Page 33 of Lord of Mistrust

He hung his head. “I’m not used to having gentlewomen involved in such weighty affairs. I only want you to be safe. I meant not to frighten you.”

It was too late for that. But she’d feel less frightened if he was to offer her the protection of his name again. And the protection of his arm, for he was a fearless fighter.

“How is your arm? I forgot to ask!” She flushed with guilt.

“It stings like the devil. But I’ll get it seen to when we get to London.”

When “we” get to London? He was coming with her?

“I’ve arranged to travel alongside you, and Tilshead is coming, too, so you’ll be well defended on the road. Are you fit to ride? I thought you might feel less vulnerable on horseback than in a litter. We’ll rest whenever you need to.”

A pity that Master Tilshead was accompanying them. But she supposed it was for the best.

Robert clasped her hand. “I beg of you, worry not about your family—I shall accompany you all the way home and meet your guardians. You needn’t say a word—I’ll do all the talking. I’ll try to make sure you don’t have to dissemble—I shall just omit anything that might be painful or embarrassing. You could nod your assent from time to time. Trust me—your uncle will be more concerned that you’re safe and in no further danger than he will be in the details. Your aunt may require a little more information, but we’ll take things as they come. In time, I know that you, too, will forget the fear and the peril of the last few days.”

Chloe sniffed, struggling to keep back the flow of tears. Forget? How could she forget the biggest adventure of her life? How could she forget the man whose presence scrambled her thoughts and made her heart pound like a blacksmith’s hammer?

But he was not yet finished. “Although I know you would not wish it, my offer to you still stands. Should there be any link between your name and mine, if there’s even the slightest whiff of scandal, I will scotch it. And if I cannot, we will be married—on your terms, whatever they may be.”

Her heart leaped, and she met his earnest gaze, unable to hide the mixture of pleasure and relief his words brought her.

His eyes darkened and he groaned softly. “Never look at a man like that, Chloe, unless you’re prepared to take the consequences.”

When his lips found hers, her heart soared. He clasped her around the waist and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. Ah! Such sinful pleasure! He treated her to the full wealth of his expertise, teasing and tempting her, answering her prayers in a passionate onslaught that left her breathless. Her whole body focused on the movement of his mouth against hers, and the multitude of sensations he was arousing.

With a groan of defeat, Robert lowered her to the mattress, then lay alongside, pressing her down with his thigh. She quivered at the intimacy of the contact, then reached up and wantonly tangled her hands in his hair. It was as soft and fine as she’d imagined. Sliding a hand behind his neck, she pulled him down, urging him to kiss her harder, as all inhibition left her body and was replaced by pure desire.

There was a knock on the chamber door. The intrusion of reality was like a wash of cold water. Robert tore his lips away, and she sat up, flushing.

“Who’s there?”

Curse the man! He should have let her answer—then no one would have known they were ensconced in her chamber together. Pray God whoever it was didn’t need to come in.

“Tilshead, sir. We are ready to leave.”

“I’ll see you in the stable yard forthwith.”

Chloe didn’t know how Robert could keep his voice so steady and commanding when he’d just been kissing her as if his life depended upon it. When he’d just been kissing her. She couldn’t prevent the blissful smile that stole across her lips.

“We must go.” Robert rose and held out his hand. “It won’t do, alas, to keep the horses standing.”

Her hands flew to her hair—she would soon be exposed to the public gaze, and what kind of state must she be in?

Robert leaned across and stroked a stray curl under her coif. “You look fine, my darling—mayhap too happy considering you’ve just had such a perilous adventure. A little more solemnity will serve our cause better, I think. I know that sounds hypocritical, considering the satisfied grin on my face.”

He pressed one hand to his heart. “I swear to behave like a gentleman for the remainder of our journey, and give you no cause for complaint. Your reputation shall remain as pure as the driven snow.”

Only, now, she didn’t want it to be. But he was already out the door, her baggage swinging from one hand. In a moment, he’d be involved in the hustle and bustle of packing, they’d be surrounded by servants, and Sim would be grinning at them, wondering if he could earn another groat before they left.

There would be little privacy to be had on their journey back to London. How would she ever get the chance to show how much she cared for him?

Chapter Twenty-Five

It wasn’t long before Chloe wished she could have been alone in a carriage with Robert. That kiss had lifted the lid on her desires, and it was a torment of the very worst kind to be riding so close to him, yet not be able to touch him.

Mayhap it was just as well, and that Tilshead rode with them, performing—whether he was aware of it or not—the role of chaperone. For who knows what might have happened between her and Robert had they been alone? She flushed at the memory of his glorious naked body and wondered—admittedly, not for the first time—what it would feel like to run her hands over his skin.

She made a small choking sound and, instantly, Robert, who’d fallen behind to speak with Tilshead, cantered to her side.