Authors: Allison Knight
Time dragged by before Agatha suggested they retire.
“There is nothing we can do and you girls need your sleep. Simon will find her, I know he will. After all, he found you, Beth.”
Amy gazed at her worried sisters. “I’ll sit and wait. And, I’ll wake you as soon as Ellie returns. You all go to bed.”
At first they argued. Then Caro said, “I’ll sit up with Amy. The rest of you, retire. Beth, the vicar said he would return tomorrow and if you don’t get some sleep you’ll have dark circles under your eyes. Go on, now.”
Dora and Beth glanced at each other and then at Agatha. Beth nodded, “All right. But, if we do fall asleep, you have to promise to wake us if you hear anything.”
“We will,” Amy assured them. “Now, go try get some sleep.”
After the other two sisters and Aunt Agatha went up the stairs, Caro and Amy settled side by side on the settee.
“Will they sleep?” Amy asked.
“Probably not, but at least they will be resting.”
“What could have happened to her, Caro?”
“I think someone grabbed her, the same as they grabbed Beth.”
“But, no one has seen or heard anything from Harold since he left here,” Amy speculated.
“That doesn’t mean that he isn’t behind this,” Caro said. “He wanted the estate and he wanted you. You told Simon that he warned you he would sell one of us if you didn’t marry him? Besides, who else would take one of us away from our home?”
Amy gritted her teeth, “Surely, Harold wouldn’t take his own niece?”
“Maybe he figured out Ellie wasn’t his blood relation. After all, he’s only a step-brother to Patience.”
“Yes, I still remember how surprised Patience was when he arrived. She told me she hadn’t seen him for almost fifteen years. Poor Patience,” Amy murmured. “I wonder what she ate that made her so sick. She ate the same food as the rest of us. I felt so bad that I couldn’t help her.”
Caro reached over and patted her arm, “You tried. You stayed with her the whole time she sickened. You know, Amy, are you certain it was something she ate?”
Amy frowned. “I’ve thought about her a lot lately. But, I couldn’t believe that Harold would do something to his own sister.”
“Why not? Look what he tried to do to you.”
“But his sister?”
Caro grimaced. “His step-sister,” she said.
“That makes no sense at all. Patience called him her brother and I can’t believe he would harm her. Surely Harold couldn’t be that bad.”
“Don’t fool yourself. I think that man is capable of doing anything to get what he wants. I suspect he wants money and will do anything to get it.”
“Oh, Caro, I can’t believe that.”
Amy fought a feeling of desperation, “You don’t think he has Ellie, do you?”
“Not yet. At least, I hope not.”
“Oh, no,” Amy sank back against her chair. “What could he hope to gain by grabbing her? Simon is here now, and in control.”
“I can’t help but think it might have something to do with you.”
“With me?” Amy squeaked. Then she jumped up from the couch and began to pace, twisting her hands in front of her.
“He will gain nothing from me by kidnapping Ellie.”
“Maybe not, but his thinking is distorted. He intended to force you to marry him. I know Patience told him all about the will before she died. Married to you, he’d have your dowry and the estate.”
“But, why?”
“He’s greedy. Look at all the things he took and sold. Consider the horses. We know he got a fair number of pounds for them. He must have a desperate need for money.”
Amy sank back onto the settee, “Oh, I wish Simon would return with some kind of news.”
Caro rested her head against the cushion. “He’ll return as soon as he has something to tell us.”
Amy glanced at her sister. Caro always had been the calm one in the family. At the moment, Amy wished for some of her fortitude. Finally, she stood and began to prowl back and forth.
After a time Caro snapped, “Amy, sit down. You are making me nervous.”
“Can’t,” she replied. “At least while I walk, I feel like I’m doing
something.
”
More minutes passed as Amy paced. Caro nodded off once or twice and Amy took pity on her. Both of them didn’t need to keep a late vigil.
“Caro! Caro, why don’t you go upstairs? You’re falling asleep on the settee.”
“What--Oh, Amy, I’m sorry. I am so tired. This afternoon must have effected me more than I thought possible. And, I’m getting stiff. Perhaps I should go to my room.”
“You go to bed,” Amy suggested. “When Simon returns I’ll wake you. Surely, he’ll return before much longer.”
“We can hope,” Caro stood and stretched. “You promise to wake me?”
“You know I will.”
“Good night,” Caro murmured, trying hard not to yawn.
Amy watched her ascend the staircase then started pacing again. More than once, she stopped to examine the mantle clock. Minutes ticked away to become a half-hour, then an hour. It was almost two in the morning when Simon stalked into the parlor.
“What are you doing up?” Simon snapped.
“Waiting for you,” Amy informed him.
“It’s late.”
Amy glared at him. He didn’t know her at all, if he thought she would retire before she discovered what he know about the kidnapping.
“Ellie?”
Simon shook his head.
Amy gasped.
“You must have found some sign,” she whispered, her throat closing with fear.
“Not a thing,” he muttered and ran his hand through his disheveled hair.
“Oh, no,” Amy gasped and hugged her middle, as if to keep the pain from shattering her.
Simon stepped forward.
“Amy, we’ll find her. I promise.”
“You can’t promise such a thing.”
Simon reached for her. A sheen of tears gathered in her eyes.
“Don’t,” he whispered as he clasped her in his arms. He could have sworn he felt her fear as it sliced through her.
“He took her, I know he did,” she sobbed.
“I suspect he did.” He knew she was thinking about Harold Bottomsworth. Nothing else made any sense. “But, we’ll get her back, Amy. I promised, didn’t I?”
“I’ll have to marry him. Caro mentioned it. That’s what he wants...” She rested her head against Simon’s chest, his scent filling her with a tiny bit of strength. Not enough to keep her tears from falling.
“You will not marry that man. I forbid it.”
“He--he took her because he--he wanted to show me--”
“Amy,” he placed his forefinger under her chin and tilted her face so he could look into her eyes, “you will not marry him.”
“Oh, Simon, what are we going to do?” Her hands crept around his waist and she buried her head in his shoulder.
He smothered a sigh.
She felt so good in his arms. He pulled her against him, relishing the feel of her warm body pressed against his. He scolded himself. He should be thinking of Ellie. How to find her, but all his attention was centered on Amy, how she felt in his arms, how her fragrance teased at him, how her breasts, breasts he had already kissed, burned against the fabric of his shirt.
Somehow he found the strength to say, “Time for bed.” His voice sounded husky even to him. He lowered his arms and forced himself to step away. She stumbled against him and he scooped her into his arms.
“You should have retired,” he commented as he started toward the stairs. “You’re exhausted.”
“No, I’m not. You can put me down,” she wiggled in his arms.
“And let you fall? You are dead on your feet. I’ll set you down when we reach the top of the stairs.”
She relaxed and slid one arm around his neck. Simon stood for a second, the feel of her, the heat from her body, the warm breath against his neck, all sending waves of desire pulsing through him.
He fought with himself before he started up the stairs. His promise to let her go at the top coursed through him. Heaving a sigh, he let her slide down against him and he felt an immediate reaction. He wanted her and he wasn’t going to deny it.
To his surprise, she didn’t step back. She stood next to him, her heat, her scent, her essence, stirring his soul.
“Just hold me,” she murmured, her warm breath caressing his neck, sending shards of pleasure through him.
“I am holding you,” he whispered.
“Don’t let me go,” she breathed, “Not for a moment. I’m so afraid.”
“I won’t let go,” Simon replied and knew he spoke the truth. He wasn’t going to be able to let her go. However, he couldn’t go on standing in the hall holding her against him. Her sisters, or God forbid, his aunt might walk into the hall. His room was a step away. In the privacy of his room, he could hold her close and not worry about someone getting the wrong idea.
He moved forward taking Amy with him. He fumbled with the door knob and pushed the door open. He took several slow steps into the room then closed the panel with his foot. They were shrouded with darkness. She must have lifted her head, for he could feel her breath on his face. Afraid to destroy the mood, he lowered his head.
A quick brush, a tiny taste, that was all he wanted. And, then he would send her to her own room.
As soon as Simon’s mouth touched hers, Amy began to argue with herself. Ellie was missing. Enjoying Simon’s attentions was wrong, wrong, wrong! Still, she didn’t want to think, to feel the panic that thinking about Harold’s promise to sell her sisters forced through her mind.
One kiss. She would allow Simon one kiss then she would retreat, go to her own room. Surely that couldn’t be that wrong. Besides, she needed his reassurance that Ellie would be all right, that she wouldn’t have to wed Harold Bottomsworth.
As his lips touched hers her ability to think dissolved like sugar in hot tea. She pressed herself next to his firm body, needing his warmth to ease the chill her missing sister had left. The taste of his mouth tantalized, but it was not enough. With something close to desperation, she clung to him. She could never wed a reprobate like Harold.
He raised his arms and she felt his tension. Instinct told her he was about to push her away. She couldn’t allow that, so she leaned into him, pressed herself closer. She ran her fingers through the soft silk of his hair while she nibbled at his lips, demanding another kiss.
She didn’t want him to stop. He couldn’t stop. She would not permit it. He was warmth, comfort, pleasure and the feel of his mouth on hers erased all the pain of the last few days. She pressed closer, needed him to know that she wanted this attention, that she would not accept being pushed away.
As if he read her intent, he placed his hands on her shoulders and she mouthed “Yes,” against his lips. She remembered the excitement she’d felt when he touched her lips with his tongue. Imitating his action, she opened her mouth and traced his bottom lip with the tip of her tongue.