“You were being chased?” Personally she couldn’t believe that anyone would be so stupid as to chase after Jonathan, unless it was an angry husband or a particularly persistent female.
“I was.” Jonathan dipped his head in rueful acknowledgement. “I was also being shot at, if I recall.” He frowned into the distance for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. Her nervous shuffle drew him back to the present and he realised that while he was reminiscing, she was getting soaked.
“By who?” The words were out before she could stop them. She made no objection when he began to walk again, this time more slowly.
“There is more to my life than you realise, Kat. I am not some dandy who spends his days living in London, with nothing to do but while away the hours frittering money away.” He wanted to say more, but his attention was captured a furtive movement further up the hill to their right. He knew immediately who it was, and felt his hackles rise.
“Just do one thing for me?”
Kat turned to look at him, aware of the shift in his voice. She wondered if he had revealed more than he had wanted to and now regretted his transgression because his face seemed implacable.
“If anything happens when we are walking you home, I want you to run for home, or the inn, whichever is closer, and stay there until I come to fetch you.” He had more than enough years’ experience to be confident in being able to deal effectively with four amateurish young country bumpkins, especially when Kat’s safety is at risk.
“What have you seen?”
She knew from the careful way he looked at her that he wasn’t going to deny he had seen anything, and for that she was grateful.
“Up to the right, I think your friend, and most probably his cohorts, are watching us,” he murmured. He gave in to temptation and touched one of the curls bobbing around her face. When she tried to turn around to look behind her, he placed a finger beneath her chin. His movement effectively kept her gaze locked on him. He took advantage of their close proximity and dipped his head low until his lips drew close to her ear. His voice dropped to a husky rumble. “If I tell you to run, that’s exactly what I want you to do.”
Her eyes closed as a shiver of awareness swept through her. She couldn’t remember anyone’s presence having this much of an effect on her. He didn’t even need to touch her, yet she found it difficult to breathe, much less think about anything other than his wonderfully reassuring presence before her. She made no objection when he placed his hands on her waist and drew her physically closer.
The mixture of cold air and his warm breath made her shiver with awareness, and she closed her eyes in a desperate attempt to battle with the white hot sensations that coursed through her. She began to tremble and hoped that he couldn’t feel it. Everything within her froze; locked in that moment in time when she stood so close to the man who had haunted her dreams for as long as she could remember.
“Kat,” Jonathan’s voice dropped even further, to a deep growl, but did little to penetrate the haze of desire that muddled her thoughts. “God help me,” he whispered. His warm breath fanned her cheek as he eased back enough to capture her lips with his. It wasn’t a deep kiss, or a particularly long one. It was more of a ritual branding. A warm pressure of his mouth seared her right down to her very soul. She could do little to break away, or find voice for any objection. Instead she stood perfectly still and allowed him to press his lips to hers. He didn’t draw her any closer and, after a few moments, slowly eased away.
Their eyes met and held for several moments. He made no attempt to apologise. He took a few moments to try to control the raging need that surged through him. The urge to sweep her into his arms for a deeper and much longer kiss was so strong that he had to step away to stop himself reaching for her for a second time.
The soft scuff of footfall snapped them both out of the haze of desire that hung over them and they slowly eased apart. There was nobody around, so Jonathan could only assume that the movement had come from Brian.
He hoped that the boy had gotten a good look and understood that Kat wasn’t a single, helpless female. By the time he had paid the boy a quick visit, the threat to Kat and her family would have moved far away. If not, then Jonathan would make a swift return and ensure that all of the boys knew he would protect what he considered to be his.
“Let’s get you home before we both drown,” he whispered. He drew her closer to his side and he escorted her up the hill. He hated the fact that she was so quiet. Did she not want to talk to him? To ask him what his intentions were? Was she so angry that she couldn’t find words to tell him off for the liberty he had taken? He took a quick glance at her face but could detect nothing on her face that was alarming. Instead, she seemed to be busy scouring the area around them as they walked, clearly on the lookout for Brian and his friends. It irked him a little that she was so unfazed by their kiss. He was shaken to the core. She had seemingly forgotten it had ever happened.
“I won’t let them hurt you, you know,” Jonathan growled and cast a dark glance at the alleyway as he passed. He almost wished the boy would make an appearance but then immediately dismissed the idea. One thing he had learned from his work with the Star Elite was that it was sometimes better to bide your time and strike an opponent when they least expected it.
“I don’t know why they have suddenly decided to target me,” Kat whispered. She hated the feelings that coursed through her. Wild hope surged with crushing disappointment as her emotions battled with logic. She knew that Jonathan was not likely to stay in the area, but couldn’t understand why he had decided to pay her so much attention. It was as disconcerting as it was trilling. What did he want? Was he expecting her to be his local dalliance? Did he want someone to warm his bed when he happened to drop by Bentney on Sea in the future?
Her thoughts turned toward the smuggling and his questions. Did he expect to befriend her in the hope that she would tell him what he wanted to know? That prospect seemed considerably more likely, and she struggled to control the bitter disappointment that began to well at the thought that he could be so coldly calculating. Still, she owed it to herself to not allow him to kiss her again. If only his kiss hadn’t stirred the strange warmth deep inside her, she would have had a better chance at keeping him at arm’s length. Right now, if she didn’t get him out of her front room and on his way home, she would most probably allow him to kiss her again.
“I wouldn’t worry about it Kat. They are not going to cause you any trouble. I have alerted my friend, Harper, as to their behaviour and he has men at the ready in case they approach you again. I intend to have a word with them first thing in the morning.”
He had followed her into the front room and now stood, seemingly oblivious to the rain that dripped steadily off him onto the wooden floor.
“Would you like a drink or something?”
She found herself hoping that he was going to kiss her again, yet wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or disappointed when he remained by the door instead.
“No, I had better go before I catch influenza,” he replied wryly, and glanced down at his sodden clothing with wry amusement.
“Thank you,” she offered when he had stepped outside the door and turned to glance back at her.
“Will you be coming to read to uncle tomorrow?”
“If he is feeling up to it,” Kat offered. “I enjoy it.”
“So does he.” Jonathan smiled. He placed a hand on the door and stepped forward to place a gentle kiss on her cheek. “Lock the door behind me, Kat.” He stroked one blunt finger down her smooth cheek and smiled gently. “Goodnight.”
Kat stared at the empty space he left for a moment only to jump when he reappeared suddenly and smiled at her almost chidingly. She looked nonplussed at him, as though she couldn’t figure out why he was there at all.
“Lock the door,” he growled, fully aware as to the reason why she was so shaken. It soothed his ego considerably to know that she wasn’t as unaffected as he had first thought.
Kat seemed to snap out of her trance and nodded jerkily. He stepped away but turned back to look at her. She had moved closer and stood with one hand on the latch. She glanced at him and was close enough for him to drop another quick kiss on her other cheek.
“Go,” she ordered and tried valiantly to ignore the flush of pleasure that swept over her cheeks.
“Goodnight, Kat,” Jonathan chirruped, and strode down the street with ground eating strides. He paused after several feet and glanced back, pleased that she had done as he had told her and closed the door.
He studied the road before him for a moment. He could turn left, go down back toward the harbour and speak to Brian, or he could go right and head home. With a sigh, he glanced up at the night sky and closed his eyes against the raindrops that tickled his lashes.
“Right it is,” he growled. He tugged the collar of his jacket up to his ears and set off home. Brian could wait until tomorrow. For tonight, Kat was safely tucked away at home and, if he had his way, that home would soon be Dentham Hall.
Kat quietly closed the door and turned to face the room. Her mother had left a candle burning on the hearth. Kat paused long enough to check the locks on the doors and secure the shutters before she took the candle upstairs to bed. Once there, she snuggled beneath the covers and listened to the winds rattling the window panes. A part of her felt slightly sorry for Jonathan still outside undoubtedly getting drenched.
She rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. Sleep was eluding her tonight. If only she could close out the handsome visage of a certain gentleman who didn’t seem willing to leave her mind, then she may be able to catch a few winks before sunrise.
He really was extraordinarily gorgeous. If only he was a bit more stable and lower class, then she could quite easily consider a future with him. Unfortunately, he was gentry, and upper gentry at that. They were worlds apart. She knew it was folly to allow him to even kiss her, but there was nothing wrong with the peck on the cheek he had given her – well, twice. He hadn’t pressed for more, and she hadn’t stopped him. That didn’t mean that it had to go any further that the brief, yet heated kiss he had bestowed upon her out on the street.
Still, she couldn’t help but go back to the fact that he had only recently returned from an extended stay in London. Given his past record, it was inevitable that he would head back there any day now, and she wasn’t sure whether she was going to be sorry or not.
Of course you are going to be sorry, she sighed to herself. She hated to admit it, but Jonathan Arbinger had more of a command on her heart than she cared to acknowledge.
Her thoughts turned to marriage. Was she going to consider getting married one day? She wasn’t sure. There were certainly not many suitable candidates in the village, if any, really. Most of the men around her age were either off fighting for king and country, or were down and out wastrels like Brian Meldrew and his cohorts. She would rather end up a miserly old spinster than marry any of that lot.
Jonathan was the only man within miles who had ever brought forth feelings in her like the ones she had experienced tonight, and she wasn’t sure what to make of it. They were as intriguing as they were frightening. A large part of her didn’t want anyone to have this affect on her. Nobody ever had before so, given what she knew about Jonathan, why was she even thinking about him now? Was it because he had been the only man ever to kiss her? Or was it because he was tall, roguishly handsome, intriguing, dangerous, and more than a little bit charming?
She hugged her pillow tightly as she closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep. Whatever the future held, she knew that it was going to be best for everyone if she didn’t allow him close enough to kiss her again.
If only she would remember that in the morning.
CHAPTER SIX
The following day was as hectic as yesterday. It was mid-afternoon by the time Kat walked through the kitchen door at Dentham Hall.
“Kat, dear, there you are,” Mabel Smithers, the cook, called. “I wondered if you would come today. The master has asked about you, hasn’t he, Vera?”
“Sorry.” Kat closed the door behind her and turned to the buxom woman who stood beside the table. “I had heard that he wasn’t very well yesterday.”
“Oh, he is well enough now. Back on the road to recovery, I am sure. Do you want to go up now, or do you want to savour some of this lovely apple pie first?”
Kat considered the door that led through to the main body of the house for a moment and nodded. “I think I will just go straight up, if I may? I will pop back in here I am done.”
Kat almost groaned when her stomach rumbled at the delicious scent of the pie that teased her nostrils. “I will be back,” she promised fervently.
Nobody baked apple pies like Mabel. Her skills in the kitchen were legendary. She made a mental note to ask Mabel to give her some cooking lessons as some point, if the woman ever had the time and made her way across the kitchen.
She knocked gently on the door to the upper sitting room and stood back to wait.
“Come in.”
She stared in horror at the door. The voice sounded startlingly familiar. Her stomach dipped to her toes and she glanced around her in desperation. She contemplated whether she should just head back downstairs to wait until he had left the house, but the decision was taken out of her hands when, moments later, Jonathan opened the door.
“I thought I heard your voice downstairs,” he drawled and stood back to allow her into the luxurious sitting room. “I told Bruce that you were coming today. He is so pleased.”
Kat smiled awkwardly at him as she entered. Strangely, she had never felt uncomfortable at Dentham Hall before. Even though the house was rather grand, she had never felt in awe, or out of place. She didn’t know whether that was because she knew nearly all of the staff who worked there, or whether Jonathan’s uncle, Bruce, was such a nice, down to earth man. Right now though, she felt rather gauche and ill at ease.
“Good afternoon, Bruce,” Kat murmured gently. She smiled fondly at the old man as he captured her hand in his gnarled grip.
“Good to see you, my girl. I have been waiting for you,” he waved toward a chair. “Now, come and sit. Sit, both of you. I have already called for the tea things. Jonathan saw you walking down the drive. I expected you to call by yesterday.” His tone was just a little bit chiding but there was no anger in the rather rheumy eyes that met hers. “But never mind. You are here now. I have so looked forward to today. Maybe we can get two chapters out of you while you are here?”
Kat smiled at the familiar humorous twinkle in the old man’s gaze and studied the face so familiar to Jonathan’s. She secretly wondered if this was what Jonathan would look like when he was old and grey, and couldn’t put her mind to it. Someone like Jonathan would never sit gnarled and aged like this. The man seemed immutable.
Jonathan handed her the book she had been reading, its pages neatly separated by a rather ornate book mark. She was about to start when there was a knock on the door and one of the maids, Doreen, appeared with a tray of tea things. It was difficult to keep the surprise off her face as she watched Jonathan practically dote on his uncle. A blanket was placed across the old man’s knees, and a plate of cake was deposited at his elbow before a rather tepid cup of tea was placed, only half full, in the gnarled old hands. Rather than take a seat and listen, Jonathan hovered a few feet away until his uncle was finished with his drink. He then carefully took the cup off Bruce, and placed it on the table. Only then did he sit down.
Deeply touched by what she had just witnessed, Kat slowly began to read.
Jonathan listened with only half an ear. He kept a careful watch on his uncle’s face. The attentiveness was clear to see, and it was evident that the old man loved every minute of the story. Copying Bruce, he settled back in his chair, took a deep breath and allowed her soothingly melodic voice to simply wash over him. She really had the most hypnotic voice. Softly gentle, it held faintly husky tones, and h
eld a hint of Cornish twang, that was habitual for the area. She stopped only twice to take a sip of her own tea but was clearly as engrossed in the story as he and his uncle were. He couldn’t help but wonder if this was what married life would be like with her, and wished that he could spend more of his afternoons seated beside the fire while she read.
Darkness had fallen, along with his Bruce’s eyelids, when she finally closed the book. She smiled gently at the old man as his head began to tip to one side.
“I will bid you good evening,” she whispered softly as she placed the book on the table.
“Don’t you have work to do tonight?” Jonathan whispered back. He glanced down at his uncle and tugged on the bell pull. Edwards, his butler would put Bruce to bed while Jonathan escorted Kat home.
“I am going in a bit later today. I have to go and have something to eat first.” She winced at the loud rumble of her stomach and tried to ignore his wry smile.
“Look, I have to get something to eat too. I skipped lunch and am starving. Why don’t we eat and then I can escort you straight to work?”
“That’s not really necessary. Thank you anyway. Mother will already have my tea ready, so I had best be off.” She felt awful for having to lie to the man, especially now she had seen his kindness toward his uncle first-hand, but she daren’t allow him to get too close to her again. She couldn’t ignore the warmth that had settled deep within following his kisses last night, and wondered just how long it would last. A part of her recognised, and understood, that she had to keep one foot in reality, or else she would almost certainly get her heart broken by the man before her, especially if she encouraged his advances.
Jonathan felt faintly thwarted and frowned. Dinner was already underway in the kitchen and he sniffed the air appreciatively. He cast a quick glance at Kat, wondering if the smells were going to tempt her in any way but instead, she merely hurried out of the sitting room and made her way downstairs. He was close on her heels and watched her as she said goodbye to Mable and the other kitchen staff before she quietly let herself out of the back door.
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