“I see you were a successful horse thief.” Nick grinned at his brother, his eyebrows bobbing up and down.
“I didn’t steal, I borrowed. I will return the horse with compensation.” Graham, usually jolly about being teased, looked irritated.
Nick ignored his brother’s irritation. “So you struck a deal with the owner of the horse. He has agreed to the terms?”
“You know I did not.” Graham punched his brother hard on the arm and Nick stopped talking but his eyes still danced with merriment.
Will pulled the rabbit off the fire. “It will be dark soon. We will make camp here.”
Charlotte watched the brothers, suddenly feeling like an outsider. She joined the group and ate some rabbit but she felt awkward without Graham’s arms around her.
Night fell and Graham got up and returned to the horse. He pulled three blankets off the back of the animal.
“Will, the beast, gets his own covers. Nick and Tom, you will have to share. Lady Beaumont, for your protection, I would have you sleep next to me.” Graham did not look her in the eye.
“Of course, Mr. Fairfield.” She gave a slight curtsey but her tone was frigid and her eyes spit fire.
Graham gave a brief nod and spread the blanket out for them. He lay down and motioned for her to join him. Charlotte lay down next to him but left several inches between their bodies. She rolled over so her back faced him. She felt him roll on his side too. She heard Graham sigh as he reached over and pulled her closer. “You need to keep warm.” He pulled the other half of the blanket over them.
Their bodies were spooned together but Charlotte lay there stiff as a board for a few minutes. Here she was deciding she wanted him to ruin her and he was calling her Lady Beaumont. She shifted in her anger and suddenly felt his shaft press against her backside.
She had never felt this before but instinct told her to explore and she did. She shifted her bottom back and forth against the hardness. It was remarkable the way her softness and his hardness seemed to fit together.
“Charlotte, I beg you to stop,” Graham ground out through clenched teeth. His entire body had gone rigid.
“I’m just getting comfortable.” She turned and smiled sweetly. His face looked absolutely tortured and she wiggled again for effect. His eyes squeezed closed and his teeth clenched.
How interesting. Charlotte wanted to feel more of him. She lifted her hand and reached between their bodies.
“If you don’t stop, you are going to have to sleep with Will,” he whispered harshly in her ear.
She stilled her hand instantly but anger filled her chest again. Why was he being so difficult?
His breathing was ragged in her ear and it matched her own. They lay there both awake for what seemed like hours. She could hear the gentle snore of the other three brothers when she finally felt Graham relax and fall asleep.
Frustration again filled her chest. Her perfect plan was being completely thwarted. Her desire for Graham was building. She needed a minute to think with a clear head so she gently slipped Graham’s hand off of her and slid her body away from his.
She followed the brook around a bend and came to beautiful tree growing near its bank. She slid under its branches, took off her shoes and rolled down her stockings. She dipped her toes in the water. She leaned back into the soft moss. This place was like a fairy house. Nothing could hurt her here, she was safe and protected.
“Charlotte, what are you doing?”
Charlotte stretched, as Graham parted the dangling branches of the tree. “It’s magical.” She breathed in the fresh night air.
Graham was undeterred. “The last time you were alone, he snatched you away. You need to stay with me.”
She waved his comment away. “What kind of tree is it?”
Even in the dark, Charlotte could sense Graham’s tension. “It’s a bay willow.” Graham moved closer.
Charlotte knew he would scoop her up and carry her back to camp. They were playing cat and mouse now. But this mouse had a few tricks up her sleeve. “I feel safe here.”
Graham knelt down next to her, placing his arms underneath her limp body. “You are safe back at camp with me and my brothers…”
He didn’t finish because Charlotte turned suddenly and planted her lips on his. She put all of her frustration into that kiss. Her hands snaked around his neck and up into his hair. His mouth ground into hers with increasing pressure. Then his lips pressed hers open and his tongue slid into hers and the tips of their tongues met. Fire rushed straight to her groin. She moaned but the sound was lost in their kiss. He angled her so that their bodies pressed together. His lips left her mouth and started kissing a trail down her neck. Everywhere his lips touched sent sensation shooting through her. His hand quickly undid the first few buttons on her dress and he reached in to cup her breast over her chemise.
Charlotte groaned and arched up into his hand. His mouth met his hand and he kissed the nipple under the fabric. She went wild in his arms. He pushed the chemise aside and kissed her bare nipple. Charlotte thought she might die from the pleasure of it. Her hands tugged at his hair. She wanted more. More of their bodies touching. More of their skin together. More of his kisses.
She pulled on him until his weight came down on hers. He continued kissing her breasts and she wrapped her legs around his waist rubbing her softness against his hardness. He let out a groan. “Charlotte.” His lips left her breast and crashed down on her mouth again.
His hand travelled up her leg but stopped before it reached her soft core. She wiggled under him and he stilled. “Just a second my love.” His lips slowed and his fingers ever so gently stroked her soft folds. Her head fell back at the pleasure of it. His lips kissed her neck again as his hand stroked her. A need was growing inside her.
Charlotte’s hands traveled down his back. She wriggled them between their bodies and pulled his belt open. Then she started tugging down his pants to his knees.
His hand stilled. “We can’t do this.”
Her lips found his again. Her skirt was already around her waist and she pressed her body against his. She could feel the tip of his hardness pressing against her and she wiggled so that it began to penetrate, stretching her.
She could feel Graham beginning to sweat. His breath was ragged. “Heaven save me. Charlotte, please.” He pulled back but she wiggled closer keeping her arms locked around his neck. “You are not mine to have.”
His words penetrated her fog. “I want to be yours.” She moved closer and she felt the tip touch her soft folds again. She moved ever so slightly and her insides started stretching to accommodate him.
“Only your father can say that you are mine to have and I know he would not approve of the third son of a baron for his daughter.” His voice was laced with pain.
Charlotte was losing, she could feel it. “He won’t have a choice if…”
His hands came to either side of her face. “I’m no thief. I won’t steal you.”
Charlotte let out a sob of anguish and frustration. They were so close and yet… “Please,” she whispered.
“Don’t do this. Do you know how beautiful you are?” Graham’s face twisted in pain.
“I don’t want to take a chance that my father will say no.” She tried one more time to wiggle but his hands came down their bodies and held her hips.
“Charlotte, I will give my life for yours. It is mine to give but I cannot take what isn’t mine.”
Despair ripped through her, and she smacked at his face with her hands. He allowed her to hit him.
“Get off of me.” She swatted him again. He slowly withdrew the tip of his maleness and then began to sit up, pulling her with him.
“Charlotte,” his voice pleaded.
She was ready to tell him how much she hated him when the camp erupted in cries and yells.
Charlotte clutched at Graham, her anger forgotten. He scooted her onto the other side of the trunk of the tree where they couldn’t be seen from the camp. Then he l
ifted her above his head and pushed her up into the branches. “Climb higher and hide.”
Charlotte did as she was told. She climbed higher into the canopy of the tree. As she climbed, the moon shone down on the branches, lighting her way. The tree seemed almost to glow with it.
She froze, fearing that the light would also give her away.
A dark shadow charged towards the tree. While she couldn’t see any person or animal, she could see this shadow against the moonlight. The dark spot stopped at the tree. A deep growl emanated from the figure and Charlotte felt herself shaking in fear. Now she longed to be back in the safe circle of Graham’s arms.
The moon shone brighter and, even in the dark, Charlotte recognized the Marquess of Huntly. She pressed herself against the tree’s trunk.
“You cannot escape me.” He reached out to part the branches of the tree but then yelped in pain, dropping the branch. A cry of frustration ripped through the air.
“There!” Will’s sharp yell emanated through the forest.
Instantly the marquess turned and disappeared into the woods.
“Brother,” Graham called from under the tree and then began climbing to retrieve Charlotte.
When he reached her, he locked her in his arms, planting his lips on hers. His kiss was fierce but brief. Then he began buttoning her dress.
The two climbed out of the tree. Will, Tom and Nick were underneath its branches.
Tom gave the couple a long look, his eyebrows furrowed. “Why did you leave the camp?”
Graham sighed, “Charlotte couldn’t sleep. She took a walk, I followed.” Before Tom could respond, he explained what had happened with the marquess.
“There was something strange in the way that he found us. I heard nothing until he was right on top of us.” Will looked perplexed. “I hear a deer move its head when it is bedded in the grass. It is even stranger that he couldn’t touch the tree. And that Charlotte found the one spot he couldn’t get to her.”
“It was lucky you did leave.” Nick’s eyes were wide with surprise.
“Luck was on our side tonight.” Graham closed his eyes. Luck had indeed been on their side but if Lord Bard could find them once then he could find them again. His brother was right. Dark forces were at work. They had to find protection from the marquess.
STEALING A LADY’S HEART
CHAPTER EIGHT
The next morning dawned bright and sunny. The group ate a small breakfast and lit out. Charlotte was now on the horse. She was amazed at how quickly the men moved. She knew why. The devil himself was nipping at their heels.
They took a short break at lunch but didn’t have any food to eat. Will did not want to take the time to hunt.
Graham touched her arm. Charlotte did not look at him. She was still hurt by his rejection the night before.
“We will move as quickly as we can and try to find a protected place to sleep under tonight.”
She nodded and said nothing. She could feel him still looking at her but she kept her eyes averted.
When night fell, they found a bay willow to sleep under. Will caught a small meal and Charlotte lay on her blanket to sleep. She kept her back to Graham, not touching him.
She heard Graham sigh. Then he reached for her, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her towards him.
He snuggled her into the crook of his body. “I know you are angry with me. But I’ll not let you freeze tonight and I certainly won’t let anyone take you away. I meant what I said Charlotte. Everything in this world that is mine to give you, I would give. Including my life.” His finger brushed a stray hair from her cheek and she turned to look at him.
“What about your name. Would you give that to me?” Her voice trembled as she asked the question.
He did not say anything for a moment. “What if your father disowned you? You would be the wife of a locksmith.” Regret laced his voice.
“I have never cared about London or the ton or fancy dresses. I would set up an orphanage and a soup kitchen—I could help your father bring people back to the North.” Charlotte laced her fingers with his.
“Charlotte, I could never ask you to give those things up. You would hate me for it…”
Charlotte cut Graham off. “Perhaps we shouldn’t get married. You don’t seem to know me at all.” She sniffed. She could hear the other brothers shifting around her. They could hear every word.
Graham could hear them too. “Let me get you back to the manor. I want you alive first and then we can talk about our future.”
Charlotte smiled at the words our future. They sounded so good. She closed her eyes and fell blissfully asleep.
* * * *
As the first rays of light crested the sky, Graham woke up. He hadn’t slept well even after Charlotte had finally fallen asleep. He felt guilty. He knew he led Charlotte on with those last words. He wanted to get her back safely. But he would not steal her from her father and he would not knowingly ruin her life.
The rest of the camp began to wake around him and soon everyone was up and the group was moving. They needed to get back home as quickly as possible.
“Where are we?” Charlotte asked as the men moved at an even faster clip.
“We are nearing the English border. Once we cross, we have friends that we can borrow a vessel from and possibly make it home by nightfall.” Graham pulled the reins of the horse and picked up the pace. He needed to get Charlotte safely under a roof.
“I have a cousin who lives near the border. The Duke of Roxburge,” Charlotte mentioned.
Graham turned back to her and the group ground to a halt. “Are you close relations?”
She started in surprise at his intensity. “He is as close a relative as I have besides my father. Though it has been a long time since I have visited his home, he comes quite often to London. He has a son I haven’t met yet. Perhaps we could visit and get supplies…” Charlotte stopped suddenly. She cocked her head. “Did you hear that?”
Nick nodded. He seemed to hear it too.
“What is it?” Will asked grabbing the hilt of his sword.
Suddenly Graham caught a faint sound. A soft cry that came somewhere from the left.
Charlotte climbed off the horse and ran towards the sound. Graham could have sworn it was the persistent cry of what sounded like a child.
Graham took off after Charlotte. He caught her easily and then passed her. “What are you do—” Charlotte’s voice was strangled with worry but Graham held out his hand for her to stop.
Graham canvased the area. Up ahead, he could see the tall grass moving slightly.
“Stay here,” he commanded as he crept toward the sound. He looked back to see Charlotte covering her mouth with her hand. Graham came to the spot where the grass moved and then dropped to the ground. There in the grass was a small boy.
Graham scooped the child up in his arms and ran back towards Charlotte.
“Send Will to hunt. Have Tom start a fire. Hurry.” Graham’s face was set in rigid lines and Charlotte rushed to do his bidding.
Charlotte ran towards the three men. “Get food. Build a fire. We have found a child.”
The three stared at her for a long second before they dispatched. Graham came up behind her. She immediately got out both blankets. The child was still alive but freezing.
She took the boy in her arms and pressed him against her body. Then Graham wrapped them both in the blankets. He sat both of them down on his lap.
Tom worked quickly building a fire and Nick found water, giving the child a drink. The warmth plus the water seemed to bring some color back to the child’s cheeks. Will returned with a couple of pheasants and set to plucking and roasting them.
“What’s your name?” Charlotte softly asked the boy.
“Ewan MacPherson, my lady.” The boy looked as if it was obvious but Charlotte started in surprise.
“Who is your father, child?” Graham asked gently.
“Lord MacPherson,” the boy responded. Will hande
d the boy a pheasant wing, which he devoured.
Charlotte looked up. Her voice shook. “My cousin. The Duke of Roxburge.”
“Hello, Cousin Charlotte.” Ewan smiled as he uttered his greeting.
“How did you know who I was?” Charlotte looked at the boy in surprise.
“Graham must have said your name.” Tom shrugged.
Nick looked up. “I have traded with MacPherson on several occasions. He has done well here in the North while others have not. I will return the boy to his father. The rest of you press on. I will find my way home.”
Charlotte protested. “We will see him home together. I can’t leave my cousin now.” Her eyes drifted to the boy still cuddled against her.
Tom raised his hand. “Every extra second we spend in Scotland puts you in danger. We should stick to the plan.”
Graham shook his head. “Normally I would agree brothers, but I think Charlotte is right.”
Will looked furious as did Tom and Nick. Graham continued. “I have to believe that fate is guiding us this trip. We have found this child for a reason and returning him is necessary. I don’t know why yet but I am sure we will find out. Besides, surely a family member of Charlotte’s will help us on our journey.”
Charlotte beamed at Graham but Tom looked skeptical. “What if he doesn’t believe us? What if he wants to keep Charlotte and return her himself? He might not understand the danger the marquess poses. There is that business with the messenger and the tree the other night.”
Ewan sat up. “He knows about the marquess’ magic. I told my father that he kidnapped Cousin Charlotte.”
All five of them stared at the child, not saying a word. No one had mentioned the kidnapping in front of the boy. They were sure of that. And while strange things had happened, magic seemed a bit farfetched. Still, it was incredibly strange what the child just seemed to know.
“Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you. My father will help you too.” Ewan smiled sweetly.
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