Borderland Beauty (15 page)

Winnie barely smothered a laugh as she tucked some clothes into the chest at the end of his bed.

“I will!”

“If ye say so, milord. Though from the look of the lady’s face this morning, ye’ll have a hard time convincing her of that. She’s as besotted as ye are.”

“I’m not besotted,” he grumbled. But a warmth spread through his chest. Was Lucy really besotted with him? She had said nothing of her feelings yet, but surely it was only a matter of time. He glanced up at Winnie as he snatched his chausses from her hand. “Ack, be gone with you, woman, and cease your meddling.”

“As ye bid, milord.” She dipped and scurried away but he did not miss her burst of laughter as she shut the door behind her.

Damn meddlesome woman.

He dressed hastily, barely taking enough time to wash and pull his hair back from his face. If Lucy was up, he did not want to miss out on a single moment with her. He had much to take care of. Thomas’ wife would need seeing to and he would need to organise repairs for the village. And after that….

After that he would announce his betrothal.

Hurrying downstairs, he was surprised to see that Lucy was not in the hall. Most of the servants had already eaten and the guests filtered in for their morning meal. He greeted them absently as he made his way to the table.

Picking at his food, Dominic watched the door, his heart ratcheting up a notch each time someone stepped in. Mayhap she was napping? She had certainly tired him out with her beautiful body. Lord knows, he wouldn’t have minded stealing a few more hours sleep.

With a grunt, he threw down his knife and pushed away from the table. He could not eat, not until he had a taste of Lucy’s lips.

Pushing his way through the men in the courtyard, he rapidly climbed the stairs to her chambers. Taking a moment to gather himself, he knocked and waited, tapping his foot. He knocked again, then eased open the door.

Glancing at the bed, he noted that that it was made so she could not have gone back to bed. So where was she? In the chapel? Mayhap she was repenting her sins. Hell, they had been plenty sinful last night, but he didn’t think she regretted it.

And nor did he. He only regretted that he had sullied what had occurred between them with his impatience. Montgomery had trusted him with his daughter’s virtue, but would he still have garnered her hand if he had been a more patient man? He had to believe so. Lucy was made for him, Dominic was sure of it.

A search of the chapel proved fruitless. Where in God’s name was she? A prickle of apprehension settled over him as he went to search the rest of the keep. He’d already had one maiden snatched from under his nose when Isabel had gone missing little more than a month ago. He did not think he could bear it if something happened to Lucy. But he’d learnt his lesson since then, and they were far more cautious with whom they let in the keep now.

He had to be sure though.

James came to his feet as Dominic entered the gatehouse, hastily putting down his ale on the table.

“Good morrow, my lord.” James’ quick gaze darted over his face. “Is all well?”

“Good morrow, James. Have any strangers entered this morn?” He peered out of the window of the tower, as if expecting to see Lucy weaving her way through the streets. With a curse, he ascended the winding stone steps without waiting for a response from James. James followed after him, only catching up with Dominic when he stopped to peer over the walls.

“Ack!”

“My lord, we’ve admitted no strangers to the keep. Will you not tell me what vexes you?”

Dominic turned sharply to see his captain eyeing him with concern as he scraped a hand through his hair. “Have you seen Lucy this morn?”

A flash of panic shot across the man’s face before he covered it with one of cool composure. “Nay, my lord. But there’s no way anyone has accessed the keep without permission. I’d not let that happen again, my lord. Not after what happened to Lady Isabel.”

Dominic sagged. James was as loyal and as dutiful as they come, there was no way he would have let someone in the keep who wished to harm Lucy.  “Aye, of course. I would expect naught less from you, James. Will you ask the men if they have sighted her? She is nowhere to be found.”

“Of course, my lord.” James bowed to him and sprinted back down the stairs.

Dominic clutched at the stone as he peered out over Thornewall. He studied every street, every cottage but could see nothing.
Where are you, Lucy?
If she had not been taken, then what else could possibly have happened to her. She would not have run from him…would she? Mayhap she had changed her mind about him and feared he would force her into their betrothal now he had bedded her.

Slamming his fist down upon the wall, he cursed. He should never have taken her. All he had done was prove to her he was as she thought, a man driven by nothing more than bed sport. Ack, if she could only have trusted him. He would not have pushed for their betrothal if she had told him of her doubts.

He would not have given up. Nay, that was not in his nature, but he would have courted her slowly until she was sure she could trust him.

Footsteps thudded behind him and he spun around.

“One of the guards spotted her leaving the gates early this morn.” James told him sincerely.  “He tried to go after her to offer an escort but she would not allow it. He said…she was upset, my lord.”

God’s blood, it
was
his fault. He’d taken her innocence and frightened her. What a fool he was. “Did he see where she went?”

“Aye, he watched out for her until she was out of sight. She went in the direction of the lake, my lord.”

Shoving away from the wall, he clapped a hand on James’ shoulder. “My thanks, James. Will you see to the duties this morn? I will aid in the clean up as soon as I’ve seen to the lady.”

“Of course, my lord. Pray do not hurry, we have everything in hand.”

Dominic grinned and shook his head. Aye, of course he did. James was never anything
but
in control.

“I’ll return shortly. And I’ll return with Lucy,” he told him confidently. Whatever he had to do to reassure her, he would do it, of that much he was sure.

~* * *~

Out on the edge of the ice she stood, her arms clasped around herself. Dominic blew out a breath and shook his head. Even when she scared him half to death, she was still beautiful. She looked like an ice princess with her fair hair and pale blue gown, shimmering against the cold azure of the ice.  If he had not known better, he’d have thought her a figment of his imagination.

Dominic picked his way across the snow, his boots stomping it into submission, but Lucy’s gaze remained intent on the ice. He wondered if she even heard his approach. Ack, he could wring the woman’s neck. She was not even wearing a cloak. If he lost her to illness now, he would surely know a misery like never before. This thought urged him into a clumsy sprint as he forced his way through the ankle-deep snow.

Lucy turned to him then and he saw her mouth fall open in a silent exclamation. Tears glistened on her pale cheeks and his heart compressed in his chest.

“Luce,” he called out to her as he neared.

She stared at him for a moment before twisting away, her body stiffening as she clenched her arms more tightly about herself.

He came to her side but she refused to look at him. Rubbing a hand across his face, he reached his other hand out to her before snapping it back to his side. God’s teeth, for the first time in his life, he had no idea what to do. Lucy was such an enigma. Willful, fiery, yet so vulnerable and insecure. He wanted to argue with her while he wrapped her up and protected her from all the ills in the world.

Studying her profile, he noted that she was trembling and her cheeks had an ashen cast to them. Whatever he did, he needed to do it fast. Knowing Lucy, she would freeze to death just to spite him.

“Luce,” he croaked. Coughing, he tried again, “Lucy, why do you cry?”

Watching the ice through sightless eyes, she gripped at her arms, her knuckles whitening as if remembering something in anger. Did their night together anger her? All he had was memories that he would treasure for a lifetime. How could he stand it if she did not remember it as he did?

Her eyes closed and he held his breath as she opened them again, moving her mouth as if to say something. But before he could react, her eyes fluttered closed again and she crumpled to the floor. Dominic dropped to his knees beside her, his chest hammering painfully.

He pressed his hands over her cheeks. “Luce!”

She was as cold as snow. Foolish woman. He dragged her into his hold, bundling her close to his chest as he wrapped his cloak around them both. Darting a glance around, he clambered to his feet, hefting Lucy into his arms.

Stumbling to the meagre shelter of the trees, he sank back down to the ground and rubbed at her face and hands while he flattened her to his body. A whisper of a sigh fell from her lips but she refused to stir. Dread gripped him as he put his fingers to her neck. Her pulse fluttered weakly against his hand.

With a curse, he unhooked his mantle and wrapped it carefully around her as he held her in the crook of one arm. In one swift moment, he tore his tunic and shirt over his head, shuddering as the cool air flowed over his bare chest. Yanking her back into his hold, he swathed them both in his thick mantle and tugged at the laces of her gown with trembling hands.

Shoving it down her shoulders, he loosened the ties on her chemise and thrust it down around her waist.

“You foolish lass,” he murmured as he pressed her bare flesh to his, her frigid skin sending both a chill and a rush of desire through him. “You’ll never forgive me for this,” he said with a smile.

Dominic clasped her as tightly as he could as he ran his hands up and down her back, urging her to awaken. Her soft breaths whispered over his chest and he closed his eyes, relishing the feel of her.

“Come on, Luce. Wake up.”

He studied her face, waiting for some sign of movement. Ack, but he was useless. He pressed a forceful kiss to her lips and waited for the cry of indignation and the inevitable tongue-lashing but it didn’t come. With a sigh, he withdrew his hand and continued to massage her back.

The snow seeped through his chausses as he waited. Mayhap he had only been sat there for mere moments but it felt like an eternity, watching her thick lashes lie disturbingly still against her skin and every slow intake of breath through those delicious lips.

Lucy gave a mumble and Dominic’s heart picked up in hope. “Luce?”

She mumbled again, her lids flickering open. He rubbed vigorously at her skin and a scowl came across her face as she opened her eyes fully. Her eyes regained their focus and she gasped as she flicked a look down at their bodies. Her hands came upon his chest and she fought to push herself away with a frustrated cry.

Dominic held firm, cinching his arms tightly around her back and forcing her flat against him. “Be still, lass, I’m of no mind to let you go.”

“What are you doing?” she hissed. “Release me.”

“You fainted, you little fool. You’ll be lucky if you don’t sicken after nearly freezing to death. I’ll not let you go so you can go off and faint again.”

“I did not faint,” she protested against the crook of his neck. She gave up struggling after one final push against his unforgiving chest and sagged in his hold. “Dominic, pray let me cover myself,” she begged.

He caught the note of vulnerability in her voice and his heart squeezed. If he had thought he had erased all her doubts about her body last night, then he was sorely wrong.  What would it take for her to realise she was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes upon?

“Nay.”

“Dominic, I beg of you.”

“I cannot, lass. You’re still cold. I dare not.”

Obviously still fatigued from exposure, she ceased protesting and sat limply in his arms. He was grateful she submitted to his attentions but a part of him missed her fire. Dominic hoped he had not sapped it from her with his treatment of her.

Twining his hand in her hair, he kept her head pressed to his chest. “What were you doing out here alone? ‘Tis not safe and you near killed yourself from exposure.”

“I wanted to be alone,” she said sulkily.

“Why? Hell, Luce, you scared me half to death when I realised you were missing.”

She tilted her face up to his and eyed him warily. “Why should you care?” Her voice took on a bitter note. “You got what you wanted from me.”

“Got what I—? What is this nonsense? I’ll never get enough of you. I know I rushed you, but I cannot regret what happened. Only that it happened too soon.”

A dry smile twisted across her face. “You need not waste your charming words on me now, Dominic.

“Charming words?” he spluttered. “If I’d have known mere words would work with you, then I’d have never ceased talking. What is this, Lucy? Do you regret what happened? Do you not wish to marry me?”

She frowned. “Nay, fool that I am, I do not regret it.” She laughed lightly. “Fool that I am, I would likely still marry you too.”

“Then we are both fools.”

“Dominic, pray cease. I take no pleasure in your games.”

“And I take no pleasure in your riddles. You would marry me, yet you cry after the best night of my life.”

Biting at her trembling lip, she secured him with solemn look. “I heard you, you know. Speaking with Winnie.”

He cast his mind back and his brow furrowed. He had been raving like a lovesick boy. What could she have possibly found offensive in that? “And?”

“You said…you said it was a mistake. That I could not compare to the other women.”

“I said no such thing!” He paused and cursed as realisation sank in. “I did say it was a mistake…”

Lucy went rigid in his arms and dropped her gaze.

“…but said naught of you and other women, save that you cannot compare for you are entirely unlike any woman I’ve ever met.” He pressed a determined finger under her chin, raising her gaze to his. “Do you understand, lass? No woman could possibly measure up to you. The only mistake was not waiting until we were married to bed you. I regret that I dishonoured you. I made a promise to your father to keep you safe.”