“The trouble has been dealt with, Mr. Drake.” Matthew motioned for the man to enter. “A man knocked out one of my men and attacked one of the maids and Katherine. He was killed.”
The man’s features went stiff. “Who was this man?
Do you know?”
“His name was Jaime Stone. He was wanted for the earlier attack and murder of Katherine’s family.” Drake frowned and nodded his head. “I see.” He coughed then cleared his throat. “I hope you weren’t badly hurt, Mrs. Hamilton.”
“Not badly,” she answered.
His brows rose at the hoarse sound of her voice, and his gaze focused on her throat. “It was close, I take it.” Katherine’s hand moved to her neck, and she touched the bruises there. “Yes, it was. Had Matthew not returned when he did, I would surely be dead.”
“How fortunate you were in time, Captain. Is there anything I might do to assist either of you?”
“No.” Matthew shook his head. “But thank you for the offer.”
“Then I’ll leave you to recover.” Drake turned toward the door then looked over his shoulder. “Your hands. I heard they were injured in a fire.”
“Yes, Summerhaven was burnt to the ground last night. The house was set ablaze by the man killed this evening.”
“It would seem you are either very lucky or a very adept fighter to have survived both attacks.” He paused, waiting for a reply.
“A bit of both,” Katherine said. Her gaze met Matthew’s. It was miraculous that he had found her in the dressing room during the fire. The timing of his return during the second attack was equally so.
“I imagine Edward will not be pleased by the property loss. I believe he had hopes of selling the house and property.”
“The land is still there.” Matthew shrugged, but his hand rested against her waist in silent support. “The house will have to be rebuilt.”
“I suppose that can be left up to whoever buys the property.”
Matthew nodded.
“I will be leaving for London early tomorrow morning. If you should need me to transport Mrs.
Hamilton there, while you finish your business here, I am at your service.”
She placed a hand on Matthew’s arm, not liking the idea, and his attention swung to her for a moment, then back to Drake. He inclined his head. “I appreciate the offer, but I prefer to keep Katherine with me. After nearly losing her twice, I’d feel more comfortable keeping her close at hand.”
Drake nodded. “I understand.” He tipped his head to
Katherine. “Should you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to call on me.”
“Thank you, Mr. Drake,” Katherine murmured.
Matthew closed the door behind him and slipped an arm around Katherine’s waist. She rested lightly against him and pressed her cheek against his chest. “Mr. Drake’s eyes are a most unusual green, don’t you think?”
“I’m not in the habit of noticing other men’s eyes, Katherine.”
She laughed at his tone. “They’re like cat’s eyes, green with gold flecks. They make me feel uncomfortable when he looks at me.” She shivered feeling a chill and pressed closer.
He tipped her face up to him, a thoughtful frown drawing his brows together. He brushed her mouth with his own. When he smoothed the hair back from her face she winced. She remained still as Matthew explored the area and found the knot there.
“We are a pair, Mrs. Hamilton. ’Twould do us both good to lock ourselves away for about a week and allow all the bumps, bruises, burns, and other marks a chance to heal.”
She smiled. “Yes, it would.”
“My mother used to kiss our injuries better. When we both feel up to it, we’ll have to see if that truly works.” His devilish smile eased her anxiety and brought another smile to her lips.
“I must go down and speak to William, but I’ll not be long.”
She was learning, once he had something on his mind, little could distract him. In that, they were very much alike.
****
Katherine woke with a start, her heart racing. She reached out to the space beside her to find Matthew gone, the sheets beside her still warm. She sat up in a rush, alarmed, and looked around the room. Firelight touched on the surface of the two chairs that sat before it, the table against one wall and the washstand. A movement at the window caught her attention. She drew a relieved breath as Matthew stepped out of the shadows. His long easy stride brought him back to the bed.
A tremor of reaction shook her. “What is it?”
“Nothing, sweetheart.” The lean line of his hip and the muscular shape of his thigh were etched by the firelight as he shucked the breeches he had donned and slipped beneath the covers.
“Are your hands troubling you?”
“A bit.” He drew her against his side.
She found a familiar place to rest her head in the curve of his shoulder and pressed close. “I can change the dressings.”
“Shhh. In the morning before we leave.” His lips brushed her forehead.
The tension slowly drained from her body, and she closed her eyes. The steady even beat of his heart lulled her. “You could tell me what you are waiting for.” She sensed his smile though she couldn’t see it.
“Nothing. My thoughts are a bit restless after such a day.” She ran a soothing hand over his chest, the texture of the hair there rough against her palm. She knew he was disappointed, as was she, they had not found anyone in the inn associated with Jaime Stone.
“What will we do, Matthew?” she asked on a sigh.
His arm tightened around her. “They will be found.”
“There’s so little time. Lord Rudman—”
“Talbot and some of his associates will help me deal with Rudman.”
“They couldn’t influence him before.”
“I don’t think you understand how much sympathy and support your situation has garnered, Katherine.
Talbot was already receiving offers of help from many of his associates the day after you left. By the time we reach London, perhaps he will have some good news for us.”
“I hope so.”
An instant surge of anxiety raced through her body as a brief tap came on the door. Matthew moved to rise, and she grasped his arm to hold on to him.
“’Tis just Webster reporting in. He is on watch.” She forced her fingers open to release him. The combination of events in the past days had her so on edge that she suspected an attacker around every corner and imagined a threat at every sound. She supposed it would
take her some time to recover her balance.
He slipped into the breeches again and armed himself with the flintlock on the bedside table.
Visions of Jaime Stone bursting through the door ran through her mind. She rose to follow him.
Webster’s voice outside the door eased her anxiety a little.
“All’s well, Cap’in. ‘Twas just as you believed.”
“The men?” Matthew asked.
“They’re on their way.”
“You impressed on them how much care must be taken, Webster?”
“Aye, Cap’in. There was no need. After everything that’s happened, they have an interest in seeing it through.”
Matthew nodded. “Good.”
Katherine crept closer, curious about their conversation. As she peeked around Matthew’s shoulder, Webster bobbed his gray head in a nod of acknowledgement His toothy grin, nestled in a thick, grizzled beard, further eased her anxiety.
“All’s well, Miss Kate.”
“I am glad to hear it. What else are the two of you planning?”
“Two of the men are going ahead as scouts and to apprise my uncle of everything that has happened,” Matthew explained.
“Oh.”
“Change the watch, Webster and get some sleep.
We’ll be leaving at first light.”
“Aye, Cap’in.” The man tipped his head to Katherine then he moved down the hall.
“There is something more.” It was a statement not a question, and she hoped he would settle her concerns by explaining.
Matthew closed and barred the door. “The air is chilled, get into bed.”
The pressure of his hand against her waist urged her forward.
“Tell me.” She slipped beneath the covers and turned back to him.
“There’s nothing to tell, Katherine.” He tossed the
breeches at the foot of the bed and got in beside her. “’Tis only a few hours until we’ll be leaving. We both need to sleep.”
“You are getting back at me for not being open with you earlier.”
“No. I’ve told you before, I don’t go in for petty reprisals.”
She gave a sigh and flopped on her back. She winced as her neck muscles protested the movement.
He turned her on her side and moved to cradle her back against him. His thighs tucked beneath hers, and his manly parts nestled against her buttocks. She became distracted as a familiar lassitude invaded her lower limbs and she suppressed the urge to push back against him.
Every muscle in her body felt sore, her ankles were blistered and bandaged, and she was covered in bruises.
And still she wanted him. The change in Matthew’s condition in response to her had her smiling.
“If you are very still, it will go away,” he whispered.
She laughed, the sound reduced to a snicker because of her throat.
His hand crept beneath her shift and followed the rounded curve of her hip. When he pressed his cloth covered hand against the flat plain of her belly, Katherine’s mouth went dry with desire and it took all her control not to wiggle against him.
“It is a constant source of aggravation to me that I can’t touch you, Katherine.” He bent his lips to her shoulder.
She swallowed against the knot of emotion that rose in her throat. “You do touch me, Matthew.” She reached back to run an encouraging hand up the length of his upper thigh and heard him catch his breath.
“If we move very slowly, very carefully, perhaps, we can make love without causing any further harm to one another,” he suggested, his breath warm against her ear.
She shivered and guided his hand upward to her breast. With a movement of her hips, she felt the heated length of him slide between her legs. “Take your time, my lord; I am not in any rush.”
His mouth, open and parted, found the sensitive area between her neck and shoulder. She twisted around, her
lips seeking his. The hot, torpid kiss went on and on. She wondered if she would ever get enough of him. She hoped not. She hoped they’d never get enough of each other.
The velvety hardness of him brushed her thigh and she turned to push back against him, her fingers guiding him to the opening of her body. With a gentle push, Matthew entered her. His hand cupped her lower abdomen holding her back against him as he thrust up inside her, seating himself to the hilt. The slow thrust and counter-thrust of their joined bodies ebbed and flowed, binding her closer and closer, pressing him deeper and more tightly inside her. He was around her, inside her, possessing her, loving her. She felt as though she never wanted this touching, giving, sharing to end. She cried out in joy, in regret as, with a hot pulsing rush, it did.
Matthew braced his feet against the sway and bumps of the coach and adjusted the shade on the window, so the light would not beam directly into Katherine’s face.
The same thoughts had played through his mind since they had turned over Jaime Stone’s body to the local constable and answered his questions. The man Matthew’s men were trailing had to be involved. If they lost him, they would not get another chance. They had to
succeed
.
“You have been quiet for nearly and hour. Is there something disturbing you?”
He looked down into Katherine’s deep violet eyes and smiled. He was besotted with his wife. The prim cut of the gown she wore did nothing to dampen the immediate response that quickened his heartbeat every time he looked at her. He felt amazed by the courage and resilience she had shown throughout the last few days.
“I was just wondering how Clarisse and Talbot will respond to everything we have to tell them.”
“They will find it all difficult to believe, I am sure.” She drew a deep breath. “I am more concerned about how I will react when I see Edward.” He frowned. “You have to find a way to hide your feelings, Katherine. Until we find a way to prove he was there, it will just be your word against his. If you confront him with what you remember that night, he may find a way of covering his tracks more completely.”
“I know. I keep seeing him as he was that night.” She covered her eyes with her hands as though that would block out her memories. She shuttered then dropped them in her lap.
He tucked her fingers in the bend of his arm in a show of comfort. He wanted to share what he was doing with her, but if it didn’t work, she would be disappointed once again. “Perhaps Talbot and the barrister have found
something.”
“Perhaps.”
She fell silent, her gaze focused out the window. A frown flitted across her face. “There are British soldiers riding along side the coach, Matthew.” He raised the leather shades and looked out. Four men rode parallel to the coach on each side.
She clutched his arm, her eyes wide with fear. “You don’t suppose something has happened to Talbot or Clarisse?”
Concern lanced through him. “I hope not.” Willingham’s gate came into view, and they pulled through the entrance and came to a stop before the house.
His stomach muscles knotted with concern as the troops surrounded the coach.
Webster hastened to climb down and lower the steps.
Matthew swung down from the coach and offered Katherine a hand. The sound of several muskets being cocked gave him pause. He looked up to see the assembly of eight armed soldiers pointing their guns at him. “Stay where you are, Katherine.”
One man dismounted, his uniform designating him an officer. His livery appeared snowy white against the deep red of his coat. His blond hair hung straight down each side of his face. He strolled rather than marched to stand before Matthew. He doffed his hat and tucked it beneath his arm.
“Captain Matthew Hamilton?”
“Yes.”
“Lieutenant Marshall Endicott. You are under arrest for the murder of Lady Jacqueline Rudman.” For a moment his mind could not grasp what the man had said.“Jacqueline is dead?” Lieutenant Endicott frowned but pressed on. “Will you surrender your arms, sir?”