Jo, on the other hand, had no such problem. “Najja is an amazing person who always puts others ahead--”
“Jo, do not do this. You need to keep clear of all impropriety.”
Her blue eyes flashed with anger. “Hang that. I will not let anyone slander you, especially when there is no basis for it.” Jo snapped her fingers and a footman appeared. “Countess Clifton is leaving, see her carriage is brought around.”
Heels snapped together and the man hurried off to do as bade. Jo sent a pointed glare to their guest. “You may wait in the receiving room and someone will get you when your carriage is here. Come, Najja.”
A bit shocked by this assertive side of Jo, Najja went without a word. They moved out the countess’ view and halted.
“I am sorry you had to deal with that, Najja.” Jo spoke with soft urgency.
“Words I have heard many times before and ones I am sure to hear again.”
Jo’s eyes darkened with fury. “People are stupid. You are a wonderful person and Colin would be lucky to have you.”
Grateful no one was near, she shook her head. “There is nothing between Colin and me, Jo. He is an earl and far from the reaches of someone such as I.”
The sly grin on Jo’s face surprised her and she narrowed her own eyes suspiciously in return.
“Good luck convincing him.” She spun on her heels and walked off, a jaunty whistle on her lips.
She shook her head at both Jo’s comment and the whistling. Glancing out one of the tall windows, Najja noticed the sun beginning to set. After allowing herself on more tempting thought about Colin, she made her way to the front door. Cloak on she headed outside. The air had an ominous bite to it, sending all her senses on high alert. Out of habit, she checked the sky for Indrani before starting her walk.
Darkness had almost completely cloaked the countryside when she made her way back up the steps. The door opened spilling welcoming light around her. The butler stood there.
“They are holding dinner for you, miss.”
“Thank you.” She hurried past him after he removed her cloak and made her way to the table. “Forgive my tardiness.”
“Stop apologizing, Najja, come sit and eat,” Hayworth ordered.
The meal was wonderful and the Adrys family kept the talk lively and yet Najja couldn’t shake the feeling of foreboding. She accompanied them to the library and read one of Adrys’ botany books. They were beautifully done and while not many knew, Honoria was the one who did all the drawings.
Each flower down to the last intricate detail she drew. Najja continually raised her gaze to observe the trio who meant the world to her. I will miss them. The only other person she recalled with any fondness was Master Kiyoshi. She would miss them all when she left.
After the house succumbed to silence, Najja continued to wander the halls. She even slipped into the secret passageway and reassured herself it remained secure. Sleep, deep sleep, eluded her and she spent a good portion in Jo’s room, watching over her.
By the end of the week, she had almost completely withdrawn into herself. Luckily, Jo and her mother were talking about dresses for Jo’s upcoming Season, so that combined with Lord Adrys working on another book, wasn’t a huge deal.
Colin brushed Salvage, hoping for some solace from the recent thoughts that plagued him. His gelding didn’t seem bothered by his dilemma at all.
“What would you do, Salvage?” The chestnut whickered and tossed his head, eliciting a laugh from Colin. “Of course you would.”
Tonight was the night before the New Year, the village was having a celebration and he paused in the brushing as he thought about Najja. I wonder if she will be there.
There would be fireworks; he provided them. But he only wanted to be around Najja. No matter the entertainment, she was who he wanted.
“What the blazes are you doing out here, Colin? You do know you have a perfectly good house which is warm. Not to mention, men in your employ who are paid to groom your flea-bitten nag.”
Colin snorted. “Salvage is the best out of the lot of us, Tryst.”
“Sad truth that.”
The men shared a handshake and Colin continued the mindless action while Tryst stood at Salvage’s head.
“What brings you to Falcon House?” Colin queried.
“London was boring.”
Colin stopped and glanced up at his friend, his best friend, with suspicion. Eyes narrowing in warning he said, “She is not a plaything, Tryst.”
An arrogant smirk turned up his lips as Trystan shrugged without shame. “You are jumping to conclusions.”
“I doubt it.” He flung the stiff bristled brush at his friend. Salvage snorted and tossed his head in displeasure as it careened by his ear. Trystan snatched it out of the air with ease and gave him a pointed look. “I mean it, Tryst. You hurt her and I will help Najja tear you into tiny pieces.”
An exaggerated sigh left him. “Fine. I will leave her alone until she comes to me.”
Colin wasn’t moved. “I do not care who goes to whom, you treat her like a conquest and I will break you.”
Trystan held up his hands in surrender. “Okay, I get it. Jo is off limits.”
“Completely.”
“You used to be more fun, you do know that, right?”
“We are not boys at Eton anymore, Tryst. I know you are a rake and proud of it. I do not care so long as you understand Jo is the sister I never had.”
“I heard your warning, Colin.”
“Good, now come in and warm up.”
“About damn time,” Trystan groused.
They left the stable and trudged through the snowy cold to the house. “Mother’s here,” Colin informed him seconds before they stepped through. The resulting expression on Trystan’s face made him laugh.
His mother grilled Trystan over the meal or else there was little to no talking. Colin didn’t mind in the least. As the dinner progressed, he found himself comparing the meal here to the one with the Adrys family. He much preferred the relaxed and fun ambiance there. Colin thought about Pug and how it would be nice to eat with him and hear about his day. Like a father would. How Lord Adrys did with Jo.
“They are having fireworks in the village, Mother. Would you like to join us?”
Her gaze was sharp for a moment before it softened. “Are they good?”
“Yes, Mother. I have a big shipment of them every year for my tenants.”
The look on her face made him wonder if she would refuse. Then she gave a small smile. “I suppose.”
He shared a grin with Trystan before waving a footman forward. “See to it Mr. Pug dresses warm, we will be going to the village for the party,” he ordered when the man dipped close to hear.
Leaning back, he thought about Berry and how he was faring. He’d gone to London before Christmas to help out more with the home for the wounded sailors and soldiers. I will send him a post tomorrow.
Moments later Pug ran into the room, feet pounding across the floor and a sparkle in his eyes.
“Are we really going to see fireworks?” he asked, nigh out of breath.
Colin smiled at the lad. “Absolutely. Countess Clifton and Mr. Wilkes will accompany us.”
He flicked his gaze over the other two briefly. Pug tugged on his shirt and rolled his lower lip in his teeth. “Do you think Jo will be there?”
I am betting on it. “I believe so.”
The resulting smile from Pug bespoke the beginnings of a rake. “Wonderful.” He left the room with the same enthusiasm he’d entered.
“He runs wild,” his mother commented.
Colin glanced at her in time to watch her daintily wipe her mouth with the linen and push her plate away. “Luckily, he does so in my house,” he replied with clear warning.
Her nostrils flared but her mouth remained blissfully closed.
His home turned into a bustle of chaos as everyone got ready. The ride in the coach was filled with Pug’s excited chatter. As it had been for the
Autumn Festival, the village was packed and busy. Countess Clifton held his arm after she alighted from the conveyance. He couldn’t explain his relief when Trystan stepped up.
“May I escort you around, my lady?” She stared suspiciously at Trystan. “I am sure your son has tenants to see before the show starts. We could get a front row seat and perhaps something hot to drink.”
“Perfect,” she agreed.
Colin sent an appreciative glance to Trystan before his friend and his mother disappeared leaving him alone to seek out his heart’s desire. It took him a while but eventually he spied her, pacing behind Jo and Honoria Adrys. His heart seemed to trip over itself before once again settling into rhythm.
Najja wore black and even from a distance he could see some strain on her face. Not much but a bit. As he observed his mother, Trystan and Pug approached and talked. Trystan spoke briefly to Najja otherwise she remained silent.
He smiled when Trystan convinced Lady Adrys to accompany them as well. Pug took a bit more persuading before he left Jo’s side. Finally the women were alone. Swinging wide, he kept them in sight as he closed the gap. Jo spied him first and waved. Najja didn’t seem all that surprised to see him.
“Hi, Colin,” Jo said, peering at him with large blue eyes.
“Miss Adrys,” he replied, taking her hand and bowing low over it. “Good to see you here.”
His gaze found Najja’s and just like that everything else faded into the background. Her eyes were dark and unfathomable, almost like staring into a stranger’s eyes.
He released Jo and stood tall before inclining his head in her direction. “Miss Najja.”
“Good eve, Lord Clifton.” Her voice, composed and matter-of-fact, accompanied the slight dip she gave.
The lackluster response tore at him. He longed to remove her ankle length cloak, free her hair so he could brush it behind her ears, exposing the silver that hung there. It ate at his gut, the need for her to watch him with passion-glazed eyes, in his bed. His life. Forever.
“Can I escort you to your mother?” he asked Jo.
Jo’s smile held some sympathy for him. “Please.” Offering his arm, they strolled through the crowd, Najja trailing behind.
“If it helps, this is hard for her too,” Jo said on a whisper.
Did it help? No, not really. He didn’t want her to suffer either. He just wanted her.
“Not easy to tell that,” he remarked offhandedly while acknowledging this was another first for him. Discussing such things with another woman.
“She is a master at disguising her true emotions.”
Ignoring the urge to glance back at the woman shadowing them, he put his other hand in his pocket. “Have you ever seen her truly happy?”
“Yes.” Jo’s fingers tightened on his arm briefly. “Back home, she would--when she was there--she would take me up into the trees. Branches so wide you can walk them with ease. She would take me deep into the forest to these amazing places. Away from her father, she would sometimes allow herself to relax. Being with Fineas and Indrani make her happy also.”
“Have you met her father?” he questioned.
“A few times. He is a very…intense man. Scary.”
He had so many more questions, however, they’d reached the seats. As the sky filled with the brilliant colors he took the opportunity to scan for Najja. He spied her and slipped from his seat. Approaching her from the back he didn’t wait, didn’t even ask for permission, just wrapped his arms around her and tugged her back to rest against him. She didn’t resist and his heart soared. Lowering his head, he pressed a kiss to her temple. The fresh scent of cold winter mixed beautifully with the warmer scent of her. Spiced roses and vanilla.
“It feels so good to hold you again, luv. I have missed you.”
“I am sure Countess Valewood is more than willing to have you hold her.”
The blandness in her tone didn’t fool him, he knew jealousy when he heard it.
“Like I told you before, luv. I desire only you.”
Her body sank deeper into his touch and he relished the contact all the while longing for more. Fewer clothes and more bodily contact.
“So you did.”
“Why are you standing over here instead of sitting with Jo?”
“I can see more of the crowd this way.”
“You still think someone is out to hurt him?”
“Yes.” Her affirmative hit the air with barely any passage of time.
Nuzzling the side of her neck, he wished they were somewhere private and warm. “Do you have any ideas who?” She stiffened and he sighed. “Let me help you Najja, as you did me.” Still nothing. “I know you are used to doing it all yourself but you no longer have to. Allow me to assist you.”
The sky exploded in a wide array of colors and Najja covered his arms with hers. “Can we not speak of this and enjoy the fireworks?”
“Have you seen them before?” he asked near her ear.
“Yes, over in The Orient. They are amazing.”
Colin responded by brushing a kiss along her face. He didn’t want to talk fireworks. He wanted her to agree to stay with him. Knowing she would refuse to talk about it, he simply enjoyed the time they had together, tucked away off to one side. Alone and with their combined body heat surrounding them, they observed the rest of the display in silence.
The moment it ended and with the smell of the burning powder lingered in the air, she stepped from his grasp and made to rejoin her party. Colin grabbed her wrist and spun her back to him. He could see her large eyes staring up at him from the nearly full moon, which slid free of the clouds it had been hiding behind. They shone in the light and he watched them soften with longing.
He slid his hands up to cup the sides of her face, his thumbs stroked the smooth skin of her cheeks.
“Najja…”
“Goodbye, Colin,” she whispered.
His fingers sank into her hair. He held her there when she tried to step back. I will never let you go. The words wouldn’t come and he felt like he was about to lose her. Closing the rest of the distance between them, Colin covered her mouth with his.
She opened beneath him like a flower bud did to the sun’s rays. His tongue thrust into her mouth and he groaned at her familiar taste. Her hands slid under his greatcoat and settled upon his waist, fingers clutching his sides.
He lost all sense of time, focusing solely on the woman in his arms. Biting back his growl of frustration when she ended the kiss, Colin watched her lick her lips and give him a sad smile.
For the life of him he didn’t want to release her but he knew he must. With great reluctance he stepped back, his fingers lingered as long as they could before his hands fell away. He followed and watched them approach their carriage. Honoria and Jo climbed in and his heart skipped a few beats when he saw Najja sitting tall and proud on the back of her coal black stallion.
Why is she not inside out of the elements?
The Adryses headed off and he watched until they were swallowed up by the night. His heart wasn’t in the rest of the festivities and had no problems agreeing to leave when his mother informed him over an hour later she was ready.
At the carriage, Colin paused after assisting his mother in. “Where is Pug?” he asked, glancing to Trystan.
“I thought he was with you.” His friend frowned. “He said he was coming to find you.”
“I have not seen him.”
Disconcerted, he swung around and scoured the remnants of the festival. People headed to their homes and warm beds, but no Pug. Fear rose up and he put Trystan in with his mother and sent them home. Once they were on their way, he hurried to Frank Ashcroft’s home and pounded on the door. It opened exposing him to Frank’s grizzled face framed by the tallow candles light.
“My lord? Is something wrong?”
“I am sorry for disturbing you, but I need a horse.”
“Of course, any one you want. Do you need me to come with you?”
“No, please
go to bed. I will return him come morning.”
“Very good, my lord.”
Colin hurried to the stable and lit a lantern. Drawing a large gray from his stall, he bridled him and swung on. He blew out the light and hung it on the nail by the door before digging in his heels and heading the large equine off toward where he bet Pug had gone.
Kittle Manor.
Chapter Seventeen
Najja rode beside the carriage, her mind lingering over her shared kiss with Colin. She wanted to stay with him, hold him, and let him make her feel safe. Focus Najja!
She shifted in the saddle and flexed her fingers. It was cold out, the wind had increased and she fought off a shudder. The moonlight offered a clear view for which she was grateful. The carriage slowed to head down a slope and she urged Fineas on after. They were about half way across the opening when the prickle went up the back of her neck.
Men exploded from the surrounding woods, the moonlight not hiding their intent.
“Ride!” she hollered to the driver as she set her heels to Fineas’ side and sent him toward the ones blocking the path into the woods. Shots rang out and she hugged tight to the muscled neck of her horse. As he thundered along she used one hand to release her cloak and allowed it to flutter away to the ground.
She drew hard on the reins, jerking Fineas hard to the left. The momentum of his abrupt stop allowed her the opportunity to use her whip on those two and send her mount back to intercept the approaching carriage as she replaced it around her waist.
Eyes flickering between the ever-approaching horde of faceless men and the carriage, Najja knew she had one chance. The driver jerked to a stop before her and she hurried to the door away from the nearing riders. She dismounted and yanked the door open, one swipe of her sai and the leather saddle fell from Fineas’ back to the ground.
“Get on,” she commanded Jo and her mother. The women didn’t argue, their faces tight with fear. She had to help them but it didn’t take long.
“They are almost here!” the driver said, his voice nervous.
Grabbing Jo’s arm, she met her friend’s gaze. “Listen to me. Ride on this side to the forest then give him his head. Go home, get your father and hide in the passageway.”
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