The Dangerous Lord Darrington(50)

Laughing, Beth raised her hands to stem the flood of questions.

'I am afraid I do not have all the answers just yet, Mrs Robinson, but I  shall know more once the earl returns. Prepare the rooms, if you  please, and I will explain everything to you tomorrow.'



In a very short time everyone was settled and Beth sank down on a chair  in the great hall, pleased for a little solitude to think over the  events of the evening. She asked Kepwith to build up the fire, then sent  him off to bed, saying that she would wait up for the earl.

The old house settled around her like a well-worn cloak. She looked up  to the ceiling, the soaring rafters disappearing into the gloom. The  firelight glinted on the swords and trophies that covered the walls. A  feeling of peace stole over her. She leaned back in her chair, gazing at  the fire while the steady tick of the clock soothed her into a doze.



Beth had no idea how long she slept, but she woke abruptly as the great  oak door burst open and hasty footsteps rang out on the stone flags.

'Simon!' Beth flew out of her chair.

'I knew you would not want to wait until tomorrow,' said Guy, standing  behind them and grinning broadly. 'So I persuaded Sir John to let me  fetch him home.'

Beth emerged from her brother's bear-like hug and threw herself into Guy's arms.

'So that is why you have been so long. You have been to Thirsk and  back! Thank you! And thank goodness I ordered Mrs Robinson to prepare  rooms for you both before she went to bed!' She disengaged herself from  Guy's embrace. 'Simon, come and sit down by the fire. Are you hungry?  Thirsty? Shall I ring for Kepwith-?'

'No, no, I want nothing, sis, thank you, save to sleep in my own bed.'

'Your room is ready. Shall I come with you-? '

'No! I have had my fill of being accompanied everywhere! Besides, I am  sure I can remember my way.' He planted a kiss on her cheek, bade them  goodnight and strode off across the hall, whistling.

Beth watched him disappear up the stairs. 'Despite his incarceration he  is so much better than when I last saw him.' She turned back to Guy.  'How can I ever thank you for bringing him home to me?'

'I will show you.' He pulled her into his arms and kissed her, sending  all coherent thought flying from her head. When at last he broke away  she leaned against him, sighing.

'I have missed you so much. I am sorry I ever doubted you.'

'No, I should have been more open with you.' His words were murmured into her hair.

'We were foolish not to trust one another.' She turned her face up to  him for another lingering kiss. 'We must make sure we share everything  in future. Let us start with you telling me what happened after we had  left the Assembly Rooms. Is Miles safely locked up now?'                       
       
           



       

'Yes, my love. He will not trouble us again.'

'And what of Mrs Cordonnier?' asked Beth. 'In all the confusion she  escaped without notice.' She sighed. 'I know it is very uncharitable of  me, but I would have liked to see her punished for her part in all  this.'

'She will be,' Guy told her. 'Clarice was waiting at the door when we  went out to Sir John's carriage and she launched herself at Radworth,  declaring he had promised her two thousand guineas to destroy Madame's  letter.'

'But I do not understand. Miles and Mrs Cordonnier-they were working together?'

'Not really. Clarice met Radworth when she visited your sister at  Malpass and immediately recognised him for the villain he is.  Unfortunately she did not realise that she was just another pawn in his  game.'

'So what will happen to her?'

'She was so incensed at Radworth that she admitted everything to Sir  John, how she stole the letter from you and tried to obtain money for  its return. Sir John bundled her into the coach and took her to the  lock-up, too.' He grinned. 'It was quite an-ah-acrimonious journey.'

Beth frowned. 'But tonight Miles said he had the letter. He said he would give it to me … he lied about that, too?'

'Yes, my love. He was just trying to make sure you married him. The  letter was destroyed days ago. Clarice never had any intention of  returning it to you. But she still hoped to persuade me to part with ten  thousand pounds.'

'And I was so cross that you would not help! Can you ever forgive me?'

'If I had shared with you all my suspicions, you might have understood  why I would not pay.' His arms tightened around her. 'We can do better  than this, Beth. Shall we start again, my love-my one and only love?'

'Yes, please. Let us put all this behind us. Oh, I do love you, Guy Wylder.'

She saw the look of triumph burning in his eyes and it fanned her  ever-present desire for him into a blaze. She tilted up her face,  inviting his kiss. He swooped down on her, taking her mouth, demanding a  response. Beth's lips parted, she returned his kiss, leaning her body  into him, giving herself up to the pleasure of his touch. It liquefied  her insides while excitement grew and pooled low in her body. She  remained pressed against him, her head thrown back as he raised his  head.

'Tell me now if you want me to go, or it will be too late.'

His voice was ragged and husky with passion. Her response was to reach  up and drag his head down so she could kiss him again. Her heart was  already beating wildly, but when she heard the low growl in his throat  it leapt alarmingly, leaving her giddy with desire. In a single movement  Guy swept her off her feet, cradling her against him as he carried her  across the hall and up the stairs. She clasped her hands around his neck  and buried her face against his cravat. He smelled of sandalwood and  spices and an indefinable scent that she had learned to associate with  him. She tingled with the anticipation of what was to come, her body  aching, preparing itself for the feast of sensations he would rouse in  her.

When she looked up again they were in her bedchamber. He set her on her  feet, kissing her while his fingers swiftly unhooked her bodice. Beth  knew no hesitation, no coy shyness. She set about undressing her partner  with equal fervour. The fire Tilly had thoughtfully built up had warmed  the room and now its rosy glow was all that they needed to light their  way to bed. Their naked limbs were pale against the blackness of the  hangings as they fell together on to the covers, memories of their  earlier union     making their kisses eager. Passion surged between them,  but they held back, savouring the delicious moments as they explored  each other's bodies, kissing, teasing, caressing, tasting, until their  senses were so heightened that the merest touch provoked a soft moan of  ecstasy.

Beth had never known such intense pleasure. She lay back against the  covers, her arms stretched out, fingers clutching at the silk as Guy  took her to new heights, working her body with his hands, his mouth, his  tongue, until she thought she would die from the pleasure of it. She  reached out for him as his hand caressed her breast, the thumb circling  one hard, erect nub while his mouth and tongue teased even more intimate  areas.

Excitement grew inside her, a wild exhilaration, spreading, increasing  until it was such an unbearable pleasure that she was writhing beneath  him, trying to pull away from the exquisite torment, but he held her  firm. She was a prisoner of her own pleasure. She cried out, begging him  to stop, to go on. Momentarily the pleasure ceased as he moved over  her, measuring the length of his body against hers. He entered her,  matching his rhythm to hers, carrying her inexorably onwards. She was  open, receptive. Her legs wrapped themselves around his waist as their  bodies moved together. She dug her fingers into his shoulders, feeling  the hard muscle beneath the skin, sensing her power over him as they  moved ever faster. It was a tense, rigid, dizzying culmination. Guy  gasped, his hands holding her in a blood-stopping grip as he pushed into  her and tensed, his head thrown back. She half expected to hear a  triumphant howl as she clung to him, her own body racked and exhausted  by the physical and emotional effort of loving.                       
       
           



       

His breathing softened. Guy supported himself on his arms above her,  looking down. She could not see his face, but she could feel the love  and gentleness emanating from him. He lowered his head, searching for  her lips. She lifted her face to receive his kiss, light as a feather.  Silently, they slipped between the sheets. Beth shivered slightly as the  cotton struck cold on her bare skin, then Guy gathered her in his arms,  warmed her with his own body and she fell asleep.



It was a beautiful autumn morning. A light frost coated the grass and  the rising sun was a gilded orb against the pinky-blue of the clear sky.  Beth stood amongst the ruins of the old church. She avoided the chill  shadows, enjoying the warmth of the rising sun on her face. A faint mist  hung over the river while on the other side of the wilderness it  hovered between the trees, dimming the glow of their crisp golden  leaves. She picked her way between the tumbled stones, moving away from  the standing walls until she could see across the gardens to the Priory,  its old stone turned to mellow gold in the morning sun.