by Lynsay Sands
Daniel froze at once and broke their kiss to peer down at her with concern. "Are you all right?"
Flushing with embarrassment, she nodded. It really hadn't hurt enough to bring on the sound she'd issued, she'd just been startled by it. Though, Suzette supposed she shouldn't have been. It really hadn't been more than a pinch of pain, certainly not enough to make even the most fainthearted faint. Maybe Fanny's lover had done it wrong, she pondered. Still it did feel odd to have him inside her, stretching her body and filling her up. It wasn't exactly comfortable at first, but then Daniel slid his hand between them again and began to caress her once more while still buried inside her.
Suzette moaned at her body's immediate response to his caress as all the heat and passion that had seemed to slip away just moments ago, suddenly came rushing back. She raised her mouth to his, relieved when Daniel immediately began to kiss her again. When she wrapped her legs more tightly around him, encouraging him, Daniel also began to withdraw and then slide himself back into her again while still caressing her, the action matching the thrust of his tongue into her mouth. He started at a slow pace, but as their passion built, he began to move more swiftly, and then he removed his hand so that he could clasp her hips and hold her in place as he pumped into her.
Suzette groaned and dug her nails into his shoulders, her body straining toward the pleasure she knew waited, and then she was suddenly, finally there. She cried out into his mouth, her nails and heels digging into him as the mounting pleasure suddenly exploded over her. Shaken by the strength of it, she held onto him desperately and merely rode the waves washing over her. Daniel continued to thrust once, twice, then three times more before he suddenly buried himself to the hilt, a deep groan ripping from his throat.
She knew exactly when the paroxysm finally ended for Daniel, because he immediately sagged against her as if all his strength had been drained.
"Damn," he breathed after a moment, and slowly straightened to peer down at her and say solemnly, "I'm sorry."
Suzette peered at him with surprise. "What for?"
"I shouldn't have-- The stables are not exactly the best place for a lady to-- Someone could have come in and-- I never should have--"
Suzette silenced him with a kiss, and hugged him tightly as she whispered, "Can we do it again?"
Daniel's chest vibrated against hers with silent laughter, but then he gently eased back and said wryly, "As tempting as the idea is, I couldn't right now. Besides, I have to go." He pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose. "I'm sorry, but I really do have to go now."
Suzette sighed with disappointment and reluctantly released him when he pulled away. She watched him tuck himself away and do up his trousers before setting to work on straightening her own clothes.
When he started to move back toward the stall he'd been in when she'd arrived earlier, she slid off the bale of hay, grimacing as she became aware of a tenderness between her legs. Ignoring it for now, she followed Daniel to the stall, asking, "How long will you be?"
"It's about an hour from here by carriage and she will probably have to pack, but since I am riding there on horseback I don't imagine it will be more than two hours," he answered absently as he returned to saddling his horse.
"Can I accompany you?" she asked, reluctant to be parted from him so soon after what they'd done.
Daniel glanced her way with surprise, hesitated, but then shook his head and turned back to what he was doing. "No. It is better if I go alone."
"Why?" Suzette asked with a frown, and then, worry entering her gaze, she accused, "You're afraid your mother won't like me, aren't you?"
The question made him glance around at her again and he frowned at the suggestion, but said firmly, "No, of course not."
"Then why can't I come?" she asked, and then her eyes narrowed with suspicion as another thought struck her. "You are coming back?"
"Of course I am," he said with a laugh, not even bothering to look at her this time. He then caught the reins of the horse he'd saddled and led it out of the stall. Pausing before her, he gave her a quick kiss and then took her arm to turn her around, saying, "Now go on back inside."
Suzette tried to turn back, but he kept his hand on her arm and urged her forward, walking her to the stable doors and out into the courtyard, leading the horse by its reins as they went.
"Inside. Now," Daniel said firmly then and released her arm to give her a gentle push in the direction of the inn.
Suzette sighed, but continued forward, walking to the inn door before stopping to turn back. Daniel was mounted by then. He gave her a smile and a salute and then urged his mount to move. Suddenly plagued by the superstitious thought that if she watched him out of sight it might be the last time she saw him, Suzette immediately turned and slipped inside the inn.
The main room was as silent and empty as it had been when she passed through it on the way out, and Suzette was grateful for that. Silly as it might sound, she was sure that anyone who looked at her would somehow know she was no longer a virgin, as if the experience had marked her somehow.
Shaking her head at the flight of fancy, Suzette started upstairs to return to the room she shared with Lisa. She thought she might be able to sleep now, and felt sure the rest would do her good. She really was tender at the moment. Perhaps a nap would give her body a chance to heal.
Daniel couldn't get the grin off his face for the first half hour of the journey to Woodrow. While his body automatically steered the horse along the path to reach his home, his mind was filled with memories of Suzette, her neckline down below her breasts, her skirts up around her waist, and her eyes burning with passion as he'd driven himself into her. It had felt like going home. Her arms, legs and entire body had hugged his with each thrust, and her sighs, gasps and mewls of pleasure had filled his ears. The woman was all that he'd hoped for and more. She was as uninhibited with her body as she was with her words. He had a lifetime to enjoy the pleasure of both and was truly looking forward to it.
His grin softened to a smile at that thought. Daniel had never been very keen on the idea of marriage. He'd resented the idea of a wife. He knew his mother was a rare creature among the ton, one who rolled up her sleeves and did what needed doing. From what he had seen of most women in the ton, this was indeed a rare and wonderful thing. Most of the women he'd met over the years had been spoiled creatures, as demanding as princesses, who insisted on scads of clothes because they couldn't possibly be seen in the same dress twice, chests full of jewelry to show off their status, and, he was sure, would have demanded his attention and company to attend every ball, every play at the theater and every entertainment available when he had work to attend to in order to ensure their continued comfort.
But Suzette wasn't like that. Daniel knew without a doubt that she too would roll up her own sleeves and do what was required if the need should arise. The very fact that she had been willing to sacrifice herself to avoid scandal for the rest of her family said as much. She had stepped forward to take up the chore herself rather than even considering that Lisa too could marry and claim her dower to aid in the endeavor.
Daniel was pretty sure he needn't fear her dragging him to every social event of the season either. Suzette had already told him she preferred the quiet and beauty of the countryside to the crowded, polluted city. As for fashion and jewels, while her clothes were well made and she always looked nice, they were not exactly the height of fashion in London society, but she didn't seem to care any more about that than she did for what people thought of her blunt speech. Oddly enough, the very fact that she didn't seem to care about the material things made him want to shower her with them.
Daniel smiled wryly at the thought and then glanced around with a start as a sharp crack sounded. It seemed to be coming from the woods on his right and he slowed his mount, his eyes searching the trees as he recognized that he was on the edge of his property. They'd had trouble with poachers, he'd been told, though there had been no sign of them during the six months h
e'd been here before setting sail for America. But now he wondered if that was what he was hearing: poachers going after the wildlife. He would have to mention it to--
The thought died in his head as another crack sounded and something slammed into his back on his right side. It felt as if someone had just kicked him. It knocked the breath right out of him and nearly sent him tumbling from his horse. Throwing himself forward, he lay flat on his mount and kicked his heels, urging it to speed up again until the beast was going at an all-out run. Another crack sounded, but Daniel didn't feel anything this time, and simply concentrated on holding on to the reins of his horse. His fingers seemed to be weakening and his breathing was labored. For one moment he feared a punctured lung, but a deep breath reassured him that wasn't the case. Shock, then, he decided.
And maybe blood loss. Daniel added the grim thought as he felt trails of warm liquid tickling their way down his side. It was damned good he was so close to home, or he might not have made it, he thought grimly, but wondered when the lightheadedness hit him a moment later if he would after all.
Chapter Eleven
Should we not wait for Daniel?" Suzette asked, as her father urged her to a table to join the others breaking their fast. Her gaze slid to the door, but she managed to resist rushing over to see if Daniel was riding into the courtyard. She had done so several times during the last half hour since the two hours she'd expected him to take had passed. Scowling as she allowed her father to urge her onto the bench next to Lisa, she muttered, "What is taking him so long?"
"Lady Woodrow would wish to pack a bag of clothes," Richard pointed out with unconcern, as he settled across from her next to Christiana.
"Oh, yes of course." She didn't tell him that Daniel had thought he'd be back within two hours even with the need to pack.
Breakfast was a cheerful affair with much chattering and laughter from the group, but Suzette found it difficult to pay attention as she kept glancing toward the door, impatient for Daniel's return. She was relieved when it was over and immediately hurried to the door, intending to go out and check the stables, but the innkeeper was returning from a trip to the stables himself when she opened the door and smiled at her sympathetically as he shook his head.
"No sign of him yet, miss. I'm sure he'll be along soon."
"Yes," Suzette murmured, and then managed a smile and added, "Thank you," as she stepped back for him to enter. She then turned to cross to the stairs, thinking she would go up and check once again to be sure she had packed everything and had not left a stocking lying under the bed or something. Suzette had already done so once, but a second look would not hurt. Besides, she had to do something. This waiting was driving her mad.
Rolling her eyes at her own lack of patience, she mounted the stairs and walked quickly to the room she and Lisa were sharing. She thrust the door open and started to enter, but paused as she spotted a letter on the floor just inside. Frowning, she bent to pick it up, eyebrows rising when she saw her name on the front in a neat scrawl.
Pushing the door closed, Suzette opened the letter and started to cross to the bed, but paused as she read the contents.
Dear Suzette,
I apologize for the inconvenience of my timing. However, I simply cannot marry you. Your behavior in the stables this morning was, frankly, nothing like what one would expect from a lady of the gentry. It was a base and sordid little incident. You behaved no better than a milkmaid by lifting your skirts for me there amongst the dung and stink of the stables. I find this has raised concerns in me regarding your ability to remain faithful as a wife. I worry that such violent passions combined with your unruly nature and apparent complete lack of control would leave me forever worrying over what lewd behavior you might be getting up to with any man who entered your sphere of influence. I would look at any issue we had and wonder if they truly were my prodigy or that of the footman's, or the stable lads, or any visiting male guests. I do not wish to live that way, so again, I apologize. However I will not be returning to the inn to continue the journey to Gretna Green. I wish you the best of luck for the future, but I shall not be a part of it.
Yours truly,
Daniel
Suzette was reading the letter for the second time when the door opened behind her. She barely heard Christiana's words as her sister said, "Oh, here you are, Suzette. Lisa and I thought to pass the time with a nice walk. The innkeeper has assured us that there is a lovely path leading to a water--Suzette?"
Christiana had reached her side and Suzette turned stunned and wounded eyes to her sister. Her voice was a bare whisper as she got out, "Daniel is not returning."
"What?" Christiana frowned and then glanced to the letter in her now trembling hands and tried to take it, but Suzette pressed it to her chest and moved away, too ashamed to let her read it.
"He doesn't want to marry me," she gasped, finding it suddenly hard to breathe. Her breath was coming in fast, hard pants, but little air seemed to be reaching her tortured lungs, and she wheezed, "My chest hurts."
"Here, sit down." Christiana was at her side at once, urging her to sit. Once Suzette had dropped to the bed, she rushed to the window to open the shutters and let in the breeze. Turning back, she ordered, "Breathe. Deep breaths."
Suzette sucked in air, trying to slow her breathing. After a moment it seemed to work, and her breathing became more regular.
"Let me see the letter, Suzette," her sister said quietly once she was almost back to normal.
"No," she said in a low voice, her hands pressing the paper even tighter to her chest.
"Well then, tell me what it says. I am sure you are just misunderstanding," Christiana said gently.
"Dear Suzette, I apologize for the inconvenience of my timing. However, I simply cannot marry you," she recited dully from memory. Even with only the two reads the words were burned into her brain.
"I suppose there is no misunderstanding that," Christiana said grimly. "Did he say why?"
"I am unruly, my passions too violent, with no self-control, and he fears my ability to be faithful after marriage," Suzette admitted and then burst into tears.
"Oh Suzie," Christiana murmured, hugging her close. She was simply holding and rocking her and allowing her to weep when a knock sounded at the door.
"Who is it?" Christiana asked, sounding displeased.
"Your husband," came Richard's answer in slightly amused tones.
Christiana hesitated and then snapped, "Come in."
Suzette immediately tried to stop crying and pulled away from her sister to mop at her face as the door opened.
"I just came to see--what's wrong?" Richard had merely poked his head in, but seeing his wife's angry face and Suzette's wet one, stepped into the room and pushed the door closed. He crossed the room asking with concern, "What has happened?"
"Daniel is not returning," Christiana announced, standing to move to his side. "He has decided he doesn't wish to marry Suzette, that she is too unruly, her passions violent and her self-control nonexistent."
Silence reigned briefly and Suzette glanced around to see Richard frowning thoughtfully while Christiana glared, awaiting a response. After another moment, her sister's expression became concerned. "Richard? Why are you not surprised? Surely this is a mistake or--?"
"I don't know," Richard admitted, and then hesitated before saying, "I know Daniel wasn't sure he wanted to marry her at first. But he knew if he said as much she wouldn't spend time with him, so he didn't tell her so that he could get to know her and decide." He frowned. "I was sure he'd decided to marry her though, so--"
"You mean he was lying?" Christiana asked with dismay. "He led Suzette to think he had honorable intentions, but he--"
"He didn't exactly lie," Richard said lamely, and then sighed. "When Suzette caught him in her room that first night she assumed that Daniel was there to tell her yes, and he just didn't correct her."
"What is the difference between that and lying, exactly?" Christiana asked sharply. "He al
lowed her to come to the wrong conclusions and didn't correct her."
Suzette frowned and asked, "If he wasn't there to tell me yes, what was he doing there?"
"We were there to get George's body," Richard answered quietly. "We had just collected George when you girls arrived home. We hid in your room not realizing it was occupied, and then I left him hiding in there with George while I took you and Lisa down to the office. I was trying to keep you busy long enough for him to get out with George, but then you were going to drink the whiskey, and I thought it was how George was poisoned and knocked it out of your hand and you stormed off."
"Oh." Suzette recalled how upset she'd been, thinking he was just trying to stop her drinking his whiskey that night. Richard had been trying to prevent her drinking what he thought was poisoned whiskey. She shook her head. That wasn't important now. Mouth tightening, she said, "Daniel was alone in my room when I entered. George wasn't with him."
"He'd thrown George out the window and was trying to follow when you entered," he explained, looking uncomfortable.
Suzette closed her eyes and turned her head away. "So he never wanted to marry me at all."
"That's not--I don't know," Richard said wearily. "You fascinated him, and he liked you and wanted to get to know you better."
"Well, he certainly did that," Christiana snapped. "I know he's been kissing her and more."
Suzette grimaced and asked, "But what about the dower? I thought he wanted the dower. Why give that up when he so desperately needed it?" The question had barely left her lips when she felt herself flush with shame. The answer was in the letter. Apparently even the chance to gain the dower and save his people was not enough to lure him to marry someone as base and lewd as she. Shaking her head she moaned, "My God, he is disgusted by me so much that he would rather give up the dower he so desperately needs than marry me."
"He doesn't need it," Richard admitted, and added apologetically, "That was a lie."