He hoped he wouldn’t regret his decision and yet, doubts clutched at his heart. He had to set things to rights for Star and her brother. This was a priority for him, and he had to make certain that the young Lord Berkley never engaged in such machinations ever again.
He sighed as he gazed at himself in his long mirror and adjusted his cravat. He looked like a libertine and he didn’t want to. He wanted to look as he felt, like a man hopelessly in love.
His ginger colored waves of hair, had been cut and combed in the windswept style and gave him a cavalier look. He didn’t want to appear cavalier, but sincere. He didn’t wish to look like a rogue out for a moment’s pleasure. He wanted to look serious, as serious as he felt.
A flash of memory jolted him. It was as though he could smell her fresh scent, feel her hands as she grabbed hold of his locks and pulled him to her.
He heard her voice as she told him how much she loved his long wild hair.
He smiled and turned away from the mirror and sighing heavily as he strode out of his bedchamber then made his way to Jules’ door and knocked.
Jules called out for him to enter and he did, closing the door at his back and standing for a moment. His friend was already up and sitting at his window table. He was still in his dark blue brocade dressing gown and idly stirring his coffee.
Edward’s gaze found Jules’ light blue eyes and he saw at once that his friend appeared troubled.
He frowned and was about to ask him what was wrong when Jules gave him a bright smile and remarked, “Certes, you are up early. What…can it be noon already?”
Sir Edward grinned at him ruefully, “I have not been such a late sleeper for years now…and Jules, we have to talk.”
Jules regarded him thoughtfully and Edward wondered what was in his friend’s head. They had not seen one another since the previous morning. Jules said, “Of course, Edward…do sit. I can send for another pot and cup for you.”
“No, thank you, I have already had my coffee,” Edward said taking the opposite chair at the small round table. “Jules…I have a great deal to say.”
“Right then, ‘ole friend, say it,” Jules encouraged.
“I was held up last night on my return trip from Hastings…”
“What?” Jules exclaimed and interrupted him. “By God, man! Were you hurt? Are they still alive or did you send them to their maker as you have in the past?” He was bright with his sudden excitement.
“Websly and I could have put all four in the ground. I chose not to this time,” he said slowly.
“Why?” Jules studied his face.
“Ah. I followed my instincts, my old friend as I am going to do now.” He then said grimly, “There is something else on my mind, something you and I must talk about, right now.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“Star. I want to talk about Star.”
*
“Eh there, Farley, come on then,” the bartender at the Mermaid Inn said. It was early morning and Farley lay sprawled in his chair, his cheek flat on the round table before him. Two of his men were in similar positions.
Two more were under the table, flat out, their mouths open. The table was covered with empty tankards. The bartender was weary after a long hard night, and what he wanted was his bed, so he shoved Farley’s shoulder hard and repeated, “Come on, then, up wit ye, man!”
Farley groaned and shifted. He opened one eye and stared at the large man growling at him. Where the hell was he? Ah, yes, the Mermaid. Spent a fine round on drinks he had…
The bartender pushed him again and Farley groaned, “Ah, for the love of…stubble it! Whot be the matter wit ye man? Just leave me in peace.”
“Devil wit ye!” shouted the bartender. “Oi wants me bed, Oi do, so Oi’m off. Ye’ll have to answer to Mrs. Bukes when she comes in, and that, Oi promise ye, won’t be pretty.”
Mrs. Bukes was never without her pistol and she had been known to use it on more than one occasion. Farley moaned and said, “Mrs. Bukes is it?” He tried straightening and moaned again as every muscle in his body ached, and his head, lord, he thought, it must be twice its original size!
He kicked the chubby man beside him and said, “Up wit ye…” thus he managed to get up from the table and stretched. Moodily he kicked one of the men beneath the table and told him, “Ye too…up.”
Between snorts, groans and curses his men began to rouse themselves. One man yawned loudly and Farley poked him in the head and said, “Ally, up wit ye…come on ye tallow-faced swine, up with all of ye!”
The first discernible complete sentence that came to mind as he looked around at his men’s faces and saw their bloodshot eyes was Damn Sir Edward’s soul!
He had spent a hellish night in spite of the fact that he had imbibed more than his usual quota of alcohol and all because of that flash covey. He looked outdoors and saw that it was a bleak day, raining in fact, and he cursed the fates.
If he had blunt to spare, he would take a room at the Inn and just sleep it off, but because of the flash, he was near out of funds. Their luck had apparently run out—may the flash covey rot in hell. If he could do Sir Edward an injury, he would, he damn well would, just for the pleasure of it.
A tricky business that. He had quickly come to the conclusion that this particular flash cove, was not cut in the ordinary style.
His day had been plagued by the man. First, Sir Edward had interrupted his designs for Star Berkley. Then, who should be in the coach they held up, but the same devil. Who has luck like that? No one, which meant, from now on, he would have to tread carefully, for he took it as a sign.
Sir Edward was no one to fiddle with. He could still remember the sound of the man’s voice in his ear last night in the dark and the memory struck him with a terror he rarely experienced. Sir Edward had told him in a voice that belonged to the devil himself, “You will take your crew and yourself and find new hunting ground. Do you understand me? Because the next time I come across you in Rye, I shall not hesitate to first injure you from your head to your crotch before putting you out of your misery. Understood?”
“Don’t see ‘ow Oi can do that, guv,” Farley had grumbled though his body quaked with fear.
“And I don’t see how you can do anything else and survive.”
The memory of how those words were said shook him now to the core. He could no longer hound the young lord for the information he had so desired. No longer would there be easy pickings at estates whose gentry and staff had gone off to London, Brighton or abroad.
Right, so how could he continue to rob the rich old nabobs while they were away, if he couldn’t find out this information from the young lord? And he couldn’t ride the highway as a toby…not with the flash on his tail. How was a man to make a living?
Then he remembered just how Sir Edward had looked at the young lord’s sister, Miss Berkley. A plan formed in his busy brain, his toothless grin appeared across his face and he said, “Eh lads, listen up here. Oi gots me a plan, oi does.”
*
The Berkley’s brass door knocker sounded loudly as Dilly rounded the corner of the kitchen. She handed the tray of cold coffee and biscuits to Cook who looked at the untouched biscuits she had baked fresh that morning and clucked her tongue.
“Those two children, for they are little more than that, and don’t be telling me how he is the lord of the manor and all, for he is still a youth and neither one of them has eaten right for days! Whot’s to do?” Cook fretted as she took the tray and dropped it on the wooden center chopping block table.
Dilly didn’t respond as she ran off to get the front door. She opened it wide and smiled brightly as she stood aside to allow Sir Edward to enter.
“Hallo, Dilly,” he said warmly.
Dilly smiled in spite of her shyness. She met his gaze for the flash of a moment and appeared happy to tell him, “Hello sir. Miss will be that glad…Oi mean…his lordship would be, if he were here, that he would. But Oi’m certain Miss Berkley would be pl
eased to receive ye as she has just been moping around, Oi suppose on account of the rain and such.”
“Thank you, Dilly,” he said and winked at her. “Is she in the library? I fancy I know the way.”
Dilly giggled and hurried off and Sir Edward made his way to the library door, and opened it ever so slightly. He stood for a moment looking at Star and it was as though everything inside of him, from his brain right down to the nerve endings in his toes lit up. A warm and glowing amber light, seemed to surround her and that glow pulled him toward her.
She didn’t hear him as he approached though he thought she must for his heart pounded loudly, unrelentingly in his chest. He saw that she was deep in thought and wondered what was wrong. He could sense something was wrong. Had such a bond already struck up between them? Did she feel it as well?
She was a beauty and in her simple summer muslin gown of green, with her flaxen colored hair sweeping perfectly around her piquant face. He was mesmerized by its waves as they cascaded just to her neck. He was aware that the sight of her, took his breath away. He had always laughed to hear this said and now he knew just what it actually meant. He couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t think, he couldn’t speak.
He found himself sucking in air, as he tried to fill his lungs, but all he could do was stand very still and admire and remember the feel of her in his arms. Her skin so like silk, her heavenly thighs and that tempting honey box hidden between. He wanted her all at once and didn’t know how he was going to keep his hands off her. He had to because he adored her and wanted everything to be perfect for her.
He loved everything about her—everything!
Jules had told him he wanted her to grow her hair long, but he didn’t at all agree. He found he liked it clipped, as the style suited her. He loved the way strands of its white gold curled around her delicate ears, strayed across her forehead.
She turned then and her dark eyes found his eyes and filled his soul with a sensation he had never dreamt possible to feel from just a look, ah, but that look.
She went toward him in a rush of feeling. Her voice was scarcely audible as she said, “Edward…oh Edward.”
He took her up in his arms in one sweeping embrace and before his lips brushed her own he whispered, “I have been waiting for this moment…oh by all that is good and right, I can’t tell you how wonderful you feel to me.”
His mouth covered hers and all he could think was her kisses were as delicious as they had been the first time he had brushed her lips with his. He knew in that moment that she would always taste delicious, audacious, and completely irresistible.
The sound of her voice was like a sweet melody he wanted to hear over and over and he knew he would never tire of it. The touch of her body was magic against his own and filled him with need.
He came away from her kiss and she said, “Edward, you should run from me as fast as you can.”
Surprised, he leaned away from her to study her face. “What has occurred and don’t tell me nothing, something has for you to say such a thing to me.”
“I…we…I…”
He took her hand and led her to the sofa, “I think you and I must talk, for you know, you must know, how I feel.”
*
All the pent up worry, and doubts vanished when Star turned and saw him standing there with a look on his face that gave her hope to think perhaps…just perhaps and then just as quickly, she told herself, she wasn’t worthy such a man!
She went to him in a rush of emotion. The feel of his arms took her to a place where she was safe, forever safe and filled her with the desire to stay right where she was, in his embrace. His kiss opened up her doubts with an explosion of love, a love she was certain she would never feel ever again for any other man. She had told him to run from her and a good part of her wanted him to do just that, though it would break her heart. She wanted him safe from the ruin she and her brother were falling into.
She loved him, so then, she could not allow him to lower himself by aligning his name with hers…if that was what he meant to do and from the look on his face and the sound in his voice, she thought he was approaching that point.
He took her to the sofa and wrapped her up in his arms and repeated, “Talk. Tell me everything.”
“I don’t know where to start…” she felt her voice begin to tremble and said instead, “First, tell me did you enjoy your day, yesterday? Did you visit with friends? Jules said something about he rather thought that was where you had gone off to…some friends you both know in Hastings.”
“You are prattling. I do wish, with all my heart, that you could find it in your heart to trust me. Star, my dear heart…don’t you trust me?”
“I do, oh, I so do,” she said desperately. “Things, however, are in such a muddle.” She turned from him and pushed out of his hold.
Although she wanted him to hold her and tell her everything would be fine, she knew that things were in jeopardy and there was nothing he could do to help.
In addition to that, she had to steer him away from the subject of her trusting him. It wasn’t about trust, but about her brother’s honor. While honor was an intangible, she knew how her brother felt about it. He had left saying he would handle things and she had to allow him to try.
She was distracted and confused, but she managed to put on a bright smile and tell him, in a purposely teasing tone, “It is you who still does not trust me.”
His thick defined brow arched, “Now what can you mean?”
She laughed and peeped at him, for the moment lost in the aura of what she felt. “I am speaking of the mystery that hangs around your head, sir.”
“A mystery? Me?”
“Indeed,” she said nodding at him. “When you first came to us, Jules said you were recovering from a broken heart…”
“Ah, of course…my broken heart?” he grinned broadly.
“So then, was Jules correct, were you suffering from a broken heart?” she countered.
“Do you think so, minx?” He flicked her nose. She eyed him quizzically,
“No, I never thought so. I think your pride was wounded, not your heart,” she said audaciously.
He reached for her and brought her in close. She allowed it, for when he was near, everything seemed right with the world. “You are an impertinent girl.” He bent his head and kissed her neck, nibbling toward her ear.
“So I am,” she murmured. “Do you mean to answer me?”
He stopped his ministrations and put his head back, “I suppose I must. Yes, it was my pride. In truth, the young lady in question served to expand my heart, ready it… not break it.”
“Ah,” Star eyed him happily. “How very interesting. I like that, but…did you love her at all?”
He sighed, “Now that I know what love is, I suppose, I did not. She was a beautiful, intriguing woman, quite sought after. She caught my interest and I did think she might be the one. She rejected my suit for as you know, another man and lucky I am that she did.”
Star felt a twinge of jealousy that she immediately shook off. Her hand went to his chest. He covered her fingers with his own.
She frowned. Had she made him think of something that hurt him? She was at once repentant, “I am sorry. I did not mean for you to recall something painful.”
“That is just it, love. It isn’t painful at all,” so saying he brought her in for his kiss, gently brushing his lips with hers, tickling the tip of her tongue with his own before he pulled away and sighed.
“I shouldn’t…I don’t wish to be found like this alone with you. It isn’t seemly,” he said softly taking her hands to pull her up from the sofa.
“Nonsense. Who would come in upon us? Vern is off to town and besides that, he knows what I am…” she said saucily.
“And what are you, my love?”
That he called her ‘his love’ thrilled her to her bones. She wanted more of this with him, more teasing and more kissing, more of everything that had anything to do with him. She eyed him an
d said, tongue in cheek, “A veritable hellcat.”
He threw back his head and laughed, brought her in for an embrace, kissed her forehead and said, “A darling one, the only one…but, now I must go. I have business in town as well.”
She walked him to the front door, her hand in his and he turned to put her fingers to his lips, “Star, before I go, I ask for a promise. Would you trust me enough to give it?”
“What sort of promise?”
He smiled ruefully, “After you trusted me with your kisses, your touch, your body, will you hold back your trust?”
She hugged him tightly, “No, no, yes then, I promise.”
“So then, allow me to spell it out for you so there can be no misunderstanding. All I ask is that you come to me first…me…before any other, me before your brother even. Don’t allow doubts to sway you. Think of this moment and come to me, only me when you find you need help.”
“Before all others,” she said softly. She hoped her meaning was clear because saying the words ‘I love you’ was so very difficult when he had not, and had not even talked about a future with her. He was kind. Perhaps he meant to extend his help but not his heart.
He looked at her and for a moment she thought he was having a difficult time tearing himself away. He said softly, “Thank you, Star and remember this moment until our next.”
She closed the door at his back and leaned up against it. Oh Faith, how she loved him.
Chapter Twenty-One
“WELL, I’VE DONE it!” Vern exclaimed looking as proud as could be, as he strode through the library door and moved toward his sister. He took her hands and shook them gleefully, “Star, we may yet come about.”
“Well, look at you…Vern, take your damp cloak off, you will get sick all over again!” Star pulled at his wet cloak and took it to drape over a wooden chair and set up by the fire.
“Star, aren’t you listening? I’ve done it! Just like that! Don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner, for I never liked sailing.”
“Have you done it, dear?” she said absently.
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