He shook his head, clearing his mind of such thoughts. The unexpected contentment of the previous night should not have any bearing on either of their emotions, especially his. This was a carnal arrangement, nothing more. She lusted for adventure and he lusted for her; there were no other expectations. He would do well to remember that despite this week she was not for him.
End of discussion.
That established, Nathan stretched and strode into his dressing room to prepare himself to continue their week.
“Which way did she go?” Nathan demanded of Liam.
The young man’s face paled at Nathan’s tone and he visibly swallowed. “I told her about the folly and pointed her in the direction. She asked about anything of interest to see on the estate.” The adolescent’s voice squeaked several times in nervousness.
“And you let her walk off by herself?” Nathan continued. “This is her first time at the estate. Did it not occur to you that she could get lost or that something more dire could happen to her?”
Liam shook his head, unable to speak in the face of the tirade. His normally rosy cheeks blanched under the force of the unexpected anger. He swallowed again and lifted his chin, clenching his teeth to show Mr. Grant he could take his rebuke like a man.
“I am sorry, sir,” he said, clearing his throat to avoid squeaking again. “She’s gone for a walk, is all. I didn’t think nothing of it.”
“That much is clear,” Nathan bit back.
“Mr. Grant,” Mrs. Taggert’s voice broke in. She did not waver when his scowl honed in on her. “Mrs. Grant stated that she wished to walk and explore the estate on her own. Liam was complying with her wishes.”
“My wife’s wishes do not overrule her safety,” he replied, some of the anger seeping out of his tone. “I should have at least been informed; I would have accompanied her.”
A small smile tugged at Mrs. Taggert’s lips. “She said that you should be allowed to sleep as long as possible. She recognized that you have been out of sorts of late,”—she emphasized “out of sorts,”—“and that you need your rest.”
“Hmph,” Nathan grunted. “How long ago did she leave?”
“Less than an hour,” Liam offered. “She said she would return in time for luncheon.”
With a nod, Nathan turned and walked off in the direction of the folly. The mother and son watched him leave, his stride purposeful and barely hindered by the use of his cane. “Do not worry yourself,” Mrs. Taggert told her son. “Mr. Grant is merely adjusting to being a newly married man in love. He meant no harm.”
Liam squirmed. “I should have—”
“Never you mind that,” his mother interrupted him. “Just take yourself off to the stable and finish up in there. Your da needs your help.”
Moving to do just that, Liam paused. “I like Mrs. Grant. She’s a nice one.”
“Yes she is,” Mrs. Taggert agreed, watching her son leave. If only they really were married. The love part she had no doubt, but she would stake her best bonnet on their absent vows. Shaking her head at who Mr. Grant had become, she returned to the kitchen to start preparing the luncheon meal. It was not her place to question the master, no matter that she had changed his nappies.
Sara saw him coming when he was still quite a distance away. His uneven gait was unmistakable; even if he didn’t have a limp and cane, the way her body responded to seeing him left no doubt in her mind who he was.
She had woken up in the morning, encased in heat and the body of a man. Nathan had literally been wrapped around her, her back pressed against his chest as his arms held her loosely, his knee pushed between her legs.
It had been glorious, and she had been hard-pressed to wiggle out of his embrace without waking him. If it hadn’t been for her bodily needs, she likely would have given into the temptation of rolling over and watching him sleep. Maybe even kiss him awake, like in that fairy tale when the prince awakened the princess.
It wasn’t until after she had managed to get out of the bed and returned from attending her needs that reality had settled in. Staring at his naked chest being kissed by the early morning sunlight, dazzling her, had the seriousness of what she had embarked upon fully hit her. Her doubts had been present in the coach ride to Cloverfields, but the immensity of what she had done assailed her as she stared at the expanse of toned naked male flesh and its dusting of pale hair.