Forsters 04 - Romancing the Runaway (19 page)

“Ah, but I already know you very well.” His lips moved fractionally closer to her upturned ones. “Besides, in your friend’s case my priorities would be very different.”

She transferred her weight to her toes, bringing her lips even closer to his, and cleared her throat. “They would?”

“Most decidedly. I can’t imagine myself ever being in a woodsman’s cottage with Miss Marshall.”

“Then I’m glad you feel safe with me.”

He chuckled. “Safe is the very last thing I feel when we’re alone. Why else do you suppose I’ve been avoiding you?”

“Ah, so you have been avoiding me. You admit it, then?”

“Yes,” he said in a barely audible whisper, his breath warm against her upturned face. “I didn’t trust myself to be anywhere near you.”

Miranda shook her head against his chest. “You’re scared of me?”

It was his turn to shudder. “Petrified.”

“But that’s just…oh!”

Miranda was swept off her feet and lifted into his strong arms. He cursed beneath his breath as he strode across the small cabin and deposited her on the cot, tumbling her onto a mattress that had obviously been re-stuffed with fresh straw. “Lord Gabriel, I do believe you planned to bring me here all along and walking the perimeter was just a ruse.”

He sat on the edge of the cot, laughing at her obviously inept attempts to appear affronted, and raised a brow. “Not true. I honestly knew nothing about this place.” He grinned. “It was a happy discovery though.”

“I don’t believe you. Dalton cleaning the place out, I can accept. But a freshly stuffed mattress?”

“Perhaps he was concerned about you being out walking and getting caught in the rain.”

She laughed aloud. “Surely you can do better than that?”

“Hay storage?”

She choked on a gurgle of laughter, happy beyond her wildest imaginings. Gabe would be leaving soon but stumbling upon the cabin—her cabin—had caused him to lower his guard. He had been fighting the desire to seduce her but could no longer control his passions. At least, that was what she chose to believe. It gave her confidence.

Miranda probably shouldn’t submit to him but already knew she would. All that fizzing couldn’t possibly be ignored. The exhilarating tingling was simply too compelling. Brazenly she reached up and wrapped her arms round his neck.

“Do you mean to seduce me, my lord?”

“That,” he said, dropping a kiss on the end of her nose, “isn’t a question you’re supposed to ask. Gentlemen less scrupulous than I am might take it as an invitation.”

“I wouldn’t put myself in this situation with such gentlemen.”

“I’m very glad to hear it.”

He said nothing more, apparently content to twirl one of her many escaped curls around his finger, only to release it and repeat the process. The brittle silence inside the cabin was thick and heated, as was Miranda herself. Gabe was being most disobliging. Did he bring her here just to lay her on a sweet-smelling mattress and then do nothing but play with her hair? Her body was alive with expectation, too alive to wait upon his pleasure. She lifted her torso and closed her lips over his in a tentative invitation.

Gabe swore softly and took control. She found herself on her back again, with his large body hovering over hers as he kissed her with heart-stopping precision. His hands, moments ago so inactive, were now everywhere. They ran the length of her body, caressing it through the thick worsted of her gown. Miranda was convinced she felt heat from his palms searing into her skin, although it could simply have been her own body heat causing the conflagration.

“You should wear silk, not worsted,” he said, breaking the kiss.

“To clean out attics?”

“You shouldn’t be cleaning out attics. That’s what servants are for.”

“You’ve been chopping wood, hammering nails and mending roofs.”

“That’s different.”

“Why do men always say that when a female sets them straight?”

He didn’t reply. Instead his gaze seared into her face as longing flowed between them like a river in full flood. Before she was fully conscious of what he was doing, Gabe had removed the ribbons holding her cloak over her shoulders and dealt with the ties on her gown. He pushed it from her shoulders, pulled it down her legs and threw it aside. Her petticoats went the same way and she was soon wearing nothing but her thin chemise.

“I want to look at you,” he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. “I’ve wanted to look at you, all of you, since the first moment I met you.”

He hadn’t asked permission for what he’d just done, but then it hadn’t been necessary. If he hadn’t undressed her, Miranda might well have done it herself. Still, there was nothing to say she couldn’t return the favour. She pushed his coat from his shoulders and he shrugged out of it.

“Let me,” she said when he reached for his neckcloth.

She untied the complicated knot while Gabe shed his waistcoat. He then pulled his shirt over his head and sat before her bare-chested. And what a chest it was. Miranda inhaled sharply, enthralled by the outline of his muscles, his broad shoulders and tapering waist. She reached up and tangled her fingers in the dusting of hairs covering his chest, causing him to moan. When he didn’t unfasten his breeches, she decided to attend to the matter for him.

“That’s hardly fair,” she protested when he swatted her hand away.

“I really don’t intend to despoil you,” he whispered, one hand caressing a breast through her chemise, “but if I were to release my cock then I’m not sure I could resist the temptation.”

“I don’t want you to resist. I wouldn’t have allowed you to undress me if I did.”

Gabe chuckled. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”

“Why do you always imagine you know my own mind better than I know it myself?”

“Because you have no experience of these matters, vixen.”

“Precisely my point,” she said, dealing him a triumphant smile.

“Even so, we cannot. But there are other things that work almost as well.”

He kissed her again before she could protest and this time his hands worked their way from her breasts, all the way down her torso until they came to rest on her inner thighs. Miranda’s breath hitched and her legs instinctively fell open. He was lying over her again, supporting his weight on his arms, but she could feel his cock pressing against her most sensitive area. She moaned around their fused lips and lifted her hips against the bulge in his breeches.

Gabe bit at her lower lip and broke the kiss. “For the love of God, Miranda, keep still!”

She wasn’t too sure what she’d done, but knew he was no longer quite so much in control of himself. One of his hands trailed its way up her calf, coming to rest behind her knee, causing the fizzing to escalate as it lingered there.

“Knees are a greatly neglected part of the body,” he said softly.

“So it would seem.” She smiled dreamily. “Who would have thought it?”

Slowly, inch by inch, his fingers worked their way higher up the inside of her thigh. She gasped when they came to rest on the springy curls between her legs. He kissed her again as his fingers probed. She tensed, expecting pain, but she was moist where he touched her and she felt only searing pleasure.

“Gabe!”

“Shush, I know. Just trust me.”

Dear God, were his fingers inside her? And what was giving her that astonishing feeling on the throbbing nub of her femininity? His fingers slid deeper and that nub spasmed. Completely abandoned, she bucked her hips against his hands and cried out as pleasure swept through her entire body, causing it to tremble and quake. She was aware of his gaze fastened to her face as she gave herself over to carnal pleasure—pleasure that hit her in cresting waves that took her breath away and deprived her of the ability to think about anything other than the immediate moment.

Chapter Nineteen

Gabe watched Miranda’s face as pleasure consumed her. She gave herself up to it without reservation, just as she focused her complete attention on everything she did. Just as he’d known she would. His own needs were pressing, never more so, but had to be ignored. He absolutely wouldn’t take this further.

“Has the fizzing stopped now?” he asked when she opened her eyes and focused them dazedly on his face.

“Yes, but you…you—”

“Shush, it’s getting late. We ought to get back to the house.”

He could see that she wanted to object but he gave her no time to do so. As soon as they were both dressed, he led her from the cabin and they returned to the house without saying much of anything.

The only way he could get though the evening was to keep Munford in the room the entire time. The moment they were alone she would bombard him with questions he wasn’t yet ready to answer about their tryst. Damnation, every time remembered the feel of her lithe body beneath his roving hands and recalled her expression of total abandonment when she gave herself over to pleasure, his cock throbbed a painful reminder of what they could so easily have done together.

He ought to feel satisfaction at having resisted, although perhaps
satisfaction
was an inapt description. Best put the entire episode out of his mind because he absolutely couldn’t afford to lose focus. Nesbitt would act within the next couple of days, Gabe was sure of it, because he had people watching him and knew he hadn’t returned to London. He needed to remain alert and try to second-guess the blaggard instead of daydreaming about a fiery vixen’s awakening sensuality.

Miranda sent him impertinent, speaking looks throughout the meal. Gabe pretended not to see them and managed—he wasn’t sure how—to keep the conversation general. Anyone looking at her would be able to see the difference in her, though. There was a glow in her magnetic eyes that told its own story, and it was almost as though she’d turned from girl to woman overnight. Fortunately no one was there to see her other than him. Hopefully by the morning, when she needed to face her servants, her glow would have subsided.

*

“Hmm.” Gabe examined the motley collection of horseflesh in Miranda’s stables, thinking wistfully of Murphy back at the Hall. “Is this all we have available?”

Apart from the old brood mare there were just a few hired saddle horses in residence, which Wright’s crew used to get about.

“Afraid so,” Dalton replied.

“Where’s Wright?” Perhaps they could ride the perimeter together. Two pairs of eyes were better than one.

“He’s gone to see if he can buy Sultan back from his new owner. Said he was acting on your orders.”

“So he is.” Gabe sighed and selected the best looking of the saddle horses. “Probably be quicker to walk,” he muttered as he mounted up and the gelding moved forward with obvious reluctance.

In spite of Gabe’s best efforts to focus on the fence he was inspecting, his mind wandered as the gelding trudged along at its own sweet pace. Miranda’s guardians were still at the inn in Looe. He tried to put himself in Nesbitt’s position and think what he would do next. Nesbitt would be aware that Gabe had them under observation, because he’d told his people to make it obvious, so they wouldn’t do or say anything about their intentions in public. The problem was, if they made any sort of suspicious move, by the time word of it reached Gabe it might be too late to stop them.

It was tempting to lock Miranda away and refuse to let her leave the house until this was all over. If anything were to happen to her… But Peacock had tried locking her in and Gabe wouldn’t be tarred with the same brush. She was aware of the danger and would be safe enough provided she didn’t leave the confines of the Wildes. Besides, half the men there were charged with protecting her rather than actually doing any real work. Gabe chuckled, thinking of her likely reaction if that piece of information should reach her ears.

He’d almost reached the farthest point of the perimeter fence and his mind had only twice dwelt on the interlude in the woodman’s cottage. He congratulated himself on being so disciplined and turned for home.

“Come along then,” he said to his nag. “There’s nothing more to—what the devil!”

The horse shied when a shape emerged from the hedgerow directly in its path. The animal finally showed some spirit and reared up. Gabe struggled to regain control but a hand reached out, grabbed the reins and yanked the horse’s head sharply to one side. Gabe had no time to react before another pair of hands dragged him from the saddle and something heavy hit him on the back of his neck.

Gabe felt himself falling but could do nothing to save himself. His last thought before he lost consciousness was for Miranda.

Damn it, he’d failed her.

*

Miranda couldn’t seem to stop smiling, or singing, either. That was unkind of her since her singing voice was appalling and she was inflicting it on everyone she came into contact with. Every time she thought of the woodsman’s cottage her smiles turned into gurgling laughter. It didn’t matter that she was almost under siege here at the Wildes. It didn’t matter that Gabe would soon be gone from her life. Well, perhaps it would cause her more than just a pang of regret, but she was a realist. She’d had more of his company than she’d had any right to expect. It would have to be enough.

“The cat’s had her kittens, miss.”

“Oh good, at last.” Miranda smiled at the man who’d delivered this welcome news. She didn’t recognize him but then Gabe had brought in so many people that she’d quite lost track of them all. “I was getting worried about her. It was way past her time.”

“She’s in the old barn, if you want to see the kittens.”

“Well, I suppose she would choose an isolated spot like that. Stay here, Tobias,” she said when her dog made to follow her. “I don’t want Tibbles upset so soon after going through her ordeal.”

Tobias tilted his head innocently to one side, as though thoughts of terrorising the stable cat hadn’t entered his head. Even so, he settled down again in a pile of soft straw in the corner of the stable block and closed his eyes. Miranda, still preoccupied with thoughts of Gabe, followed the man into the barn without a qualm. The moment she stepped inside, someone grabbed her from behind and threw a sack over her head. She struggled like mad but the person holding her was too strong for her to make any impression on the hold he had on her. A hand was clamped over her mouth but when she tried to bite it, all she got was a mouthful of foul sacking.

“Keep still and you won’t get hurt.”

She recognised Nesbitt’s voice and struggled even harder. It probably wouldn’t do her any good but she was damned if she’d cooperate. She kicked and punched every part of him she could reach and was rewarded when her foot connected with his knee and he swore. Inconsequential thoughts ran through her head as she continued to fight. Where was Gabe? How had Nesbitt got onto the estate without being detected? Why had she been stupid enough to go to the isolated barn with a man she’d never seen before? Gabe would be furious with her for being so trusting.

Miranda was bound hand and foot and thrown over a shoulder—Nesbitt’s presumably. She tried to thump his back with her bound hands but didn’t have the strength to make much impact. A short time later she was conscious of being bundled into a carriage and the conveyance moving off. The sack was removed from her head and she found herself sitting across from Nesbitt and Peacock. William was beside her, looking bored and uninterested.

“Ah, good morning,” Nesbitt said agreeably. “A fine day to get married.”

Miranda laughed. “You don’t give up, do you?”

“Glad to see you smiling at the thought of your nuptials,” Peacock said.

“Look, you can kidnap me if you like, but I absolutely refuse to marry this fool.” She indicated William with a negligent wave. “And there’s nothing you can do to compel me. Oh, and don’t even think about arranging an accident. Lord Gabriel and his contacts know all about your plans to manufacture arsenic on
my
land, you see.”

She had the satisfaction of seeing her guardians exchange an angry glance. “I told you she’d figure it out,” Nesbitt said. “All you had to do was keep her away from the damned place, but you couldn’t even get that right.”

“And I told you to take her out of that fancy school. That’s what comes of giving girls an education.” Peacock sniffed. “They start thinking for themselves and get ideas above their station.”

“Well, there’s no help for that now.” Nesbitt bestowed what was probably supposed to be an avuncular smile upon Miranda. “We’re no killers, my dear. We’re simply trying to make an honest living.”

“Honest!” She shook her head. “Are you really that desperate?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“I’m very sorry about that, but you’re wasting your time. I refuse to marry anyone, especially him.”

“Hear me out,” Nesbitt replied. “Marry young Peacock here and give us a legitimate reason to extract that arsenic from your land without the locals getting curious. In return, you can do what you’ve always wished to and live at the Wildes. I’ll even release funds so you can start your horse training business, or whatever it is you wish to do. William will return to his father’s establishment, continue working with him as before, and no one will interfere with your interests again.”

“There will be a little interference,” William said, smirking. “Have to consummate the union.”

“No.” Miranda folded her hands in her lap, grimly determined. “I want nothing to do with your machinations.”

“I’m trying to facilitate an agreement that will benefit us all,” Nesbitt replied, yawning as though he was losing patience. “Don’t force me to…well, force you, my dear.”

“Why are you doing this to me?” she asked.

A haunted expression flitted across Nesbitt’s face and he looked almost human for a moment. “You couldn’t begin to understand the pressures of a large family.”

Miranda could see she would get nothing more from him and turned her attention to Peacock. “What about you? You have a thriving business. Why take the risk?”

“I’m an entrepreneur,” he replied. “Unlike my father, who was content to be a pauper his entire life, I exploit opportunities. I’ve made something of myself and don’t intend to rest on my laurels.”

Neither explanation gave Miranda any comfort, especially as she could see they were grimly determined. Well, they weren’t the only ones. “There’s nothing you can do or say to persuade me to go through with this sham of a wedding so you might as well save your breath.”

“Are you absolutely sure about that?” Peacock asked.

Why was he looking so smug? “I’ll ingest some of the product you hope to manufacture before letting your oaf of a son anywhere near me.”

“Oh, I don’t think it will come to that.”

“Weddings take time to organise. Even if I agreed, by the time you have everything arranged, I’ll be missed and the alarm will have been raised.”

“Perhaps,” Peacock said with a cruel twist to his lips. “Except you ain’t quite as clever as you think you are, missy.”

Miranda had been more angry than afraid when they kidnapped her. Now the first feelings of genuine unease trickled down her spine. Of course, they knew she was well protected. They must have some other reason to appear so supremely confident. She longed to know what it was but refused to give them the satisfaction of asking and remained stubbornly silent.

“I’m a legal man,” Nesbitt said, reaching inside his coat and waving a sheaf of papers beneath her nose. “Pray don’t insult my intelligence by implying I don’t know how to arrange a wedding. This is a special licence with your name down as the bride.”

Miranda felt the colour drain from her face. “Even so, you’d need to find a parson.”

“And, here we are,” William said, twitching the blinds aside.

Where were they precisely? The journey had been a short one but they’d gone beyond Looe. Obviously, they knew the parson in the church there wouldn’t marry Miranda to someone she clearly didn’t wish to wed. The sight of a fishing harbour and a line of familiar cottages caused her heart to lurch.

They were in Polperro. They had to be. It was only five miles from Looe and probably the only village on this coast that would support Nesbitt’s scheme. A dispute had raged between Miranda’s father and Polperro’s influential squire for many years. Nesbitt had unsuccessfully arbitrated on her father’s behalf when the squire tried to cheat papa over a horse, so he would know the particulars of the animosity. The matter had never been resolved. Such disputes in small villages tended to divide the populaces’ loyalties and, not surprisingly, Polperro villagers supported their squire. Worse, Miranda knew the parson to be an indolent fellow, given to imbibing and probably not averse to conducting a wedding service under dubious circumstances, given sufficient financial incentive.

“You’ve miscalculated,” Miranda said with what she considered to be admirable calm, given the circumstances. “You can lead a woman to the altar but you can’t force her to say
I
will.
”

“Are you absolutely sure about that?”

Miranda wanted to close her eyes when the three men exchanged another smug glance. There was something they weren’t telling her and her instincts screamed that it had to do with Gabe. Nesbitt delved into his pocket for a second time and held out his palm to her. She wouldn’t look. Whatever it was, she didn’t wish to see it.

She looked.

Miranda inhaled sharply when she espied a solid gold ring, the large diamond in its lower quarter glinting mockingly up at her.

“What have you done to him?” she demanded hotly.