* * *
Natalya tensed as Tristan drew her into his arms. She was eager for his touch, but a little frightened, too. Then he kissed her and her fears melted away. She responded, her lips parting, and she relaxed as his mouth worked its magic. She sighed as his lips left hers and began to move over her cheeks, trailing kisses along her jaw. A moan of sheer pleasure escaped her when he nibbled gently at her ear.
His hand caressed her hip, then slowly brushed over her waist, smoothing gently over her skin until he was cupping her breast, his thumb circling the peak that was suddenly hard and aching. She was on fire, shifting restlessly against his touch. Such was the aching pleasure his fingers were wreaking she was only vaguely aware of his lips moving down her neck, placing butterfly kisses along her collarbone. They stopped briefly on the dip at the base of her throat, then moved on down to her breasts and she gasped at the double onslaught as his tongue caressed one hard nub while his thumb continued to pleasure the other.
She sighed and arched her body, offering herself up to him, no longer afraid, but revelling in the sensations he was arousing. Her own tentative caresses became more certain, she ran her hands over his flesh, exploring the firm sculpted muscles of his back. He shifted slightly, his mouth sought hers again and he kissed her with renewed intensity.
She was almost swooning with delight as his hand roamed over her skin, down across her stomach, and she lifted her hips, inviting him to go on. Her bones had melted. She had never felt more alive, receptive to his every caress. His fingers slid between her thighs and she felt herself opening, moving restlessly against his hand as ripples of excitement began to build inside. Her own hands slid down his back. She tried to pull him on to her. He resisted, murmuring softly against lips.
‘Hush, my darling. Trust me.’
‘But I want you, Tristan. I want to be yours, completely. Oh!’
She gasped, her ability to speak suspended as his fingers drove the tide of pleasure even higher. She dug her nails into his shoulders, her body pushing hard against his hand, quite beyond her control. She bucked wildly and was distantly aware of crying out as she tipped over the edge of reason and tumbled into dizzying oblivion.
* * *
Dawn was breaking when Natalya awoke. Through the window she could see the pale grey clouds streaked with pink. She stretched and ran her hands over her naked body. She had thought by giving way to the strong desire she felt for Tristan that the yearning would disappear, but when she turned her head to look at the man sleeping beside her, the longing for him was stronger than ever.
He had brought her body alive, teasing her senses, drawing out responses she had not thought possible. And yet he had not entered her. He had held her shuddering frame until the ecstatic spasms had ceased and dried her tears when she had wept with guilt because he had put her pleasure above his own.
‘There will be time for that when we are married,’ he had told her, holding her close. ‘I will not tempt fate and risk giving you a child until you have the protection of my name and my fortune.’
She wanted him to hold her again, to bring her once more to the peak of elation, where her body was singing and she thought she might die of sheer pleasure.
Tears stung her eyes. This was not what she intended. She had believed one night with him would suffice, hoped that when she sent him away, refusing to allow him to sacrifice himself by marrying beneath him, she would have the pleasant memory of a night spent in his arms.
Now she knew that one night was not enough. A lifetime would not be enough.
* * *
Tristan stirred. He reached out for her, murmuring her name. Natalya summoned up a smile, but she was not quick enough. His gaze sharpened and he searched her face.
‘What is it love, what has upset you?’
‘Nothing, mere foolish fancies.’
She burrowed close, breathing in the musky scent of his skin, trying to memorise the faint trace of citrus spicy fragrance. She would discover the name of that perfume and buy a small bottle. A reminder of Tristan. He hugged her to him.
‘Are you regretting what we have done?’
‘Oh, no, no!’ She gave a little sob and clung tighter.
‘You are worried for the future, then? You must not be. I shall marry you as soon as it can be arranged, you have my word on that.’
When she did not reply he held her away a little. ‘Did I frighten you, is that it? You did not enjoy it—’
‘No, no, you are quite wrong,’ she told him, blushing. ‘I—I enjoyed it a great deal. It was so much more than I had expected.’
‘I am very glad about that.’ He drew her close and kissed her. ‘Perhaps we should do it again, just to make sure.’
Her insides curled with pleasure as his hands began to roam over her body. She returned his embrace eagerly, pushing aside her fears for the future and abandoning herself to the present, until his caresses drove all coherent thoughts from her mind.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
When they sat down to breakfast together, Natalya struggled to smile as Tristan outlined his plans for their future. She would not have been surprised if he had been reluctant to marry her, after she had thrown herself at him so wantonly. Even if her behaviour had not repulsed him, once he learned the truth about her birth he would realise she was not a fit wife for him. And if he did not see it immediately, his friends and family would soon make the matter plain.
He was sitting opposite her and she watched him closely, devouring the sight of his lean, handsome face. He was smiling and looking more relaxed than she had ever known him.
He thinks he loves me, she thought sadly. He is still caught up in the passion of what has happened, but that cannot last. Eventually it will fade and he will see me for what I am, a baseborn impostor whom he cannot respect. Then his passion for me will die and I could not bear to see that.
Tristan was refilling their coffee cups. He said, ‘I shall speak to Pridham today, as soon as we return, to assure him I mean to make an honest woman of you.’ He reached across the table and took her hand. ‘Where do you wish to be married, in Bath? Or there is a pretty little church near Dalmorren Manor, my house in Sussex.’ He laughed. ‘We might even be married in London, if you wish to cut a dash!’
‘Ah, stop. Please, stop!’ She forced out the words before her voice was choked with tears.
In an instant he was at her side, pulling her up out of her chair and into his arms.
‘Natalya, my love, what is it?’
She clung to him, her face buried in his shoulder. ‘My aunt and uncle might not consent.’
He stroked her hair, a gesture that she thought might break her heart. No one had ever shown her such tenderness before.
‘You are of age now,’ he murmured. ‘What can they say? And after what has occurred here, I do not think they have any choice.’
She looked up, saying earnestly, ‘Tristan, I do not wish the Pridhams to know we posed as man and wife. At least, not yet. I would like to talk to them alone, first.’
‘Very well,’ he said, kissing her nose. ‘But if they raise any objections to my marrying you, then we must tell them everything. I will not allow anything to stand in our way.’ He held her away from him, his brows coming together in a frown. ‘Now what is it? Natalya, tell me.’
He was so good, so kind, she could not allow him false hope. She bowed her head and took a breath.
‘Tristan, I did not want to speak of it until I was quite sure but… I have reason to believe, good reason, that I w-was born out of wedlock. If that is the case, I c-cannot marry you.’
A heartbeat’s silence.
‘And why is that?’ Tristan’s voice, calm, polite. Was he trying to be gallant or did he really not understand?
‘Because of the scandal. We would not be accepted.’
‘You have been accepted in Bath.’
‘There are already rumours. If it were not for Mrs Ancrum’s patronage, people would not be so kind to me, I know that.’
‘The lady is one of the highest sticklers in Bath. If she has befriended you, she must believe your birth is respectable.’
‘No. Quite the opposite,’ she said unhappily. ‘She thinks I might be the natural daughter of someone she used to know. She has been afraid to look into it too closely in case she finds irrefutable proof.’ Natalya raised her tearstained face to look at him. ‘Tristan, until I know who I am I c-cannot agree to marry you. You see that, do you not?’
For a long moment Tristan looked at her, his eyes searching her face, then he nodded.
‘I understand your scruples, Natalya, but it does not matter to me who you are. I will marry you whatever your history.’
His response made her feel more wretched than ever.
‘You deserve a wife with a spotless bloodline. If mine turns out to be tainted, then it would not only reflect badly on you, but on everyone connected with you: Freddie, your sister, your friends—even your mother. I will not be the cause of a rift between you and those you hold most dear.’
‘Natalya—’
When he went to take her back in his arms she jumped away.
‘No.’ She put up a hand, as if warding off a blow. ‘No, Tristan, I cannot marry you until I am sure I will not bring disgrace upon you or your name.’
‘You could never shame me, my love, but I understand your fears. I will take you back to Sydney Place and we will demand the truth from the Pridhams.’
‘No! Not today!’ she begged him. She dragged out her handkerchief to wipe her eyes. ‘I pray you, Tristan, I do not want to discuss it any further today.’
‘Poor love,’ said Tristan, reaching out to touch her cheek. ‘This ordeal has shaken you more than you will admit.’
‘Yes,’ she agreed, clutching at the excuse he offered her. ‘I think I need a little time to recover from…from everything that has happened.’
‘Of course.’ He pulled her into his arms again. ‘But not too long, my dear, I am impatient now to make love to you properly. As my wife.’
She clung to him, closing her eyes and trying to fix in her memory the sound of his voice, the feel of his heart beating against her cheek. The familiar scent of his skin. If her fears were realised, she would never have the chance to do this again.
* * *
They arrived back at Sydney Place shortly after noon, Natalya travelling in the hired carriage while Tristan rode alongside as escort. They were shown directly into the drawing room, where Mrs Pridham fell on Natalya’s neck and hugged her in a display of uncharacteristic emotion.
‘My dear child, we have been so anxious for you! Until we received Lord Dalmorren’s message, telling us you were safe, I was in an agony of apprehension, wondering what could have happened! What a shocking ordeal, to be stolen away like that and with only the clothes you stood up in.’ Her eyes fell to the pink shawl around Natalya’s shoulders. ‘I suppose the kind people who took you in found that for you. But let me look at you.’ She held Natalya away from her. ‘You are not hurt. Not at all? You are sure of it?’
Her aunt’s eyes darted to Tristan before coming back to Natalya and searching her face.
‘I am perfectly well, Aunt,’ she replied calmly. ‘I was rendered unconscious by my abductors with some drug, which gave me a slight headache, but Lord Dalmorren rescued me before any real harm befell me.’
‘You have been away from your home for three nights,’ put in Mr Pridham, his tone one of outraged disapproval. ‘It would have been better if His Lordship had brought you back to us immediately.’
Natalya blushed at the implication, but Tristan answered him.
‘Miss Fairchild was extremely shaken when I found her.’ A trace of hauteur had crept into his voice. ‘She was in no state to travel further that night and I considered her welfare to be of greater import than your reassurance.’
‘Quite, quite, but nevertheless—’
‘We found refuge in a gentleman’s house, sir, perfectly respectable,’ Tristan continued, ignoring the interruption. ‘One of the maids accompanied Miss Fairchild here and is even now returning in the hired coach.’
Giving you no opportunity to question her, Natalya added, silently.
Mr Pridham looked reluctant to let the matter drop, but after an inward struggle he said stiffly, ‘We must thank you, my lord, for taking such good care of our niece.’
‘It was an honour, sir. But I should like to know how such an abduction could have taken place. From your garden, I understand. How did these men gain entry?’
There was an awkward pause.
‘They were admitted by a treacherous groom,’ said her uncle at last. ‘He and his cronies thought they might make a little money by holding our niece to ransom.’
‘I see. Then you will be able to apprehend the villains.’
‘Yes, yes, it is all in hand.’ He walked over to tug at the bell pull. ‘We will not detain you any longer, my lord. I am sure you must wish to get back to George Street.’
‘Not at all. I have no desire to leave here until I am assured of Miss Fairchild’s safety.’
Mr Pridham drew himself up. ‘Natalya’s welfare is our prime concern, Lord Dalmorren. We shall take the greatest care of her. Now, my lord, allow me to ring for the servant to show you out. I think it best if my niece is allowed to retire to her room and rest.’
Tristan hesitated and Natalya quickly stepped forward.
‘Let me add my thanks to those of my aunt and uncle, sir.’ She held out her hand to him. ‘A few days’ rest and I shall be quite restored.’
She squeezed his fingers, silently begging him to understand.
‘As you wish, Miss Fairchild. I shall send a messenger in the morning to enquire after your health.’ He added, his eyes teasing, ‘And every morning until you are well enough to see me.’
He bowed over her fingers and was gone. Was it her imagination or did her aunt and uncle exchange a look of relief with his departure?
Mrs Pridham was eager to carry her off to her room, but Natalya held back.
‘I did not recognise my abductors, Uncle. Which of the stable hands let them in?’
‘A new man, recently engaged,’ he replied dismissively. ‘You would not know him and you must not make yourself anxious over it. The matter has been dealt with. Perhaps, Mrs Pridham, you will take Natalya upstairs now?’
‘Oh, yes, yes, of course. Come along, my dear. I instructed a bath to be prepared for you and we must get you out of those clothes. They are quite ruined, alas. Aggie shall throw everything out.’
Natalya clutched the pink shawl closer. She would allow her maid to dispose of everything else, but not that. It was Tristan’s gift to her and, along with her memories, it was all she would have of him.
* * *
Tristan made his way back to George Street, a frown furrowing his brow. He felt uneasy about leaving Natalya at Sydney Place. If she had been willing, he would have preferred to take her into his own family until he could marry her, but she was insistent that she should return to Sydney Place. He could understand that, for she was anxious to question her aunt and uncle about her origins.
It was not that he thought the Pridhams were behind the abduction. Their relief at her safe return had been genuine enough, but it irked him that they had been more interested in the time he and Natalya had spent at Farnell Hall than her abduction. Pridham’s explanation about the rogue stable hand was a little strained, too.
Perhaps he was being unfair. It was possible the man was embarrassed that his niece could have been taken from under his nose. Well, that would not happen again. He would set someone to watch the house. He would not run the risk of her being spirited away a second time.
Tristan was still deciding which of h
is staff he would set to this task when he entered his house and was informed that Mr Denham was waiting for him in the drawing room.
‘Charles!’ He closed the door and crossed the room. ‘When did you get here?’
His secretary put down the newspaper and rose to his feet.
‘Last night.’ He gripped Tristan’s outstretched hand. ‘Your valet was telling me about your little adventure. Have you seen him yet? He will be in a stew until he knows you are safe.’
‘The servants will tell Hurley I am returned.’ He waved Charles back to his seat. ‘What news?’
‘I have been making enquiries about Miss Fairchild, as you instructed. I think I have found something.’
* * *
Aggie was helping Natalya into her dressing gown when there was a scratching at the door and Mrs Pridham came in.
‘Ah, you have finished bathing, my dear, good.’ She flicked one hand to dismiss the maid. ‘I thought I should come and see you, to talk to you.’
Natalya had never heard her aunt sound so conciliatory and she was immediately on her guard.
‘Very well, ma’am.’ She sat down at the dressing table and began to pull the pins from her hair. ‘What would you like to talk about?’
‘You have had a terrifying ordeal, Natalya.’
‘Not so terrifying. Lord Dalmorren rescued me within hours of my being carried off.’
Natalya watched in the mirror as her aunt paced to and fro, her fingers twisting restlessly together.
‘Yes. Quite. Lord Dalmorren is indeed to be praised for his swift action.’ She came to a halt behind Natalya. ‘He must appear a veritable hero to you, my dear. Such a handsome man, too. No one would blame you if you were to think yourself a little bit in love with him. And being alone with him like that, I am sure he could be very…persuasive.’
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