He didn’t wait to see them go but dropped to the grass and forced his boots back on over his sodden stockings and breeches. He wanted to rejoin the small troop and discover if all the men were apprehended. He ran back along the shore towards the soldiers, the gunfire had ceased; he had not heard any return shots.
Movement in the channel attracted his attention, a vessel, sails up, was slinking out of the creek. God dammit! Were they too late? Had the men escaped them after all?
The lieutenant straightened as he heard his approach. ‘We’re all finished here, sir. No survivors. Two shot, one drowned.’ His tone was even, as if it mattered little to him one way or the other.
Jago pushed his dripping hair from his eyes, his shirt sleeve a flash of white in the darkness. ‘Excellent result, lieutenant. Well done to you all. Lady Allegra’s on her way back to the Priory. That’s your half of the situation settled. The rest is up to me.’
He strode back to his horse. Apollo was patiently munching the scrubby grass that edged the creek held by one of the Bow Street runners. ‘Wiggins, do you need my assistance to complete this night’s work?’
‘No, sir, we know what to do. We escort Lady Oliver to Harwich and put her on the first ship to have a free berth.’
‘That’s right. She can take any gold she has and her jewellery, and a maid, if one will agree to travel with her, but nothing else. Make sure she understands if she sets foot in England again she will be arrested and hung.’
‘My pleasure, Mr Tremayne. It ain’t often we get the chance to escort a flash mort like her. Beats murderers and thieves any day.’
‘Good. Then be on your way, Wiggins. Report to me at the Priory when your task’s completed successfully.’
He was satisfied the matter was resolved, that his love was now safe from further attack. He mounted and galloped the short distance to the Priory. He hadn’t liked the way Allegra’s head had lolled against his shoulder or the icy chill of her limbs.
*
Allegra remained comatose throughout the desperate gallop back to the Priory, did not rouse even when her maids stripped off her clothes and wrapped her in warm red flannel. Her body’s defences had crumpled. The long immersion in the cold North Sea had been too much for her. She had nothing left to fight with. Her body temperature was so low Dr Jones feared the worst.
‘I’m sorry, your grace, there is nothing else we can do, apart from pray. If Lady Allegra’s temperature does not start to rise soon then I fear she will die.’
Demelza’s face contorted and Richard pulled her close. ‘Allegra is strong, my love, she will pull through this. We mustn’t give up hope.’
‘I wish Papa was here. He would know what to do, he always does.’ She turned as the sound of running feet approached Allegra’s room. Tremayne rushed in, his hair wild, his clothes wet.
‘How is she? Had she recovered consciousness?’ He recoiled at the bleak faces. ‘Dr Jones? What’s wrong?
‘It is grave, sir. I fear her ladyship will not live to see the morning. Unless there’s a miracle, I believe she will die.’
‘Never! I’ll not let that happen.’ He snarled. ‘Get out, all of you. I wish to be alone with her.’
Richard escorted the quietly crying Demelza from the bedchamber, Miss Murrell and the doctor followed. Jago turned angrily to Abbot and Jenny still hovering by the bedside. ‘You too, get out.’
They left, believing there was no further need to protect Allegra’s reputation. As the door closed he removed his soaking garments. His boots crashed to the floor, his shirt and breeches followed. Naked he gently unrolled the flannel that covered Allegra. His heart contracted when he touched her arms. Was he too late? He could not be. He would not let her die. Without her his life would be over too.
There was one chance to save her, one way he might get her warm. He climbed onto the bed and, gathering her into his arms, rolled the red material back around them both, leaving one arm out to reach over and drag the winter comforter across.
He pulled her cold, limp form hard against him, his legs curled round hers and his arms pressed her close; there was not an inch of her icy flesh that was not touching his naked warmth. He did not intend to sleep, but he had ridden hard, swum half a mile and exhaustion overtook him.
Soon the only sound in the bedchamber was his gentle breathing, hers was too shallow, too weak, to be heard.
*
A delicious, unusual heat brought Allegra from her stupor; only half awake she revelled in the feeling. She had been so cold; she shivered as she recalled the icy drag of the sea on her clothes. Now she was safe, contented, wrapped in the arms of the man she loved.
She stiffened. Surely not? She was imagining things - this was a lovely dream. Her eyes flickered open to meet his sleepy, navy blue gaze.
‘Good morning, my darling. You’re looking much better today.’
‘Jago! What are you doing in my bed?’ She realized neither of them was clothed. She felt heat suffuse her. ‘You have no garments on.’
He smiled lazily. ‘And neither do you, my love.’ With slow deliberation he ran his hands from the top of her legs to her shoulders. A quite different heat surged through her body.
‘What are you doing? You must not.’
He nibbled her ear, sending shockwaves through her. ‘Why not, sweetheart? I’ve a special licence in my desk. We can be married this afternoon.’
She was finding it increasingly difficult to answer. ‘But we are not married at this precise moment, are we?’
In answer to her question he dropped feather-light kisses along her jaw and then he claimed her mouth with his own. This time her lips parted allowing him unimpeded access to the inner moistness. When his hand slid round to cup her breast it swelled beneath his fingers. She guessed it was far too late to worry about proprieties.
He pulled away from her, his eyes questioning. ‘Are you sure, my darling? If you want me to,
I can wait.’
A sweet heaviness was holding her captive, making it difficult to open her eyes, to find the strength to answer. ‘I, however, cannot. I want to be yours, this very moment. I love you, Jago, let me show you how much.’
If you enjoyed To Marry a Duke by Fenella J Miller then you might like to try her other books.
Bride for a Duke
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The Duke’s Reform
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To Marry a Duke Page 20