For a few seconds the child seemed to be considering the notion. Then his eyes darkened and he shook his head emphatically. “No! I won’t do it!”
Harriet pinched the bridge of her nose and pondered the best way to handle the situation. On one hand, she could not blame the child for feeling awkward about putting on the gown, yet the disguise would certainly be of benefit to all of them.
On the other, it seemed cruel to force him. And while the disguise would be a help, it certainly wasn’t a necessity. Perhaps if Gregory understood the gravity of the situation it would be easier to obtain his cooperation, but neither Harriet nor Nathaniel were about to frighten the child with the truth.
“Do you remember the daring story we read about Bonnie Prince Charlie and his escape from Culloden?” Harriet asked.
Gregory wrinkled his brow. “The lady saved him.” “Exactly. But the prince was very brave and very clever. He dressed up like a maid to fool the men who were chasing him and thus avoided being captured. Don’t you think it would be fun to be like him?”
“Will everyone else dress up?”
“Ah, no, not today,” Nathaniel replied. “Perhaps later.”
“After we arrive at Uncle Duncan’s house in Edinburgh,” Harriet added, not wanting to mislead the child into thinking the following day they would all be wearing odd clothing.
“I don’t want to play this game and act like that Scottish man,” Gregory decided. “Uncle Nathaniel tells me all the time that I am an English gentleman.”
“That’s right, you are,” Harriet said. “I bet you never even knew there was another Prince Charles who was said to have escaped right beneath the nose of Cromwell’s troops dressed as a lady.”
“He later became king,” Nathaniel interjected. “Of England.”
“Was he the one that got his head chopped off?” Phoebe asked.
“No, that was his father, King Charles I,” Harriet answered distractedly.
Nathaniel made a disgusted noise in the back of his throat. “My God, what are you teaching these children?”
“The truth.” Harriet shushed him with a hard look and turned her attention back to Gregory. The gown she had altered for the little boy to wear was extremely plain, with no lace or ribbons or bows. She held it up to show him, explaining how easy it would be to put on.
“Give it a try, Gregory.” She smiled hopefully. “You’ll be just like the princes.”
A shadow crossed his face. “But I’m not a prince. I’m a duke.”
Nathaniel let out an exasperated groan. “He can be amazingly stubborn at times.”
“It must be a family trait,” Harriet muttered, then shook her head. “Clearly the child has made up his mind. I don’t think we should force him.”
“I agree.” Nathaniel regarded his nieces for a moment, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “Maybe it would be easier to dress the girls as lads. They are far more cooperative than Gregory and traveling with three young sons would still lend us some type of disguise.”
Harriet worried her bottom lip. She had already wasted an hour this morning altering the gown for Gregory. If they were to pose as a merchant family, the clothes the children wore must be of good quality. “We have no appropriate male clothing to alter for the girls and no time to make new garments.”
“Maybe we can purchase something in the village?” Nathaniel suggested.
“I have not ventured into town, nor seen any of the shops, yet I doubt there are any ready-made clothes to buy that would suit our purposes.”
“Then I’ll ask Mrs. Mullins if she has any ideas.” Harriet frowned skeptically. “Housekeeper, chief cook, and now clothes merchant. Is there anything Mrs. Mullins cannot do?”
“Speak so we understand her?” Nathaniel quipped.
When they entered the kitchen, Mrs. Mullins rose from her chair and set her knitting basket on the floor. She listened carefully to their most unusual request, her shrewd eyes contorting with curiosity. But the housekeeper did not ask why they needed the garments and within the hour provided exactly what was needed: two changes of clothing for each girl.
“Wherever did you find these?” Harriet asked in amazement as she examined the garments.
“I dinna have tae ask twice,” Mrs. Mullins replied proudly. “Many village families were eager tae lend a hand, ’specially when they knew it was fer the young lasses who were so generous in sharin’ their dolls. We dinna forget a kindness.”
“We thank you most sincerely, Mrs. Mullins. And please express our gratitude to those who were so willing to aid us in our time of need.”
Unlike their brother, Phoebe and Jeanne Marie were excited to try on the outfits. They pranced and paraded in front of Harriet, mimicking Gregory’s, Nathaniel’s, and even Duncan McTate’s proud male stance. Their antics put a much needed smile on Harriet’s face, but she cautioned the girls repeatedly it would be best if they kept quietly in the background whenever they encountered other travelers.
They left the castle far later than originally planned, but the weather was clear and it seemed prudent to take advantage of the dry roads rather than wait until morning. Harriet, a nursemaid, and the three children rode in the coach while Nathaniel traveled beside them, mounted on a fine bay mare.
As the coach rumbled across the wooden drawbridge, Harriet turned for one final look at the ancient castle. It glimmered in the brilliant sunshine, a solid tower of strength and pride. Harriet felt a strange tug at her heart, realizing she was going to miss living within those ancient walls. Given the vagaries of life, she wondered fleetingly if she would ever have an opportunity to set eyes on it again.
Harriet was pleased with the inn Nathaniel selected. It was small, yet large enough to give them anonymity, and most important, clean. The innkeeper and his wife were friendly and seemed genuinely happy to have them as guests, especially when Nathaniel provided a generous tip for bringing in the luggage, fetching hot water for washing, and providing a hot meal in one of the two private dining rooms.
Harriet was nervous about Phoebe and Jeanne Marie making their first public appearance dressed as boys, but as Nathaniel had predicted no one so much as glanced in their direction when they were guided through the public rooms to the private dining room.
All three youngsters were glad to be released from the confining interior of the coach and provided their usual lively dinner conversation. Observing their antics made Harriet’s heart swell with emotion. The mutual affection between the children and their uncle was glaringly obvious and it had deepened and strengthened in the weeks they had been together.
Silently, Harriet renewed her vow to do all that she was able to ensure that Nathaniel was appointed the children’s legal guardian. For while the children did indeed have a great need of him, he too needed those youngsters.
When dinner was over, Harriet and Nathaniel hustled the trio through the tap room and up the stairs to the rooms that had been secured for the night. Nathaniel had expressed delight when he had seen their accommodations. Their rooms were at the back of the inn, which meant they would be quieter, though this establishment did not have the amount of traffic a city or even a crowded village would generate.
Apparently the key appeal was the configuration of the rooms. They were connected by an interior door, but the second, slightly smaller room had no separate access to the hallway. Nathaniel immediately decided the children would sleep in the smaller room. If there was danger of any sort, the intruder would have to go through him to reach them.
As they prepared for bed Harriet bustled between the two rooms. The hot water in the pitcher that so pleased her was not met with the same enthusiasm by the children. There was a disagreement about which bed the trio would share and a general complaint that the air smelled of vinegar. They were not impressed when Harriet insisted that was a sign of cleanliness and one they should look for in future whenever staying at an inn.
“Well, I believe I have finally settled them down for the night, though I would no
t be surprised if one of them needs a drink of water or a trip to the privy soon,” Harriet said as she walked into the larger room to bid Nathaniel good night.
He was pacing with restless energy. He had stripped to his shirtsleeves, but still wore his black riding boots and snug breeches. The aura of male power and strength permeated the chamber, for his presence seemed to fill the room.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” Nathaniel smiled warmly at her, his mouth tilting in a sexy, inviting manner. A shiver of pure sensation rolled down her spine, yet Harriet did her best to hide her reaction and cautiously back away from him.
“I intend to sleep in the other room with the children,” she said.
“And leave me here all alone?” He strode towards her then stopped, his booted feet apart, his hands at his back. “The bed looks very comfortable and is certainly large enough for two.” His voice was low and husky and dripping with illicit temptation.
Harriet ruthlessly tamped down the impulse to fling herself in his arms. “Really, Nathaniel, what would the nursemaid think if I spend the night with you?”
“That I am irresistible?”
Harriet rolled her eyes. “Servants who don’t respect you will not follow orders nor work with diligence,” she said primly. “Besides, if the children have need of me during the night, I must be close at hand.”
“What of my needs?” He captured her in a loose embrace and pressed his lips to her neck.
Harriet turned her head. “Your needs will have to wait.”
“Hmm, sometimes I really dislike how you are always so damn responsible.” He cushioned his words with a gentle caress of her cheek. “Yet I am forced to agree it is safer for us all if I remain undistracted for the night and you, Miss Sainthill, are a most devilish distraction.”
Soothed by his teasing comment, Harriet grinned. Though she could not fault him for his honesty when remarking on her sense of duty, it was an aspect of her character that she could only temper, but never change. Thankfully it appeared that Nathaniel had decided he was going to cope with it. And her.
Harriet watched the candlelight flicker over his handsome face and felt herself flush with heat. His desire for her was evident in his expression and the hardness of his body and it still amazed her that he felt this strongly toward her.
She felt almost light-headed remembering the sight of his bare chest and rippling muscles, recalling with delight the intimacies they had shared, the heights of passion and pleasure they had achieved. A tangle of erotic images kept playing through her mind, filling her senses to overflowing.
It was difficult to keep her hands to herself. She wanted so badly to kiss him, to fondle and caress, to tease and excite. She pulled away, yet the primal urge was so strong, Harriet could not resist the opportunity to rub herself playfully against him as she walked past on her way to her room.
Nathaniel’s armed snaked out quick as a flash. Holding only the back of her neck, he drew her towards him. Harriet laughed softly, allowing her common sense to flee for just a moment. She closed her eyes, savoring the satiny warmth of his mouth against hers. Time slowed as a pulsing urgency sprang throughout her body. He was like a drug she craved, an addiction she could not control, for he freed her spirit and allowed the love in her heart to flow unrestrained.
She gave herself permission to indulge for a few mindless moments, pressing herself closer so that their bodies melded together. “You must not kiss me,” she mumbled, twisting her head and burrowing it into his shoulder.
“Why?”
“ ’Cause it is sheer torture when you stop.”
He laughed, hugging her tight. Then he moved his hands to the front, cupped her breasts and began to slowly, erotically knead them. The nipples hardened. Harriet could scarcely breathe. She raised her head from his shoulder. Passion darkened his eyes. Passion, hunger, and love.
“Ah, sweetheart, don’t you know our fates are forever entwined?” he whispered. “That it will always be torture for me whenever we are separated?”
Something quivered inside of Harriet. His words brought her joy, but there was an edge of fear creeping into her consciousness that she could not ignore. Their future was so uncertain, their chance at happiness fleeting. Though she fervently hoped otherwise, she knew these few nights might be all they would ever have together.
Harriet clung to Nathaniel. This tangible bond they shared completed the person she was, made her stronger, more confident. The physical pleasure he could so easily create was raw and intense and it spread like wildfire through every inch of her body. But the emotions he evoked were solid and lasting and even more miraculous.
He maneuvered her to the far side of the room. Harriet waited expectantly to be tossed onto the bed and was surprised to instead feel the solid hardness of the wall against her shoulder blades.
He pressed his full length against her. Harriet wet her lips, staring at him. As if sensing her desire, Nathaniel dipped his head and kissed her thoroughly, his tongue delving deeply, his hips rotating in a slow, grinding motion that made her shiver with pleasure.
Beneath her gown, Harriet felt her breasts tighten and tingle. The familiar restless ache began along her inner thighs and up into her belly. The yearning and need to give of herself and in turn be filled by him caught and held her heart.
“We must stop,” Harriet whispered. Yet even as she spoke the words her hands slid down his shirt front, around his waist and beneath his coat. She stroked his muscled back, then reached lower, grasping his tight buttocks through his breeches.
He groaned and pressed her harder against the wall. Harriet leaned her head back and sighed with contentment as he wove a trail of kisses down the curve of her neck. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her body trembled against his.
Because she was unable to do otherwise, Harriet surrendered to the madness. She knew no other man would ever make her feel this way, would make her shudder and want and need. Only him.
“Is there a lock on the door that connects this room to the children’s chamber?” she asked in a raspy, unsteady voice.
“Yes, and I turned the key the moment you entered the room.”
She inhaled slowly, then lifted her head and stared at his handsome face. His eyes were sensual and heavy-lidded, his smile tender and loving. Harriet felt her body grow wet with anticipation and need.
“I’m so desperately in love with you,” she whispered, almost in awe of the depth of her feelings.
“I hardly deserve such an incredible gift,” he replied solemnly. “But I’m not fool enough to turn away from it.”
His hands moved caressingly up and down her back. Harriet arched her hips forward and settled her belly against the thickness of his arousal. Then she moved and she felt his penis flex, growing even harder.
Between her own legs the dampness and pressure grew. It brought on a restless ache that he seemed to know of, for he thrust his hand beneath her gown and his clever fingers quickly found the slit in her drawers. She parted her legs so he could touch her more completely, caress the spot where she ached and needed him most.
“This is how I want you,” Nathaniel whispered. “Burning with desire for me. Needing me. Craving me.”
His fingers circled her moist cleft, then thrust inside the warmth. The heat of his touch ignited fiery sparks in her blood. Harriet trembled so much she could only remain upright by clinging tightly to Nathaniel’s broad shoulders.
He stroked her until she was panting and tossing her head, until she was nearly out of her mind. Then she felt his rigid flesh probing her body and she knew he meant to take her there, standing against the wall. Her legs convulsed around his waist and she opened her body wider.
“Now,” she gasped loudly. “I want it now.”
He sank into her and Harriet joyfully clenched her muscles around the thick hardness inside her. The intense pleasure made them both shudder.
Nathaniel thrust harder and Harriet rocked forward against him, eager to meet the heat of his straining
body, eager to surrender to his possession. His breath sounded harsh in the stillness of the room, while her own voice was a whimper of feminine need. Harriet wrapped her arms around Nathaniel’s broad shoulders and held on tightly, arching her spine, opening herself wider so he could press deeper into her body.
It was an exquisite sensation, this urgency that built so quickly yet could be sustained for as long as Nathaniel desired. She felt him reach down between their bodies. His touch was clever and knowing, circling and teasing the most sensitive part of her flesh. He drew heat and fire from her and she shattered, shuddering under the force of his thrusts and the unbearable pleasure of his caress.
His orgasm quickly followed hers. A moan burst from between his clenched lips. Harriet felt the hot rush of seed spurt into her in a powerful stream. The muscles in his neck corded as he drove into her one final time, until the last drop of his passion was spent.
Nathaniel fell against her, gasping for breath. They clung to each other in the aftermath, pulses still racing. Gradually Harriet realized her feet were once again on the floor. Yet when she tested the strength of her legs, she found she could not yet stand unassisted.
Harriet rested her head against the base of Nathaniel’s throat and listened to the frenzied beating of his heart. It was such an utterly perfect moment. She had opened herself up to this man physically and emotionally and he had accepted her completely. A lethargic sense of peace and contentment settled over her.
It was difficult to leave. The bed looked so inviting and Nathaniel looked even more irresistible. Her hunger had been sated, but she knew it was a momentary satisfaction, knew that she would soon be craving his touch. But as Nathaniel had so glaringly pointed out earlier, Harriet also knew her duty.
She straightened her clothing as best she could, then smoothed back her ruffled hair. Nathaniel reached for her but she slid out of his embrace, not allowing herself to be tempted.
To Tempt A Rogue Page 27
