten sufficient to sustain
her throughout the arduous day they faced.

In
reality he really wanted to take her back upstairs and wile away
the morning in the big bed. Her willingness to do everything he had
asked of her without question had touched him deeply, bringing him
a level of satisfaction that still hummed through his
veins.

Eliza
still carried the delicate flush of satiation on her cheeks that
matched the soft, slightly dazed look of a woman who had been
completely satisfied by her lover.

Edward
felt a surge of masculine pride as he studied her. Whatever had
happened to bring her regrets the first time he had taken her had
thankfully not reappeared this morning. He took the opportunity of
being alone with her in the parlour to capture her lips in a very
thorough kiss that left them both gasping for air, and Eliza
hanging on to his neck with trembling knees.

“
God Eliza, you unman me.” Edward growled, eyeing the table
behind her for several moments, wondering if they had time. “You
are so beautiful.” He actually ached with the depth of emotion she
brought out in him.

“
Am I?” Eliza whispered, staring up at him in disbelief. She
wasn’t aware of the glint of hope that shone in the amber depths of
her eyes or the fact that he was moved deeply by her innocent
reaction to his declaration. She had clearly not expected him to
compliment her in such a way and that stirred him.

“
Oh my dear, most definitely.” He dropped a kiss on her neck
as he slid a hand into the long hair at the nape of her neck,
tipping her head to one side to allow him to nibble her ear. “And
you’re mine.” He growled slamming his lips onto hers in a rough
kiss that left her in no doubt that she was indeed his.

It was
several long moments later before he reluctantly lifted his head to
stare down at her. “You must be sore from this morning.” His voice
hoarse with desire. The urge to possess her there and then was so
strong that his fingers tingled with temptation but he had to keep
his mind on the current situation. If they delayed any longer
Dominic, most probably accompanied by Sebastian and Peter would
return and want to know what was taking them so long. He could
hardly say he was busy making love to his future wife.

Closing
out the tempting image of her lying on the bed beneath him as she
found release he dug deep and turned his attention to his most
pressing concern. “If you get uncomfortable you have to tell me and
I’ll find an excuse for us to stop for a while.”

Eliza
nodded, touched by his level of concern for her wellbeing. He had
done things to her, with her earlier that morning that had left her
body humming with pleasure. She had never considered the sensations
he had wrought within her were possible and she couldn’t find it
within her to regret what they had done. It had seemingly brought
about a change of attitude in him that was startling.

Although
her battle hardened warrior was still there, he had a softer, more
caring side to him that swept aside her earlier doubts and worries
over his attraction to her. She carried the evidence that he was
physically attracted to her, but was he beginning to feel something
for her emotionally?

A wild
surge of hope swept through her as she followed him meekly out into
the stable yard. Whatever the future held for them, she knew she
had no choice but to follow his lead and hope her dreams could come
true.

It was a
weary group of travellers who arrived in Leicestershire just after
midnight the following night; their horses practically dropping
with exhaustion.

Conversation had long since diminished as tensions rose with
the twilight the closer they got to Leicestershire. They had all
agreed that Rogan had most probably made Derbyshire or
Leicestershire his temporary base and that was why they had only
been chased to Padstow. Scraggan had to be in Padstow overseeing
the continuing smuggling operation, and was waiting for them to
arrive with his own group of men.

Their
return to Leicestershire meant they were returning to the watchful
eyes of Rogan and they all accepted that the risk of being
challenged increased significantly with nightfall. As a result they
were all vastly relieved to see the vast, unlit bulk of Haverstock
Hall appear out of the gloom before them.

Eliza
could see little of the stone structure other than it was simply
immense. She shot Dominic a worried glance as they rode down the
long, sweeping driveway and around the outside of the huge house
towards the low lying stable block hidden in some trees at the rear
of the property.

As they
drew to a halt, Dominic rang a solitary cast iron bell sitting high
on the wall at the end of the stone structure. Eliza winced at the
harshness of the sound as the heavy iron rang loudly through the
still night air.

Within
moments a ruffled stable hand approached, still tucking his shirt
into his breeches.

“
My Lord!” He exclaimed, clearly aghast at the lateness of the
master’s arrival. Without hesitation he took the horses and led
them into the stables behind him.

“
Are you alright?” Edward’s tired voice rumbled softly in her
ear as he moved to stand beside her. Eliza fought the urge to lay
her head upon the solid width of his chest and instead smiled at
him in gentle reassurance.

“
I’m fine but tired. If I never have to ride a horse again, I
will be a happy person.”

Edward
smiled in sympathy, swamped with mixed feelings of their arrival at
Havistock. He was glad to get there in one piece, which was
something he wasn’t certain they would manage if he was completely
honest. It also meant that it would be more difficult to spend the
night with Eliza without cementing their relationship to the point
that marriage was essential.

Given
they had made love several times over the past couple of nights, it
was unquestionable to consider that they wouldn’t marry. As far as
he was concerned, it was only a matter of time before they
married.