As his thumb continued to stroke her, he inserted two fingers into her channel. The feeling of being deliciously invaded by Ethan made her want him completely. She craved the feel of his cock deep inside her, planting his seed, claiming her for eternity.
Ethan broke their kiss to peer down at her as he worked his magic. Her eyes glazed over, and her hips thrust up to meet each stroke. Soon she could not help herself, and wantonly moaned as she bucked in rhythm with him.
“That’s it, my love. You are so close. I want to hear you come. Let it go, Kate. I am here.”
It was all she needed. His soft words against her ear ignited a spark that traveled between her legs and settled deep within her core. Her muscles hugged his fingers as he pumped once more before the waves of release crashed into her. She let out a strangled whimper as Ethan milked her warm folds for more. Kate climaxed again, this time she felt her juices drip out, such was the strength of her orgasm. At last Ethan’s hand stilled and they laid together, blissfully content.
Ethan rearranged her skirts and brought her against him. The only sounds heard were their pants from the exertion and the occasional stirring from the horses. It was perfect, Kate thought. It was the first time in her life that she felt utterly free, even if it was only for a few moments, and she had Ethan to thank.
She turned and stared into his eyes which sparkled with happiness. Kate leaned over and kissed him. “Thank you.”
“I have been thinking about doing that for most of the morning.”
They chuckled.
“You have been through a lot lately and I wanted to show you – I wanted to show you that I care, more than care. I am not the selfish brat I used to be.”
She brushed her thumb over his lips. “I know you aren’t, Ethan. You have already proven you have changed in so many ways, it was not necessary, but it was much appreciated.” A smirk crossed her face.
“I wanted to do it. I love touching you and hearing the sounds you make as I pleasure you.”
Already a flutter of need was starting again between her legs. This was madness; sweet, wonderful madness. She loved him, utterly and completely.
“We should get back before we are missed,” she stated.
“You are right. Eventually someone may come looking for us.”
Ethan helped her stand up and straighten out her skirts. As she picked the hay off her clothes, Ethan donned his jacket. They helped each other look presentable before leaving the stables.
“I have a meeting with the solicitor. I will be back later.”
“Be safe. I will be here with Emily.” They parted ways and Kate went inside the house.
Later that afternoon, Kate and Emily chatted in the parlor while they worked on their needlework. A knock on the door ended their conversation. It was the butler, with a package for Kate. Who would have sent her a package? No one knew she was here, except the servants at her parents’ house.
The servant offered her scissors to open the box. At first, all she saw was paper, but she could tell there was something underneath. Kate put her hand in the box and felt something soft beneath her fingers. She drew out the object and screamed. A blood-covered mound dropped to the floor and landed with a thump. She gazed at the limp heap on the ground; it appeared to be an animal. Kate felt nauseous. Emily bent down to examine the creature.
“It’s not real,” Emily said.
Kate let out a breath. “What?”
“It’s fake. Someone wanted us to believe it was a dog, but it’s stuffed, like a child’s toy.”
“What about the red stains?”
Emily rubbed a finger across the red markings and came back with liquid on her hands. She circled her fingers together and sniffed them for clues. She met Kate’s stare. “It’s blood.”
Kate sank into the nearest chair. It was a warning, but she did not know what it meant. Suddenly, she remembered Robbie’s new puppy. Kate sprung from her seat and raced to the nursery. Robbie and Nana sat immersed in their lessons with the puppy napping beside her son. Kate gave a silent thanks. If any harm came to the dog, it would devastate Robbie.
Kate returned to the parlor and saw Emily speaking with Hugh. He had the stuffed dog in his hand. As soon as he saw Kate, he went to her side.
“Are you and Robbie, all right?”
“Yes, he’s fine, and so is Pepper. Hugh, who did this?”
“We will find out. Someone had to deliver this box. I will question the servants and see if they know anything about it. Don’t worry.”
Hugh exited the room as Ethan entered. He perceived the mood in the room and sensed something was amiss. Hugh motioned for Ethan to follow him.
Emily took her friend’s hand and led her to the couch. “It will be fine, Kate. Nothing will happen to you while you are with us.”
“But that’s the problem, Emmy, things have happened. Someone got close enough to get a package inside this house. The next logical step is for that person to come inside. I shouldn’t be here; my presence is endangering all of you.”
“Don’t be absurd. The safest place for you is with all of us. Perhaps, Ethan and Hugh can send for more guards. I will not hear of you leaving.”
Emily was her truest and dearest friend, and she didn’t know what she would do without her. The ladies waited in the parlor for Ethan and Hugh to return. Kate knew she would not be at ease until she found out who had sent the package.
When Ethan reappeared, his jaw was set in a firm line and his nostrils flared. The man looked like he was ready to commit murder. Kate went to him. He placed her hands in his and drew them to his chest. Although Kate saw the disappointment in his eyes, she also saw a promise.
“No one saw anything. The scullery maid found the package. She gave it to the butler who delivered it to you.” Ethan spoke matter-of-factly.
Kate dropped her head. She did not want Ethan to see how distressed she was at his answer
He let out a loud sigh. “I promise you, Kate, I will not rest until this fiend is found and brought to justice.”
“I know.” Kate withdrew her hands from his and walked out of the room. She had to think. There had to be a way to stop Arthur before he did something drastic. What puzzled Kate was the idea that Arthur could orchestrate all this chaos. From the time she had spent with him, he had not struck her as smart enough to pull off such a scheme. Looks could be deceiving, she supposed. All the more reason to be on her guard. Plus, it appeared he had some help, from what Ethan and the others had discovered.
Perhaps a ride to the village would clear her mind. Kate had some parcels to pick up from the dress shop, and she wanted to buy something for Robbie from the mercantile shop. The little darling had been handling everything so well that she wanted to give him a small present to show how proud she was of him.
Kate ordered the carriage and was not surprised to see two of Ethan’s men waiting to accompany her. She felt slightly hurt when Ethan did not offer to come, but he had other concerns besides her. He had an estate to run, and she could not expect him to spend every moment of his time fawning over her.
The drive to the village was short and uneventful. Kate completed her errands in record time. Despite the armed men beside her, she felt exposed without the security of Ethan or Hugh. She glanced behind her, frequently, to make sure nobody was following her. The hair at the nape of her neck kept standing on end, causing her to shiver in dread.
Kate paid for Robbie’s toy at the mercantile and headed out the door. As she left, she bumped into Mr. Brightley. She was momentarily taken aback; her mind had been elsewhere, and she had not seen him walk through the doorway.
“I beg your pardon, sir. I did not see you.”
Mr. Brightley removed his hat and bowed. “Your Ladyship, my deepest apologies.”
“The fault was all mine, Mr. Brightley. My thoughts were wandering, and I failed to see you.”
“I will accept your apology, my lady, seeing it is from such a beautiful creature.”
Kate smile
d faintly and went to walk around the gentleman. His hand stopped her.
“If you are troubled, my lady, perhaps, there is something I can do to help?”
“How do you know I am troubled, sir?”
“You said your thoughts were elsewhere. That usually occurs when one is distracted by distressing concerns.”
Kate thought it odd that he would assume something worried her. Most men believed that anything other than gossip and fashion could not bother a woman.
“Forgive me, Your Ladyship. I only assumed because I saw the concerned look on your face. I am sorry, my lawyer instincts over the years have made me adept at reading facial expressions. It is a favorable skill to have in my profession.”
His explanation made perfect sense, but she would have to be careful in the future. It would not be wise to carry her emotions on her sleeve, evident for all to see. The last thing she needed was people asking questions.
“I thank you again, sir, but I am fine.”
Mr. Brightley nodded, “Very well, but please allow me to see you to your carriage.”
The gentleman offered his arm, which Kate took. When she touched his sleeve, a tremble traveled up her arm. Kate felt uncomfortable in the man’s presence. She had only met him one prior time, but she had a sense of trepidation when in his vicinity.
It was a short walk to the carriage. As they approached, the coachman opened the door, and Mr. Brightley handed her in.
Kate leaned out the window. “Thank you, Mr. Brightley, you are most kind.”
“It was a pleasure, my lady. Give my regards to Lord Norris.”
The carriage sprang into action as Mr. Brightley’s words registered in Kate’s brain. He had mentioned Ethan. She wondered if he had guessed there was more between her and Ethan. The questions swirled around in her mind. Then, Kate recalled that Mr. Brightley was a solicitor, who, no doubt, had a natural knack for noticing things that others might miss. Of course, he was skilled at reading body language. He had seen her and Ethan and concluded that they were on friendly terms. Kate’s reasoning eased her doubts and allowed her to settle back in the carriage for the ride home. For now, she was content to return to the safety of Ethan’s home.
Chapter 13
Ethan and Hugh were heading to the stables when Kate’s carriage pulled up. Ethan had not prevented her from going to the village. In all honesty Kate could do as she pleased since she was an independent woman. At least she had allowed guards to accompany her.
Kate alighted from the carriage and entered the house without noticing the two men standing a few feet away. She looked distracted. Had something happened in town, he wondered. Hugh elbowed him as he watched Kate’s exit. “Come on, old man, let’s go get the reports.”
The troop of guards Hugh had brought along from London had rooms in a smaller house behind the stables. They met there at least twice a day to go over the patrols and any recent information. So far, there had been little news. The county Ethan lived in was small, and he could not believe that no one had seen anything unusual. Most of the locals were weary of outsiders.
Kate’s cousin-in-law, Arthur, was either crafty or lucky not to have been noticed, and his accomplices must share the same luck. The gamekeeper’s house in the woods was on constant surveillance, but so far, nothing had turned up. Ethan was at his breaking point. If they did not get some leads soon, something more serious might happen.
The additional guards Ethan had summoned from London had arrived earlier in the afternoon. They would widen the perimeter of their search. Ethan still had not heard from Phillip, who had gone to investigate Kate’s Leicester home. They must be a piece of the puzzle that they were missing. He worried that his involvement with Kate was clouding his judgment, but even Hugh appeared stumped.
The group ran through the newest reports and gave assignments to the recentnew arrivals. Ethan left for the stables and happened upon Robbie in the middle of his riding lesson. The little boy’s face lit up with delight, and he squealed with laughter as he bounced up and down on his horse. It made Ethan happy to know he could give Robbie these moments, despite the fear and apprehension that surrounded them. He watched for a few minutes before heading back to work.
By the time Ethan glanced up from his desk, the clock on the wall showed it was time to prepare for the evening meal. He got up and stretched his back from the hours hunched over. The daily running of the estate did not stop simply because they were searching for Arthur.
Dinner that night was pleasant. Kate was in a better mood, and she joined in on the conversation. Ethan watched Emily and Hugh banter back and forth. Hugh expounded on the reasons why a lady’s place was here in England and not on the battlefield.
Emily argued, “But you are not listening to me, Hugh. There are men, fellow Englishmen, who are dying every day from their wounds, along with other atrocities, which have nothing to do with battle. I have read about the poor conditions of the hospitals that contribute to the demise of our men.”
Ethan shook his head. He knew that when his sister was passionate about a subject, there was little anyone could do to stop her. Her newest platform was the field hospitals and conditions of the soldiers on the front. Ever since the war had started, the nurses who had joined the efforts had fascinated her.
Even though Emily had a talent for medicine, Ethan would never allow her to go off to another continent, even if it was to help her fellow countrymen. She was a lady of breeding and nobility; she did not belong in a war. He had seen war and its aftereffects, and he did not want his little sister to have any part in it.
Hugh reasoned, “Emmy, you are not listening to me, as usual. I have been to the front. The conditions are horrible, and it is no place for a lady.”
“What do you mean? Just because I may be higher born than others that go, does not mean that my life is more important than theirs. If my country calls me to serve, shouldn’t I? Look at you, Hugh, you are the son of a duke, and yet, you are a soldier.”
“The third son, and I had little choice in my military career. I was not going to lay around all day, beholden to the whims of my eldest brother, nor was I going to join the clergy like my second brother. I needed to make something of myself.”
“That is exactly how I feel. Why can’t a woman make something of herself? Times are changing, and women can make a difference just the same as a man. Perhaps, better, in some cases.”
Hugh threw his hands up in the air. “Very well, if you want to make a difference, I can introduce you to people in town who I’m sure would appreciate help with the hospitals here.”
“You mean here in England and not on the front.” Emily shook her head in disgust. “You men are all the same. We women are not delicate flowers that need to be coddled and protected by men. We can contribute something other than what comes out between our legs.”
Ethan almost choked on his wine and sputtered, “Emily, that’s enough.” She was getting excitable, and Ethan feared she would say something too offensive, even for the intimate party.
“Emily is right.” All eyes turned to Kate as she spoke. “Men underestimate us. You think we are weak or let our emotions cloud our judgment. What men do not realize is that we have a tough exterior, probably thicker than yours. Women endure hardships of every kind. We must bear and raise children while running our lives and the lives of everyone around us. We must put on a cheerful façade for the world, no matter what lies under the surface. Despite the hardships, deceptions, or heartaches we face, women must keep it to ourselves because men do not care to deal with our feminine emotions.”
The speech rendered Ethan dumbfounded. Kate’s words held a deeper meaning. He sensed she was hiding pain from her past. What had she endured? Perhaps, her marriage had not been happy, after all. Ethan questioned whether her late husband had been unfaithful to her or even beaten her. The idea of harm coming to Kate agitated him.
Before Ethan could say anything, Emily stood up and clapped. “Bravo. Come, Kate, let us retire to the
parlor for the evening. Perhaps, you could play something for me on the piano.”
The ladies exited the room, arms linked, a sisterhood of solidarity. He was more determined than ever to unearth the answers to the questions that were piling up regarding the woman he loved.
Hugh shifted in his chair. “I will say this Ethan, once your sister gets an idea in her head, she won’t let it rest until she gets what she wants.”
Ethan nodded.
“You know, she wants to be a nurse and go to the continent. You cannot let her go,” Hugh demanded.
He turned his full attention to his friend. “I know, but for now, we have to solve Kate’s problem. Emily will stay here if she knows Kate needs her. I will deal with my sister in due time.”
“Let’s hope you deal with her before it’s too late.”
The men stood to leave as the first cords of a piano sonata drifted through the doors. As much as Ethan enjoyed listening to Kate play, he knew he needed to give her distance. The men retired to library.
For the next hour, the two friends played cards and drank brandy until fatigue set in. Ethan retired for the night, grateful for the belly full of spirits to help him sleep. He awoke the next morning with a mild hangover. Knowing the fresh air would do him good, he dressed and went out for the morning.
Ethan returned in time for the noon meal. When he entered the dining room, Kate was already seated. A veil of reticence slipped over her features upon seeing him. The lady was hiding something.
Her attitude toward him had changed in the last day. Even though they had stolen a few kisses, a vast chasm still divided them. Something, other than Kate’s present dilemma, was keeping them apart, and Ethan guessed it had to do with her marriage. He wanted to confront Kate and do away with the secrets, but if he confronted her, she still might not talk. There was also the risk that he might unintentionally push her further away.
The Spy's Lady: A Steamy Victorian Historical Spy Series (Romancing Intrigue Book 2) Page 9
