At the Highwayman's Pleasure(9)

After what felt like a good half mile she was beginning to wish she had  listened to her conscience. An accumulation of cloud had covered the  sun, making the air very chill, and a sneaking wind cut through her  fur-lined pelisse. The unkempt hedges hid her view and had overgrown the  road so much that it was too narrow for her to turn the gig.

‘I shall turn round in the next gateway,' she said aloud, causing the  pony's ears to prick. ‘Yes, I know,' she addressed the animal. ‘You want  to go back to your warm stable. And I confess that I, too, am beginning  to think longingly of my fireside and a hot drink.'

No convenient gateway presented itself and she was obliged to drive on  around the bend, only to find herself at the entrance to a substantial  property: Wheelston Hall.

It was a rambling, many-gabled house built of grey stone, with a simple  portico over the wide door. A curving drive swept around the front of  the building, but it was heavily rutted and covered in weeds. Without  waiting for Charity to guide him, the pony turned onto a narrower path  leading around the side of the house. It was in much better condition  and Charity made no effort to restrain the animal as it trotted towards  the numerous outbuildings.

Charity found herself in a large cobbled yard; in the far corner  someone was chopping wood, but he had his back to her and was unaware of  her presence. She guessed from the man's size and the curling black  hair that it was Ross Durden. Despite the icy wind, he wore only his  shirt, buckskins and boots, the shirtsleeves rolled up high to display  his muscled arms.

He picked up a large log and placed it on the chopping block, then  raised the long-handled axe and brought it down on the log in one  smooth, powerful arc. She was struck by the fluid grace of the movement,  the slight shift of legs and hips, the flutter of his billowing white  shirt as his arms circled, the flash of the blade as it cleaved through  the air and the satisfying crack as the wood was split asunder and the  pieces fell onto the cobbles. One of the logs had rolled behind him, and  as he reached around to pick it up, he spotted the gig. He straightened  slowly and turned. Tossing the wood into the basket, he began to walk  towards her.

For a brief moment Charity wanted to flee, but she fought down her  panic. Not only would that be very cowardly behaviour, she doubted she  could turn the gig and whip the little pony to a canter in time to get  away. The man looked so much larger, so much less civilised than he had  done at the theatre. Untamed and rakish was her impression of the man,  but that was curiously at odds with his appearance in the green room.

Another memory nagged at her brain, but it was elusive; she could not  quite catch it. She forced herself to sit still and watch as this large  gentleman with his wild hair and dark, dangerous eyes approached the  gig.

‘Mrs Weston.'

The words, uttered deep and slow, sent a quiver running down her spine.  There was neither welcome nor enquiry in his tone. It was a mere  statement of fact that she was here.                       
       
           



       

‘Mr Durden. I, um...I was exploring and took this lane quite by  chance.' She gave him a bright smile, but nothing in that harsh, dark  face changed.

Foolish girl. You should have stayed away.

She gathered up the reins. ‘I am very sorry. I did not mean to intrude-'

He put out his hand and gripped the pony's head collar.

‘It is no intrusion, but you are a long way from Allingford.'

Again the quiver ran down her spine. He was pointing out to her how vulnerable she was.

‘You are cold,' he said. ‘Perhaps you would like to come in and warm yourself by the fire?'

No! It was not to be thought of. May as well enter a tiger's cage.

He turned and called to someone in the stable, his voice echoing around  the yard, then he stepped up beside the gig and held out his hand.

‘Jed will take care of the pony until you are ready to leave. He will  lead it into one of the empty barns, where it may wait for you out of  the cold.'

Her conscience clamoured with warnings, but they went unheeded. With  his eyes upon her and his hand held out so imperiously, she felt obliged  to let him help her down and escort her into the house. The old wooden  door opened onto a short corridor and from there into a large kitchen,  at one end of which a fire slumbered in the range. A large shaggy dog  jumped up and came to greet them, wagging its tail and sniffing at  Charity's skirts.

‘Easy, Samson, don't frighten our guest.'

Charity leaned down to scratch the animal behind its ears.

‘I am not frightened. Is he a gun dog?'

‘Gun dog, sheepdog, companion. Whatever is needed.'

He snapped his fingers and sent the dog back to its box in the corner.

‘How useful,' murmured Charity, stripping off her gloves. After the  chilly air outside, the kitchen was blessedly warm. He waved towards an  armchair beside the fire.

‘Sit there while I make you tea.' He stirred up the coals and swung the  trivet holding a large kettle over the fire. ‘I presume you would  prefer tea to ale? I'm afraid there is nothing else here suitable for a  lady.'

His voice was perfectly serious, but she noticed the disturbing glint  in his dark eyes when he looked at her. Again she had a flash of memory,  but he was expecting an answer and she must concentrate on that-and the  fact that she was alone with him.

‘Yes, tea, if you please. I confess I am a little cold now.'

‘I, on the other hand, am quite warm from my exertions. I hope you won't object if I take a mug of ale?'

Without waiting for her reply, he turned away and picked up the  blackjack sitting on the table. Charity heard the kettle singing merrily  and was a little reassured by the familiar sound. She knew she should  keep her eyes averted, but could not resist glancing up under her lashes  as her host filled a mug with ale and drank deeply. She watched,  fascinated, as he swallowed, watching the muscles of his throat working,  noting the strong lines of his neck, the hard, straight jaw and lean  cheek. There was power in every line of his body and it seemed to call  to her, an attraction so strong she found it difficult to keep still.

As he lowered the mug and wiped his hand across his mouth he met her  eyes, holding her gaze with his own near-black eyes. Charity's heart  began to pound and her hands gripped the arms of the chair. The space  between them seemed charged, like the heavy air that preceded a  thunderstorm. Surely he must hear the thud of her heart, or even see it,  since it battered mercilessly against her ribs.

She should say something, but her breath caught in her throat. She was  in thrall to that dark predatory gaze, unable to look away. Unwilling to  look away. She had to acknowledge that the perilous attraction was all  on her side, the man before had not moved or spoken, so how could she  blame him for the danger she felt now?

Was it the rattle of the kettle lid and sudden hiss of steam that broke  the spell? Or was it the fact that she was no longer subject to that  dark stare? He turned to the fire and proceeded to make the tea. With a  conscious effort Charity made herself release her grip on the chair  arms. She watched as he lifted a rosewood tea caddy from the shelf and  spooned leaves into a silver teapot before pouring in the boiling water.  She was desperate to break the silence, but when she spoke she almost  winced at the inanity of her words.

‘Tea making is more commonly a woman's role, Mr Durden.'

‘Since my housekeeper is not here it falls to me,' he said shortly. ‘I  could ask you to do it, but I am not in the habit of making my guests  work.'                       
       
           



       

Charity thought his manner suggested he was not in the habit of  entertaining visitors at all, but she did not say so. Instead she  watched him fetch out of the cupboard a beautiful teacup and saucer.

‘I do not have much call to use these,' he remarked, as if reading her thoughts. ‘There is sugar, if you want it?'

‘Just a little milk, if you please.'

His strong hands were remarkably gentle with the fine porcelain.

As if he was caressing a beautiful woman.

A hot blush raced through Charity at the thought and she sat back in  her chair, away from the direct heat of the fire. She took the cup from  him with a murmur of thanks, but did not look up, conscious of an  unfamiliar ache pooling deep inside her.

He refilled his tankard and drew up a stool for himself. It was a  little lower than her chair, she noted, and thought she would be  grateful that he was not towering over her, but when he sat down his  face was level with her own, which was somehow even more disturbing.  Desperate to avoid his gaze, she looked about the kitchen. The room was  large and high ceilinged, big enough to accommodate a cook and at least  half a dozen servants. She recalled Lady Beverley's comment that Mr  Durden had no money at all. However, even with a lack of staff, the long  table was spotless and on the dresser the copper pans gleamed.