Color of Danger (Sullyard Sisters Book 3)

by Ruth J. Hartman

  Walter let out a breath, almost like he’d been holding it, waiting for more answers. He pointed to the bread sack. “But you’d said you’re supplied with daily food. Doesn’t someone speak to you when it’s delivered?”

  “I’m afraid not. It’s left on the front step. I know it’s been delivered when a bell attached to the front door is rung. Because of my poor health, I’ve never been quick enough to get to the door before the person leaves.”

  Patience shook her head. Here she and Walter had thought to be on a dangerous excursion. An adventure. When all it entailed was a lonely old man who wanted nothing more than a kind person to talk to.

  Well, she could certainly take care of that. “If you wouldn’t mind, perhaps we could visit you from time to time?”

  Tears from Mr. Wycliff’s eyes reflected from the light of the lantern. “I would like that. Very much.”

  Walter glanced toward the open window and then eyed her. “Patience, I hate to say it but we really should go. Can you imagine the turmoil going on at home if your sisters realize you are not asleep in your room?”

  Much as she hated to, Patience agreed. She stood. “Mr. Wycliff, I have so enjoyed meeting you. Thank you for welcoming us into your home, even though our entrance wasn’t in any way polite.”

  He chuckled and stood as well. He took her hand. “My dear girl, you two have given an old man a true gift. I’ll treasure the memory of our conversation for many years to come. Thank you. I very much anticipate seeing you again sometime, if you can.”

  Walter smiled, nodded his head, and then offered Patience his arm.

  Once they’d left the house, all of her energy from fear that Walter had been harmed, apprehension of being discovered in the armoire, and then actually meeting the person who’d written the notes, left her. She sagged against Walter, relieved when he wrapped his arm around her.

  She’d not given anything else but their adventure much thought before. But now that they were on their way home again, Patience trembled. If her sisters had found out she was missing, things would not be pleasant upon their return home.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Walter kept hold of Patience’s hand as they crept back into their house. He winced when his foot caught on the squeaky step near the bottom of the stairs. Perhaps they were far enough away from the bedrooms that no one would have heard. He pulled her closer.

  “What’s wrong?” She whispered.

  In truth, he just wanted an excuse to be nearer to her. “Just… that noisy step.”

  “Oh… yes. We should probably tiptoe.”

  He nodded when all he wanted was to tug her hard against his chest and kiss her senseless. When he’d walked in to the room and saw Mr. Wycliff standing over Patience, had been afraid she was injured, Walter’s heart had nearly stopped. What would he do if something terrible befell her?

  He loved her. Pure and simple. What had started out as a quest to gain her favor, perhaps steal a few kisses and hugs, had turned into something entirely different. New. Something about the girl had stolen into his heart. Taken control of his mind. His thoughts. Nothing mattered but her.

  “Walter? Is something—”

  A door opened upstairs. He was about to lose his chance. And his nerve. Once the household was up and had discovered their duplicity, he might not be allowed to spend time alone with Patience any more. That was something he refused to risk. He needed to have his say and now was his moment.

  He turned, pulling her along behind him away from the stairs, around the corner and down a hallway.

  “Where are we going?” She stumbled, but he caught her before she could fall.

  “Just trust me.”

  He heard her let out a breath. Probably frustrated, as she usually was with him. But he couldn’t let that sway him now. Spotting the butler’s pantry, he opened the door, tugged her inside, and closed the door again.

  “Walter, what has gotten into you?” Her voice sounded loud. Had anyone else heard?

  “I need to say something. And I need to say it now.”

  He couldn’t see her, but could imagine her frowning, her mouth turned down at the corners, her brow furrowed.

  “I don’t understand.” At least she’d softened her voice.

  Perhaps they’d be fortunate and the sleeping members of the household would stay in their beds, undisturbed, at least until Walter had told Patience what was in his heart. “Please, just… give me a moment. There’s something I must say.”

  A pause, a sigh and then, “Very well.”

  He swallowed hard, took a deep breath and then released it. He let go of her hand and trailed his fingers up her arm. She tensed, but he kept going when she didn’t stop him. Once he came in contact with her chin, he cupped her cheek.

  “Walter?”

  “Everything is fine.”

  He felt a barely perceptible nod, as her face moved against his hand.

  “Patience, there’s something… Ever since… I need to—”

  She covered his hand with hers. “Just say it. Whatever it is. I’m not going anywhere.”

  Encouraged, he moved in closer, until he could feel her warm breath against his face. “You might have noticed that in the past I acted the part of a rake.”

  She sputtered a laugh. “Yes. I noticed.”

  “Well, not anymore.”

  She tapped the back of his hand with her fingers. “And how exactly has this changed? I seem to recall you flirting with me earlier today.”

  “True, that, but—”

  “What?”

  He bit his lip. “I’ve… that is, for a while now, I’ve had feelings for… for you.”

  She gasped but said nothing.

  He wished he could see her expression, really know how his proclamation had come across. On the other hand, if she was ready to refuse him, would he want to be aware of it before finishing his declaration? It would be too easy for a man to lose his nerve. “And, well, I wanted you to know and…”

  “And what?”

  Deciding he wouldn’t get any better opportunity and out of words anyway, he lowered his mouth until his lips nearly touched hers. “This.”

  He pressed his lips against hers. Her skin was warm, soft, and Heavenly. Better than he’d dreamed. He wrapped both arms around her, drawing her next to his chest. To his heart. Where he longed to convey his truest, deepest feelings. Heat grew between them. He couldn’t tell if it came from him or her. He hoped, both.

  She snuggled in closer, sliding her hands between them, to lay them flat against his chest. Could she feel how hard his heart was beating? Did she sense that it beat only for her?

  He ran his tongue across her lower lip, pleased when she gave a little squeak. Instead of pulling away and giving him a slap, which he probably deserved, she nestled closer. When she touched his tongue with hers, he nearly jumped straight up. So she wasn’t as prim as she’d seemed. What a delightful discovery.

  Suddenly, thoughts of them kissing, and doing much, much more crossed his mind. Touching. Caressing. Exploring. And in his vision, there weren’t any clothes involved. No. Only him and her. In his bed. Beneath the warm covers. Skin to skin.

  Taking a chance, Walter reached around to the back of Patience’s dress, searching until his fingers found the buttons. He undid them one by one, each time pausing to see how she would react. If she gave the slightest sign of wanting him to stop, he would.

  Instead of pulling away, however, she made a little sound. Like a purr. Encouraged, Walter kept going until he could slide the fabric off her shoulders. With a slight tremble to his fingers, he lowered his hand, trailing his fingers down her unbelievably soft, bare skin, finally cupping her chemise-covered breast. Heat, scorching and quick, ran in a line down his chest to his stomach and even lower.

  With his lips, he followed the downward trail his fingers had made. Over her collarbone, southward to the top of her chemise. Lowering his head, he covered her breast with his mouth. The only thing better would be if the sill
y chemise would magically disappear.

  Patience moaned. Walter moaned in return.

  A sound, like the squeal of a hinge, resonated somewhere from Walter’s left. But he didn’t care. He felt drugged. Happy. In love.

  Patience pulled away. Wait, what was she doing? Had she changed her mind? Did she want him to stop? Walter reluctantly opened his eyes.

  Light, harsh and unwelcome, flooded the pantry from a lantern.

  Oh no…

  “What in the name of all that is holy are you doing?” Lydia, standing there in her night rail as she held her sleeping infant, scowled at them.

  “Um… I…” Oh this is bad. So very, awfully terrible. Walter’s mouth was suddenly as dry as dust. He couldn’t seem to get many words out.

  “Come out of there at once.” Lydia pointed right at Walter. If she’d carried a sword, he’d be in tiny bloody slivers by now.

  “Yes… of course.”

  He rushed past her to stand by a small table, not wanting to come in contact in case Lydia was of a mind to bean him in the head. She seemed furious enough to try it.

  Patience scuttled out and stood by Walter. She opened her mouth but snapped it shut again. Her face was scarlet as she tried in vain to prop up her dress. Every time she got it flung over one shoulder, the other side slipped back down. Walter’s gaze slid down to where just a few moments earlier, his mouth had been having quite the enjoyable time. Wanting to help Patience in her distress, Walter reached around to refasten the buttons, but halted when the look in Lydia’s eyes was menacing enough to scald his skin simply by her stare.

  Lydia glared at first Patience, then Walter. “I can’t believe what I just saw. How long has this been going on? And right under our noses?”

  Patience shook her head, “We didn’t—”

  Lydia raised her hand. “Stop talking.” She handed Walter the baby, grabbed Patience by the shoulders, spun her around, refastened the dress in short order and resumed narrowing her eyes at them.

  Walter couldn’t stand for Patience to be in any kind of trouble. He had started this, after all. “Listen, it wasn’t her fault. It was all me. I—”

  Lydia reached out and took back her infant. “I have no doubt it was all you, Walter. Because I remember what my husband was like before he and I married and you are just like him.”

  Patience stiffened. “Wait a minute. I can’t let Walter take the entire blame. I was kissing him too, after all.”

  Lydia shook her head as she eyed her sister. “Don’t try to protect him. I know you’re an innocent. You would never—”

  Patience nodded. “But I did. I… I wanted to kiss him. Among other things…” She stared at the floor.

  Lydia’s mouth dropped open.

  Walter’s did too. “You did? You wanted to?”

  Her face reddened. “It’s true.”

  He lowered his voice. “For how long? How long have you wanted to…”

  “A while now.” Patience wrapped her arms around her middle but still wouldn’t look at them.

  He felt like all the air had disappeared from his lungs. Could it be true? She felt the same way? He never would have guessed by the way she spoke to him sometimes.

  “What is going on?” Stratford walked into the kitchen. “I heard voices down here. Thought something was amiss.” He put his arm around Lydia. “Darling? Is it Nicolas? Is he—”

  “It’s not the babe. At least not this one.” She patted her infant’s back.

  “Then…”

  She pointed to Walter. “It’s that one. And that one,” she added, indicated Patience.

  “I don’t understand.”

  Lydia peered up at her husband. “Let’s just say, your little brother is just like you used to be. Before we married.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You know… with women.”

  His eyes widened. “I beg your pardon?”

  If Walter hadn’t been in such trouble, he might have laughed at the indignation his brother showed. As if he himself hadn’t done what Walter had done, and much worse, if rumors were to be believed.

  But right at that moment, he didn’t think Stratford would find it at all amusing. And Lydia’s expression said she’d rather kill Walter than speak with him further.

  More steps came from the hall. Kitty, holding Andrew, and Nathaniel shuffled in, looking sleepy and rumpled. Kitty patted Andrew on the back as she placed him on her shoulder. “We heard voices. Why is everyone in the kitchen?” Her gaze focused on Patience and Walter. “And why aren’t you two in your night clothes? And Patience? Your hair is all messy and—”

  Lydia shook her head and addressed Kitty. “What we have here is a little tete a tete between our sister and your husband’s cousin.”

  Kitty gasped. “What?”

  Walter swallowed hard. How was he going to get out of this predicament and rescue Patience from her angry sisters in the process? “You see, Patience and I—”

  Lydia scowled. “I could see very well what you and my baby sister were up to.”

  Patience stomped her foot. “I am not a baby.”

  Kitty handed Andrew to her husband and stepped forward, taking Patience by the hand. “Darling, what’s going on here? What were you and he—” The glare she gave Walter was venomous. “—doing, precisely?”

  Patience gave a quick look to Walter and back. “Um, precisely?” She stared at the floor again, her mouth working but nothing coming out.

  Lydia tapped her slipper on the floor five distinct times. “I’ll tell you what they were doing, precisely. I came down here to get some milk to help me sleep. I heard noises from the butler’s pantry. When I opened the door, they were engaged in… well, let’s just say they were kissing intimately, not a sliver of light between them and our little sister wasn’t completely dressed.”

  “Patience!” Kitty’s voice rose to a shriek.

  Walter couldn’t stand it anymore.” If you would all please just listen—”

  Stratford glared at Walter. “How could you?”

  Emboldened, Walter stared back. “Pardon me, but I think you’re the last person to judge, brother.”

  “Oh.” Lydia grabbed her husband’s arm in support. “How dare you, Walter?”

  Nathaniel pushed a wayward locked of hair from his eyes. “Everyone needs to calm down. It’s getting out of hand. I’d rather not wake your parents if we can help it. If they found out what their son had been doing. With Patience, no less…”

  Andrew lifted his head from Kitty’s shoulder and began to whimper. She patted his back. “And you’re upsetting the baby.”

  Lydia rubbed Nicolas’ back. “This baby as well.” Her face had turned a dark, angry red.

  Stratford pulled her close. “Are you feeling ill, Lydia? Perhaps you should return to bed and rest.”

  “No, I’m just vexed. I think the baby is vexed too.” On cue, the infant wailed.

  Patience stomped her foot again. “Family, please. None of this is any of your concern. It’s between Walter and me.”

  Proud of how she stood up to her bossy sisters, Walter slipped his arm around her but released her immediately when Stratford emitted something akin to a growl.

  Lydia grabbed Patience’s hand, tugging her toward the doorway. “Come with me.” She stalked from the room, Stratford in her wake.

  Kitty let out a deep sigh and shook her head at Walter. “Something must be done about this, but frankly I’m so tired I can’t think of it tonight. Rest assured, Walter, tomorrow we will sort this all out.”

  Nathaniel followed her, but paused briefly to give Walter a disapproving stare over his shoulder before leaving.

  Standing alone in the middle of the kitchen, Walter ran his hand through his hair. Well, that definitely didn’t go as planned.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The first thought on Patience’s mind that morning was of delicious kisses. Warm embraces. Gentle fingers gliding across her skin. Sweet words. Enticing promises.

&nbs
p; Angry sisters.

  She sat up in bed in a panic. Oh no. Lydia finding them in the pantry. Everyone else in the kitchen. Glares and harsh words.

  She let out a sigh. What would the day bring? Did she even want to know? Poor Walter. Had his brother and cousin already berated him this morning? She was sure to be in for the same from Kitty and Lydia. How embarrassing it was to have been caught in the closet, compromised, with Walter. Perhaps no one would notice if Patience just scrunched back down under the covers and stayed there.

  A hard single knock came at her door.

  And so it begins. She didn’t bother answering. It would be one of her sisters, or both. And the door was unlocked. So she waited.

  Five seconds later, the knob turned. Kitty stepped in, followed by Lydia, who carried Nicolas in a wrapped bundle against her shoulder.

  Kitty walked across the room and went at once to open the drapes, allowing bright sunlight to pour in through the window. Lydia went right to the chair that sat nearest the bed and slumped down upon it, mumbling something about not getting enough sleep and people in closets.

  Kitty didn’t grab another chair, instead, perched on the edge of the bed, an expectant expression on her face.

  Patience waited, wondering which one of them would speak first.

  Lydia tapped her finger three times on the arm of the chair. “So, what do you have to say for yourself, Patience?”

  She bit the inside of her lip, hoping for some inspired words to suddenly flow from her lips. No such luck. She had to say something. “Well…”

  “What were you thinking”? Lydia leaned forward, the chair giving a loud squeak.

  Kitty shook her head. “Honestly, Patience. And here you were always the sweet one, the pure—”

  “I wish you’d stop saying things like that.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m not a little girl anymore. I’m a woman and—”