Moonlight Surrender (Moonlight Book 3) (21 page)

She stretched like a cat sunning herself in the afternoon sun. “Yes.”

He knew it would, yet he could not help but wish it hadn’t. “Much?”

She curved her hand about his cheek, moved at his
concern. Whatever his lips said, she saw his feelings in his eyes. “No, not much. The price was small for the goods that were purchased.”

He said nothing, but gathered her to him on the bed and held her. The contentment within her rose until it filled her completely, leaving no space untouched.

Suddenly, there were words he wanted to offer her, words that sprang to his lips like a bubbling stream,
from somewhere within him that he had never known
existed.

But he kept his silence as she had bidden him and as
prudence dictated, more for his sake than hers. Though
he understood not the immediate origin of the words nor
the emotion that rendered them into existence, he only
knew that he had never voiced these feelings to another.
Had never felt them about anyone. And saying them aloud would shackle him forever.

So he held her, content to run his fingers along her arm, content to feel the warmth of her body as it lay against his.

And said nothing.

They spent the night in lovemaking. And dawn came too quickly.

Beth stirred, then awoke. Guilt came. Not from the deed, but for the time she had wantonly lost. She needed to be off. Shifting gently, she sat up.

Duncan caught her wrist in his hand. “Stay with me, Beth.”

Beth looked at him over her shoulder. She knew he was not speaking of the moment, but of longer. Far longer than she was now free to give.

She shook her head and slipped from the bed. “I still
have to go. I told you before we began that this changes
nothing.”

But it had, she thought silently. There was an ache in
her heart that was not there before. And it was there be
cause she had to leave him.

How often had he said those same words to other women? How often had he felt that himself? Yet when she said it, an anger rose in him that was not easily banked down.

He sat up. “Very well, if you are determined to go, I will go with you.”

He had said he’d send someone with her. She had not thought he meant himself. “Why?”

Perverse woman, always questioning everything he said. “Because.”

Duncan rose from the bed and crossed to her. He was a magnificent specimen of a man, his body fresh from loving her.

Beth, her chemise held in her hand, met his gaze boldly. And felt her pulse beat rapidly.

Duncan placed both hands upon her shoulders and brought her to him, trapping her garment between them. Did she really need answers?

“I have a weakness for lips that taste like raspberries and for eyes the color of sapphires.”

There was more. He did not want to let her go from his life, but he cared too much to keep her prisoner. Knowing her, she would have found a way to leave even if he were to chain her in his room.

Duncan grew more serious. “Would I be overstepping
my bounds if I said I want nothing harming you?” These times were perilous and no one knew that better than he. “That I could not bear it if you were killed?”

Her eyes dipped down for a moment. When she raised them again, there was a smile on her lips. “I would say that you have overstepped more than just bounds, Duncan. But you needn’t concern yourself. As I said before, I can care for myself.”

When he thought of another man’s hands on her, his blood ran cold. “Like last night?”

She turned from him and casually retrieved her garments one by one. “Like last night.” She arranged them on the bed, which looked as if it had been in the path of a storm. Her eyes held his. “If I had not wanted it, it would not have happened.”

He crossed his arms before him, as comfortable with his nakedness as if he were fully dressed. “You are a bold one, Beth Beaulieu.”

She laughed, but kept her eyes to his face. “I also know how to shoot a pistol and hit what I aim for. Firing it in such a way that a man could never trouble a woman again.”

His hands moved to cover that which her words had plainly targeted. “Ouch.”

A smugness touched her lips. “Exactly.”

He grew somber once more as he took her hand. “Still, I cannot have you go.”

She tugged to take her hand away, but he held fast. “You have no say in it.”

“—Without me,” he added. “If you try to leave without me at your side, you will find yourself a prisoner in the very place where you were an honored guest.” He drew her closer. “There are ways to keep you here, Beth. Don’t force me to show you.”

Her face darkened. “I do not care for ultimatums, Duncan.”

That, he did not have to be told. In spirit, she matched him. “Then consider it a forceful suggestion. Consider it whatever you will, but you are not leaving here without me.”

Despite her bravado, Beth knew she would be a great deal safer if Duncan accompanied her. And if the truth be known, she did not want to be parted from him so soon.

With a sigh, she nodded. “Very well.”

“Good, that’s settled.” He looked out the window and judged the hour from the position of the sun. “ ’Tis at least an hour before we break fast. What would you suggest we do until then?”

Beth smiled.

He did not wait for her to answer.

Chapter Twenty-one

It was less than an hour after breakfast that Beth asked Sylvia to walk with her in the garden.

Though afraid of what might come, Sylvia hesitantly
agreed. Beth did not miss the fact that the older woman
touched Samuel’s hand before leaving the dining hall to follow her outside.

A multitude of flowers, freshly washed off by the rains, perfumed the air on either side of Beth as she walked slowly, gathering scattered thoughts to her. Her mind had been so organized only a few days before. Now she found it difficult to think.

Several minutes passed. Sylvia walked beside her in
uneasy silence, waiting. Finally, Beth turned toward her.
“Sylvia, I am leaving for France today.”

Sylvia nodded, twisting her hands together before her.
“I suspected as much.”

Beth looked at Sylvia’s face, but the woman’s eyes were cast down. “And you will remain here?”

It was not really a question. Beth knew that Sylvia wished to remain. She merely wanted to assure herself of it.

Duty and longing fought within the ample breast. Fin
gers knotted more tightly. It matched the feeling in her
stomach.

“I know I promised your mother, but—“

Beth placed a gentling hand over Sylvia’s before the woman tore her fingers from her hands.

“I do not care what you promised my mother, Sylvia. What is in your heart?”

That was an easy thing to answer. Sylvia looked toward the house. Samuel was standing in the doorway, watching her.

“To stay here.”

Beth glanced up and saw Samuel there. He smiled in their direction. “With that man?”

Sylvia could not tell if there was censure in Beth’s voice or not. She was a timid soul, easily influenced by a lift of a brow, a carelessly thrown out word. But for this one time, she held her ground.

“He makes me happy, Beth.”

Beth smiled and nodded. “Very well, then you are
fortunate.” It was in her nature to always look upon the brighter side of things, and there was a large one to this.
‘”Tis well. If you remain here, I shall not have to worry
about you.”

Sylvia’s face darkened as guilt pricked at her conscience with pointy lances. ‘”Tis I who should be worrying about you.” She took Beth’s hands into hers. “And I do.”

Beth smiled as she squeezed Sylvia’s hand in return. “There is no need. I am more than able to look after myself.”

But Sylvia held fast to her hand. “In Virginia,” Sylvia
insisted. “This is not Morgan’s Creek, or even America.”

Beth eased her hand from Sylvia’s. She looked off into the distance, seeing things with her mind rather than her eyes.

“No, ’tis not. Tis supposed to be more civilized.”

“Supposed to be,” Sylvia echoed pointedly.

A bee buzzed by her head and Beth waved it away. She looked at Sylvia, touched by the concern she saw there. “At any rate, there is nothing to fear. Duncan is coming with me.”

Sylvia breathed a huge sigh of relief. “Then you will be safe.”

Beth inclined her head slightly. “Perhaps.”

Perhaps not. He made her feel safe from harm, but not safe from him. The man had made her lose her will, her precious feeling of independence. She had never wanted to cleave to a man before, never wanted to be beneath his yoke, and while she did not go so far as to
say she was willing to do that even now, Beth knew she
would go a long way to have Duncan with her.

For that she resented him, for he was changing her and she did not want change. She did not want to become some dewy-eyed girl who lived and died on her beloved’s whims and sighs.

Sylvia frowned at the sound of Beth’s singularly worded assessment. It was all well and good for her to be with Samuel, for they were both to poverty born. But
it was another matter for Beth to be with Duncan. There
was a class difference.

“I fear your mother would not look upon Duncan as a proper match for you.”

As if the man was interested in matches. Coupling was all that took Duncan’s fancy. This she well knew, and at least she was well forewarned. If she lost her heart to him after that, it would be but sheer folly on her part, not due to any doing on his part.

Beth laughed. “There is little about him that is proper.”

Sylvia’s eyes grew huge as she remembered the nights that she herself had spent with Samuel. Had Beth’s honor been sullied?

“Oh, Beth—“

Beth’s eyes narrowed. She wanted no preaching. There was no shame in her for what had happened. And she was not inclined to share anything that had gone be
tween her and Duncan with someone else. That was pri
vate and would remain so.

“ ’Tis past time to be saying, ‘Oh, Beth.’ “ Beth drew herself up, and though there was no more than an inch that separated them, she cast the more formidable shadow. “And ’tis best you look to your own house, Sylvia, before you point a condemning finger at mine.”

Sylvia shook her head. Beth had misunderstood her meaning. “I was not about to point, merely to offer comfort if it is needed.”

Beth stared at the woman dumbfounded. This was something new. “Sylvia?”

The older woman smiled, understanding Beth’s surprise. She scarcely recognized herself these last few days.

“Aye, I’ve changed, have I not?” She looked toward the doorway. Samuel was still there and her heart swelled at the sight of him. “Samuel has made me want to change.”

She raised her face toward the sky and laughed aloud,
happy to be alive. If Beth would not have thought it strange, Sylvia would have hugged herself.

Sylvia took Beth’s arm now and tried to make the younger woman see it through her eyes.

“I feel like a flower, Beth, having spent the whole of my life in the forest, beneath the shadow of some giant
oak tree. And now suddenly, the tree has been cut down
and the sun has found me.” Her eyes held Beth’s, imploring her to understand. Perhaps to even give her blessings. “I never knew how warm the sun could feel.”

Beth saw nothing but sheer joy in the kindly face.
With all her heart, she wished that it could always be so.
“I wish you well, Sylvia.”

Her steps were already taking her to Samuel. “And I you.”

She passed Duncan on her way to the house. Her newfound happiness gave her the strength to say, “Treat her well, Master Duncan, for she deserves no less.”

“Aye.” He nodded. “That I know.” He crossed to Beth in several large strides. “I’m glad you’ve finished with Sylvia.”

Beth nodded vaguely, watching Sylvia as she joined Samuel. Like two young lovers they were, she thought, even though there was more than a century between them. She did not realize that there was a sad smile playing upon her lips. “She is not coming.”

That much he suspected. “In that event, I must ask you a question.”

Impatience tugged at her. Was he going to attempt to talk her out of it once more? “No, I will not change my
mind.”

He did not care for the defensive tone in her voice.
Why did she assume that there was always to be a war
between them? “And you will not display patience, either,” he replied.

She looked up at him sharply, then contrition washed over her features. “Pardon, my temper is a little sharp at the moment.”

He laughed. “That is nothing new to me.” He hurried on, lest she begin to take offense anew. “I was not about to ask you to stay. I know that your mind is set upon the journey and cannot be budged any easier than an anvil can be carried off by a newborn babe. My question is a far simpler one. Can you ride a horse?”

Though they were alone in the garden, he inclined his head toward hers and added in a whisper, “For I know full well that you can ride a man.”

Startled at his boldness, she quickly looked around, afraid that someone might have overheard his words. There was no one, but it did not help to cool her anger.

Beth fisted her hands at her waist. “Have you no shame?”

“No, none with you, or because of you.” Unable to resist, he satisfied his yearning with a quickly stolen kiss. She pulled her head away, “We are past pretenses, you and I. From now on, there is nothing but the truth between us.” He had judged that it would be easier for her than for him. Perhaps not. “So tell me, you did not answer my question. Can you ride a horse?”

“Yes.” And then, for good measure, she threw in “Astride, not sidesaddle.”

The habit gave her mother much distress, but she refused to do it differently. Riding sidesaddle had always seemed awkward to her.

Duncan nodded. “Somehow, I envisioned you that
way in my mind, though there are sidesaddles in the sta
ble.” If she rode astride, it meant she rode well. “Good.” It facilitated matters for them.