by Jenna Jaxon
“Good morning, Mr. Granger.” Her smile dazzled him, although just looking at her red lips made him want to taste her once again. “An outing sounds wonderful.”
“I warn you, the ride may be a bit chilly.” He held his hands out and tossed her up onto Lily.
“I’m sure I won’t mind.” Her eyes crinkled at the edges, as if she were laughing at him, daring him to keep her warm.
He’d be happy to oblige.
“Where are we going?” She adjusted herself in the saddle, settling her right leg over the pommel and pulling her skirts down over it.
“Now that would spoil the surprise, wouldn’t it?” He swung up on Galahad, checking to make sure the package with the skates in it was secured behind the saddle. “Don’t worry. It’s not far.”
“I am waiting with great anticipation, sir.” She gathered the reins and looked expectantly at him. “Lead on, Mr. Granger. Tempus fugit.”
“Yes, it does, my lady. Let us go, by all means.” He tapped his horse’s flank and the roan moved off at a fast walk. Lily followed close behind and when they reached the smooth driveway, he touched the horse again and they swung into a canter.
Maria flashed him a smile as she drew even with him. She had an excellent seat, though of course she’d learned to ride here, a little over a year ago. The former Lord Kersey had taught her to ride, along with other things, so he gathered.
He refused to think of that. Rather, he preferred to dwell on her generous nature as with the Tates, her kindness when dealing with children or animals, her gentle wit—though sometimes it came out quite sharp as well. These were the things that had made him love her. That he would miss most about her when she had gone.
Turning the horse down the driveway that led to Francis House, he wondered what she thought he had in store for her. He glanced to his right to find her grinning widely. Of course she would think he was bringing her here for a tryst. Wanton woman. Just last night they had promised her cousin and Lord Kinellan they would wait until they were married to engage in intimacies beyond a kiss. Well, he didn’t think they could withstand such a promise if she were to stay at Kersey, but since she was leaving in the morning, today seemed safe.
They flashed past the circular driveway and continued on toward the formal gardens. From his vantage point atop the horse, Hugh could see the pond about a quarter mile beyond, shining brightly as the sun reflected off the ice. Excellent.
Pulling Galahad down to a trot and then a walk, Hugh brought them to a stop right at the end of the irregularly shaped pond. There were bulrushes thick at the far end, with overhanging trees, now leafless. Nearest to them was the overturned log where he and Bella had sat to lace on their skates last year. There was also a place to tie the horses so they could crop the little bit of grass still left. An idyllic spot for their last day together.
Hugh dropped to the ground, then helped Maria down as well. She slid down into his arms, every part of her touching every part of him it seemed. The minx would try his patience for certain. He gave her a stern glare. “You had best behave, young lady. I made a promise to your cousin not to compromise you before we could marry.”
“I think I will take my chances with Jane’s wrath if it means I can be close to you, my love.” She gave a coquettish laugh and Hugh groaned. Best divert her away from this dangerous topic.
“Here is your surprise.” He waved toward the frozen pond.
“I see.” She looked askance at the pond, then at him. “I will admit I am surprised, for I cannot fathom a single reason why you would have brought me here.”
“Ah, but here is the other part of the surprise.” He untied the parcel from behind the saddle and brought out two pairs of—
“Ice skates!” Maria darted forward, taking one up, but being mindful of the blade. “I used to go ice-skating all the time at my parents’ house. There is a river nearby that would freeze when the weather was cold enough.” She turned a gleeful face to him. “How did you know?”
“I didn’t.” Grinning like a fool at her look of pure pleasure, Hugh thanked whatever angel had whispered in his ear to take Maria skating. “I hoped you had skated before, but I would have been happy to teach you if you hadn’t.”
“Well, let’s see who knows what.” She dropped down onto the log and began to tie the skates onto her shoes. “Last one onto the ice has to pay a forfeit.”
Lord, and didn’t he know what her forfeit would be if she won the wager.
Hugh sat down to strap his skates on as well. The process wasn’t terribly difficult, just lengthy. He fumbled with the straps, his fingers stupid as he tried to hurry.
“One skate on!” Maria laughed and began on the other one.
“No fair. You have smaller fingers that work better than mine.” Cursing under his breath, Hugh buckled the first skate on and reached for the second, although he doubted he could catch up with Maria now.
“Done!” Pink cheeked, she laughed again as she stood before him, showing him first one and then the other skate. “Do you need some help with your laces, my dear?”
“No, thank you.” His words came out a growl, which made Maria laugh all the harder.
“Come.” She held out her hand and helped him up when he was finished. “I cannot wait to skate again. It has been an age at least. I had to have been ten years old.”
“Well, I hope it comes back to you, but if not, I will be here to save you.” He grinned as they made their way toward the pond’s edge.
“My hero.” She clutched his arm in mock terror.
He pushed aside some frozen vegetation, creating a path to the ice. “Hold my hand.”
She gripped it tightly and followed him to the edge.
“Wait here and let me sound out the ice. It’s been so cold recently I don’t think it has thinned, but best be safe.”
Maria nodded gravely, her brows drawn inward. “Do be careful.”
He set his skates on the smooth ice and pushed off. Each year it came back to him, as if he skated every day of his life. Cautiously, he struck out for the center of the pond, watching for slushy spots or cloudy patches of ice. That meant it wasn’t frozen hard enough. But everywhere he looked the ice was clear. No air bubbles, no cracks, just solid, clear ice. Perfect. “I think it’s good,” he called, turning toward the bank. “Come on out.” He waved to her even as he started back.
Maria set her skates on the surface and pushed off. She wobbled for a moment, her arms flailing as she fought for balance.
Hugh hurried toward her, then something seemed to change.
Suddenly, she remembered her balance and her strokes became strong and even. She threw back her head and laughed, then struck out to meet him. Grabbing his hands, she assumed the skater’s position, right hand over left, and their feet began to glide in unison.
“I see it came back to you.” He steered them down the center of the pond toward the bulrushes at the end, then turned to head back up the far side.
“It did. This is so marvelous. I did not realize how much I had missed it until I started to skate.” Maria’s excitement was infectious. He’d not thought of skating since last year, but now the thrill of the speed—almost like flying—seemed one of the most exhilarating things he’d ever done. “Take my hands like this.”
He clasped her hands, left in left and right in right, until they faced one another. Then he began to spin them around, faster and faster until the world sped by at a dizzying pace.
Maria leaned her head back, laughing up to the cloudless sky, her face more beautiful than he’d ever seen it.
He slowed them down until they stood facing one another, panting. “I love you.” Hugh managed to get the words out before he sank his mouth onto hers. The kiss was quick—they were still both gasping for breath—then a gulp of air, then he kissed her again. Longer this time, pressing against her even as he wrapped his arms around her and drew her to him. Another breath and he settled in for a lengthy kiss that he deepened, delving through her lips, in
to her mouth, tasting all the entrancing flavors that were uniquely her. God, he would never get enough.
Slowly, he came back to his senses and broke the kiss, albeit reluctantly. Maria nestled her head on his chest, as though it was the most natural thing in the world to do on the middle of a frozen pond.
“Do you still want me to leave?”
“You know I do not.” Existence here without her would be the worst form of torture.
“Then I won’t go.” She raised her head to look at him, love shining in her eyes. “We can get married, Hugh. I can live with you and your sister and my daughter at Wingate. If only we think about it, we can find a way to be happy.”
“My love, what do you think Lord Kersey will do when he finds out that I have married his kinswoman without so much as a by-your-leave? I wager I will find myself without a situation, therefore no house, no means to support any of us.” He hated to extinguish the hope in her face, but the harsh reality of their plight could not be mitigated. “Our best plan is the one we agreed to last night.”
“But I don’t want to leave you. Not even for the time it takes me to go from here to there.” She struck out toward the far shore.
“Maria, come back.” He set out after her, but she swung around toward him.
“I won’t do it, Hugh. I won’t go. There must be some other way we can be together without another wretched scandal raising its head.” She looked so distraught, so forlorn, where moments before she’d been all smiles and laughter.
“Come back, my love. We can talk about it before we go back to the Hall.” It was more of a perfunctory concession. He’d thought about nothing else for the past days save how to make everything come out right. Nothing, save her leaving or Kit dying, would end their torment.
“Promise me, Hugh. Promise me we will be to—” Maria’s foot slid backward toward the bulrushes, broke through the ice and plunged her into the depths of the icy pond.
Chapter Nineteen
Hugh stared in horror as Maria screamed, just before her head submerged beneath the dark water. Without thought, he threw himself down on the ice, spreading his weight over its surface, his head over the hole where she had disappeared. “Maria!”
Her head broke the surface and she screamed again.
He grabbed her shoulders. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you, Maria.”
Eyes wide, she clutched at his arms, her nails digging into his coat sleeves until he thought she would rip the thick material.
“Ah . . . ah . . . ah.” She panted for breath, the panic in her face giving way to terror. “Help me, Hugh.” Her voice was little more than a whisper.
“I’ve got you.” He squeezed her shoulders. “Listen to me. Are you touching the bottom? This pond is not very deep at all.”
She stilled, then nodded her head. “I . . . f . . . feel it.”
“Good.” He took a stronger grip on her. “I want you to push off from the bottom toward me. Quickly, love. Push now.”
She tensed, then lifted as he heaved and pulled her back up onto the ice. Still panting, she clutched his arms as he slowly slid them onto the more solid ice in the middle of the pond. “Easy, now. I’ve got you. Are you hurt?”
Staring at him, Maria didn’t respond at first, then shook her head as violent shivering overtook her. “C . . . c . . . cold, Hugh.”
“Here.” He ripped off his jacket and pulled it around her, then picked her up and skated frantically for the shore. In moments he deposited her shaking figure on the log, then pulled off his skates and hers, all the while assessing the situation. “We need to get you out of the cold.”
The dowager house stood a quarter mile away, best make for that. Inside he could build a fire and get her warm again. The horses, still quietly cropping grass nearby, were the best bet, if Maria could ride. “Come on, love. We’re going to Francis House.”
Still shivering, Maria nodded and tried to stand, but she shook so hard her legs wouldn’t support her.
“Here.” Hugh picked her up and ran to Lily. “Can you hold on to the pommel? I’ll lead the horse if you can just hold on.”
Teeth chattering, Maria nodded, her whole body still shaking uncontrollably. Once in the saddle, she leaned over and wrapped her arms around the horse’s neck and groaned.
“What’s wrong?” Hugh had been leading Galahad to the log to use it as a mounting block, but dropped the reins and ran back to her.
“Warm.” Her cheek pressed against Lily’s mane, her arms hugged the huge neck, absorbing the animal’s warmth as best she could.
“I’ll have you warm as quick as can be, love.” He grabbed her reins, scrambled up on Galahad, and started off at a trot. Unsure of how strong her grip on the horse was, he dared go no faster. Still, they arrived at the kitchen door of the dowager house in almost no time.
Hugh leaped down and ran to the door. He had no keys to the house with him, but that was of little worry. Using his elbow, he broke the windowpane, glass tinkling on the stone floor inside. He reached inside, lifted the latch, and the door swung inward. He hurried back to Maria, still clinging to the horse for dear life. “Come, sweetheart. Let’s get you before a warm fire.”
He had to pry her arms from around the horse’s neck, and pulled her into his arms. She shook so hard he staggered as he carried her into the house and sat her down before the fireplace. “Are you all right?”
She nodded, but continued to shiver.
“I’ll get some tinder and start a blaze in a minute.”
Searching around the kitchen, however, revealed that the servants had taken every scrap of wood or else it had been used in the last days the house had been open and not replaced. Nothing remained with which to build a fire.
Maria sat huddled in his jacket, bent over, her arms wrapped around her. She needed to get out of her wet clothing and sit before a fireplace blazing with heat. But where? At the least he could take off her soaking boots. He bent and unlaced the brown, muddied half-boots, then pulled them off, emptying out a deal of water onto the floor in the process. Now he needed to see about something dry for her to wear. “I’ll be right back, love.”
His words brought no response, which alarmed him greatly. He tore out of the kitchen, taking two steps at a time to the ground floor. Racing for the front staircase to the first floor, he sped past the library, music room, and receiving rooms. They had been little used when Maria and Jane had lived here, so likely had nothing to offer, although if he couldn’t find wood anywhere, he’d come back to the library. At least books would burn.
On the first floor he hurried into the dowager’s chamber to see if anything had been left there. The room had been stripped and swept clean. No bedding remained, but the bedcurtains still stood around the four-poster bed. Should he pull them down to drape around Maria? Poking at the fireplace, also without a stick of firewood, a growing sense of dread filled him. If he couldn’t get Maria warm and very shortly, she could catch an ague or a severe chill. People died every day from such ailments. He’d never forgive himself if he lost her due to his own foolish actions.
He opened the door to the bathing chamber wide to allow enough light to come in so he could see. The windowless chamber was small compared to the bedroom, but then it had been built with a mind to keeping the heat in. Feeling for the small fireplace used to heat water for the bath, his hand met with the box that held the wood. Bless the lord, it still held several sticks. He quickly filled his arms, then paused. This room was small and would hold heat well. What better place to bring Maria? If he started the fire now, the chamber would be cozy by the time he brought her here.
After shoving the wood into the small grate, he grabbed the tinderbox and quickly struck a spark. The fire leaped into life and Hugh said a prayer of thanksgiving. A swift search of the chamber revealed two more stashes of wood, enough to keep the fire going for at least an hour or so. He checked one more time to make sure the fire blazed, then ran from the room to fetch Maria.
Huddled over and shive
ring so hard the chair clattered on the wooden floor, Maria barely seemed to notice when he scooped her up in his arms once more and carried her to the bathing chamber. There was no place to put her, save the bathtub, which was porcelain and cold. He’d have to improvise something, then set about finding her some dry clothing, though that seemed a hopeless cause in the bare household.
“Maria? Maria!” She still had not responded by the time Hugh got her to the bathing chamber. Body shivering and teeth chattering all the way, she’d lain like a block of ice in his arms. Somehow he had to get her wet things off and get her warmed up.
The fire had heated the small room appreciably by the time they arrived. He stood her in front of the fireplace, then ran back to the bedchamber and yanked at the bedcurtains. The rings that held them to the frame popped and shot all over the room, but the thick material came away in his hands. Striding back to the warming room, he doubled the fabric and lay it in the tub. “Now, let’s get those wet clothes off you, sweetheart.”
Thanks to the fire, her shivering had lessened. Still, she was soaking wet. She’d never feel warm while she wore those garments. But how would he get her out of them? And what could she wear while they dried? They intended to marry, true, but Hugh wasn’t prepared to strip her and leave her naked.
His own shirt had gotten wet when he carried her, but it would dry quickly if held before the fire. She could wear that—more for modesty’s sake than warmth, but it would serve.
“Maria, take off my coat.”
She shook her head and clutched the jacket more closely.
“You can have it back, and my shirt as well, but we need to take off your clothes so you can get warm.”
She eyed him suspiciously, then gave a ghost of a smile. “I . . . I knew you . . . c . . . couldn’t k . . . keep that p . . . promise.”
“Good lord, woman.” Hugh shook his head as he peeled the damp jacket off her. “I’m trying to save your life, not seduce you.”
“C . . . could do both.”
A chuckle escaped him. Maria was nothing if not persistent. At least it showed a return of her spirit, so much better than the awful lethargy that had frightened him earlier. “Let’s get you warm before we think of doing anything else.”
