He debated whether to follow her home, but decided against it. He had more than enough to occupy him at the moment.
Namely his wife.
The idea of endangering her filled his soul with dread, but he couldn’t come up with an alternative. Being trapped in his own plan made his blood boil. He nudged Crusader, and the beast came alive with a flex of muscles. Hooves thundered over the land, reverberating through his body, and he relished the reckless pace.
The sun was setting when he turned toward home. Sweat soaked his shirt, the chill in the air making it clammy against his skin. Exhaustion didn’t dull his anger one iota, and he wasn’t any more resigned to the idea of dangling Brighid out like bait.
The manor was lit with enough torches that the whole place was aglow. He urged the Crusader faster, but the animal had no energy left for anything more than a jarring trot. Fear crawled into his chest. Wyatt dismounted at the bottom of the steps and tossed the reins to a waiting servant. “Wipe him down. Give him extra oats.”
He raced up the stairs and crashed through the door, his heart slamming against his. “Brighid.”
When her beautiful head popped out the parlor door, he sagged against the wall.
“Angelica has disappeared.”
Wyatt barely registered her words when Michael appeared next to her, shoving her aside as if she were less than nothing.
“Where’s my sister?”
Wyatt straightened in outrage, ready to come to her aid until she waved him away. Only when he knew she would be all right did he register Michael’s question. He bristled in offense, reminding himself the man was worried for his sister’s safety. “I hadn’t seen her since early morning.”
Michael stalked forward. “You were the last one to see her. Where is she?” He gripped Wyatt’s jacket and shoved him against the door with enough force to rattle the knob.
Wyatt knocked away the man’s hands, and Aaron threw himself between them before fists started flying. “I followed Wyatt all morning. Angelica did accompany him for a few miles, but she left, unharmed.”
“You expect me to believe he didn’t plan to meet up with her later?” Michael snorted and turned toward Brighid. “They were expected to marry. Emotions like that don’t vanish because he was forced to wed you. I knew they were meeting in secret, and I’ve tried to keep them apart, and now she’s gone.”
The impact of Michael’s accusation wasn’t immediate, and the room held its breath. Though Brighid didn’t react outwardly, she refused to look at Wyatt and his chest felt like he’d been kicked by a horse.
The doubt stung. Any ground he’d gained in the last few days to earn her trust now lay shattered. He wanted to rage as the distance between them grew into a chiasm, but he had only himself to blame for running out on her earlier. He knew he’d failed her, but the thought of something happing to her had him so paralyzed he couldn’t think straight.
Then Brighid lifted her chin and fire lit her eyes. “Funny, but you didn’t seem to have a problem abandoning her here a few days ago. That’s not the response of a brother who fears for her virtue.”
Michael lunged toward her, and Wyatt leapt between them, ready to lay the man flat if he so much as breathed on her.
“Enough.” Aaron shouted. “We should be focused on finding Angelica, not tossing around blame.” Aaron shoved Michael into the parlor, watching the man as if he were a wild animal that needed to be put down.
Wyatt only had eyes for Brighid, hoping to catch her attention. She pretended not to notice, taking a seat by his mother, her doubts yanking the ground out from under him. He turned away, suddenly afraid his stupidity had destroyed things between them. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and force her to see the truth—that they belonged together.
“I saw your sister this morning. We didn’t part amicably.” Wyatt regretted his harshness with her. He should have been more tactful. If he’d listened to Brighid and explained to Angelica why they would never suit, this situation could have been avoided.
“You lie.” Michael took a threatening step forward, his rage seething in the air.
“Michael. Stop.” Angelica entered the room, twisting her hands together.
Michael marched toward her, grabbing her shoulders so hard that she winced. Fury contorted his face as he spoke. “Did he hurt you?”
Angelica cast a speculative look in Wyatt’s direction, but his expression must have changed her mind, for she quickly lowered her gaze. “No, he didn’t touch me.”
The way she spoke implied coercion, and his jaw clenched at her nonstop scheming.
“You’re protecting him.” Michael snarled and violently shoved her away.
Wyatt had enough. “Tell the truth for once in your life.”
Angelica turned an unbecoming shade of red. “When Brighid vanished for a few hours, you were frantic with worry. You’ve known me longer. If I turned up missing, you should have been devastated and realized that you loved me and not her.” Humiliation stung her eyes as everyone fell quiet. “But you didn’t even notice I was gone.”
“What were you thinking?” Michael blanched at her confession, disbelief holding him immobile. “You’re ruined.”
Angelica blushed in anger, not the least bit ashamed of her actions. “He refused me. He said I was like a sister to him.”
Hatred burned Michael’s eyes black. “May the devil take you both. If you want to be with him so much, you can remain here. I wash my hands of this whole mess.”
To everyone’s shock, Michael turned on his heel and left without another word.
“Michael!” For the first time true distress rang in Angelica’s voice.
Michael didn’t even slow as he slammed out of the house. Angelica’s head lowered, the expert manipulator replaced by a young girl when she finally realized the seriousness of the situation. It must have taken all her courage to speak past the tears in her eyes. “What do you plan to do with me?”
She’d make some London dandy a fine wife, and Wyatt thanked the heavens it wasn’t him. “My aunt has a house in London. I’ll write a note of introduction, and you can stay with her for an unofficial second season. This is your last chance. Don’t mess it up.”
Hope shone in Angelica’s eyes for the first time all evening, and she nodded enthusiastically. “I promise.”
“Come.” Beth rose from her chair. “Let’s get you settled for the night. Morning will arrive all too soon.”
Much to his disappointment, Brighid departed with the others. Wyatt clenched his fists against the need to march after her and gather her in his arms, but feared she wouldn’t let him anywhere near her…especially when she learned Angelica would need an escort to London.
He rubbed his temple to ease the threatening headache.
The train would shorten the trip considerably, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that leaving Brighid alone would be a mistake. The way things were deteriorating between them, Wyatt very much feared his wife wouldn’t even notice he was gone. As much as he wanted Brighid to accompany them, they couldn’t afford to draw the attention of the Watchers actively hunting for her, not until they were ready to deal with them.
“What’s your plan?”
Aaron handed him a drink, and Wyatt accepted it gladly. “Send her to my aunt and have her find Angelica a husband.”
“As long as it’s not you?” Aaron smirked and took a drink.
“I’m a happily married man.” He grinned, but the thought that he might have lost Brighid due to his carelessness left him reeling.
It was after midnight when Brighid heard Wyatt’s footsteps in the hall. She walked toward the doorway connecting their rooms but stopped before calling out when she spotted the deep lines of exhaustion etched on his face. His perfect grooming was gone. Stubble covered his jaw, his hair jutted up every which way as if he’d spent hours repeatedly running his fingers through it.
She thought she was ready to confront him, but her resolve failed her when he removed his boots and
leaned heavily back into the chair before the fire and didn’t move.
“Wyatt?” Concern prodded her forward, and Brighid crept into the room. Her heart melted to find him sound asleep. She knelt at his feet and removed his socks. She knew the instant he woke, but avoided looking directly at him. She unraveled his loosened cravat, then unbuttoned his jacket and vest. Brighid hesitated over his shirt then gave a startled squeak when he grabbed her hands.
“Don’t stop.” He placed them on his chest in encouragement.
Brighid met his eyes, fighting a blush, and quickly dropped her gaze so he wouldn’t guess how much she wanted to forget everything and get lost in him.
It wouldn’t change anything.
As if he understood the sentiment, Wyatt nodded. He stood and shrugged out of his jacket. Brighid stayed kneeling, watching him with both interest and wariness. Muscles of his shoulders flexed and memories of their lovemaking spilled through her body.
“I need to talk to you in the morning. For now, all I want to do is hold you while I sleep.”
Her heart somersaulted in her chest at his confession.
He removed his shirt, revealing an expanse of skin that urged her to touch. She curled her fingers into fists to resist the impulse. She stood and shuffled toward him until only inches separated them, then she turned and lifted her hair. “Unlace me?”
She peered at him over her shoulder to see him swallow hard while he stared at her reverently, as if she were a gift to be unwrapped. He slowly unfastened the dress, and she shivered to feel the heat of him soak into her bare skin. Her dress and stays loosened, and Brighid froze when she felt a featherlight kiss on the back of her neck. Curious at the phantom touch, she turned—only to find him across the room.
Wishful thinking?
Brighid hesitated, uncertain what she wanted to happen next. From the corner of her eye, she saw him get into bed, then still to watch her. Realizing she couldn’t stand there forever, she reluctantly allowed her dress and stays to drop, carefully setting them across the back of the chair, and approached the bed cautiously, debating the wisdom of her actions even while she slipped under the covers.
His warmth invited her closer, and she hugged the edge of the bed, terrified to move lest she accidently touch him. He didn’t have any such qualms. He gathered her close, his arousal pressed intimately against her. She fought her blush and didn’t dare move, fearing that if she did, it would be toward him. To her relief, his breathing evened out, and his nearness lulled her to sleep.
Brighid woke in a haze of pleasure. She lifted her head and found herself plastered against Wyatt, as if she’d been unable to resist him even in her sleep, and crawled all over him. Wondering if she would be able to sneak out of bed with any dignity intact, she turned toward him and found his eyes locked on her.
Nope.
No dignity at all.
His usual gray-green eyes were completely green, the hunger in them devouring her. He held himself rigid, no emotions cracking his face, and a shiver of pure lust struck her at his evident desire. She found herself inching closer, craving just one taste.
“If you don’t move away in the next minute, I cannot be held accountable for my actions.” His lips barely moved while he issued those husky words.
Heat scalded her cheeks as she scrambled off him. She hugged her legs to her chest as he left the bed and stripped. He seemed unconcerned about his nakedness, and Brighid couldn’t stop staring at his sculpted body, admiring the view as tanned muscles rippled whenever he moved. Saliva pooled in her mouth at the masculine display.
“If you continue to look at me like that, our talk will be delayed a few hours.”
The dark as sin tone of his voice sent her stomach tumbling, and she desperately wanted to touch him. If she took this step, there would be no turning back…if it wasn’t already too late.
“Talk.” The command came out as a croak, and she turned away from temptation. When she glanced up again, he wore a robe that covered him from neck to foot.
She heard his sigh of disappointment at her choice.
Despite him being covered, the tension didn’t dissipate.
“Angelica will be moving to London to stay with my aunt.”
Brighid studied every nuance of his face, but couldn’t detect any signs of regret. Any niggling doubt that hovered at the back of her mind slowly vanished. “This is horrible of me, but I’m glad she’ll be gone.”
When Wyatt didn’t return her smile, her own faded, and a curl of unease spread through her. “Wyatt?”
“I have to deliver her to my aunt.”
“I know.” Brighid ducked her head. Even though she expected it, something inside her crumbled at his admission.
It was foolish to feel that he was choosing Angelica over her when he was only fulfilling what he considered his responsibility. Doing her best to suppress the bitter chill that spread like frost through her chest, Brighid was determined to use the time he was gone to set a trap of her own and eliminate the threat to Wyatt once and for all.
His eyes narrowed dangerously at her silence, and she feared he’d read her expression. If he knew what she planned, he would never leave.
“You will not do anything foolish while I’m gone. You will be here when I return, even if I have to lock you up myself, or I promise you that I will spend the rest of my life hunting you down. You’re mine.” He stalked toward her, placing his hands on either side of her head, forcing her to lean back until she was sprawled across his bed. “Do I make myself clear?”
He gripped her jaw, the touch both a threat and a caress. Her blood heated at his passionate declaration, melting the ice that had frosted over her heart.
She surprised herself by slipping her hands into his hair and pulled him closer. Only an inch separated them when she looked up at him. “Promise?”
He groaned and captured her lips in the kiss so full of hunger that it demolished the last of her resistance. Craving more of him, she pulled him close, winding her legs around his, whimpering when he resisted. He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. “We have to get dressed or we won’t leave this bed for a week.”
Chapter 25
As Wyatt made his way downstairs, a satisfied smile flickered across his face as images of a disheveled Brighid lying across his bed flashed through his mind. She looked good there. Like she belonged. He entered the dining room and found Aaron already eating.
He nodded a greeting, struggling to get his head out of his pants. It took a moment for him to notice Aaron had spoken. “Sorry, what?”
“Angelica left for London with the note to your aunt clutched in her hand.”
His first thought was relief, immediately followed by the impulse to head back upstairs and finish what he started with his wife and begin the day properly. He wanted to prove to her that she was his, even if he had to do it over and over.
Then the implications of what Aaron said turned his mood nasty. “Alone?”
“The servants reported Michael rode alongside. They left before dawn in order to make the early train.”
“Thank God.” The sting of disquiet at being forced to leave Brighid eased, and his churning stomach finally settled.
Aaron laughed. “You’re not going to miss the incessant chattering and groping hands?”
Wyatt picked up a roll and tossed it at Aaron’s head. “I’m not sure why women put up with us, if that’s how we act around them.”
The man promptly caught the bread and took a bite. “I don’t know about you, but I have a certain charm that they find irresistible.”
Wyatt snorted, the last of the tension dissipating as he finished his meal. He stood with a whistle on his lips and left in search of Brighid, intent to steal a few more of those intoxicating kisses.
“Beth, you have to help me.” Brighid barged into the countess’s room, leaving the door open a crack so she could peer down the hall. Only when she was sure that she wasn’t followed did she plop down in the chair, spra
wling in a most unladylike manner.
“With what, dear?” Beth’s eyes gleamed in anticipation of a challenge.
“Wyatt.” Brighid tipped back her head and closed her eyes. “He’s been dogging my footsteps for the past three days, ever since Angelica left.” She cracked one eye open and glared at Beth. “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he ordered the servants to keep watch and report back to him. I can’t enter any room without him showing up in a matter of minutes.” She spread her arms wide in defeat.
Images from last night took shape behind her eyes. Every evening, he would follow her into her room, strip, then watch her while she prepared for bed. And every evening, he kept his hands to himself except to hold her close.
She was about ready to die of frustration.
She knew he wanted her, because his arousal pressed against her every night like a brand.
And no matter how much she tried to tempt him, he persisted in being a gentleman.
The bastard.
“Men like Wyatt are addicted to the adventure and chase. You’re irresistible to him. If you want my advice…stop running.”
Brighid’s eyes popped open. The suggestion was innocent enough, but Beth’s smile was anything but. Brighid traced a pattern on the chair with her fingertips, the velvet fabric cool to her touch. “Can you not assign him a task for the fair? Just until I can find that damn painting. If he had a job to keep him occupied, he’d leave me in peace”
“Unlikely.” Beth chuckled with genuine amusement. “I believe he’s already found a project…you.”
Brighid heaved a sigh, but a dangerous thrill surged through her at the thought of being the center of his attention. It was totally foolhardy, the last thing she should be feeling.
“But I can try.”
“Thank you.” The heartfelt response caused Beth to giggle.
“There you are.” Wyatt pushed open the door, and she jerked upright. She did a mental calculation, then rolled her eyes. She’d managed a whole thirty-seven minutes by herself before he’d found her.
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