by Rebecca King
“I didn’t mean to frighten you, but word will get around the village soon enough. I just wanted you to hear it from me, and not from some gossip somewhere,” Jeb assured her.
“Thank you,” she whispered, and then pressed a fleeting kiss on his lips.
He was stunned, delighted, amazed, and happily returned the caress for a moment. Still, the looming shadow of Mrs Banks hovered in the darker recesses of his mind, pressing him to take it no further for now.
“Just promise me you will be extra vigilant.” His voice was husky with suppressed emotion.
“I promise.”
“I will deal with the return of the stolen items as soon as I get the chance.”
“It is alright. In light of what has happened to poor Tabitha and Mrs Banks, the thefts are a mere triviality aren’t they?” she replied quietly.
“Promise me you will do as I have asked? I could not contemplate what it would do to me if you became the third victim. Please, don’t do that to either of us. We have to discuss our future as soon as this is over.”
“I won’t take risks,” she promised. “Just promise me that you won’t take unnecessary risks either.”
She was thrilled at his possessiveness, and would have agreed to anything he asked of her, especially discussing a future together.
“I promise,” Jeb replied, and sealed it with a very thorough kiss. “I have to go,” he muttered when the temptation to stay began to outweigh importance of the terrible news he had yet to impart to the vicar.
Minutes later, he slammed his way out of the house and made his way over to the church.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Several days later, the village was still reeling from the news of the deaths. There had been no sign of the stranger, but Sophia was still tense and nervous, mostly because she had been stuck in the house with a considerably grumpy Delilah. She had made her displeasure at being confined well known to her niece, who was the only person around to hear her moan. Thankfully, Delilah had now lapsed into sullen silence, but Sophia suspected from the way she was now slapping items onto the kitchen table that the blessed peace wouldn’t last long.
She was right; it didn’t.
“Do you know something? I am going to go out for a walk.” Delilah declared as she threw several more beads and buttons onto the table. “Everybody else is going about their business. I don’t see why we shouldn’t either. Why, sitting here practically under house arrest is nothing but downright ridiculous and I shall do it no longer. You do what you wish, Sophia, but nothing untoward has happened to us. There is no reason to think it ever would. I don’t care what the Lord’s son says. I am going out for a walk to enjoy some of this sunshine.”
Sophia opened her mouth to protest, but didn’t want to get into an argument and so watched her leave. It was only when the door had slammed closed behind her that Sophia realised Delilah already had her boots on. She watched her out of the window, and felt rather envious as Delilah strode down the lawn. It would be wonderful to savour some of that sunshine herself.
Should she go out? Before she could make her mind up whether she wanted to go after Delilah, or take a walk on her own, there was a knock on the front door. She heaved a sigh of relief when she saw Jeb on the doorstep and stood back to allow him to enter.
“How are you?” Jeb asked as he stepped into the house.
“Worried,” Sophia replied fervently.
He glanced around the hallway. “Is Delilah around?”
“No, she has gone for a walk. Four days confined in the house is more than she has managed since the day she moved in,” she said ruefully. She was glad now that her aunt had gone for a walk because it gave her some time alone with Jeb to talk freely. “She declared it was foolish to remain inside, and went for a walk before I could stop her. I have to confess that I need a little fresh air myself.”
“Then you shall have it,” Jeb declared with a grin.
Assured they were alone, Jeb stepped closer and waited for her to look at him. Thankfully, she didn’t move away when he dipped his head and brushed a possessive kiss across her lips.
“I am sorry I haven’t been to see you before. Several friends of mine arrived from London the other day, and we have been investigating the murders.”
“Have you learnt anything?”
“Not much.” He had, but couldn’t tell her what because it related to events in London, not Framley Meadow.
“Have you done anything with the stolen items yet?”
Jeb shook his head. “Not yet. But I do have an idea about the best way we can get rid of them without anyone connecting them to you.”
He had discussed the matter with his colleagues, and had been completely honest about what had happened, and Sophia’s part in it. It had been Marcus who had suggested the best way to deal with them. Jeb knew he was right.
As he spoke his gaze wandered over her, savouring the feminine curves and delicate beauty she carried so gracefully. Jeb had missed her far more than he had ever missed anybody. It reinforced his suspicions that he must keep her in his life.
“Oh?”
“Care for a walk?” His smile widened when he saw the relief on her face.
“I should love to,” she replied happily. She draped her shawl over her shoulders but after a glance at the sky, hesitated.
“What is it?”
She smiled at him. “Have you eaten?”
When Jeb shook his head, she went to find a basket to pack an impromptu picnic before they left the house.
“This is wonderful,” Sophia declared. She took a deep breath of the crisp morning sunshine as they wandered across the emerald expanse of fields next to the woods.
“It is,” Jeb agreed, but meant it was wonderful being with her rather than outside.
He had far less temptation to cope with now they were outside rather than in an empty house with bedrooms close at hand. Ignoring the needs of his flesh, he patted the back of her hand where it rested on his forearm and drew her infinitesimally closer. Their gazes locked when she looked up at him. She smiled softly at him. When he smiled back, her smile grew wider. In spite of everything that was happening in the wider world, for that brief moment of time, she was content, and he appeared to be so too if his heartfelt sigh was anything to go by.
“Where are we going?” she asked when they had made their way through the woods at the side of the house.
“To the church,” Jeb murmured quietly.
“Why?”
“We are going to leave the items Delilah has stolen in the church for the vicar to find. A friend of mine has written a note to ask the vicar to return them to their rightful owner. There is nobody in the village considered the epitome of reliability more than clergy. He is the only person in the group who has never been considered the thief, so nobody would point the finger at him if he found the goods and returned them to the rightful owners. It’s the quickest and safest way to get rid of them. Delilah will then be aware that she has gained nothing from taking them in the first place. Hopefully, she will see that the risk she takes is not as appealing as it once was.”
“Quite,” Sophia replied with a smile. “How clever.”
She threw him an appreciative look that made him a little bashful for a moment. He scratched the back of his head in consternation, not sure how he should respond. In all of the time he had been working for the Star Elite he had been praised many, many, many times, but it had never meant as much as Sophia’s appreciation.
“I try,” he mumbled around an uncomfortable cough.
As far as Sophia was concerned, he had just endeared himself to her even more. He had the manner of an awkward young adult when he looked uncomfortable like that. She wasn’t sure whether to tease him about it or just kiss him. In the end, she decided their acquaintance wasn’t on a firm enough footing for her to tease him too much, and instead walked beside him all the way to the church.
“Where do we leave them?” she whispered once they were inside the
hallowed building.
Jeb had collected the box of goods he had already secreted in the woods earlier, and carried them into the church.
Jeb glanced around. “There is a room at the back where they stored Tabitha’s body. I think it would be best if we left them in there. They will be away from the public’s eye should anyone happen to wander in. Few people go in there. The vicar may not find them immediately, but someone who works with the vicar will.”
Once the package was on the dresser there, he frowned at it. “Is there anything of Mrs Banks in there, do you know?”
“I have no idea,” she replied. “I didn’t know Mrs Banks well enough.”
“Let’s go,” he murmured, aware of the shiver she tried, and failed, to hide.
Once outside, Sophia watched Jeb close the door to the church and felt as though a huge weight had just been taken off her shoulders.
“Because she hasn’t gone out recently, hopefully, nothing else has been taken. The longer she can refrain from stealing the less likely she is to go back to it once I have gone,” Sophia whispered.
Jeb looked at her, his face somewhat solemn. “Then you had better stay in the village for a long time yet.”
Sophia wasn’t sure how to answer that. While she wanted to remain in Framley Meadow and spend some more time with Jeb, she needed to see her father again.
A small voice warned her that she would have to cut the strings eventually and make her own way in the world, but the thought of staying with Delilah for the foreseeable future was something she just couldn’t contemplate. She doubted Delilah would agree to it anyway.
Still, it was thrilling to see how reluctant Jeb was for her to go.
“Delilah has already started to make noises that I should go home,” she replied quietly. “I cannot help her now that the stolen items are out of the house. I should leave Delilah’s problems to my father to deal with. I have to confess that my time here has been difficult to say the least.”
While they weren’t able to discuss the future just yet, namely because of the Star Elite business that had yet to be resolved, he was determined to do whatever he could to persuade Sophia to remain in the village for a while longer. He was just at a loss to know how to go about it without resorting to outright seduction.
“Where are we going now?” she asked when she realised that she had no idea where they were.
“To a place I know that is perfect for a picnic,” he replied with a smile.
“Oh, how delightful,” she gasped minutes later when he led her to a small clearing beside a tiny stream.
The gentle trickle of the water sounded melodic amongst the noise of the woodland creatures and the rustling of the leaves. It was a haven of tranquillity that was simply manna from Heaven, and a perfectly intimate setting for their picnic.
“I thought you might like it. It is just on the outskirts of my father’s land,” Jeb explained as he led her to a spot in the sunshine and settled down beside her.
Sophia savoured the last of her wine nearly an hour later, and looked at him hesitantly. It seemed scandalous to lie with him, even with the picnic basket contents scattered between them, but when he tugged her down to lie down beside him she didn’t object.
“What happens now?” she whispered.
Jeb considered that. “Well, although taking things slowly would probably alleviate any doubts either of us might have, I don’t think Delilah would be happy to accommodate you for several more months to allow for a proper courtship.”
“I didn’t mean that,” she replied with a smile. “I was asking about the murders. What happens next?”
Jeb contemplated how to answer, but was still searching for the right words when Sophia spoke again.
“Do you really think Delilah will continue to steal once I have gone?” She frowned at the thought.
“I think her greed will grow along with her confidence the more she manages to take. She has lost some of her hoard today, but that is not likely to thwart her. While I am in full agreement that it is best if the items are not in the house while you are there, I think that by getting rid of them we may have pushed your aunt to steal more now. She will not only have to steal the usual amount to get the money she has become used to, but she will also have to take more to replace the goods she lost today.”
“Heaven’s above,” Sophia whispered. “Do you think I should just report her to the magistrate and be done with it?”
Jeb shook his head. “Now that we have left the stolen goods in the church we have no proof your aunt has actually done anything wrong. If she steals again while you are there, then I think that is a question you need to ask yourself very carefully. It might be best if she was reported to the magistrate, who would then serve her a prison sentence. She would then disappear completely from the social circles she struggles to keep up with. You could claim she is ill and has gone away to recuperate or something. A brief stint in jail might be the jolt into reality she needs to understand the laws apply to her too. However, it will mean you are going to be tarnished with gossip for a while if anyone does find out what she has done. Having said that, I am sure that once the locals realise it was you who reported her they will be more than willing to forgive you.”
He didn’t add that her connections to him and his father would be more than enough to quell any suspicion of Sophia’s involvement. People would upset the likes of Delilah to spread nefarious gossip, but too many of the locals relied on the Lord for their wages, and wouldn’t want to be caught spreading wicked gossip that could cost them their jobs.
“How much longer do you think you will stay here?” he asked quietly. He sat up and leaned over her until they were mere inches apart, and stroked her cheek gently.
“I am not sure,” Sophia replied. “Another week, maybe? I have yet to receive a response from Hooky to any of my letters, so I shall have to wait here to see if he either writes or visits like I have asked him to do. If I don’t get a response soon I suspect Delilah will throw me out, and I will have to catch a post-chaise home by myself.”
“You can’t do that unchaperoned,” Jeb protested with a scowl.
“I will have to if I am thrown out on the street,” she replied.
Not if I have anything to do about it, Jeb mused wryly.
“You must not catch a post-chaise alone. Tell me if she does throw you out. You can come to stay at Briggleberry. Promise me, Sophia, please?” His voice was harsher than he intended but no less pleading.
“I promise,” she said, profoundly touched by his concern for her.
“Given that you have no idea how long you are going to be here, I think we need to make the most of our time together,” Jeb murmured huskily.
He wasn’t prepared to allow her to leave without making plans to see her again. While he had breath in his body, if he could move her to stay however temporarily to Briggleberry, then he had no qualms about doing so. Mainly because it helped give him time to persuade her to become a part of his permanent future.
When she turned to look at him askance, he captured her lips with his and drew her toward him. He put all of the yearning, fears, and unspoken emotions into that tender kiss and groaned at the willing way she melted against him. Her soft hands slid up his chest and across his shoulders, and came to rest on the back of his neck. In doing so, her breasts pressed against his, and drew forth a shudder of awareness that made him groan and instinctively hold her tighter. He cupped the back of her head to keep her steady and deepened the caress. His tongue invaded the moist recess of her mouth to mate with hers in a parody of physical need.
While she responded, he sensed a hesitance in her that warned him to be careful. With that in mind, he eased away until he finally lifted his head.
“I am sorry, I shouldn’t have gotten so carried away,” he murmured, easing back from her.
“It’s alright, I am just not used -” She broke off and felt incredibly awkward.
She wished she hadn’t gotten so carried away, and
had been unable to restrain herself. While it felt heavenly to share such affections while locked in an intimate embrace, it was also incredibly wanton of her.
“I am sorry,” she said, unsure what else she could say. She was still trembling from the force of the passion that swept aside all logic.
“It’s not your fault. I make no bones about the fact that I find you utterly desirable,” Jeb replied.
To reiterate his point he leaned forward and kissed her again. It was some time before they broke apart, and a struggle for them both to do so when Jeb finally did manage to lift his head.
Unfortunately, the fine drizzle that had started to fall about them began to permeate their clothing. Sophia hadn’t even realised the sun had gone in and stolen all trace of warmth from the otherwise sunny afternoon.
In spite of the white hot flames of passion that carried them along on a tide of desire, she knew they had to stop. It was considerably harder than either of them expected to pack the contents of the basket away and slowly make their way back to Delilah’s house.
Jeb eyed her walking shoes doubtfully. “Are you going to be alright if we take a short cut through the woods?”
He pressed a loving kiss to her temple when she nodded, and could not deny either of them when she captured the back of his head and tugged him toward her for a loving kiss.
Sophia nodded. “I am fine,” she replied once she had released him.
She couldn’t quite believe she had been brazen enough to do that, but made no apology for it. Thankfully, Jeb didn’t seem to expect one. She snuggled against him with a smile of contentment curving her lips when he slid an arm around her and drew her flush against him. They walked side by side deeper into the woods, but didn’t go far before the silence was broken by an argument somewhere near to the house.
“Listen,” Jeb whispered, and drew them to a stop several feet away. He released her and peered through the branches, and saw Delilah glaring angrily at a stranger.
