This time when I catch you, Claire Belmont, I’m keeping a firm hold on you.
“I will need to borrow your carriage, uncle,” he said, storming from the room. Running down the stairs, he made for the stables, arriving in minutes.
“She’s riding to London on my horse!” he yelled minutes later as he faced Ned, his stable master. Merlin and Ben, he noted, were keeping their distance, both brushing horses and not meeting his eye.
“Said she was experienced, my lord, and in need of a strong horse, as she was a good rider. Thought she was heading out for a gallop and nothing more. I never would have given her a horse, had I known she was riding it to London.”
“Merlin, get out here!”
“My lord?” He appeared before Simon in seconds.
“Prepare my carriage at once. That bloody foolish woman has taken it upon herself to ride to London, and she’ll be lucky if she reaches it in one piece.”
“At once, my lord.”
Fear mixed with rage as he ran back to the house. Taking the stairs two at a time, he wondered if even now she was being chased by someone bent on harming her. No, he would help no one, least of all her, with those thoughts. His family was still at the breakfast table, and if possible, Louis had more jam on his face as he re-entered. “I must go to London but will return shortly with Miss Belmont.”
Louis slipped from his chair and moved to Simon’s side. Surprisingly, the boy then wrapped both arms around one of Simon’s legs. Picking him up, Simon held him close, knowing he, too, would now be covered in jam. “It is safer for you here for now, Louis,” Simon said gently. “My aunt and uncle will care for you until we return.”
“Don’t leave me.”
God, the look in those eyes nearly dropped Simon to his knees.
“I told Miss Belmont we would care for the boy, Simon, but it seems he does not want to stay with us, nephew, so take him with you.” His aunt came around the table with a napkin and proceeded to clean Louis’s hands and face.
“I want aunty.”
“My French is not as good as it was, Simon, but I think he said he needs his aunt. Take him to her and then bring them both back soon, darling.”
Giving his aunt a kiss, Simon then nodded to his uncle. “I will return as soon as I can, but if it is not in the next few days, I shall send word that all is well.”
Simon swung the boy onto his shoulders as he headed outside to his carriage. Merlin sat in the driver’s seat while Ben held the door. “As fast as is safe, Merlin, as we have Louis with us,” Simon said before climbing inside.
He kept his eyes on the windows as they traveled the short distance to London and prayed Claire had arrived there safely. He’d believed before the trip to Liverpool that his life was complete. Each day was filled with things he liked to do and the occasional one he didn’t. He had Eva and Daniel, and they had given him Georgia– what more could he ask for? He’d known there would be a wedding in his future, yet he had not been in a hurry to marry. Then Claire had changed everything. He needed her now. She was his future, the woman he would always love. She would challenge him, torment him, and make him want to strangle her, but she would love him, too. He knew she was capable of great love, and at the end of the day, it would be him she would use as her pillow. God, she’d been magnificent last night, with her lovely body and smooth satin skin. The scent of her had wrapped itself around him and held him tight. She’d not shied from anything he’d done. In fact, she’d loved it. Each touch and taste had resulted in delightful little noises that had hiked his passions higher.
“This is London?”
Good god, he was lusting after Claire with her nephew seated beside him. “I thought you were sleeping, Louis,” Simon said, brushing aside the hair that tumbled over the boy’s forehead as he shook his head. Eager to see everything, the boy stood on the floor between the seats and went from one window to the other.
“You must listen carefully to me now, Louis,” Simon said, intercepting him as he made another pass. Lifting him onto his lap, he looked into the boy’s eyes. “While we are here in London, you must stay close to me or Aunt Claire, Louis. Do you understand?” The boy nodded and then looked wide-eyed out the window once more. Minutes later, they stopped outside the Belmont townhouse. Simon had wondered if this was the right course of action, bringing the boy here, however, he’d had no other options. Holding Louis in his arms, he knocked on the door.
“Good morning, Lord Kelkirk.”
“Plimley.” Simon nodded. The man really was too good-looking. Even he felt flustered in his presence. Louis just stared in wonder at the Adonis as he stood aside to let them enter. “We are here to see, Miss Belmont, please.”