They had all seemingly accepted her into their circle without question.
Dominic, with his brooding good looks, was clearly besotted with his gorgeous wife who had him wrapped around her little finger, and knew it.
Peter, Isobel’s brother, was so calm and laid back. His teasing good humour and blatant flattery immediately put her at ease in the grand opulence of the formal dining room.
Edward, with his wry humour and acerbic wit, had teased Sebastian mercilessly by regaling Amelia with childhood exploits that had them all laughing out loud.
As the evening meal came to an end, Amelia felt a ripple of disquiet at Sebastian’s distant behaviour. His aloof, almost dismissive attitude towards her was in stark contrast to the warm curiosity of his family.
When she had first arrived in the dining room, he had done little but stare at her nonplussed, as though he had no idea who this strange creature in his house might be, and throughout the meal made no attempt to converse with her.
Despite the little voice inside warning her it was for the best, his aloof behaviour broke her heart. She was so confused with the conflicting emotions that churned inside her, that she wasn’t sure what to think. Inside, she knew this was the way things needed to be between them. He was accommodating a guest until she was ready to leave, and fulfilling his supposed obligation to repay her for saving his life. She should be pleased that, although somewhat offended, he had decided to accommodate her request with ease and not push her to sleep with him.
But she missed the closeness they had shared in her cottage, and right now, being a stranger in this alien environment, she needed someone she could confide in.
After dinner they eschewed protocol and all retired to the study together, where Sebastian recounted the events of the past few weeks with crisp precision. He carefully missed out the intimacy they had shared, but Amelia felt certain everyone in the room knew what had happened between them. Sebastian was, after all, very much a man. One who had been alone with a single female, unchaperoned, for several nights.
“We need to search Uncle Benedict’s and see what we can find,” Dominic murmured into the silence.
“Great, if we each take a room we can finish the job more quickly,” Isobel added, clearly relishing the challenge.
“You’re not coming,” Dominic boomed, shooting to his feet. Amelia eased back in her seat at the outrage on the large man’s face. Although he looked so much like Sebastian, there was a darkness about him that immediately made her wary.
“It’s not safe, Isobel,” Sebastian added, glaring at his sister-in-law. Amelia watched as Isobel glared back at both men defiantly, before raising her delicate chin in annoyance. She looked like a school ma’am telling her young charges off for being naughty.
“You cannot expect us to just sit here quietly while you lot go off on your adventures,” she snapped, watching as the men bristled with masculine indignation.
“We expect you to remain safe,” Peter added. “We have all had enough of your adventures, my dear,” he murmured, referring to Isobel’s own brush with death earlier in the year.
“That wasn’t my fault.”
Amelia didn’t understand, but watched the interchange between the wilful female and the dominant men with interest, and growing feminine respect for the other woman.
Isobel glared at each man individually, before turning to Amelia. “Do you ride?”
Amelia fought the urge to smile for the first time since she arrived, loving the challenging defiance clearly etched on Isobel’s face.
“Yes I do. It has been some time since I have ridden, but I am sure it will come back to me,” Amelia replied, ignoring Sebastian’s growl from the other side of the room.
“I think I can remember where Uncle Benedict lives. If not, then we can ride around until we find it.” Isobel was wise enough to know that this would raise her husband’s ire. After all he couldn’t be sure she wouldn’t go through with her threat.
“I’ll be damned if you are going riding around the countryside on your own, woman,” Dominic snapped, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He already knew they were sunk, but felt for the sake of mankind he had to protest anyway. His wife usually got her own way in the end.
“I won’t be on my own. Amelia will be with me, won’t you?”
“Of course I will,” Amelia replied firmly, a defiant glint in her own eye.
“Neither of you are going anywhere. Sebastian, say something.” Dominic spun to face his brother beseechingly. He was fairly certain that a night with Isobel could ensure she was too tired to get up early in the morning to accompany them, but he needed Sebastian to do his bit with Amelia. Otherwise, both ladies were definitely coming with them. He watched nonplussed as Sebastian studied Amelia, assessing for a few moments.
“It seems to me that the ladies have already made their minds up.” He turned to Amelia and spoke directly to her, for the first time since their altercation in the bedroom. “Do you really want to come?”
Amelia’s gaze locked with his warily, and she nodded. “I do.” She waited for the argument. His masculine scorn at her ability to face the journey perhaps, or an arrogant declaration that a woman’s place was at home. What she hadn’t expected was the slight dip of his head as he accepted her request.
“Then I think it is best if you and Isobel took the carriage.” He ignored Dominic’s protest, and looked directly at Amelia. “As it has been some time since you last rode, then I think you would be more comfortable in the carriage, but it means we will have to stay overnight. Make sure that the maids pack an overnight back for you both.” He ignored Isobel’s look of delight, and smiled softly for a moment at a shocked Amelia, before turning to an equally surprised Dominic.
“Amelia saved my life, and put her own into considerable danger by doing so. She dragged my half-dead carcass across the countryside to safety. All by herself. In the middle of one of the worst storms ever to hit England.”
Silence descended upon the room for several moments. Amelia felt all eyes turn towards her with renewed respect.
“Not only will both ladies be safer with us, but if Amelia wants to be involved in the capture of Ballantyne, and given everything she has sacrificed to save my life, I think as long as she is kept safe and doesn’t do anything stupid, I can see no reason why she should not investigate with us. She has earned the right.” Sebastian didn’t add that he wanted her with him for every possible moment while she was under his roof. He needed to take every chance available to persuade her that her place in life was beside him.
Besides, if he left her behind, she would have time to write to Sir Hubert and request a reference. At least with him, she wouldn’t be given the time or opportunity to write letters. He made a mental note to speak to Hodgkiss to monitor the post.
One thing had come across loud and clear during the exchange earlier. She didn’t appreciate his making decisions for her, and didn’t believe she belonged with him. If he had any chance of convincing her to take up the mantle of his wife, he had to give her free rein to make her own decisions. As long as she didn’t put herself into danger or do anything that would remove her from his life entirely, then he had to accommodate her request. No matter how much it aggravated his masculine nerves to have her at risk.
He had to gain her trust enough for her to tell him about her past. To do that he had to show her he trusted her ability to make her own decisions, and make them wisely.
“Have you lost your mind?” Dominic demanded, shaking his head at just how easily his brother had buckled under feminine persistence. He understood in that moment, just how much Sebastian must love the woman before him.
“The ladies can travel ahead in the carriage and we can go cross-country. With a couple of the stable hands as outriders, and one of us alongside, there is no danger to them. Peter and Edward can ride ahead and open up. There is no point in taking servants; we will just have to rough it overnight,” Sebastian said. He knew that, given the poverty Amelia had been living in, Benedict’s cold and empty house would still be a luxurious haven.
Isobel had lived life on the streets and was not unfamiliar with living rough herself, so wouldn’t be swooning at having to live with the barest essentials.
“That’s settled then,” Isobel announced, feeling somewhat wary at the ease of their success.
Amelia shook her head, unsure what exactly had just happened, but knew that it was wise not to ask too many questions in case Sebastian changed his mind.
The following morning, Amelia found herself leaving Tingdale with Isobel. The difference in departure from her leaving Glendowie was striking. Everyone had taken sumptuous breakfast in their rooms, after which Amelia, dressed in one of Isobel’s warm travelling dresses, was informed the carriage was ready to leave when she was ready.
Moments later, Amelia left the house with a small smile of thanks to a startled, yet clearly besotted Hodgkiss. Sebastian and Dominic were chatting amiably next to a resplendent carriage led by four matching bays.
“Morning.” Sebastian smiled when Amelia stared at his horse in something akin to horror. “That’s Bramble, he won’t hurt you.”
“Bramble?” she queried, with an astonished quirk of her brow. “He’s huge,” Amelia exclaimed, not knowing much about horses other than this one simply glistened with good health. By the way it was dancing around; it was positively bursting with energy. Suddenly she was so very glad Sebastian had suggested they should take the carriage.
“Peter and Edward have gone ahead to light the fires and open the rooms up for us. You have the food,” Sebastian added, dropping the step to hand the ladies into the carriage. “Dominic and I will ride alongside you.”
“Won’t that slow you down?” Amelia knew it would take several hours more in the carriage than it would on horseback. She noted the look Sebastian shared with Dominic.
“Go ahead, we can ramble at our own pace and meet you there.” She could sense the indecision between the two men.
“It’s alright; we can meet the others later.” Dominic shifted, clearly itching to get going, yet reluctant to leave the ladies.
“Go. Leave us alone. We will be fine. If you ride fast, you may be able to catch Peter and Edward.” Isobel pecked her husband on the cheek quickly, before jumping aboard the carriage. “Come on, Amelia, let’s go.”
Amelia fought the urge to smile as she climbed aboard, leaving the men standing looking somewhat befuddled.
As the carriage began to rumble down the long driveway, Amelia glanced out of the carriage and saw Dominic and Sebastian trotting alongside. Mounted, both men looked the epitome of arrogant masculinity, and very imposing.
Silence settled over the carriage as the women watched the men thunder past. Sebastian’s wave was accompanied by a cheeky grin as he swept by the open carriage window, before disappearing over a low slung wall, and heading off across the fields after Dominic.
Amelia settled back with a sigh.
“Boys will be boys,” Isobel muttered, studying her new friend curiously. “It’s nice to have another female to talk to.”
“I know. The men are very nice, but sometimes only a woman will do.” Despite their new acquaintance, Amelia felt a kinship with Sebastian’s sister-in-law.
“You love him, don’t you?” Isobel watched as a flicker of disquiet swept over her friend’s face. It vanished so quickly she wasn’t certain she had seen it.
Amelia didn’t want to offend Isobel, not when the woman had been so generous and kind to her, but felt she couldn’t lie. “I am a mere servant,” she whispered softly, aware of the frown of concern that stole across Isobel’s face.
“A servant? Are you sure?” The question was out before Isobel could stop it. She placed a gloved hand over her mouth quickly, and mumbled an apology.
Amelia smiled. “Yes, I am sure. I have worked as a housekeeper in the Scottish borders for the past two years. I was on my way home when I found Sebastian lying half-dead in the undergrowth.” Her gaze became unfocused as she stared out of the window, lost in memories of that fateful night. “I thought he was dead, but I knew from the outset he was aristocracy and not for the likes of me.”
Isobel knew instinctively there was something more Amelia wasn’t telling, and wondered how far she could politely probe without causing offence. “What do you mean, for the likes of you?”
“I am a servant,” Amelia repeated, not sure if Isobel had heard the first time.
“Yes, you said that bit. But there is something more.” Isobel settled back against the plush confines of Sebastian’s finest carriage, and frowned at Amelia. “You don’t talk or walk like a servant. You were bred for better things.”
Amelia felt colour stain her cheeks as she contemplated how much she should tell Isobel.
“I don’t want to pry, but Sebastian clearly thinks you are not a mere servant, or you wouldn’t be here. He would have ensured your safety, servant or not. But if there was any real doubt as to your suitability, he would have left you in the care of his housekeeper who would have kept you in the servants’ quarters. Or, knowing Sebastian, he would have furnished you with your own cottage on the estate where you could remain for as long as you wished.”
Isobel knew her brother-in-law well enough to know he was a man of decency and honour, and wouldn’t knowingly disgrace a servant. She had seen enough of the tender looks Sebastian gave Amelia to understand that there was real, deep affection between them. Whether she really was a servant, or not.
“Suitability for what?” Amelia asked, aghast at the thought that the household considered her his mistress.
“Well, as his wife of course,” Isobel replied, watching the flush of guilt stain Amelia’s cheeks. Knowing the Cavendish men, she supposed it was inevitable that Sebastian would follow in his brother’s footsteps, and not wait for the church doors to open before bedding the woman he wanted as his own.
“I cannot be his wife,” Amelia replied, shocked.
“Yes you can, my dear. Whatever your circumstance, you have the makings to be the most suitable wife for someone like Sebastian. The breeding is there, whether you admit it or not, and he considers you most eligible. One only has to see the way he looks at you to know that.”
“How does he look at me?” Amelia shifted on her seat, intrigued. She hadn’t been aware he had looked at her in any way other than as a mere annoyance. Well, aside from the incident in her room yesterday, when she was standing before him naked and still wet from her bath. The shock on his face was something that gave her a thrill of feminine delight, despite her embarrassment.
“Like he could drag you off to bed.” Isobel ignored Amelia’s shocked stare, and continued unabashed. She was pleased Amelia wasn’t offended at discussing such intimacies. “You must know he cares about you deeply. I know him well enough to know that he holds you in high esteem. The way he watches you, when you are in the room together, is decadent. He positively eats you alive with his eyes.”
She didn’t add that it was the same way Dominic looked at her when he wanted to take her to bed.
Amelia’s heart clenched in her chest with a mixture of longing and dread. She shook her head sadly. “He doesn’t love me. He might desire me, but it isn’t love.” Amelia’s voice trembled at the last.
“Believe me, Amelia, unless Sebastian had every intention of keeping you, he would not have brought you home with him,” Isobel announced, grasping her friend’s hand comfortingly. “He may not admit it outright just yet, but he will.”
Amelia shook her head. “We have slept together, but I won’t be his whore and I am not worthy to be his wife. He deserves better.”
“Have you murdered someone?” Isobel murmured softly, unsurprised when Amelia shook her head. “Are you already married?” When Amelia shook her head again, she patted Amelia’s hand before releasing it.
“Then unless you have some fatal disease, you are most eminently suitable for Sebastian. He just has to admit his feelings to you.” Her eyes caught and held Amelia’s. “The Cavendish men don’t succumb easily. I had to be practically dead before Dominic declared his feelings for me.”
“Dead?” Amelia murmured weakly, looking at the healthy glow of her friend opposite. She couldn’t imagine Isobel looking anything less than stunningly beautiful.
“Sit back and relax. We are going to be a while, and I have a story to tell you,” Isobel said, and settled back to recount the events of her own tumultuous journey to happiness with Dominic.
“Where the hell are they?” Sebastian slammed the front door shut again, and stomped back towards the library with a fierce scowl on his face. “They should have been here hours ago.”
“They are in a carriage,” Peter reasoned, shaking his head at Sebastian’s clear devotion to the mysteriously alluring Amelia. “It is going to take them longer to get here as they are coming by road. Just relax, Hughes is driving. He is the most experienced coachman in the county. They couldn’t be in better hands.”
Despite his words, Peter knew he was talking to himself. Sebastian was busy pacing around the room like a caged lion, muttering dire imprecations to himself for allowing the ladies to travel alone. Dominic had taken to staring moodily out of the front windows, watching the drive avidly for any sign of movement.
Dominic understood Sebastian’s tension. He knew Isobel well, and her penchant for going gung ho into dangerous situations. He could still remember the palpable fear he had felt when they had searched her uncle’s house in the middle of the night. She hadn’t seemed all that perturbed by the experience, while he had been left a quivering wreck.
If Amelia was anything like Isobel for her adventurous spirit, heaven knew what they were up to.
“We’ll give them half an hour. If they are not here by then, I’m going out to look for them,” Dominic declared, already planning the lecture he would give his wayward wife the next time he saw her.
“Here they are,” Edward exclaimed with a sigh of relief, when the coach turned into the driveway. He briefly considered making himself scarce while Dominic and Sebastian berated the women for their, well, lateness? Shaking his head, he was only glad he hadn’t got a troublesome female to tie him into knots.
Dominic and Sebastian had already left the house to stand at the top of the steps to wait for the carriage to pull to a stop. They practically bristled with masculine fury.
“Missed us?” Isobel asked with a careless smile, ignoring her dark scowl on her husband’s face. Nudging the step down with an elegant foot, she stepped out of the carriage, dragging the huge basket of food with her, which she deposited with a thud at her husband’s feet. “Be a love and take that inside, would you? We have more.”
She moved away as Amelia emerged from the carriage, dragging another heavily laden basket with her.
“I only put one basket into the carriage this morning,” Sebastian snapped, not willing to let go of his worry until he had them safely inside. With the door shut and locked tightly. With him holding the key.
“We stopped off in the village. It was market day, so we bought some more fruit and some wonderful game pies. They smell just heavenly,” Amelia replied, still astonished at the veritable feast Isobel had casually purchased in the village. She was certain they had bought out most of the contents of the food stalls there.
Copying Isobel, she pushed the basket at Sebastian, who immediately relieved her of the heavy burden and followed her as she swept inside without a care.
He wasn’t sure whether to be angry or bemused. He had been worrying himself until he was practically grey, and she had been on a shopping expedition for food they didn’t need. He should be angry for the stress and worry she had caused him.
But a small voice inside reminded him of the dire way she had been living. He really couldn’t find it within him to begrudge her, if she wanted to sample the delights of a well-stocked food basket. There must be foods in there that Amelia had not had in years, if ever.
His worry simply vanished as he dropped the basket beside Dominic’s equally large burden. Instead he watched the ladies remove their cloaks, discussing which rooms they would open, and which dust sheets they would remove.
“Come on then,” Isobel commanded as she marched towards the main staircase beside Amelia. “Let’s get some of the bedrooms ready, and then we will eat while we plan where to start the search.”
Like a general marching to battle, she motioned towards the stairs leading the group of bemused men, who followed her without question.
Together they opened five of the bedrooms, just enough to be habitable overnight. The dust sheets had been removed and fresh sheets put on the beds, before candles were replenished and water jugs filled.
“There,” Isobel announced proudly, as they emptied the last of the baskets onto the kitchen table. There was enough food to provide them with a veritable feast for the next few days. Amelia had never seen so much food in all of her life.
“Let’s eat.”
They had decided to eat around the kitchen table where it was easier to clean up, and they could leave the food out until morning.
Amelia remembered she hadn’t eaten since an apple in the carriage, many hours earlier. She tucked in to a piece of pie hungrily, closing her eyes as the delicious flavour of the meat and gravy exploded in her mouth.
While she had learnt to cook passably for herself and Sir Hubert, nothing tasted better than food cooked well, by an expert. As she swallowed the delectable pastry, she slowly ran the tip of her tongue around her lips in search of crumbs and stray gravy, before slowly taking another bite, her eyes still closed.
Sebastian sat mesmerised, his own food forgotten in his hand as he watched her. He was aware of the silence that had settled over the table, but couldn’t drag his eyes away from the sensual onslaught of watching Amelia savour her pie. He knew she had a sensual side to her. Despite her newness to making love, she had willingly given herself over to sensual bliss time and again. He just hadn’t realised how naturally sultry she was. Without trying, apparently.
She simply had no idea what she was doing not only to him, but to every other man around the table.
Reluctantly he dragged his gaze away from her pink tongue and alluring lips, to glance at Peter and Edward who were blatantly watching the siren-like display with rapt attention. Even Dominic wasn’t immune as he watched, transfixed, as Amelia took another bite of her pie.
He jerked and coughed uncomfortably when his wife nudged him with a scowl. It was enough to snap everyone out of their trance.
Including Amelia, who opened her eyes and looked down at her plate, completely oblivious to the effect she had been having on the male occupants of the table.
“Pie nice, Amelia?” Sebastian asked, his voice husky with arousal. He almost groaned when Amelia’s lambent green gaze met his, and she smiled in supreme delight.
“It’s wonderful,” Amelia replied, her voice soft. “I had forgotten how nice meat pie was.”
Sebastian almost groaned as she took another bite, immediately lost once more in the delicious food. He had never seen anyone enjoy their food as thoroughly as Amelia. It made him realise just how deprived she had been over the past few years. Despite the aching of his erection, couldn’t resent her enjoyment.
He would just have to watch where he took her out to dine when they were married, Sebastian thought ruefully. Or else, he would have to take his sabre whenever they left the house. Shaking his head, he turned back to his own food, glad when the meal was over.
Earlier, they had each chosen a room to search. After a few instructions from Sebastian, they set off to carry out their allotted tasks.
Amelia was searching the study. It was a relatively small room, sparsely furnished but comfortable. According to Sebastian, it was Benedict’s favourite room in the entire house.
She decided to start at the window in the far corner and move inwards, across the room. It felt slightly uncomfortable, poking around someone else’s house, even if they were dead. The only consolation was the thought that if something was found, it could help capture the man responsible for injuring Sebastian so brutally.
She wasn’t certain how long she had been searching, but the sun had long since faded when she approached the door, frustration gnawing at her.
“Find anything?”
She squeaked and whirled in surprise as Sebastian appeared silently in the doorway. Her hand rose to cover her thundering heart, and she tried to calm herself as she eyed his masculine length. How did he manage to move so silently?
She shook her head regretfully. “Not a thing. Just papers and books. Lots and lots of books,” she murmured, glancing back at the room. “Are you sure this isn’t the library?” She had tried to leave it as she had found it, but it was hard to tell with all of the heavy tomes lying everywhere.
Sebastian chuckled, thinking of the room he had been allocated. It had been crammed from floor to ceiling with every kind of book imaginable.
“Nope. We have yet to search the library. That is something requiring all of us.” He smiled at Amelia’s low groan, and fought the urge to slide his arms around her. “Have you seen the others?”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Edward appeared.
“Nothing in my room either. Peter is nearly done and hasn’t found anything yet,” Edward reported, shaking a fine peppering of dust off his jacket with a sneeze. “’Scuse me,” he mumbled, his voice raspy with dust.
Sebastian took hold of Amelia’s elbow and gently guided her down the corridor towards the dining room, looking inwards as they passed, to find Dominic regretfully shaking his head.
“Isobel?” Amelia queried, as the lady in question poked her head out of the morning room, wiping a speck of dust off her cheek.
“Nothing in here either.” Isobel shot the room behind her a dour look, closing the door with a firm click and a sneeze.
“The library it is, then.” Amelia’s voice held a tinge of reluctance that Sebastian quickly picked up on.
“If you are tired, why don’t you and Isobel call it a night? We can search in the morning,” he murmured softly, eyeing the dark circles under Amelia’s eyes with a frown.
“No.” Amelia shook her head. There was no way Sebastian was going to pack her off to bed now. “I’ll help search with the rest of you.” With that, she pushed the sleeves of her dress higher on her elbows and, after receiving instruction from Sebastian, set about searching her corner of the library.
There were so many books residing on the floor-to-ceiling shelving, they decided to place each book on the floor once it had been checked thoroughly, until one shelf was empty. They then replaced that shelf of books before turning to the next shelf up. It was going to take hours.
The clock chimed midnight when Sebastian arched his back with a low groan and looked at the others. Amelia was practically weaving on her feet. Typically, she refused to admit to her exhaustion and carried on regardless.
Isobel was fast asleep in a winged-back chair beside the fire. Edward and Peter had long since given up caring, and had taken to casually tossing the books around in the hope something jumped out at them.
“Wait,” Amelia exclaimed, moved swiftly across the room. Quickly she picked up the book Edward had casually tossed onto the floor. Beside it lay a small, red pouch. Holding both in her hands carefully, she moved toward the table, clearing enough space to accommodate the book and pouch side by side.
Isobel was nudged awake by Dominic, and sleepily stumbled to her feet with the help of her husband. As everyone crowded around the table, they stared almost reverently down at the small pouch on the table.
“What do you think it is?” Isobel yawned, and leant sleepily against her husband’s chest.
Amelia slowly opened the pouch and eased the folded piece of paper out.
“What is it?” Sebastian moved to stand immediately behind Amelia, his hands braced on her hips as he peered over her shoulder to see the writing.
“Have you ever heard of Jack Cunningham?” Amelia asked, squinting at the small lettering in the candlelight. She tried to keep her eyes away from the haunting sketch of the man at the top of the page.
“It isn’t familiar to me,” Sebastian replied, amid denials from everyone else.
“It’s a Penny Dreadful for Jack Cunningham. Hung for murder four years ago.” Amelia read the large print at the top of the document.
“Murder of whom?” Dominic frowned at the red pouch and the book.
“I can’t read it in this light, the print is too small. It looks like Martha Bainbridge, a servant. Can you read any more?” She lifted the paper for Sebastian to read.
Moments later, Sebastian shook his head. “I can’t see a damned thing, the print is faded. We need better light.”
“It must have some significance for it to be put into a pouch like this, and hidden in a book.” Dominic lifted the book to read the spine. “Gardening.” He tossed the book down on the table with a snort.
“I don’t understand the significance of this, but do we have to search the rest tonight?” Edward mumbled with a yawn. “I don’t know about everyone else, but I wouldn’t notice a clue if it hit me in the head and shouted, ‘I’m a clue’.”
“I suggest we leave everything as it is. Go to bed. We can take a closer look through everything in the morning,” Sebastian replied, breathing in the delicious scent of Amelia standing before him with a pang of longing. He wished he had the easy familiarity with Amelia that Dominic had with Isobel, and he could slide his arms around Amelia’s waist while she snuggled back against him.
“Quite right, I can’t see straight,” Isobel mumbled with a yawn. “If I never see another book again, I’ll be happy.”
After bidding everyone a quiet goodnight, Amelia retired to her designated room. Making no attempt to see to her ablutions, she gratefully shrugged into the soft cotton nightgown Isobel had given her, before collapsing onto the soft bed with a groan. Despite a slight musty smell, it was lovely. Almost as good as her bed at Tingdale.
That thought gave her reason to pause. When had the bed she used at Tingdale House become her bed? She had only been there a couple of nights and already it was hers? With a frown she turned over, and opened her eyes to stare the vast expanse of empty bed beside her. A pang of bitter regret stole through her.
She was about to turn over when she heard the quiet click of her bedroom door. She didn’t need to see who it was. The lemony scent that was distinctly Sebastian hung in the air. She wasn’t sure whether to be angry or relieved, when he moved around to the empty side of the bed and lay down.
“What do you think you are doing?” she asked, raising herself onto her elbow to stare at him. Did he never listen?
“I am not pestering to make love with you,” Sebastian grumbled, as he gestured to his lean length now sprawled beside her. “Look, see? I am fully dressed.”
“Then you have got the wrong bed.” Amelia wondered what he was up to.
“But I won’t sleep in there, because I will be constantly worried about you. Your safety,” he amended, carefully ignoring her snort of disbelief. “At least in here, like this, I pose no threat to your feminine virtue but can satisfy my own need to keep you safe.” His voice was reason personified.
Amelia wasn’t falling for it. “But I promised to scream if anything untoward happened. You are just in the next room. Peter is on the other side. I am sure nobody would dare cross either of you to get to me.” Her instinct warned her she wasn’t going to move him, and secretly she didn’t want him to. Especially as he was still dressed. But could she sleep with him being there, so temptingly close, yet not touch him? Would he keep his hands to himself? She knew if he pushed her, she would undoubtedly succumb to anything he suggested.
“Alright, darling, I will be completely honest. I cannot sleep on my own now,” Sebastian admitted on a sigh. “Since being in your cottage, I find I cannot sleep on my own. I keep turning over in the night only to find you gone. Then I start to worry you are alright, only to find myself unable to get back to sleep.” He could feel her eyes studying his face carefully, and was grateful when she didn’t immediately throw him out on his ear. “I’m tired, and need to get some sleep. It appears the only place I can get a good night’s sleep, is beside you.”
Amelia fought the urge to roll her eyes at his piteous excuses. Again, he was ignoring her requests, but she couldn’t be angry with him for the way he was doing it. If she was completely honest with herself, she was glad he was there. Something about the house made her feel distinctly uncomfortable. She was glad she had his reassuring presence beside her.
“Alright, as long as you promise not to snore.” She flopped down on the bed with a yawn, only to freeze when Sebastian carefully pulled the covers up to her ear, and placed a tender kiss on her temple.
“Good night, Amelia,” he murmured, settling down beside her.
As silence settled around them, Amelia became aware of the coolness of the room. The grate in the bedroom was small, and although the fire had been lit, it did little to take the chill off the room. Despite being tucked under the warmth of several blankets, Amelia could feel the cold air on her ears. Sebastian must be frozen.
She scolded herself for being so weak and feeble. He had after all got his own bed waiting for him next door, should he choose to use it. He could be tucked up nice and warm if he chose.
Still, he was looking after her wellbeing. With a sigh, she knew she wouldn’t get a wink of sleep with him shivering on the covers.
“After everything I have done to keep you alive, I cannot in all conscience allow you to die of cold now, Sebastian,” Amelia muttered, tugging the covers down with a sigh.
Within minutes, Sebastian was settling beneath the covers. To Amelia’s astonishment, he remained fully clothed.
“What are you doing?” she asked, as she eyed the slightly dusty white linen of the shirt he was still wearing.
“I am settling down as you told me to,” Sebastian replied obliquely, pleased with her obvious confusion. His masculine pride was glad she was perplexed by his behaviour. He wanted her to be wary, and aware, of him and his importance in her life.
“You know what I mean.” She flicked a finger at the laces on his shirt casually, careful not to touch the heat of his broad chest beneath.
“I told you I wouldn’t pester you to make love. You are perfectly safe with me Amelia.” His voice softened. “Trust me.” His voice was pure honey and made her shiver with anticipation. The request held hidden meaning not lost on her.
It bothered her that she hadn’t been entirely honest with him about her heritage, but she knew that as things stood she was likely to be shoved into doing things she wasn’t ready for as soon as he discovered the truth.
“I do, Sebastian,” she replied, knowing she meant it. “You wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”
Sebastian bit back a sigh of frustration and settled down. Being allowed into her bed, even fully clothed, was a major step forward. He was grateful for small mercies, but it wasn’t nearly enough. Careful to keep his hands to himself, he tugged the covers up, this time over both of them, before settling down with a deep sigh. Within moments they were fast asleep.
Sometime during the night, as the temperature beneath the covers built, Sebastian became too hot. His attempt to kick the covers off was met with a murmur of discontent from Amelia, who promptly tugged them upwards again. Grumpily, Sebastian tugged his shirt over his head and tossed it onto the floor. Minutes later his breeches took the same journey and with a sigh he instinctively spooned, completely naked, around the woman who held his dreams in her small palms.