The Dangerous Lord Darrington(22)

She averted her face, grimacing at the stench of brandy and onions on  his breath. The yard was empty and there was so much noise coming from  the inn that she doubted if anyone would hear her if she cried out. She  began to be seriously alarmed. She heard a footstep on the cobbles and  turned quickly, opening her mouth to shout for help, but the words died  when she saw Darrington standing there.

'I think the lady has had enough of your company.'

He spoke quite pleasantly, but Beth heard the underlying steel in his voice. However, her companion merely grunted.

'So it's you come back, is it? Well, you had yer chance, now it's my turn.'

'I think not.' Something in the earl's voice filtered through to the man's drink-sodden brain.

'Oho, so you fancy a turn up, do you?'

Beth felt his grip slacken and she quickly pulled herself free. The man  advanced upon the earl, fists raised. Beth did not see what happened;  in the space of a moment she was aware of a flurry of movement in the  darkness, a few grunts and thuds, then the lanky man was on the floor,  nursing his jaw.

'Are you hurt, Mrs Forrester?' Darrington turned his attention to Beth,  but she did not answer immediately. She watched her assailant clamber  unsteadily to his feet and stagger back to the inn. 'Madam?'

She looked at him, momentarily dazed by events.

'No, I am not hurt.' Indignation welled within her. 'Oh, what a horrid man. How dare he accost me in that manner!'

'He is not entirely to blame,' murmured the earl, coming over to stand beside her.

She turned on him, saying angrily, 'How can you say that?'

Despite the deep shadows she could see the gleam in his eyes as he  looked down at her. She swallowed nervously, her anger replaced by  another, more unsettling sensation. She stood, unable to move as his  hand came up and caught one of her curls.

'You go abroad with that glorious hair uncovered-how can any man resist you?'

His voice, deep and warm now, turned her insides to water and a  delicious ripple of desire swirled in her belly. His body was blocking  what little light there was coming from the windows of the inn. She had  the unnerving sensation that she was about to be swallowed up in the  darkness with him as he moved closer. She turned her face up towards  him, unconsciously inviting him to kiss her.

'I-I did not intend … '

Her words were drowned by a burst of raucous laughter. A group of  stable hands crashed into the yard, breaking the spell. The earl's head  snapped up.

'No,' he muttered, taking her arm in a none-too-gentle grasp, 'you have no idea how beguiling you are, do you?'

He led her indoors, but did not stop at the coffee room door.

'Where are you taking me?'

'I bespoke private rooms for us-'

With a little huff of frustration Beth shook off his arm. 'How many  times do I have to tell you that I am not going to accept your help?'  she demanded, glaring up at him.

'And how safe will you feel, sleeping in your room tonight? I have seen  off one fellow, but what of all the others? I saw them while you were  at dinner. Not one man could keep his eyes off you.'

'You … were … watching me?' Beth did not know whether to be gratified or outraged.

'I wanted to make sure you would come to no harm.' He glanced up at the  yellowed ceiling and exhaled slowly. At length he fixed his eyes upon  her. 'Mrs Forrester, when you took Davies into the Priory and cared for  him you earned my gratitude. I would like to repay that debt. Nothing  else. I have no … designs upon your virtue.'

Her face flamed and she lowered her eyes so that he would not see her humiliation, or her pain.

'That at least I can believe!' she said bitterly.

A fresh burst of noisy laughter and cheering echoed from the coffee room.

'Do you really want to go back in there?' said Darrington quietly.                       
       
           



       

Honesty compelled Beth to shake her head.

'I have a suite of rooms above stairs, including a private sitting room  and a chamber for yourself and your maid,' he said. 'I would be  honoured if you would allow me to escort you to town, madam-I give you  my word that you will be treated with nothing but respect while you are  in my care.'

Beth clasped her hands together. The thought of spending the night in  the little room allocated to her was quite daunting. She would have  Tilly with her, but there was no lock on the door; after her recent  experiences she did not think she would sleep at all. She glanced at her  companion-she might not be able to sleep, knowing the earl was in the  next bedchamber, but at least that would not be as a result of fear.

'Very well,' she said slowly. 'I will accept your escort, my lord, for  myself and my maid. But I must have your assurance that you will not try  to f-flirt with me.' Her cheeks reddened, but the earl merely bowed.

'I shall treat you as I should treat my sister,' he said gravely.  'Allow me to escort you upstairs, madam. I shall send Fitton to fetch  your maid and bring your luggage to your new room.'

He escorted her up the narrow stairs and through a labyrinth of  passages to a suite of rooms. She was a little nervous as she entered  and found the earl's valet waiting for them in the cosy dining parlour,  but his manner was very civil and he went off immediately in search of  Tilly, leaving her alone once more with the earl. She moved towards the  fire to warm her hands.

'This is much more comfortable than the public dining room,' she said  to break the silence. 'Will we be able to reach London tomorrow, do you  think?'

'Of course, but it will be a long day.'

'I am not afraid of that.' She turned to find him regarding her, a faint smile curving his lips.

'No, I thought as much.'

The light-headed, breathless feeling swept over her again. Her knees  seemed to have turned to jelly and she sank down on a chair, folding her  hands in her lap.

'I would like to make one thing clear, my lord. I will accept your  escort to town, and thank you for it, but once there I will take my  leave. I do not intend to impose upon you further.'

'It is no imposition-'

'Once we reach Cheapside-'

'Cheapside!'

She raised her brows. 'Yes,' she said coldly. 'My lawyer has offices  there. I shall place myself in his hands to find accommodation.'

'You would be better to let me help you.'

He had walked across the room and was towering over her, menacing her peace of mind. She rose and walked across to the window.

'I may be forced to accept your hospitality for the journey, sir, but you know I do not want your help in this matter.'

'That is not the impression I had,' he flashed back at her. 'That night  at the Priory you were only too keen to buy my silence.'

She swung round to find he had followed her across the room. His eyes were blazing with a dangerous mixture of heat and desire.

'That was to protect Simon,' she said unsteadily. 'No other consideration would have made me approach you!'

'I am well aware of that. And yet … ' He reached out and ran his fingers  down her arm. His touch burned through her sleeve. 'I had the distinct  impression you were enjoying it.'

'No!' She put her hands to her cheeks.

The earl stepped closer. 'Then one of us is mistaken,' he said softly.  'Perhaps we should try that kiss again, to find out which of us is  right.'

He reached for her, but her body was already moving towards him of its  own accord, drawn by myriad invisible silken threads. She put out her  hands and held him off, but her fingers merely slid up his jacket,  moving from his chest to his shoulder. His face was just inches away,  her own lifted invitingly, lips parted, every nerve end screaming for  contact with him. Her heightened senses breathed in the very essence of  him, the hint of spices on his skin, the scented starch in his  snowy-white linen neckcloth. The curling flame of desire moved lower.  Her thighs ached, her knees grew weak and she clutched at his jacket.  His mouth hovered over hers; they were sharing a breath, anticipating  the explosion that would occur when their lips met. Beth's head went  back, her eyelids were fluttering to close when she heard the thud of  heavy footsteps in the passage, recalling her to her situation. She  opened her eyes and pushed her hands against his chest.

'Oh, pray, my lord, let me go! My maid … '

'Damnation! Beth, I-'

With a shake of her head she pushed him away as Fitton struggled in  with Beth's portmanteau in one hand and her jacket and cloak draped over  his other arm, her bonnet dangling by its strings from his fingers.  Tilly followed close behind with her own small bag. She bobbed a curtsy  as she followed the valet across the room.                       
       
           



       

'I'm sorry we took so long, ma'am, my lord-I had unpacked the bag and had to collect everything up again.'

Beth could only nod wordlessly. The earl had turned away and was  staring down into the fire. For a few moments Beth was filled with an  almost unbearable, aching longing for what might have been, but this was  quickly replaced by a feeling of relief. Her hands, a moment ago  clutching at his fine wool jacket, now slid over her stomach. Dizzy and  confused, she muttered her excuses and followed Tilly to her bedchamber,  determined not to come out again until the morning.