“But you refused.” He said it with certainty, no question in his mind.
“I refused. I’m sure he saw it as a betrayal, yet…”
“Yet you don’t think he was referring to you as the Judas,” said Arthur, returning the conversation to the present.
“I don’t, but I do not know what else he could mean.”
“The chalice is quite valuable,” said Arthur. “Much more so than the spike. He’s trying to tell you something and I doubt his partner is in on it. Portia Cassidy seemed to think they had the chalice, in addition to the sword and spike.”
“I’m sure she will be most upset when she learns the truth. And even more angry that her aim was off.”
“How well do you know Sir Lawrence?” asked Arthur.
“He’d been an agent for about a year when I completed my training program. In the beginning, he didn’t care for me very much and made his feelings known about females in the service. It didn’t help matters when he was removed from a case and I was sent in as his replacement. But in the last year or so, he’s had a remarkable change of heart and has been most helpful. He will often inquire about my cases, poring over details even I find boring. Why do you ask?”
“Because it was his suggestion for us to take the sword and the chalice to the bridge. If we hadn’t, they would be safe in Dumbarton’s carriage.”
For a moment, Vanessa made no response. Arthur could see her weighing what he’d just said. It was obvious she didn’t want to believe the implications, but he knew her to be too practical to not even consider them. Finally, she asked, “But if he is in league with Mortimer and Cassidy, why didn’t he just shoot us and leave with them?”
“Perhaps he intends to keep his involvement secret. His position at the Home Office gives him access to all kinds of secrets. He could become wealthy beyond belief if he continues his work as an agent.”
“But he was shot. I do not think him the type of man who would voluntarily undergo that.”
“But you forget, my dear, that Portia was not trying to shoot him. She was aiming at you.”
At that reminder of what could have happened, Arthur reached for her hand. “Come. Let us go back to Sofia’s vardos. This conversation can wait for morning. Now it is time for sleep.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Sofia’s wagon was much as Arthur remembered. It was a small space, with everything in its place. The bedroll was of a size that would accommodate both of them if they lay close together. Which would prove no hardship.
They disrobed in the candlelight. Each slowly removing layers of clothing. There was a shared sense that this was special for both of them. Almost sacred. It would be more than a joining of two bodies. It would be a communion of two souls. No matter what else happened to them – and their fate was very much undecided – they would always have this night.
When she was at last naked before him, he let his eyes drift slowly down her body. The candlelight was a caress to her soft skin. He noticed every bruise, each little cut and made a note to kiss them all. Later. For now, he would only look and savor the moment.
She studied him just as intently.
Then he pulled her to him and kissed her. The intensity was greater than it had ever been before. Even greater than the first time they’d made love. He pulled her down onto the pallet. The feeling of skin on skin burned. It aroused him to fever pitch.
She lay back on the pillow, her hair in waves of fire around her. He kissed her neck, made his way down her body. He fondled her breasts possessively, like it was his right and his alone. He brought the pebble of her nipple into his mouth and suckled hard.
She writhed beneath, spread her legs for him. The scent of her drove him wild. He wanted to breathe her in. He wanted to place his mouth, his lips and his tongue where she was hottest for him. But he knew he wouldn’t last. She pulled him to her, wrapping her legs around his waist. She wanted him to be inside her as much as he wished to be there.
He drew back to position himself. She whimpered, afraid he would leave, but he kissed her lips, gently, with meaning. “Don’t worry, love. I’m not going anywhere.”
With that, he positioned his cock and pressed slowly inward. She was wet, and so hot he almost came from just penetrating her lips. He pressed slowly, carefully in. And once he was fully seated within her, he knew he never wanted to leave.
* * *
Vanessa welcomed him into her body. The first time they’d made love had been overwhelming. The intensity this time was, if anything, even greater. She wanted Arthur Kellington with her body and soul. Dangerous thoughts, since she knew she’d never have him. But for this night, she would live the fantasy of what it would be like to truly be with him. There would be no censorship of the ton. No criticism by her peers that she was above her station. Tonight they were just man and woman, recently delivered of danger. And with no one else in the world to think about. She would simply breathe in and enjoy.
The feel of him entering her had been incredible. She submitted to the strength of him. He was now moving in and out of her with long, smooth strokes. She wrapped her legs over his arse to pull him closer and heard him moan in response. He was holding his upper body above her and she was sure the emotions flowing through her shone in her eyes. She didn’t care if he saw. All that mattered was the moment they were in. The one everything else had led up to.
Arthur felt the pull of her body like the moon and tide. She was drawing him in, binding them together and he didn’t want to do anything but surrender.
He saw passion in her eyes and as she began to moan and grow even wetter, he knew she was on the verge of coming. He reached between them and pressed where she was most sensitive. She bucked her hips, threw back her head and he was barely able to bring his mouth to hers in time to capture her scream. She came hard and it brought on his own climax. As he emptied himself into her, he had a moment of clarity. He wanted to give her his child. He wanted an excuse to claim her for his own. One she couldn’t ignore. One his family would accept. One he wanted to make.
Then he collapsed onto her, breathing hard. Wanting to take all of her in. But in too short of a time, he realized good manners demanded that he lift himself off her. He lay on his back, then she pillowed her head on his chest as he pulled the blanket over their damp bodies.
He thought again of having released his seed inside her. And he smiled at the thought of their children. A little girl who insisted on doing everything her brother did. That meant a daughter and a son. He would certainly have to find a more steady source of income if he expected to raise a family and give them what they deserved. He had a trust set aside for just that purpose, but he didn’t want to worry about running low on funds. Not when his family depended on him.
Apparently, Vanessa’s thoughts were running in at least a similar direction because she suddenly sat up. “You didn’t withdraw!” she said, more frightened than angry. Although, given it was Vanessa, “frightened” wasn’t the correct word, since Arthur was sure nothing could truly scare the woman. “We’ve taken a horrible chance.”
“I’m not sure ‘horrible’ is the right word. There is a chance you could be with child, but it is by no means a certainty.” He moved his hand down her silky body to her stomach, as if he could somehow tell one way or the other.
She pulled away. “I’m sure this is of little consequence to you, Lord Arthur, but I can assure you that bearing a child out of wedlock has never been a desire of mine. You can just walk away, but it would impact my life irrevocably. I do not have the funds saved up to care for a child adequately, nor could I ever part with my babe…Are you staring at my breasts?”
Arthur dragged his eyes away from her lovely breasts. “Of course not. And I would never walk away. Nor would you have to worry about adequate funds and I certainly couldn’t allow you to give our babe to anyone, unless it cried constantly through the night. Then I expect you could pass it off to the nurse for a few hours.”
She stared at him. “Th
is is not a joke.”
“I did not think it was.”
“I will not be your mistress.”
“I am not asking you to be.” He stared at her calmly, reassuringly. “If you are with child, we will marry.”
She looked like she’d been struck. “That’s ridiculous,” she said, pulling even further away and, worse, reaching for her shift.
“You wound me, sweeting. I never expected to have an offer of marriage thrown back at me.”
“Was that an offer of marriage?” she asked, as she continued to cover herself.
Arthur thought about it. He had only meant to marry her if she was with child. But if he could tell the ton to go to the devil for the sake of a child, why couldn’t he do the same thing for his own well-being and happiness? In the few short weeks he’d known Vanessa, he’d come alive. The ennui he’d been laboring under was gone. And, most importantly, if he married her he could keep her safe.
While he didn’t know for sure whether the prophesied threat to Vanessa still existed, there were any number of dangers she faced as an unprotected woman in London. As to the very specific threat he worried about, he was looking forward to his talk with Sofia in the morning. She’d been studying the two of them. She was probably going to tell him she’d been wrong. Or, that the prophesy had already been thwarted. Their confrontation with Mortimer and Cassidy might have been lethal for Vanessa if he hadn’t been along. Maybe he’d already saved her life.
It was the very thought of losing her to death, which made Arthur realize he absolutely must have her for his own. Honorably. In marriage.
“Yes, dearest, it is a proposal. Vanessa Gans, will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
She looked at him, speechless for a moment. But only for a moment. “You’re a stark raving lunatic. Or you’re shameful enough to be making sport of me.” Her shift was on and she reached for her breeches.
“Not the breeches, dearest. Come back to bed. Let’s seal our engagement in the best possible way.” He held out his hand. He could tell she was tempted to take it, but at the last minute, she continued dressing.
“A marriage between us is out of the question, my lord. A union between two different classes never works.”
“My true friends wouldn’t object.”
“Mine would!” she said with the indignation he’d grown so fond of. “I wouldn’t be accepted anywhere and, in turn, you would not, either.”
“Kellingtons are always accepted.”
She shook her head. “You’re so deeply embedded in the highest level of society you don’t even realize what it’s like to be excluded. No one would receive us. The duke might even disown you.”
“Liam would never do that. Ned’s wife Jane works as a surgeon, which would normally make him bad ton through association. But Liam’s obvious support made the match fashionable. He would do the same for us.” At least Arthur hoped he would.
“But didn’t you say Jane is a gentleman’s daughter? I’m a bastard, Arthur! A bastard.” Vanessa’s eyes filled with tears. She stopped and took a breath. “Don’t you see? Not even the Duke of Lynwood can make this right.”
Arthur hoped he would never see that look of desolation in her eyes again. “I am so sorry about what you went through in the past, love. But please give me the chance to make your life better in the future.” He pulled her close and was so thankful when she let him. “And, dearest, never, ever let Liam hear you say he is incapable of making something right. The Duke of Lynwood is frighteningly efficient and, for all I know, flies through the night like a bat when he feels like it.” He was relieved to hear her choked laughter. “I shall not trouble you more with the proposal tonight. But rest assured, I will not give up.” He pulled the blankets over them once again. “Now get some sleep. Everything shall look better in the morning.
* * *
They woke before dawn to sounds of the camp preparing to leave. As Arthur blearily pushed aside the tent flap, he witnessed the efficiency of the coming departure. After quickly dressing, he let Vanessa sleep a little longer. She’d spent the night in his arms and while she’d slept the night through, he could tell she was troubled. Truth be told, so was he. He needed to find a way for them to be married. She was right about the obstacles they’d face in the ton. But, somehow, he would make it work.
As he followed the smell of coffee, he was given breakfast by the wife of the young man who’d sold him the small wooden cat. The man also had the chest Vanessa had ordered, which was an exact replica of the one which had started this entire mess, minus the cipher code, of course. Arthur also bought a scarf for Vanessa, which would look beautiful in her hair. She would almost certainly refuse to take it, but he had high hopes of persuading her to do his bidding much more often.
“Lord Arthur, I see your thoughts are far from here,” said Sofia as she approached him. “Or perhaps not so far away,” she said with a glance toward the wagon where he’d left Vanessa. “Come. We have much to discuss and very little time.”
He followed her through the camp to a clearing by the nearby trees.
“You are troubled,” she said matter-of-factly.
He raised a brow in surprise. He didn’t realize he’d been that transparent. “I would like to marry Vanessa, but know there are obstacles ahead.”
“Obstacles are not so very big when love is involved,” she said with a smile. “And I feel there is much love between you. On both your parts. But, I am sad to say, Arthur, that marriage is the very least of your problems.”
That wasn’t exactly the reassurance Arthur was looking for. “Do you remember your prophesy for me?”
“As if it were yesterday.”
“Is she the woman you spoke of? The woman I love?”
Sofia nodded.
Arthur could barely breathe to ask his next question. “The danger. Has it passed?”
For a long moment, it looked like Sofia would not answer him. “Why is that important? A love such as yours is rare. It should be cherished. Worries will only get in the way of that. Don’t think about what may happen. Rejoice in what you have right now.”
“Is she in danger? Do you still believe she’ll be shot?” Arthur could not keep the desperation out of his voice.
Sadly, the older woman nodded. “I am sorry, Arthur. I wish it were not so. But, if anything, I feel even stronger now that I’ve met her that this lovely young woman will be in extreme danger one more time. Do with that what you will. I have been wrong before, but not often. The other prophesies I made, the ones about your family. Did they come true?”
Arthur wanted to tell Sofia that she was a fraud, that she was most assuredly wrong. But instead he answered truthfully. “You were right about Ned. He did travel over the sea. He was a spy on the continent, where he fell in love with a woman he married seven years later. Lizzie doesn’t have any children yet, but I wouldn’t put it past her and Riverton to be working on that even as we speak. I have no idea of the status of Liam’s love life. I do believe you were off on your prophesy about Hal. He is the last man on earth to tell people not to drink. And I want more than anything for you to be wrong about Vanessa. I would give my life to protect her.”
“I know you would. And I sincerely hope it does not come to that. But think of how much love there is in that sacrifice. I cannot tell for certain what will happen. But I do know for a surety that both your lives will be better if you love each other for as long as you have. Do that Arthur. Life is a gamble. But never wager against love. It has the power to set us free. Now, if you and Vanessa are ready, we should depart.”
The many wagons moved as one as the tribe left their current camp to move to one somewhere down the line. They made a quick detour to drop Arthur, Vanessa and Sir Lawrence back at their carriage, which was still at the inn. Sofia came out of her wagon to see them off personally. She reached up and kissed Arthur on the cheek. “God be with you, Arthur. And peace throughout your days.”
Arthur could hardly contain the fear inside him
. But fear did no one any good. He would simply redouble his efforts to protect Vanessa. And he would love her to the end of their days.
CHAPTER TWENTY
It took close to twenty hours, but Dumbarton’s carriage finally reached London. It had been a frustrating journey for all three of the carriage’s occupants, but especially tense for Arthur. Now that his suspicions about Sir Lawrence had taken root, he was even more annoyed by the man’s many complaints. Since Sir Lawrence needed to put his ankle up on the seat opposite, Arthur and Vanessa were unable to sit next to each other. And while they would not have been able to engage in any intimacies with Sir Lawrence in the carriage regardless of where they were seated, Arthur wanted to have her at arm’s reach.
They dropped Sir Lawrence at his bachelor’s quarters first. His rooms were in a good neighborhood just beyond Mayfair, a popular area for many of the ton’s young bucks. Truth be told, the neighborhood was nicer than the one Arthur lived in. Arthur helped Sir Lawrence to his rooms, with Vanessa following. The valet whose mother had died had not yet returned, so as Arthur started a fire, Vanessa found fresh water for him.
“I wish you would’ve let us stop one more time for a meal, Kellington,” sniffed Sir Lawrence. “My landlady shan’t like it when I ring her for food at this hour. Put another shovel of coal in there, will you chap? Don’t want to be a skinflint with the heat.”
Arthur added coal to the fire, steeling himself with patience. He’d been hungry himself as they’d approached that last inn, but had decided that prolonging his time with Sir Lawrence by even twenty minutes would have resulted in grave bodily harm to the agent.
“Kellington,” said Sir Lawrence, clearly unaware of how much Arthur wanted to leave, “do be so good as to lay out my clothes for tomorrow. With my man gone, it will be ever so hard for me to dress myself properly.”
Never Wager Against Love (Kellington Book Three) Page 19