A Certain Wolfish Charm(12)

"Whatever you say, Simon." Will had the audacity to wink at him.



Simon glowered at his brother. "And we're going to need rooms at the inn. See if you can't get the innkeeper to track down the local doctor before we arrive."



"Anything else, Your Grace?" Will raised one eyebrow at him.



Simon wasn't sorry at all for his tone. Being alone with Lily while her body was pressed against his would be some of the hardest work he'd ever done. No reason why Will shouldn't have a few chores of his own.



Lily stirred in his arms and looked up at him. "Shouldn't we see if the coach can be fixed first, Your Grace? It's not that much farther to Westfield Hall, is it?"



It might as well be on the other side of the Atlantic, for all the good it did them. They'd never make it in time. He shook his head. "It's too dangerous to travel these roads at night, Miss Rutledge. We'll stay in Haslemere."



Will chuckled. "My brother thinks everything is too dangerous."



"Be off, you dog," Simon ordered.



Will smiled at Lily. "His bite is much worse than his bark, my dear. Keep that in mind."



"William!" he roared.



Will tipped his hat, then pressed his heels to the side of his gelding, and raced down the road.



Simon was surprised when Lily laughed against his chest, her warm hazel eyes twinkling in the fading light. Having her close, smiling at him, made him wish for things that could never be. A pang of regret pierced his heart, and he urged Abbadon on. "What could you possibly find amusing, Miss Rutledge?"



"The two of you. Emma and I used to bicker like that… Well, not exactly like that, but close enough."



"He's infuriating," Simon huffed.



"You're very close," she said. "It's easy to see you adore each other."



"We're connected," he amended.



Lily rested her head against his heart and closed her eyes, an endearing smile lighting her face. For a moment, Simon thought he could stare at her for hours, for days, and never tire of the sight. Then he snorted and shook his head. When had he become a fool?



Lily's brow furrowed as she opened her eyes and lifted her head. "Are you feeling all right, Your Grace?"



Simon nodded. "I've never felt better," he lied.



Lily's frown deepened. "Are you certain? Your heart is racing, and you're nearly burning up through your shirt."



He and his brothers were warmer than most other men. By the time most women realized it, they were too caught up in the passion of the moment to mention it. No one had commented about the beating of his heart, however. Perhaps it was because she was sitting across his lap. Or perhaps it was simply something no one had ever noticed before.



Lily gently cupped his jaw and then pulled her hand back as if she had been burned. "You are feverish, Your Grace."



"It's nothing to concern yourself with, Miss Rutledge."



"I can't even believe you can stand up, let alone ride."



Simon heaved a sigh. She was persistent. "You have a terrible habit of not listening to me. I'm neither injured nor ill. Now let it be."



She pursed her lips, and Simon wished he didn't imagine kissing them. Ignoring Lily Rutledge would be easier if her every gesture wasn't innocently seductive. She had no idea the precarious position she'd put herself into with him.#p#分页标题#e#



Why hadn't she married some country squire or local vicar or… someone respectable? Her mere existence tempted him to do things he knew he shouldn't. He couldn't be the only man to find her so… intoxicating. Firmly on the shelf, she'd said. It was ridiculous.



Lily Rutledge should be somewhere in Essex raising a brood of children and tending to some decent man's needs. Not draped across him in the middle of nowhere, making him want things he couldn't have.



"You are very grumpy," she said quietly. "Are you certain you're not ill?"



Simon ignored her. He didn't need someone worrying about him and trying to coddle him. Besides, answering her hadn't done him any good up to this point. She kept asking the same questions, unsatisfied with his responses, and he could never tell her the truth. But he had to admit he did enjoy her attention, no matter how poorly advised it was.



***





Lily sighed a breath of relief when she spotted Haslemere in the distance. Blackmoor had stopped talking some way back, and her head throbbed. Every time she adjusted her seat, trying to get comfortable, the duke either flinched or grunted. He would tense, and then it took moments for him to relax again.



Her thoughts went back to Oliver. She hadn't planned to be away from Maberley Hall for so long. Hopefully, he was all right. What would he think when Blackmoor's servant arrived to transport him to Hampshire? And why was the duke so adamant about bringing Oliver to his estate?