"Can you doubt it, Sir?"
The expression in his eyes made her pulse race madly. "Oh, Lavinia. " In an instant she was caught up against him, her heartbeat echoing the fast tempo of his own, as his lips drifted gently, and then not so gently, across her face, before returning to claim her lips with an urgency that left her breathless. Willingly she submitted to their fierce demanding pressure, conscious only of an overpowering need to be held ever closer to him.
When at last he released her, they were both shaking Lavinia's eyes shining, her lips soft and tender. His smile was rueful as he raised his hand to caress the tumbled chestnut curls, and for the first time she saw the bandage round his wrist.
"Saltaire, what have you done?" she whispered, fear for him piercing her with agonising sharpness.
He shrugged. "Nothing, a slight wound that is all."
"Andover?" she asked uncertainly.
If she had doubted his love for her, the raw emotion in his voice when he asked, "Does he matter so much to you then?" would have been sufficient to reassure her. She shook her head, her senses thrilling to this fresh evidence of his love.
"He means nothing to me, Saltaire," she said in a simple voice, "It is just that I do not like to think of his death at your hands."
He smiled. "Then do not, for he is very much alive." His smile deepened a fraction, "By the way," he teased, "Don't you think it’s time you called me by my name, I do have one you know.
She laughed breathlessly, suddenly shy, before whispering, "Very well, Gilles." She half-murmured a small protest as with ruthless disregard for her blushes, he swept her back into his arms, his mouth against her ear.
"Well, do you come with me then?"
Despite the lightness of the words, she could feel his tension, as the dizzying knowledge of the extent of his love coursed through her. Her heart in her eyes, she replied softly, "Yes, Gilles, to the ends of the earth if necessary."
For a second he looked deep into her eyes, and as if satisfied with what he found there, he laughed gently, "Not that far, my love, just to Grosvenor Square."
Without more ado he led her to the waiting horse, his face darkening as she shivered slightly in the cold, and a fierce tremor of delight going through her as she saw his anger. "Come, you are frozen, brute that I am, I should have noticed it before. I fear I have only the one horse."
For a second a cold chill struck her heart. "Didn’t you expect to find me?"
She waited breathlessly for his reply, and in a second was swept back into his arms. "I could not afford the time it would have taken to harness up the chaise. N She hid her face against his chest, conscious in the sudden trembling of his body, of the anguish he had been through. He released her, endeavouring to reach a lighter note. "Besides what could be more romantic."
Lavinia laughed, albeit a little shakily, her common sense coming to his aid. ‘"Like the time you abducted me, only I seem to recall on that occasion you had little time for romance."
There was a sudden gleam in his eyes that brought the colour flooding back into her face, before he pulled his cloak firmly round her and held her tenderly to him.
* * *
When they reached Grosvenor Square
, Lavinia stirred in the Earl’s arms, savouring the warmth of his body, as she nestled closer to him. lt seemed to her dazzled eyes that every room in the house was ablaze with candles.
Kitty came rushing out of the door, exclaiming in distress at the state of her gown and embracing her warmly, traces of tears plainly evident on her pretty face. "Oh Lavinia, thank goodness. Richard," she called, "She is safe."
Richard took his sister from the Earl, helping her inside. "l have dismissed the servants for the night. I thought it best because of the gossip."
The Earl nodded his approval. "Thank you, Richard. You have done well."
He turned to his wife. a look upon his face that made the impressionable Kitty catch her breath on a sigh. She motioned to Richard, and he, correctly interpreting her glance, stepped forward. “lf you will forgive us, Saltaire. Kitty and I will seek our beds, it has been a long night."
* * *
They were alone in the same room in which she had seen him that first time. Her heart jumped nervously, as suddenly self-conscious she faced him.
"Well, my love, no regrets? You are content to place yourself unconditionally in my hands."
Tears stung her eyes, and without being aware of moving, she was across the intervening space and in his arms. "No regrets, Gilles," she whispered.
"That is just as well, for I warn you, I have no intention of letting you go."
Wordlessly she clung to him, and the arms that held her were all that she had hoped they would be, a haven in which she was protected from all harm by the strength of his love. She shivered and instantly his arms tightened.
As if reading her thoughts, he murmured, "When I think of how near I came to losing you . . ."
The eyes she raised to his face were soft with love. Then his mouth was on hers, warm and tender, yet potent and thrilling, stirring her to the very depths of her being, and making her aware of him with every fibre of her body. His touch ignited fires within her she had not known she possessed, until there was nothing but him and their love.
A Wager for Love Page 23