She smiled wickedly at him as she slipped her arms into it and felt him wrap the silk belt tightly about her waist. “I doona want ye to,” she said on a low, teasing, and hungry note.
* * *
“Off with ye now.” He chuckled and gave her rump a pat as he put her out of the room. He watched her vanish into the dark corridor and closed the door to lean back against it. Whew, he breathed with a heavy sigh full with emotion. He asked himself, “What have ye done, John of Dunkirk? Fallen in love, have ye? Aye, fallen in love.” He had known it the moment he had lowered her onto the bed. This was his savior, this lass, his life, his love. He had done something he had never done before: he had not withdrawn at the moment of climax. He had given her his seed because she was meant to be his—she was meant to be his mate, to bear his children—and he damn well was going to make her his for all time.
What was his next step? Well, he had to get the boy safely to his father. He had to initiate his plan in secret, and that would take up some of his time before he left with the boy, so he had to bathe and move into action.
When Thomas was safe, when this business was done, then he would return and speak to Bess’s father, who would hopefully agree to give his daughter’s precious hand to him. However, whether her father gave his blessings or not, she would be his.
The Lady Bess would be his wife, and he would allow no one to stand between him and the love of his life.
~ Eighteen ~
BESS SLEPT THE last few hours alone in her bed completely blissful, which caused her to sleep past her normal time. She woke with a start when Maddy knocked and called to her. She hurriedly bathed and dressed with Maddy clucking away at her but saying she looked even more beautiful than usual.
“You do, my sweet, look absolutely ravishing.” Maddy sighed. “It is a shame the earl is not here to see you.”
“Oh, did he leave already with Thomas?” Bess asked.
Maddy looked at her in surprise. “Indeed, he did, but how would you know that? I thought it was a last-minute decision.”
“Oh, as to that, I t
hink he mentioned that he was thinking of taking Thomas home to his father but that no one was to know about it.”
“That’s right. He said the word is mum, that he wanted it kept a secret, as servants talk, and that none are to know, not even Anna. But he needn’t worry about that, or Anna, for they know the boy was abducted and that we were keeping him safely hidden here. Aye, he has a faithful staff, he does. They love the earl.”
“Yes, well, the earl has a plan, though I am not quite certain what it is.” She felt a tingling sensation when she spoke of the earl. She felt warm and content inside her heart. She felt complete. And then she heard the sound of her father’s voice, and the first thing she felt was shyness spread through her system and play with her mind. She was a wanton woman. “Is that Papa’s voice downstairs?”
“Yes, he came in about twenty minutes ago and is awaiting you in the breakfast room,” Maddy said.
This woke her from her dreaming and sent reality spinning through her mind. Yes, a wanton woman was going to face her dear father. Would he know? How could he know? He didn’t know. She had to calm herself. “Oh, Maddy, why didn’t you tell me?” How would she face him, and why did she feel so not guilty? No, she didn’t feel guilty, a bit odd about what she had done, but not really guilty. Though she knew society would condemn her if they knew of her behavior with the earl, she did not condemn herself or agree with the rules, but she did feel absurdly shy about facing her father.
“What was the point? You would have rushed through your toiletries and gone to greet him like a hoyden. Can’t have that in the earl’s home.” Maddy clucked again, as Bess was already out the door.
She found the door to the breakfast room open wide and her father conversing happily with Donna and Robby, although she heard Donna say, “Oh, sir, I am not certain Bess is ready to leave yet … after this business with young Thomas.”
“Nevertheless, we shall leave,” her father answered firmly.
Shyness went out the door.
Distress at the prospect of leaving took over. “Oh, we cannot just run out on his lordship after all his hospitality …” She couldn’t leave. How could she leave now?
“As to that, I saw his coach on the Post Road when I crossed at Finley and flagged him down. I explained that I was coming for you and that we would be leaving for London in the morning. He introduced me to Thomas and gave me a quick rendition of the events of the last few days. In fact, he said that he had a few loose ends to tie up and would soon join us in London.”
Bess’s face brightened. “Oh, I see, but still—could we not just stay till he gets back today?”
“No, he agreed that he would like to see you safely in my care until this ugly business with the boy is done.” Her father put an arm about her then and said softly, “As always, my minx of a child, you are fore and center when you should be safely knitting at home.”
She laughed out loud. “Knitting, Papa?”
He chuckled with her and added, “No, your mother had no love for knitting quietly either. However, I know also how you rushed in and saved the boy—”
“The earl told you?” she squealed, worried now that her father would see fit to keep a closer watch on her.
“No, young Thomas did. The boy asked if you were my daughter, and when I answered that you are, he told me that you are a right’un and his hero.”
Bess laughed. “Some hero—if it hadn’t been for Donna bringing Robby and John … er, the earl rushing in, I, well …” She remembered it was her father she was speaking to and said, “Well, thank goodness for Donna and the men.”