She looked at him with skepticism, proving she was just as good a judge of character as she claimed. “And what will you do without a blanket?”
Arthur was not looking forward to being without one. But he also didn’t want to think about what it would be like to share hers. “Kellingtons are tough. I shall be fine without one.”
“You’ll freeze without one. The night air can be quite cold this time of year.”
“I’m touched that you would be so concerned for me.”
“The concern is for my schedule, my lord. If you come down with the ague, I will lose valuable time as I deposit you with a surgeon, provided we can even find one.”
He had to smile at her steadfast determination to keep to her blasted schedule. “I am slightly, but not overly, comforted that you would not simply leave me by the side of the road to fend for myself. Do not worry, I’ll be fine.” Arthur looked around, hoping to find a pile of leaves that would offer at least some insulation. The night air was already quite cool and he wasn’t looking forward to bedding down in such conditions. Perhaps Merlin could be persuaded to let him sleep close.
“You will share my blanket, Lord Arthur,” said Vanessa as she lay her bedding on the ground in a spot sheltered from any wind. “It is the only way to ensure you are rested enough to ride in the morning.”
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll attempt to seduce you?”
“While you no doubt deserve your reputation as a rake, I know you to be a gentleman at heart,” she said. “I also carry two pistols and a knife, which will all be within reach.”
She set about dividing the food between them, as he tried to get his mind off the coming night. “Tell me about this man we’re going to see,” he said.
She responded to his question eagerly, her tone one of awe. “Dr. Dumbarton is a professor of mathematics at Cambridge, but he’s a veritable wizard when it comes to code breaking. I’ve consulted with him quite often. If anyone can break the code of these papers without the chest, it is he.”
There was something about her enthusiasm that grated on Arthur’s nerves. “A professor, eh? No doubt he’s a fusty old man. A doddering bore who rattles on about maths.”
“Not at all. He is slightly older, but still quite hale. Nothing about him could be described as boring. And he’s positively brilliant. You’ll be most impressed.”
It was obvious she was most impressed, which made Arthur resolved to be anything but. “Won’t this detour put us further behind schedule?”
“I believe it is our only hope of discovering what is spelled out in the documents. The chest would certainly help, but if Professor Dumbarton can crack the code, we might not need the chest at all. He is a genius, you know.”
“So I am to understand. But once Mortimer and Cassidy realize the papers you gave them are fake, won’t they turn back to find you? Do they know you’re likely to go to Cambridge?”
“I don’t know how they could. Very few people know of Professor Dumbarton’s work with us. Even if there is a traitor in the Home Office, the chance of Mortimer and Cassidy tracing us to Cambridge is slim. But I must risk it regardless.”
“We will risk it, you mean.”
“Yes, if you insist. We will risk it.” She finished her last bite of bread. “I have not thanked you for coming to my aid. I still have misgivings about the situation, but I do want you to know I appreciate it. Not many people have looked out for me during my life. It is a lovely change in circumstances. Even if you are most exasperating at times.”
Arthur looked at the woman so close to him, but whom he could not touch. The moonlight made her blue eyes look like the darkest sea. Her face seemed to be made of the finest pearl and the curls which had finally escaped their pins lay invitingly about her neck and shoulders. He longed to reach out and run his fingers through her hair, draw her close, then spend the night between her two thin blankets warming each other in the best possible way.
But if he had any hope of keeping her alive, it must not happen.
Vanessa stifled a yawn as she put away the rest of the food. As she efficiently tucked herself into the makeshift bed, she indicated the place where Arthur would lie. The blankets were not overly large, so they would have to lie on their sides to ensure they both stayed covered. She turned away from him, then a moment later he joined her, only inches away.
* * *
Vanessa had no idea how she was ever going to fall asleep. Heat seemed to flow from him into her. If she moved only a few inches, the back of her would be pressed into the front of him. He was truly a gentleman, so she knew he would not make the first move since she’d previously made her wishes known. But she wondered what he would do if she tried to seduce him. How would he react if she turned, then pressed him onto his back? She longed to straddle him, to feel his hard cock beneath her. She was so on edge, her every nerve attuned to him, that she would only need to move back and forth on him a few times before she exploded in passion.
But as much as she longed to experience what she knew lay between them, it would complicate her mission. More importantly, it would put his life in danger even more than it already was. She could tell he felt protective toward her. Becoming lovers would only make him do something noble and stupid. She couldn’t allow that. So she did what she had to do. She controlled her breathing and pretended to sleep. And after a long while, she finally dozed.
* * *
The scream made Arthur sit upright in bed. He grabbed Vanessa’s pistol, then waited until his eyes adjusted to the moonlight. Vanessa was thrashing in her sleep, but there was no one else around. He put down his gun then turned to her.
“Shh, shh, sweeting,” he said, as he gently shook her arm. “You’re having a bad dream.”
She didn’t awaken and her sobs came even harder. He grasped both her shoulders and shook. “Vanessa, love. Please wake up.” She remained trapped in her nightmare, so he pulled her into his arms. “Sweetheart, please wake up. It’s Arthur. I’m here. I’ve got you, sweeting. I’ve got you and I’ll never let go.”
She stilled in his arms. And for a moment he didn’t know whether she was asleep or awake. He could feel the warmth of her body next to his, almost like she was a part of him. Suddenly, he wanted to make love to her with a fierceness he’d never known before. He wanted to comfort her, show her she was safe. He wanted to keep her in his arms, where no one could ever harm her. He was about to bring his lips to hers when he looked down to see her staring at him wide-eyed.
“What happened?” she whispered.
“A bad dream,” he said softly, trying to lighten the mood. “Almost certainly caused by no bed and a lack of dinner.” Her face was wet from tears. He reached for his handkerchief and dried her eyes. Somewhat surprisingly she let him. “Do you remember what you were dreaming about?”
She shook her head. “I never do.”
He tenderly stroked her arm as he rocked her soothingly. “After the death of our parents, Hal used to have terrible nightmares. He never remembered them the next day. Or if he did, he never told us what they were. I’ve heard that nightmares are a way of the mind dealing with issues we cannot face during the day. Perhaps, it is the same for you.”
“I don’t know,” she said. “The lady who runs the boarding house where I stay said the neighbors complain when I have the dreams.”
“Can’t you have the neighbors thrown in gaol?” asked Arthur, as he kissed the top of her head tenderly. “There must be some advantage to working for the Crown.”
She laughed, just as he knew she would. “I shall consider it the next time.”
“Good. In the meantime, I will hold you close. And before you reach for your cache of weapons, I have no romantic intentions.” And he rather surprised himself to realize that was true. At least for the moment. “I just want to help both of us get a good night’s rest.”
“Thank you,” she said, as she pillowed her head onto his chest. “Perhaps now I can sleep.”
She was out within minutes.
And as Arthur dozed off moments later, he thought how curious it was to lie with a woman without bedding her. Curious and nice. Perhaps he had finally embarked on an adventure worthy of his name.
* * *
The sun, thought Arthur as he reluctantly pried his eyelids apart a few hours later, needs to be shot. If he’d been at home and awakened at such an ungodly hour, he simply would’ve pulled his bed hangings closer together. But, of course, here there were no bed hangings. Only a scratchy blanket on the hard earth, with the early morning sun upon him.
Upon him. Arthur looked to what should have been the space occupied by Vanessa, only to find it empty. For a moment he panicked, thinking she’d run out on him yet again. But a quick look showed both horses still tethered together. Both eating apples. Once again Merlin was being treated better than he was.
After taking care of his needs, he went off in search of Vanessa. He followed the sounds of a stream, walked around the hillside and came up short. There was Vanessa, naked, washing herself in the water.
Her back was toward him, and it was an extraordinary sight. Her hair was piled on her head and the water sluiced down over her shoulders, to the toned muscles of her upper back. Her hands were above her head, so he caught just a glimpse of the sides of her breasts. Her back descended into a V-shape at her narrow waist, then filled back out over the luscious curve of her hips. It made his mouth water to see her at just that angle. Then some benevolent spirit rewarded him for an unknown good deed by making her bend forward, fully exposing the globes of her firm arse.
He was in heaven. Or hell.
He took an involuntary step forward and that’s when she heard him. She sat bolt upright, still facing away from him. She instinctively covered her front, while still leaving her delicious backside fully revealed. Perhaps realizing that, she tried to make herself as small as possible.
“What are you doing?” she hissed over her shoulder.
“The normal things a person does first thing in the morning, although today has started much better than the average.”
“A gentleman would turn away.”
“Only a dim-witted one. It would be like turning away from the sun. Or, rather, the lovely moon.” He was enjoying himself, despite the growing ache of his loins which would most certainly go untended.
“Lord Arthur, I must insist that you turn away and go. Preferably all the way back to London.”
“I can’t do that, sweeting. But, if you insist, I shall make my way back to our camp and simply allow my mind to freely ponder the magnificent view I was treated to.”
“I rather wish you wouldn’t.”
“I rather knew you’d feel that way. If it’s any consolation, I’m sure my imaginings will make things much more uncomfortable for me than you, especially with another long day in the saddle ahead.” He was already quite uncomfortable enough.
“The time would be better spent atoning for your sins – of which there are many, I’m sure – rather than thinking about….” She waved her hand about. “This.”
“Ah, but nothing, dear lady, would be time better spent than what I shall be thinking about. That, I guarantee. Take your time with your ablutions,” he said as he turned away and headed back to camp. “I shall make the horses ready.”
He thought he heard her say “blasted man,” but couldn’t be sure.
It was, indeed, another long day of travel. He was impressed by how well she rode and how little she complained. Not wanting to appear the dilettante, he kept most of his complaints to himself, but what he wouldn’t have given for a Kellington travelling coach. They took their midday meal at an inn. She’d wanted to simply eat from her seemingly unending supply of cheese and rock-hard bread, but he’d insisted on stopping at a decent inn and taking a private parlor.
Her breeches, combined with that morning’s memories of her, were having the predicted effect on him. While he could not afford to become entangled with her until the danger had passed, he looked forward to the day he could make her his mistress.
He was staying by her side to keep her safe. But he was also there because he was increasingly fascinated by her. He’d never met a woman who worked for the Home Office. Moreover, she loved what she did, despite the danger. She hadn’t spoken much about her previous assignments, but there was a vitality about her that grew even more pronounced as she anticipated catching up to Mortimer and Cassidy and recovering the chest.
She was a fascinating woman with the body of a goddess.
He was seated across from her at the table. She was blowing on a spoonful of soup. He watched with rapt attention as she slid the spoon between her full lips. She closed her eyes, as if savoring the soup – which was too salty by half – then slowly swallowed. Arthur was, once again, hard. In all honesty, he’d been that way most of the day.
He was about to engage in yet another fantasy when she asked him, “Are you going to eat the rest of your pie?”
Arthur looked at his half-eaten kidney pie. Even if he were hungry for more of the mediocre fare, he wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to watch Vanessa savor her food, regardless of how much torment it would cause him. If she enjoyed lovemaking only a pittance as much as she liked food, he’d be a happy man indeed.
“May I” she asked, breaking into his reverie.
It took him a moment to recall the subject of her inquiry, then he pushed his plate toward her. “Enjoy,” he said.
“You have an odd look about you,” she said.
“Do I?” he asked, with a voice too husky by half. He pulled his jacket closer about him to conceal his erection as he rose. He cleared his throat. “I’ll settle the bill and have our horses readied.”
The blinding smile she gave him strengthened his resolve to leave her side before he embarrassed them both.
CHAPTER THREE
They finally reached Cambridge in late afternoon. Arthur had spent little time in the university town, having followed generations of Kellingtons to Oxford. And at the moment, all he really looked forward to was getting off his horse and spending the night on an actual bed indoors. He didn’t like to think of himself as spoiled in any way. Or, at least, no more spoiled than the average nobleman. But one night spent sleeping on the ground was an experience he wasn’t looking forward to repeating. Not that he’d ever admit as much to Vanessa. She seemed to positively thrive on primitive conditions and it rather wounded his pride to think she was more cut out for this work than he. The very thought that he could be found wanting by the woman he very much desired made a shiver go up his spine.
“Are you cold?” she asked. “Professor Dumbarton’s home is close. We can have you by a fire in no time at all.”
He distrusted the tone of her voice. “Are you, by any chance, implying I’m in need of coddling?”
She fought to keep a straight face. “Not at all, my lord. I’m sure there have been any number of instances where you’ve slept out of doors and not had the services of a house full of retainers.”
Arthur said nothing. He couldn’t bluff, for fear the chit would call him on it. That’s what he got for being attracted to a female with brains.
After making their way through town, they came to a home in the university district. Attached to houses on either side, it was a three-story building in a distinguished neighborhood. After leaving their horses at the nearby mews, they raised the knocker.
The door was opened by a butler who looked like he’d been with the house when it was built some two centuries earlier. But far from the impassive mien exhibited by butlers in London, this one looked like he’d been awakened from a nap. And was none too pleased with the intrusion.
“What do you want?” the man yelled at them, once he’d opened the door and stared at them for a good long moment. He was without any hair at all on top of his head, but had a fringe of gray extending all the way around the back at ear level. His white eyebrows were bushy and looked to account for half his weight.
“I’m Vanessa Gans and am here to see Professo
r Dumbarton.”
“If you’re a chit, why are you dressed like a lad?” asked the butler, blocking their entrance.
It had been a long day and Arthur had no desire to spend even one more moment of it outdoors. He gently pushed the man aside, motioned for Vanessa to enter, then followed her inside.
“See here, now,” said the fossil. “You hooligans can’t just barge in here. I’ll set the watch on you, I will. See if I don’t!”
“Sedgwick,” said a man who entered the foyer from a nearby room. “Who are you calling hooligans?” The man looked to be in his late ‘40s, was of middling height and had brown hair flecked with grey. He looked at his guests for just a moment, before breaking into a smile and approaching Vanessa.
“My dear Miss Gans,” he said as he bowed over her hand. “How delightful it is to see you again. And at my home, this time.”
Her face lit up with a radiant smile, setting Arthur on edge. Was there something between the two besides Home Office business? The man currently ogling Vanessa was nothing like the professor type Arthur had been expecting. He did have a bit of the absent-minded manner Arthur generally associated with academics, but the way he was holding onto Vanessa’s fingers for a scandalously long amount of time also lent him the air of a wolf. Why wasn’t Vanessa threatening to pull out her arsenal to use on him?
Arthur cleared his throat to get their attention.
Vanessa pulled back and motioned to him. “Professor, may I present Lord Arthur Kellington? He’s assisting me in an investigation.”
Dumbarton glanced briefly at Arthur, then once again turned his attention back to Vanessa. “And you must tell me all about your latest work at supper, my dear. But first, let’s get you and Kellington settled.” Dumbarton sent a pointed look in Sedgwick’s direction, which the servant answered with a long, mumbled complaint that couldn’t quite be heard by his employer, but whose meaning was clear.
Sedgwick showed Vanessa to her room first, whose location Arthur couldn’t help but commit to memory, then deposited Arthur in a room as far from Vanessa’s as geographically possible.
Never Wager Against Love (Kellington Book Three) Page 4