Cinders and Ashes

by King, Rebecca

  Amelia felt her cheeks heat as the sensual tension rose within the room. Despite the heat of the water, her wayward body began to respond and her nipples tightened wantonly beneath her fingers.

  “Go away, Sebastian. Izzy will be here any minute. I don’t want her to find you here.” Amelia knew she was pleading with him, but he had to understand that there could be nothing more between them.

  Sebastian stood, locked the door and resumed his seat. “We have to talk, Amelia.” Sebastian’s voice was low and measured as he studied her.

  She was simply stunning. Her hair floated in the water, in a halo of silken delight. His fingers practically tingled with the urge to slide into the silken strands and….. He took a deep breath to steady his wayward thoughts.

  “Please, Sebastian, you have to leave.” Amelia met his gaze, pleading with her eyes. “I cannot, and will not sleep with you in this house.”

  “Why?” Sebastian was nonplussed. “It’s my house,” he added, trying to figure out her logic and failing miserably.

  “Because that will make me your whore, which I simply refuse to be.” Amelia felt the sting of tears in her eyes and she blinked them away quickly. He had blithely ignored her objections about leaving her cottage, but this was something else. This involved her pride and meagre self-esteem. She couldn’t allow him to ride roughshod over those too.

  “Making love with me will not make you my whore, Amelia.” Sebastian frowned. Was she still cross with him for making her leave that hideous cottage?

  “Your whore. Your mistress. Same difference. Don’t think for a moment I am not aware of the significance of the room you have put me into.” She glared at him, as her temper began to rise at his supreme arrogance. She shouldn’t be surprised that he clearly intended to ignore her objections. But she couldn’t allow him to think he could dominate her because of her lowly status. “The connecting door, and the ease of access to me, should you get the urge.”

  “The urge?” Sebastian felt his own temper rise.

  “Where is the key to the connecting door?” Amelia snapped, wishing she had a robe or something to wrap around herself. She was at a distinct disadvantage, arguing her point whilst naked in a bath.

  “There is no key.” Sebastian raised an arrogant brow. “The urge?”

  “I insist you move me to another room,” Amelia snapped.

  “No. You are staying in the Countess suite. Not,” he raised a hand when she took a breath to argue, “not, because I want to visit you, should I get the, er, urge.” It was a lie but he knew she wouldn’t appreciate the truth. “This is the suite you are the safest in. If anyone should get into the house, then you are right next door to me. Izzy is sleeping with Dominic. Peter and Edward are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves, and are armed.” He tried to keep his voice matter-of-fact, and his eyes off the lush mound of her delectable breasts barely covered by the transparent water.

  “I don’t need you to take care of me. I can take care of myself.” She purposely ignored his snort of disbelief, and continued. “As soon as Ballantyne is dealt with, I shall be leaving.”

  “Where will you go to, Amelia?” Disbelief coloured his voice. He knew she had nowhere to go. No funds with which to return to Glendowie. No job to go back to, and no likely chance of getting a job in the small village.

  “While you are finding Ballantyne, I shall obtain a reference from Sir Hubert and set about finding myself a suitable position as a housekeeper, companion or nursemaid. With Sir Hubert’s reference, it is possible.” Amelia’s voice was prim as she thought aloud. “When Ballantyne no longer poses a threat, then I shall take up my new position and be out of your hair.”

  Sebastian wisely remained quiet for a few moments. If he had any say in it, there was no way Amelia was going to be stuck living as someone’s companion, or nursemaid. Instead she would take up the most important position in his household. That of his wife. Somehow though, he didn’t think the declaration would sit well with her at the moment. He eyed the defiant tilt of her chin warily for several moments, as the memory of her fury the night before returned.

  Despite his desire for her and, he suspected, his deepening love, he couldn’t in all conscience ask her to marry him until she trusted him enough to tell him about her past. Whether he liked it or not, he needed definite facts on her upbringing before he proposed.

  Wearily, he ran a hand down his face and heaved a sigh. It seemed that convincing Amelia to stay was going to be far more difficult than he had ever expected.

  “There can be no further -,” Amelia paused, thinking of the most discreet way of saying it, “-bed sharing between us. I am, however reluctantly, a guest in this house and I will ask you to respect that.”

  Sebastian felt like punching a wall. His frustration at her doubled. Did she really think she was going to be living in his house, sleeping in the next room and he would treat her as a mere acquaintance?

  “We can’t go back, Amelia. We have already slept together. I cannot deny that I still want you.” Always will, he added silently. “I make you no promises.”

  “You are supposed to be a gentleman.” Amelia glared at him, knowing she had just thrown down the mantle that he had rapidly snatched up. “Are you saying you will force me in that too?”

  “For God’s sake, Amelia, I have never forced you before, why the hell should I do so now?” Sebastian’s voice rang across the room as his temper let loose. “I could have any woman I chose without the need for force.” He fought to keep his voice lowered and failed miserably.

  He knew how pompous his last declaration sounded, but couldn’t help it. She needed to know she wasn’t the only female in the country and, if he chose, he could go and find a female who was willing. She wouldn’t be as wonderful as Amelia. Or, have the control over his emotions that Amelia had, but she would spread her legs and accept him gladly, of that he was certain. Wisely he kept the last thought quiet, instead contenting himself with a scowl.

  “You override everything else I want. You decided that I should come with you, and ignored what I wanted.” Amelia slapped the water in frustration, ignoring the spray of moisture that covered her face as she continued, her voice rising. “You resorted to kidnap to bring me here, but that’s alright because it is in my best interests. You put me in the Countess suite ostensibly to keep me safe, all the while knowing there is an unlocked connecting door between us that can be used any time, day or night. But that’s alright as long as you get what you want.”

  Amelia knew she was shouting now, but in her temper, couldn’t sit still. She couldn’t sit there and let him tower over her any longer.

  Bristling with feminine fury, she rose like Aphrodite from the tub, water cascading down her pink-tinged glory. She was a stunning sight to behold as, splendidly naked; she stalked towards him, dripping moisture and feminine fury onto the polished floor in her wake.

  Sebastian fought to keep his mouth closed. He had never in his life seen such stunning beauty. It made him all the more determined to keep her.

  “Understand this,” Amelia snapped, her hand shaking with temper as she pointed at him. “I am a mere servant.” His eyes snapped up to hers with a scowl. “I have spent the past two years scraping, cleaning and cooking for my employer. I don’t belong in this room, in this house.” She swept her arms out wide to encompass the vast expanse of the luxurious room, her eyes locked onto Sebastian’s. “By rights, I should be downstairs with the serving staff but because of the way you have brought me into this house, I don’t belong there either, now.”

  Her chest heaved with temper as she fought to control her roiling emotions. “I have said to you before that I will not be your mistress, or whore, and by allowing you to use that door and me whenever you see fit, I may as well charge you for my services.”

  She poked a finger into the hard muscles of his chest, aware that his hungry gaze travelled over her curves. At that moment she didn’t really care. “I will also remind you that, as I am a servan
t in your house, the very last thing either of us needs is for you to get me with child. We have hardly been careful now, have we?”

  A child with him was something she ached to have, but the possibility of it actually happening was nonexistent. If by some unfortunate circumstance she was already with child, it would cause more bittersweet regret than she could stand.

  “I cannot and will not destroy whatever future I can find for myself, by getting myself with child by you.”

  “Amelia,” Sebastian groaned. The thought of her delectable body, big and round with his child, rose tauntingly in his mind. His already rigid manhood stirred excitedly in his breeches. He wanted to tell her that any child she carried would be more than welcome in his house, his life, but his mind wouldn’t form the words. He raised his hands to place them on her shoulders, only for her to slap them away.

  “Don’t, Sebastian. If you have any respect for me at all, just don’t.” Amelia turned on her heel and disappeared behind the retiring screen.

  It was only once she was there that she realised there was nothing with which to cover herself. She didn’t possess a robe, and her only dress had been taken by a maid earlier for cleaning.

  Silence descended in the room for several moments, before the towel Sebastian had been holding was draped over the top of the retiring screen, making her jump. Seconds later she heard the soft click of the connecting door as it closed behind him.

  CHAPTER SIX

  They had all seemingly accepted her into their circle without question.

  Dominic, with his brooding good looks, was clearly besotted with his gorgeous wife who had him wrapped around her little finger, and knew it.

  Peter, Isobel’s brother, was so calm and laid back. His teasing good humour and blatant flattery immediately put her at ease in the grand opulence of the formal dining room.

  Edward, with his wry humour and acerbic wit, had teased Sebastian mercilessly by regaling Amelia with childhood exploits that had them all laughing out loud.

  As the evening meal came to an end, Amelia felt a ripple of disquiet at Sebastian’s distant behaviour. His aloof, almost dismissive attitude towards her was in stark contrast to the warm curiosity of his family.

  When she had first arrived in the dining room, he had done little but stare at her nonplussed, as though he had no idea who this strange creature in his house might be, and throughout the meal made no attempt to converse with her.

  Despite the little voice inside warning her it was for the best, his aloof behaviour broke her heart. She was so confused with the conflicting emotions that churned inside her, that she wasn’t sure what to think. Inside, she knew this was the way things needed to be between them. He was accommodating a guest until she was ready to leave, and fulfilling his supposed obligation to repay her for saving his life. She should be pleased that, although somewhat offended, he had decided to accommodate her request with ease and not push her to sleep with him.

  But she missed the closeness they had shared in her cottage, and right now, being a stranger in this alien environment, she needed someone she could confide in.

  After dinner they eschewed protocol and all retired to the study together, where Sebastian recounted the events of the past few weeks with crisp precision. He carefully missed out the intimacy they had shared, but Amelia felt certain everyone in the room knew what had happened between them. Sebastian was, after all, very much a man. One who had been alone with a single female, unchaperoned, for several nights.

  “We need to search Uncle Benedict’s and see what we can find,” Dominic murmured into the silence.

  “Great, if we each take a room we can finish the job more quickly,” Isobel added, clearly relishing the challenge.

  “You’re not coming,” Dominic boomed, shooting to his feet. Amelia eased back in her seat at the outrage on the large man’s face. Although he looked so much like Sebastian, there was a darkness about him that immediately made her wary.

  “It’s not safe, Isobel,” Sebastian added, glaring at his sister-in-law. Amelia watched as Isobel glared back at both men defiantly, before raising her delicate chin in annoyance. She looked like a school ma’am telling her young charges off for being naughty.

  “You cannot expect us to just sit here quietly while you lot go off on your adventures,” she snapped, watching as the men bristled with masculine indignation.

  “We expect you to remain safe,” Peter added. “We have all had enough of your adventures, my dear,” he murmured, referring to Isobel’s own brush with death earlier in the year.

  “That wasn’t my fault.”

  Amelia didn’t understand, but watched the interchange between the wilful female and the dominant men with interest, and growing feminine respect for the other woman.

  Isobel glared at each man individually, before turning to Amelia. “Do you ride?”

  Amelia fought the urge to smile for the first time since she arrived, loving the challenging defiance clearly etched on Isobel’s face.

  “Yes I do. It has been some time since I have ridden, but I am sure it will come back to me,” Amelia replied, ignoring Sebastian’s growl from the other side of the room.

  “I think I can remember where Uncle Benedict lives. If not, then we can ride around until we find it.” Isobel was wise enough to know that this would raise her husband’s ire. After all he couldn’t be sure she wouldn’t go through with her threat.

  “I’ll be damned if you are going riding around the countryside on your own, woman,” Dominic snapped, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He already knew they were sunk, but felt for the sake of mankind he had to protest anyway. His wife usually got her own way in the end.

  “I won’t be on my own. Amelia will be with me, won’t you?”

  “Of course I will,” Amelia replied firmly, a defiant glint in her own eye.

  “Neither of you are going anywhere. Sebastian, say something.” Dominic spun to face his brother beseechingly. He was fairly certain that a night with Isobel could ensure she was too tired to get up early in the morning to accompany them, but he needed Sebastian to do his bit with Amelia. Otherwise, both ladies were definitely coming with them. He watched nonplussed as Sebastian studied Amelia, assessing for a few moments.

  “It seems to me that the ladies have already made their minds up.” He turned to Amelia and spoke directly to her, for the first time since their altercation in the bedroom. “Do you really want to come?”

  Amelia’s gaze locked with his warily, and she nodded. “I do.” She waited for the argument. His masculine scorn at her ability to face the journey perhaps, or an arrogant declaration that a woman’s place was at home. What she hadn’t expected was the slight dip of his head as he accepted her request.

  “Then I think it is best if you and Isobel took the carriage.” He ignored Dominic’s protest, and looked directly at Amelia. “As it has been some time since you last rode, then I think you would be more comfortable in the carriage, but it means we will have to stay overnight. Make sure that the maids pack an overnight back for you both.” He ignored Isobel’s look of delight, and smiled softly for a moment at a shocked Amelia, before turning to an equally surprised Dominic.

  “Amelia saved my life, and put her own into considerable danger by doing so. She dragged my half-dead carcass across the countryside to safety. All by herself. In the middle of one of the worst storms ever to hit England.”

  Silence descended upon the room for several moments. Amelia felt all eyes turn towards her with renewed respect.

  “Not only will both ladies be safer with us, but if Amelia wants to be involved in the capture of Ballantyne, and given everything she has sacrificed to save my life, I think as long as she is kept safe and doesn’t do anything stupid, I can see no reason why she should not investigate with us. She has earned the right.” Sebastian didn’t add that he wanted her with him for every possible moment while she was under his roof. He needed to take every chance available to persuade her that her place
in life was beside him.

  Besides, if he left her behind, she would have time to write to Sir Hubert and request a reference. At least with him, she wouldn’t be given the time or opportunity to write letters. He made a mental note to speak to Hodgkiss to monitor the post.

  One thing had come across loud and clear during the exchange earlier. She didn’t appreciate his making decisions for her, and didn’t believe she belonged with him. If he had any chance of convincing her to take up the mantle of his wife, he had to give her free rein to make her own decisions. As long as she didn’t put herself into danger or do anything that would remove her from his life entirely, then he had to accommodate her request. No matter how much it aggravated his masculine nerves to have her at risk.

  He had to gain her trust enough for her to tell him about her past. To do that he had to show her he trusted her ability to make her own decisions, and make them wisely.

  “Have you lost your mind?” Dominic demanded, shaking his head at just how easily his brother had buckled under feminine persistence. He understood in that moment, just how much Sebastian must love the woman before him.

  “The ladies can travel ahead in the carriage and we can go cross-country. With a couple of the stable hands as outriders, and one of us alongside, there is no danger to them. Peter and Edward can ride ahead and open up. There is no point in taking servants; we will just have to rough it overnight,” Sebastian said. He knew that, given the poverty Amelia had been living in, Benedict’s cold and empty house would still be a luxurious haven.

  Isobel had lived life on the streets and was not unfamiliar with living rough herself, so wouldn’t be swooning at having to live with the barest essentials.