Lord Demarr was now at the top of the ladder, but it didn’t quite reach Amelia’s window. ‘You must tie up your sheets,’ he whispered, ‘and slide down to me. Hurry if you wish to escape from here.’
Amelia nodded. This was no time to be missish and she rushed to do his bidding. First she lowered her valise down to him and waited while he took it to the ground, then she did as she had been told. He guided her feet towards the rungs of the ladder and helped to steady her from behind. As she felt one of his hands around her waist, she breathed a sigh of relief and a feeling of security spread through her. She was filled with exhilaration, as if she was setting out on an adventure, which indeed she was.
Safely on the ground, the viscount steadied her and whispered, ‘Excellent, I knew you could do it. Now let’s be on our way.’
Bootle had emerged from the shadows, apologising in a whisper for not being able to free her earlier.
‘Miss Maria was sitting on the stairs, would you believe!’
‘Never mind, I’m here now,’ Amelia told him. It was not his fault after all so she did not blame him for not coming to her rescue. He had obviously gone outside to find Lord Demarr instead, which had served the same purpose. Bootle took away the ladder as quietly as possible, while the others crept into the mews behind the house and along it to the waiting carriage. Bootle came hurrying behind them with the valise, which Lord Demarr gave to one of the postilions. The butler was looking a trifle anxious, but his lordship reassured him.
‘Don’t worry, my good man, Miss Ravenscroft will not come to any harm with me.’
‘Good luck and god speed, Miss Amelia,’ Bootle whispered, and on impulse Amelia flung her arms around him for a quick embrace.
‘Thank you, Bootle, you have been a great help. If there is ever anything I can do for you, you have only to say.’
‘Yes, indeed,’ Lord Demarr added. ‘Do come to us if there is any trouble for you here. But now we must away.’
Amelia leaned back onto the softly cushioned seat and looked around her with interest. Despite the darkness, she could see that it was a beautifully appointed carriage, the interior done up in velvet. It was also well-sprung and comfortable; she was hardly bounced around at all.
‘I must thank you for coming to my rescue, my lord,’ she said, feeling rather nervous now that they were alone together in the dark carriage.
‘It was nothing. Bootle came and told me what had occurred and explained to me why you were locked in. I thought it best to get you out as soon as possible. I have to say it made me very angry indeed that they should blame you for defending yourself from that lecher yesterday. And I cannot believe Sir Bernard’s sister conniving at it as well by trying to keep you in the house. She ought to have been helping you to escape.’ He looked almost savage as he said this, and Amelia thought to herself that she wouldn’t like to be on the receiving end of his wrath.
‘Yes, well, that’s the sort of family they are, I’m afraid.’ She decided a change of subject might be in order as she would rather not think about what she had escaped from. ‘Is this your carriage, my lord?’
‘No, I decided to hire one as we didn’t want to advertise our intentions. My own carriage has my arms blazoned on the side, so I sent it home with some of my luggage. Hopefully people will think I returned with it.’
‘Good idea. I left a note saying I was going to York to seek employment. My father and I used to live near there so they won’t think it strange for me to go back to familiar surroundings. And no one even knows we are acquainted, so I hope they will not connect our departures.’
The viscount gave her an enigmatic look, then smiled slightly. ‘No, we’re not really acquainted, are we. Perhaps we should pass the time by rectifying that matter?’
‘Wha-what do you mean?’ Amelia stammered, wondering again what she had let herself in for. Was he suggesting they jump their marriage vows?
He smiled again. ‘I only meant that perhaps we should talk to each other and find out about our likes and dislikes and so on. See if we have any mutual interests?’
‘Oh, yes of course.’ Amelia felt very foolish. ‘I’m sorry, I seem to be a little jumpy today and after what happened last night …’
‘Well, I can assure you I am not an ogre. You are safe with me.’
James felt anger swirl inside him as he saw the anxiousness in Amelia’s eyes. He would have liked to go back and wring Sir Bernard’s neck, but he contented himself with the thought that the man’s plan had been foiled and he had come by his just desserts. He hoped he had a very sore head indeed.
‘It was very resourceful of you, my dear, to hit Sir Bernard with the ewer,’ he said. ‘I hope you don’t intend to treat me like that?’ he added jokingly.
‘Oh, no.’ Amelia smiled, relaxing a little at last. ‘Besides, now you are forewarned of my little tricks, you will be able to guard against them. Poor Bernard was a totally unsuspecting victim.’ She began to laugh. ‘You should have seen his face.’
‘His face?’
‘How surprised he looked. He was so convinced I would eventually welcome him with open arms, it never occurred to him that he wouldn’t prevail.’
James joined in the laughter. ‘Indeed. Men such as he believe they have a right to behave as they wish. Thank goodness you disabused him of that notion.’
They spent the next few hours talking, sharing anecdotes about their families and learning about each other. Surprisingly, they found that they liked the same kind of music, art and literature, and they had a lengthy discussion on each of these subjects. James was astonished at her extensive knowledge.
‘How come you are so well versed in all these matters?’ he asked.
‘I was my father’s only child and I think that because he had wished for a boy, he more or less treated me as one.’
James thought this strange, but had to acknowledge that it was good to be able to talk to her as an equal. She didn’t seem bored by any topic, not even farming, which was something he had taken an interest in recently. And she was even able to add to his knowledge occasionally.
Finally, the long hours of worry took their toll on Amelia, and her eyelids began to droop.
‘I’m sorry, you must be tired,’ James said. ‘I’ve kept you talking for far too long. Why don’t you come over here and then you may lean against my shoulder,’ he invited. They were sitting on opposite seats as James hadn’t wanted to frighten her by insisting they should be next to each other.
He saw alarm flare in her gaze and tried to keep his expression neutral. It was understandable that she should be nervous in his presence at first, but she would have to get used to it. He held out a hand to help her across.
‘Very well,’ she acquiesced, obviously too sleepy to argue the point. She took his hand and half stood up to move over to him, but just as she did so, the carriage hit a pot hole and she was flung towards him, landing on his lap in an untidy heap. ‘Oh! I’m so sorry, I ...’ Clearly flustered, she attempted to extricate herself by pushing with one hand on his chest, but this seemed to cause her further embarrassment as he had unbuttoned his coat and waistcoat, and her fingers encountered nothing but his shirt with warm skin underneath. He heard her give a little gasp, then she looked up and stilled as their eyes met.
There was enough light from the moon for them to see each other’s features clearly and James felt a strange pull between them in that moment. He had an urge to keep her where she was, hold her close and not let go. A feeling of protectiveness, tenderness even, came over him and he had to shake himself mentally in order to break eye contact. He cleared his throat.
‘No harm done.’ James helped her to right herself and watched as she straightened her skirts without looking at him again. ‘Go to sleep and I will wake you when it is time for breakfast,’ he added, his voice somewhat gruff.
She was inclined to argue at first, but she was too tired to keep it up and eventually succumbed to slumber. James put his arm around her and simply held her
, the strange feeling of protectiveness filling him once more. He wondered at it anew, but it felt good, so he simply closed his own eyes and went to sleep.
CHAPTER FIVE
They travelled all night, heading north through the Cotswolds, and stopped only once to change the horses. They passed by Cheltenham, James preferring to break their journey only at smaller towns so as to put anyone following them off the scent. There wasn’t much likelihood of this, but he also thought it would be wise to avoid the larger places where there was a possibility of meeting acquaintances out travelling as well. Finally, they came to a halt at a country inn late in the morning and he shook Amelia gently to wake her up.
‘Time for some breakfast, or perhaps lunch? I’ve asked for a private parlour.’
‘Thank you, that would be wonderful.’ Amelia followed him into the inn. She felt slightly flustered when the landlady addressed her as ‘her ladyship’, but James sent her a warning glance and she played along with this. He had said he thought it best that they pose as a married couple.
Their ruse brought it home to her more forcibly just what she was doing – eloping with a complete stranger who could be a wanted man for all she knew. The tension of the previous day returned as she wondered whether Bernard had somehow found them out after all. Was he on their trail despite their subterfuges, thundering north to stop this marriage? And what of her aunt? By now she would have read the note Amelia left, and no doubt was in a fearful temper at having lost her unpaid servant. Amelia shivered involuntarily and took a deep breath. She must stop thinking about it and hope for the best. No one knows where I am except Bootle and he won’t tell.
In order to calm down, she went to freshen up and when she returned, James was already seated at a table groaning with food, looking for all the world as if this was just a normal day. Amelia decided to follow his lead. There was no point in worrying now, the die was cast. She sat down and joined him, tucking in with gusto. She had always had a hearty appetite, even when under pressure.
‘You do not seem to subscribe to the popular idea that young ladies should eat virtually nothing,’ he commented, glancing unobtrusively at her waistline. ‘Although I must say, I prefer ladies who don’t look as though they would blow away in a gust of wind,’ he added, obviously anxious not to insult her.
Amelia only smiled and replied airily, ‘Oh, I like to eat a lot at breakfast time to sustain me through the day, but then I usually take quite a bit of exercise one way or another.’ She had not forgotten that she was still wearing the padding, but unfortunately she could not discard it yet as all her dresses had been made to fit this larger shape. Besides, it might be a good thing, she thought, if he did not see her true figure until after they were wed. After all, if James married her looking like this, she could be sure he wasn’t as shallow as Bernard.
James hid a frown and privately doubted whether the exercise Amelia claimed to take was enough, judging by her plump figure, but he was too polite to say so. And he had not chosen her for her looks after all, or had he? He looked at her again, observing the pretty face with hyacinth blue eyes that sparkled in the morning light. Her hair was still dreadful, but perhaps with a little help from a hairdresser she could be quite presentable. He shook himself mentally. What does it matter?
They were soon on their way again and time passed quickly in conversation. Amelia was eager to hear everything James could tell her about the places they were passing through, and he found himself regarding everything through her enthusiastic eyes. Sometimes they simply sat in companionable silence, but it was not strained in any way. James surprised himself by thinking that he had seldom felt so at ease with anyone before. It was as if they had known each other for a long time and he wondered why this was so.
They stopped for the night at another small country inn, where the innkeeper was honoured enough by such exalted guests as to give them his two best bedchambers. Amelia worried all through dinner about the sleeping arrangements, as their rooms were connected and she was not sure what would be expected of her. She had felt some sort of bond between them the previous night when she fell against him in the carriage, and she had caught him looking at her with a slight frown several times since, but she didn’t know what to make of it. Had he felt it too, that strange pull of attraction? Or was it just me? As he escorted her to the door of her room, her worries redoubled and she felt butterflies dancing in her stomach.
He took her hand and Amelia braced herself for what was to come, but to her relief his lordship simply raised her fingers to his mouth and grazed her knuckles with a soft kiss. She felt the tantalising rasp of the stubble on his chin against her skin and had to suppress a shiver of ... delight? Surely not! But how can it be so rough and yet soft at the same time?
‘Goodnight, sleep well,’ he said with a small smile. ‘I’ll see you in the morning.’
‘G-goodnight.’ Amelia fled into her own room and leaned her back against the door. Her legs were shaking, although she didn’t know why. I agreed to this, she reminded herself. If the viscount had asked to sleep with her on the grounds that she was already compromised, it would not have been easy to refuse. And perhaps I would have enjoyed it? She shivered again, remembering the velvety feel of his lips on her knuckles. That had been very pleasant, very pleasant indeed.
Still, she was grateful that he hadn’t made any demands on her as yet. It was too soon.
The following morning she took the liberty of ordering a bath and had a long soak before washing her hair. It was wonderful to have clean hair again, and she revelled in the silky feel of it as she combed it out. Keeping it dirty and in an unflattering style had been one of the subterfuges she had employed in order to possibly put Bernard off, although sadly that had not worked for any length of time either. When her hair was reasonably dry, she put it up in a simple knot on the top of her head, and was pleased at the effect this had on the viscount when she descended for breakfast.
‘I say, that hairstyle becomes you very well,’ he exclaimed. Amelia turned away to hide a smile. She had seen him eyeing her ringlets with disgust and she couldn’t blame him as they had been dreadful indeed.
‘Thank you, my lord.’
They continued their journey and made good time. There was no sign of anyone following them, and Amelia began to relax and enjoy herself. They stopped overnight once more and yet again the viscount left her to sleep alone after a kiss on the cheek this time, which made her heart flutter. She told herself sternly not to be so silly. He is not courting me, he is merely being polite and trying to get me used to his nearness. And it was working, she thought ruefully, since she found herself wanting his touch. He was either very clever or very adept at wooing a lady. She was not sure which. Perhaps it is best not to know?
In the afternoon of the following day they finally approached the border of Scotland.
As they drew nearer to their destination, Amelia once again became a trifle nervous. After all, I’m marrying a virtual stranger in far from normal circumstances and I have no idea what the future will hold. However, she was of an optimistic nature and would not let herself dwell too much on unpleasant possibilities. It was therefore with a cheerful smile that she later entered the forge at Gretna Green, after they had first stopped at an inn to hire a room for the night and allow Amelia to freshen up a little.
His lordship looked as handsome as ever, and Amelia felt a jolt of awareness stab her. He gave her a small smile and handed her a bouquet of flowers with a flourish. ‘For the bride,’ he said.
‘Why, thank you! How thoughtful,’ she murmured, almost overcome by this kind gesture. Any doubts she may have been harbouring fled in that moment. I am marrying a nice, kind man and I’m doing the right thing, she thought.
The ceremony was luckily very brief and after they had signed the register, together with the two witnesses – their coachman and the smith’s wife – they went back to their inn for an early dinner. Amelia felt quite exhausted from the journey and all that had happened befo
rehand, but she knew that tonight there would be no sleep for her until after she had fulfilled all her wifely obligations. Although she did know what these duties entailed, she was nervous and sat picking at her dinner.
‘You are not hungry?’ his lordship enquired.
‘Yes, I mean no. I’m just a little tired.’ She felt herself blushing under his scrutiny and stared at her plate.
‘You are not afraid of me, are you?’ he asked gently. ‘I assure you I would never hurt you in any way.’
‘Oh, no. Of course not, my lord.’
‘Perhaps you could call me James now that we are married, Amelia?’
‘I … yes, if you wish, er, James.’
He handed her a glass of wine. ‘Here, a little of this will calm your nerves.’
Amelia accepted gratefully and drank deeply, forgetting that she hadn’t eaten very much. The wine went to her head very quickly and she began to feel much more composed and cheerful. So much so, that the meal passed in a blur. Before she knew it, she had consumed at least three glasses of wine, with the result that she felt a bit strange when she stood up.
James did not seem to notice, however, and simply picked her up and carried her to their chamber, where he put her down just in front of him. A frisson slithered through Amelia as her body came into contact with his, and when he put his arms around her it felt so right. She twined hers around his neck with a smile and when he bent to kiss her, it was even more wonderful than that first time on the terrace, and she responded eagerly.
He kissed her slowly at first, almost reverently, then began to deepen the kiss until Amelia parted her lips in response. The most wonderful sensations began to course through her and it was beyond anything she had ever felt in her life. Eagerly, she pulled him closer to kiss him back in equal measure, but her passionate response was cut short as James tore his mouth away. He held her at arm’s length, staring at her with a frown.
Regency Romance Collection From Christina Courtenay Page 3