Sari Robins (19 page)

No matter that he didn’t believe in such things, it was destiny that had brought them together, destiny that had foreseen this from the moment he’d bumped into her at Andersen Hall.

Furrowing her brow as if deep in thought, she bit her lower lip, something he longed to do. She was too tempting for either of their good. “So how could he make the charges against me?”

He pulled his mind back to the conversation. “It was all laid out in an affidavit, with Lady Bright pur
suing the claims.”

“Neat and cowardly. Just like Belington. He probably expected that I would go haring off to the country begging him to drop the charges.”

“The man obviously has no idea with whom he’s dealing.”

Tess looked up. “Why do you say that?”

“I think you’d sooner take up arms than go begging to someone who’d wronged you.”

Her peach-colored lips lifted at the corners. “Methinks you may finally be taking my measure, Mr. Bartlett.”

His insides stirred. Tess couldn’t be flirting with him, not after he’d deceived her. Could she? Her dark as coal lashes lowered across the top of those petal-soft cheeks.

She licked her lips, spearing him with longing to taste her. “So what would your advice be to me, if, perchance, you would deign to grant me the favor of your…legal attentions.”

“I…ah.” He coughed into his fist, his mind scrambling to interpret the signals she was sending. He ached with desire for her, but didn’t want to presume. “I…ah, would return anything he’d given you, as a sign of your good faith, and provide any receipts for the books.”

“And it would end there?” Her voice was like a caress.

Tugging at his cravat, Heath swallowed. “I believe so.”

She looked up, her crystal blue gaze swirling with
heat and desire, piercing his soul. “And so your reason for being at the society…your reason for being near me…would be gone.”

He was across the space between them and had her in his arms in a breath. “You’re not going to get rid of me that easily.”

As his mouth claimed hers, his body thrummed with aching need. He needed her as he needed air and water and sustenance. He could no more stop kissing her than fly to the moon.

A delighted sigh escaped her lips, and he
knew
that she accepted their fate.

T
ess surrendered to Heath’s kisses and to the desire pulsing between them, feeling safer and freer than she had in years. There was nothing false in her kisses, no part of herself that she held back. She wanted him, hungrily, and wasn’t afraid to show it.

With his arms wrapped around her, Heath made love to her with his mouth, his tongue caressing hers so enticingly that her head swam.

“You’re incredible,” he moaned into her mouth. His words caused a quiver deep in her middle, warming her in places she yearned to be touched.

Tess sucked his bottom lip, savoring the taste of him. Her hands roamed his broad shoulders, hugging him closer, pulling his hard chest more tightly against hers.

His fingers threaded her hair and cradled the base of her head, leaning her back against the cushions. Of their own accord, her legs spread, welcoming him. His hard hip pressed through her skirts deep into the
juncture between her thighs. She shifted against him, needy and demanding.

His hand cupped her breast, and desire spiked through her. Her back arched and her head fell back as she gasped for breath.

His lips claimed her neck, sucking gently as his hand slipped beneath the folds of her coat. He kneaded the soft flesh of her breast as his mouth trailed up the column of her neck, raising the hairs of her skin.

His warm breath caressed her ear as he licked her earlobe. Her hips rocked and her mind scrambled. Her only awareness was of the need to have him deep inside her. Now.

Shouts permeated Tess’s fog as the carriage rolled to a halt.

Heath grabbed the door handle before it could open. “Give us a minute!” His voice was thick.

As she collected herself, Tess’s only thought was how to make it to her bedroom as quickly as possible. She’d never wanted anything or anyone more in her life.

Heath helped her to sit and adjust her clothing.

“I must look a fright,” she whispered, her voice husky, her thoughts jumbled.

Kissing her swollen lips, he growled. “Frightfully tempting. I can’t keep my hands off you.”

The walk inside was a blur. Thank heavens it was the servants’ half day off and no one was in the front of the house except for trusty Anna. The young maid accepted Tess’s outer garments with a wink and a smile, clearly not censorious of her employer’s activi
ties. Tess recalled that Anna had always liked Heath and distantly wondered if it was that fondness or the fact that Tess was finally engaging in some wicked fun.

But Tess couldn’t dwell on that now; she just had to move in the direction of her bedchamber.

With Heath.

His presence beside her was like a powerful wind pressing against her, silently urging.

Anna departed, closing the door behind her mere seconds before Tess was in Heath’s arms once more.

They tore frantically at their clothes, kissing each inch of skin as soon as it was exposed. They explored, touched, savored, each movement heightening her desire until she could take it no longer.

“Heath, please,” she groaned.

He lifted her in his arms.

“Burgundy, not crimson,” he murmured, eyeing the bed.

“What…?”

“Nothing. I like the coverlet.” He carried her to the bed and deposited her onto the soft mattress.

Covering her naked body with his, he lay on top of her, comfortably positioning himself between her open thighs.

His kisses were hot and wanting, his skin burning as if with a fever.

He entered her with a deep thrust, and her body wrapped around him with pleasure.

Sighing, Tess closed her eyes.

Every sensation was a color surging through her.
Reds, oranges, and golds swirled behind her closed lids, like the sunlight of a new dawn. She felt free; she felt whole.

Heath rode her, carried her…

His pace quickened; his body went taut.

Her heartbeat sped up. Her breath seized. Her body tensed. She clung to Heath, waiting, anticipating, needing, wanting…

Stars exploded behind her closed lids as her world shattered.

Together they were lost.

T
ess rolled over and sighed, unable to believe how deliciously wonderful she felt at this moment. It was as if her worries had been twisting her in knots, and over the course of many hours of Heath’s extraordinary attentions, she was suddenly free from all burdens. Either that or she simply no longer cared.

With her eyes still closed, she inhaled the heady scent of lovemaking that perfumed the tangled sheets and relished the feel of him pressed along her side as he slept. His skin was softer than she ever would have imagined, and smooth, nearly hairless. His limbs were sinewy and strong, yet he was astoundingly flexible when it counted. She, on the other hand, felt stretched and deliciously achy as a reminder of their love play. She had forgotten how vigorous making love could be, and how incredible she could feel afterward…or had it ever been this good?

Thinking back, she couldn’t help but recall the astonishing delight she’d felt at those first forays into desire with Quentin. She’d been heady with the thrill
of it all, the rush of newfound sensations that she was suddenly free to explore.

Still, it mostly had been about Quentin and his pleasure, the assumption being that she’d get hers in the meantime. As a result, she did not feel comfortable taking her pleasure or making her preferences known. She’d always held something of herself back with Quentin, never really letting go. Then his late nights and foul moods had soured their relationship, making the bedchamber experiences disappointing and hollow.

In contrast, last night with Heath she’d practically lived among the stars. She’d felt free to be herself and take her pleasure. And it had been the most liberating experience of her life.

Wanting to see him, she opened her eyes and blinked at the morning sun soaking through the draperies of her bedroom.

On the bed beside her, Heath lay on his stomach with his muscular arms cushioning his head, the sheets negligently tossed aside as if he was too hot for such cosseting. His broad back sloped downward into those glorious mounds of muscle that she’d kneaded and explored with astonishing pleasure. Heat roused inside her, making her want to kick off the sheet covering her legs and reach for him once more.

Heath stirred, turning his head to face her and shoving the dark, tousled hair from his face, his eyes still closed in slumber. His cheekbone was pink from where he’d slept, and fuzz shadowed his cheeks and
chin. His lips were lush and red and looked delicious enough to taste…

But she hesitated. To wake him meant they must face the day, a reckoning she loathed. For no matter how much they wanted to pretend otherwise, their normal lives would breach the intimacy that had cocooned them in the darkness of the night.

Tess sighed, suddenly sympathizing with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet pretending that the dawn had not yet come.

“‘It was the nightingale, and not the lark that pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear,’” Tess whispered.

Heath’s smooth lips lifted in a sleepy smile.

“You weren’t supposed to hear that,” Tess complained, smiling.

“If ‘I must be gone and live, or stay and die,’” Heath quoted Romeo, “‘Let me be ta’en, let me be put to death.’ I’d certainly die a happy man.”

“I don’t recall that last line being in the play.”

“It’s all mine.” Reaching over, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close, nestling her body against his like pages in a book.

Closing her eyes, Tess pressed her nose into his arm and inhaled his rich, earthy scent. The hairs of his skin tickled her nose and a small hum emerged from deep in her throat that sounded astoundingly like a purr.

“Don’t you sound satisfied,” he murmured, setting his lips to her shoulder and taking a nip.

Muted sounds of disruption resonated from downstairs, followed by raised voices. The words couldn’t
be heard, but there was no doubt of their belligerent tone.

Tess felt the interruption like a peal of doom.

Slowly she unwound his arm and scooted off the bed.

He leaned up on his elbow, his handsome face still smooth with repose. “Where are you going? I’m not done with you, yet.” He must have finally heard the commotion, too, for suddenly he sat up. “What’s that about?”

Tess walked over to the wardrobe, quickly removed her pale blue dressing gown, and put it on. “I don’t know.” She tied her sash tightly. “But it can’t be good.”

He was up in a flash, quickly donning his shirt. “I’ll go with you.”

Surprisingly, his offer comforted her. Still, she turned. “I don’t think you should—”

A loud bang crashed at the door and an exchange of words could be heard outside.

“My mistress is abed, I tell you! You’ll not go in there!” It was Ferguson, her butler.

“An’ I’ll not ’ave you giving ’er warning so she can make escape!” a man bellowed.

Heath shoved his legs into his breeches and jumped in front of Tess. “I’ll get it.”

“You can stand outside the door—” Ferguson asserted.

“You’ll not be tellin’ me what to do!”

Heath reached over and squeezed Tess’s hand, a reassuring look in his eyes. “I’m here with you. Whatever this is, we’ll deal with it together.”

Gratitude swept through her, but also an odd sense of disquiet. She was unused to a man taking charge in her life. “Thank you.”

“Of course. Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

Heath turned and swung open the door.

Ferguson’s back was to the entry, obviously barring the unwanted guests. Two burly men stood before the loyal butler, one wheat-haired, the other carrot-topped, both dressed in street clothes. By the requisite tipstaff gripped in the blond one’s hand, Tess surmised that they were Bow Street Runners. No, this was definitely not good.

“What’s going on here?” Heath’s commanding voice instantly halted the bickering.

Tilting his head, Ferguson quickly stepped aside. Smart man; she’d be sure to reward his efforts on her behalf.

The carrot-topped Runner peered around his comrade, his pudgy nose lifted in the air. “I’d ask the same of you.”

“Officer Kelly, isn’t it?” Heath asked the blond-haired Runner.

The man straightened. “Do I know you, sir?”

“Heath Bartlett. I work for Solicitor-General Dagwood.”

Kelly blinked. “Ah, sorry, sir. I didn’t recognize you without…” His voice trailed off.

“No matter, Officer. Why don’t you and your friend wait downstairs and we will join you shortly?”

Kelly shook his head. “Can’t do that, sir, I’m sorry ta
say. I’ve an arrest warrant for Lady Golding here, and I’ll not be having her make escape on my watch.”

An arrest warrant? Had Lady Bright tried to circumvent Heath’s investigation and pursued an alternative route? Still, what judge would issue a warrant on such skimpy evidence? Tess seethed. George Belington had a lot to answer for.

“I’m certain there’s a mistake here.” Heath’s voice was confident enough to be reassuring.

“No mistake, sir,” Kelly replied. “Magistrate Brown made sure everythin’ was done to the T, since we’re dealing with the upper class.”

Heath scratched his chin. “Magistrate Brown, eh? He is a good sort. But I assure you that there was no theft.”

The two officers exchanged a glance. “Theft?”

“The charges were fabricated based upon a grudge. The items in question were never actually stolen.”

Tess hadn’t realized how important Heath’s confidence in her was until that very moment, and she wanted to kiss him for believing in her. And for being so chivalrous. And she might as well kiss him for being so terribly kissable. Hmm. She blinked, forcing herself to focus on the exchange before her. No matter how baseless the charges, she was still going to have to deal with them.

Officer Kelly scratched his head. “Items in question? I think, sir, that we’re talkin’ the King’s English an yer talkin’ Chinese.”

“Which is why you men need to go downstairs and
await Lady Golding, so we can discuss this in a civilized manner.”

“There’s nothin’ ta discuss,” the carrot-topped Runner countered. “We’re takin’ her ta Newgate and that’s that.”

“Newgate Prison?” Ferguson gasped, his face draining of color.

Tess stepped forward. “Don’t worry, Ferguson, I’m not going to Newgate Prison. This is a misunderstanding that will be resolved in a trice.”

Again the Bow Street Runners exchanged an uneasy glance. “Ye seem to be takin’ this quite lightly, m’lady. This is serious business.”

Tess smiled. “I know all about it, Officer Kelly, and I’m not worried. The truth will win out, and you will see that this is all a terrible mistake.”

The red-topped officer stepped forward menacingly. “Why you hard-hearted wench! A woman’s dead, for lawd’s sake!”

Tess froze, fearing that she’d heard wrong, but terrified that she’d heard right. “Dead?”

“What woman?” Heath demanded, reaching for Tess’s hand.

She clung to him, sudden fear clogging her throat.

“Miss Fiona Reed.”

The room suddenly washed white and assumed an odd tilt as Tess’s legs gave out from under her and she was brought down to her knees.