Authors: Claudy Conn
SIR JACOB PACED back and forth, his hand wildly running through his hair as Hunter stopped short at the library doorway and watched him for a short moment and said, “Good evening, Jake.”
“Aye then, Hunter, yes, yes…”
“Why don’t we make it better by discussing how to solve yer problem lad?”
“Problem? I didn’t say I had a problem.”
“Doona play a fool, lest I think ye one.”
Jacob plopped onto the sofa and threw his head back, closed his eyes and sighed long and hard before he sat upright and said, “Hunter, let me ask you this…and we are speaking hypothetically, understood?”
“Of course,” Hunter agreed.
“Supposing a man had gone and… well become involved in something totally private, Supposing that man had gone as far as to placate a blackmailer. What then?”
His lordship regarded Jacob gravely. “Blackmail is an ugly thing, Jake. It never stops. People who make a business out of blackmail, will do so forever. Is any secret worth carrying on your…er…one’s back forever?”
The library doors opened and closed once more and this time Swit stood grinning before he declared, “Ah, is that brandy you have there Jake ‘ole man?” With which he strode toward the wall table and proceeded to pour himself a generous glass.
“Well well. Did you win our wager this afternoon, Lord Scot?” Swit sneered as he said the words.
* * *
His lordship stiffened. “What the devil are ye thrashing aboot now?”
“Why all the heat? Just want to know if you won our wager. Horwich seems to think you were with his little guest. None too pleased.”
His lordship’s eyes narrowed and a dangerous underlining edged his tone. “Devil ye say!”
“Well did you bed the wench?” Swit wasn’t about to give it up and his lordship’s fists clenched and unclenched.
“Go to perdition ye blasted idiot,” his lordship snapped. “What is more, the wager is off! If I find ye even trying to talk to the lady in question, I’ll bury ye. Are we understood?”
“Seems to me if the wager is off, she is open game,” Swit was unwise enough to utter.
He found himself knocked to the floor in the flash of a moment, and his lordship gave every impression of wanting to do it again.
He rubbed his chin and said, “Ho there,” as he got up. “What is all the heat? Only wanted to tell you that David Horwich said to tell you to stay away from her.”
“Did he? By all that is wind, earth and fire!” His lordship felt the magic swirl inside of him, but it wasn’t his light magic. It was his dark and it wanted blood. He didn’t say another word as he got himself under control. The problem with learning dark magic…
it called for payment.
Jake stepped in. “Enough. If you are speaking about Miss Radley, then I won’t have it—not in my home. She is a friend and I won’t have her name bandied about in this fashion.”
Swit had gotten up, downed his brandy, and poured another glass which he raised to Jacob and said, “Here is to the lad then. Mayhap, in the end he will be the one to win the lady’s hand.”
Jacob looked at him oddly, but said nothing as he turned away.
* * *
Dinner was torturous, and Exerilla quickly excused herself as she hurried to her room. David had stayed for dinner and had made uncomfortable innuendos that had both his parents frowning and asking questions.
In addition to that, he was staying the night which he announced as they took the dinner dishes away. He said he didn’t feel like the ride back to his lodgings.
Exerilla was suspicious of his intentions as she locked her door and brought the lantern close to her bed. She had brought a book up from the library and meant to read it.
She climbed into bed and snuggled down. She enjoyed action and romance in her reads but this novel was nothing like that. She was bored so she put it down and decided to try and get some sleep.
Yeah right
, she sighed. Sleep was not happening. All she could think of was his blue eyes, his hands, the feel of his touch, and his hands so skilled in the art of making love. Thinking about it made her burn for him.
Her body yearned for him. The white witch deep inside of her demanded her mate, and for some reason believed that this human was that mate. How could her witch be so wrong? If she could only talk to her mother, she could ask her what was up with her inner witch. She couldn’t get to her mother or even go home. At the moment, she wasn’t sure she
would
go home even if she could… not just yet. That would mean leaving Mr. Blue Eyes behind, never to kiss him again.
She was up for hours, and just about to nod off to sleep, when something outside her door brought her to attention with a snap.
She knew without using magic who was at her door. She knew as the key dropped onto the floor and the door creaked open, just who would be on the threshold.
“David!” she gasped. “Whatever are you doing,
don’t come in here.”
“I won’t hurt you, not the way that Scotsman will if you let him.” he murmured as he quietly entered her room.
Mary and the squires’ suite of rooms were in the other wing. She had no hope of help from that quarter.
“I want you to leave before you go too far,” she said firmly. “Before this gets out of hand and you do something we will both regret.”
His eyes narrowed. “I don’t know what you are talking about. I only want to sit here and talk to you. You must see that you and I…we… are meant to be together. You must see that and stop all this foolishness with the Scotsman. He will ride off for London, or for his homeland, and he will leave you behind.” He sat on her bed. “You must see that, don’t you?”
She pulled the covers up to her neck. She was repulsed by him. Everything about him triggered her inner senses with dread. “David, this is not the time…”
“Why not?” His brow raised. “You allow a stranger, a Scotsman, simply because of his title and wealth to speak intimately with you—kiss you. Who knows what more?” He reached for her hand, but she yanked it away.
“Get out of my room, David…
now
!”
“No. I mean to only kiss you. Later I will teach you what more we will do, and I, unlike him, will wed you.” His voice dropped an octave. “You must want me. Women always want me.” He reached for her shoulders and grabbed them roughly.
She couldn’t use magic, for then she would have to use her wand and make him forget what he experienced. To do so would lead her father right to her.
She asked herself what a girl of the times was supposed to do when accosted. She was afraid to be thrown out of the house, and therefore, she would not speak up. She jumped out of the bed and picked up a brass candleholder. “Come one step closer or touch me without my leave, and I shall hurt you.”
He laughed as he reached out and slammed the brass candleholder to the floor and threw her on the bed. “No one will hear you. My parents are in the other wing. The servants are a floor above and at the back of the house. Don’t fight it, Exerilla.” He pinned her with his body as he tried to kiss her lips, but she flung her head from side to side and screamed, “Get off you big jerk!”
He tore at the open bodice of her nightgown and Exerilla realized that she was out of options. This wasn’t the time to wonder what a girl in her position living in this era would do. She had to do what she had to do.
She used as little as she could of her witch’s strength and threw him off of her body. She then jumped up and ran for the door. He gave chase and she turned on him and took a stand. “I’m warning you, David, you don’t want to do this.
I will
hurt you.”
He laughed and growled like an animal. “You want to play rough? Very well, you and I shall play rough little games.”
She took aim and kicked him in the balls.
A flush and perfect hit.
He let out a whopping yelp of pain and bent over. She ran the remaining distance to the door, opened it wide and fled. She took the stairs at breakneck speed, then down the hall and into the kitchen where she hid in the pantry and immediately thought of calling her wand. She thought better of it, and used only a low White Magic spell, saying “Hide me from all eyes.”
Such a small spell that used only a brief flicker of magic. She wondered if her father would be able to trace her to this century because of it.
She could only think that David had evidently lost his mind.
He followed her to the kitchen and on a hiss demanded, “Where are you, she-devil?” He opened the pantry, but could not see through the magic and closed it once again.
“David!” His mother’s voice from behind him made him spin around.
Quietly, Exerilla undid the spell and stepped out of the pantry. She didn’t want to cause Mary Horwich any discomfort, but she couldn’t live in this house if David was going to stay overnight in the future. Something had to be done.
“Mary,” she said softly.
Mary looked from Exerilla whose nightgown was torn and dangling off her shoulder to her son with growing understanding and horror.
For a flash of a second, Exerilla’s heart broke for Mary. She could almost read the woman’s mind. She felt what Mary felt in that moment. Her husband was an oaf, but her son was no better.
“Mother, I was trying to have a private conversation with Exerilla, because I discovered that she is carrying on with Lord MacTorry!” he said with a flushed face and some indignation.
“How dare you!” Exerilla said with some authority. “You barge into my bedchamber where you accost me with your unwanted attentions, and then chase me down to the kitchen so that I had to hide in the pantry! You call that having a private conversation?”
“I…I…you ran, you…I…do you deny that you and his lordship were speaking intimately yesterday afternoon, after you had been up at the Towers unescorted?”
“I don’t have to confirm or deny anything that has to do with
my business.
” Exerilla snapped at him.
“Tart!”
he accused flushed now to the roots of his hair.
“David!” disgusted, his mother rebuked him. “Stop this! I am appalled, and ashamed.” She shook her head. “David, this is shocking. Miss Radley is a guest in our home.” She turned to Exerilla. “I apologize for him.” She turned back to her son. “Please leave me with Miss Radley and I want you gone before breakfast. You have your own lodgings and I see no reason why you should not spend your nights there. Good-bye David!”
He bowed himself out silently with his face drawn in fury, but he said nothing more as he left them. Mary put a comforting arm around Exerilla as she led her back up the stairs and asked, “I am so thoroughly ashamed. Did he hurt you, Exerilla?”
“Not really. I am wily.”
Mary patted X’s hand and said, “How can I make an excuse for him? I simply cannot.”
“No need.”
“I am his mother and although I know he has failings, I never thought he could behave…
oh my faith
! I am at a loss for words, my dear.” She shook her head. “You are a guest in our home and under our protection.”
“Don’t blame yourself. I think he is behaving out of jealousy. Sometimes the green eyed monster can make us do things we ordinarily wouldn’t do.”
“You are most generous to say so, but you and I know the truth. I suppose, I have always known the truth. I am only glad that I was unable to sleep and came down to have a glass of milk.”
“I am well able to take care of myself, Mary,” Exerilla sighed. “I imagine, he is used to getting his own way and reacts badly when he doesn’t.”
“Yes, but this was inexcusable.”
“Do not tax yourself, Mary.”
“This business about his lordship? I would like you to consider the fact that although handsome and charming, Lord MacTorry could break your innocent heart. Such roguishly handsome men often do and then go merrily off.”
Exerilla sighed. “Hmm, I suppose you are right, but he is ever so much fun. As I said, I am fully capable of taking care of myself. I am from the colonies after all, where we are not quite as polite and mannerly as the British.” She laughed and gave the older woman a hug.
Mary patted her and offered, “I will speak to his father about his. That should serve to put on the restraints.”
“His father?” X almost snorted. She closed her eyes as she controlled herself.
“He is far more likely to adhere to his father’s will and his father would never condone such conduct.”
Exerilla was surprised by this, but kept quiet.
Mary and X arrived at Exerilla’s room where they bid one another good night.
This time however, X was not leaving it up to a locked door to keep David out. She slid the dresser in front of the door as well.
Oddly enough though, she thought she would never sleep after this incident. She put her head on the pillow and fell into a deep sound sleep.
* * *
Late morning, brought Jerry Swit’s steps on a narrow sandy path that traced the white chalky cliffs of Dover. As he walked he tugged gently on his horse who wanted to stop and graze along the trail.
His companion was quiet and finally he frowned and exclaimed, “Damnation to hell! I’ve done what you asked from start to finish! I didn’t muck up! I tell you, it wasn’t me!”