Relieved with the information, she thought of something else. “But will other soldiers come, Holden?”
“I don’t know,” he replied honestly. “But I don’t think Ransom will leave the house unguarded after this. When we leave in the morning, I’m sure he will—”
“Leave?” Catherine interrupted. “He never said anything about going away again so soon.”
“That’s because he doesn’t know yet,” John explained.
Catherine thought of the myriad of things she and Ransom needed to talk about. Now, with this intrusion, there would be no time. She considered returning to her room to wake him, but knew he was exhausted. She didn’t like him going away without settling things, but she preferred he go with all his wits about him if he did.
“When do you have to go?”
“Before first light,” Holden answered. Worried, she chewed at her lip and frowned. “Don’t worry, Catherine. He’ll be safe and we will be back in a few days.”
His words touched her and she tried to smile, but her heart wanted to hear Ransom tell her she was at Devil’s Head to stay before he left.
* * *
On her way back to her room, Catherine turned to make her way into his library. She had invaded the privacy of his room once already tonight. It didn’t seem quite so bad to enter again. Closing the door behind her, she looked about his sanctuary.
There was so much she didn’t know about the man she had wed, yet she felt close to him here. So much of the mystery of him lay inside these walls. She sat in his chair, curled her feet beneath her, and settled back in it as she remembered the first time she saw him.
It was in this very room. He had terrified her. In fact, he still made her tremble—but for a completely different reason. Closing her eyes, she laid her head back to reminisce about the first day and every one she had shared with him since.
Images of him astride Lucifer the day he declared they would be consummating their marriage danced through her mind. Thoughts of the Ebony filled her head. How sensuous an experience it was for him to lick away the preserves he purposefully placed on her. There were no thoughts of him that did not stir her passions. Whether he shaved half-dressed or stood like a rogue pirate all in black, he excited her.
She did love him. If only he would care for her a little, she would be content to spend her life at his beck and call. But what if he decided to send her away, what then? Her hands fell to her lap, covering the child growing in her womb. She would have his babe to console her. He did not know of the child yet, and she had sworn those who knew to secrecy. She wanted to be the one to tell him. If things went poorly, she didn’t care if they revealed her secret. By then, she would be far enough away.
Pushing the less favorable thoughts to the back of her mind, Catherine resumed her pleasant memories. That each involved Ransom did not surprise her. With a smile on her lips, she fell asleep.
* * *
Ransom stirred in the warm stillness. He felt the moisture of perspiration on his body, despite his lack of cover. It took him a moment to recall where he was. He reached out his hand, but found the bed beside him empty. He sighed as he remembered the minutes before sleep overtook him.
For over a month, he had planned what he would say and do when he saw Catherine, but none of it had come about. Oh, he’d bedded her, yet it was not the romantic seduction he had plotted.
Too many things hindered his plan, not the least of which was the damnable war. He draped his arm over his brow as he thought of the major who had hurt her. God help him if they ever met. Holden was right, of course. It was a foolish thought to go after a prisoner of war. But he was tempted.
He smiled at the thought of what his wife had managed to do with only a few staff. The petticoat militia. Knowing what Catherine could be like in the throes of passion, he almost felt sorry for the men on whom she turned her temper.
Ransom stretched out the kinks of too little sleep and too much desire for his woman. Then he sat up to search for his breeches in the dark room and chuckled when he recalled how quickly he shed them. As his eyes adjusted, he glanced about the room for his shirt, then dismissed the idea. It was too hot. Besides, he was going in search of Catherine. When he found her, he would only have to remove it again.
He checked several rooms, but to no avail. He went downstairs and spied Holden coming from the kitchen.
“Have you seen Catherine?” Ransom asked, even before he greeted his friend.
“Yes, she was down here about half an hour ago. I thought she was headed up to bed.” Holden pointed to Ransom’s lack of attire. “Apparently, so did you.”
Grimacing at the poorly timed attempt at humor, Ransom turned about to continue his search. “If you see her, yell out,” he ordered.
“Ran, wait,” Holden called after him. Ransom turned to his call. “Maybe you better leave her wherever she is.”
“Why?”
“We have to get those muskets to New York at once.” Holden went on to relay the details. “I’m sorry, Ran, but we have the wagon ready to load.”
Defeated yet again in his attempt to speak with her, Ransom headed for the library. “I’ll get things ready,” he stated, his voice devoid of enthusiasm. He opened the door and spied the object of his earlier search. Speaking over his shoulder, he called to Holden. “Give me a few minutes, will you?”
Holden chuckled. “I think I can keep the men busy loading for, say . . . an hour?”
Nodding slowly, Ransom went into the library. An hour. Hardly the amount of time he wanted, yet better than no time at all. Unwilling to waste a moment, he slipped his arm beneath her legs to lift her.
Catherine awoke abruptly. “What . . . ? Where . . . ?”
“Shhh,” he breathed as he brushed his cheek against hers. “I’m taking you to bed.” Catherine wrapped her arms about his neck and settled her head against his shoulder.
En route to her room, he wondered if he should take the time to tell her how he felt. He knew he did not play fair by making demands on her without giving her some hope for the future. Once inside the bedroom, he lowered her feet to the floor and prepared to speak.
“Not now.” She pressed her fingers to his lips. “There is too little time.” Her eyes sparkled with moisture as she tenderly reached up to offer her lips. “Let’s not waste it,” she breathed as she drew his head down to hers.
Ransom could not speak. Her tongue began to explore his mouth. His arms wrapped about her waist, pulling her tightly against him. Her hips pressed closer. He growled and she disengaged his arms. He watched her step back to unfasten her gown. He spied her bandage. “Your arm, is it—”
“It will not hinder us,” she smiled.
Ransom hastened to increase the soft light from the lamp. He turned to find her in her chemise. “I want to see you,” his voice rasped. “I have thought of nothing else for weeks.”
With tantalizing slowness, she slipped the straps of her chemise off her shoulders. She clutched the thin garment to her breasts and stepped toward him.
“I missed you terribly,” she softly murmured. “I worried about you.” She gazed up at him while she ran one finger down his chest. “Love me, Ransom.”
He wanted to cry out that he did love her, but instead took her hand and drew her to him. With the immediate release of his needs for her behind them, he promised himself to spend the time they had dedicating himself to her pleasure. He took both of her hands and watched the chemise slide to the floor.
His arms swept beneath her knees and he carried her to the bed. His eyes drew pleasure from her lovely body while he shed his breeches. He braced his body above hers. When she tried to arch closer to him, he shook his head and smiled. “Not until you are begging me.” He lowered his head to feast on the sensitive flesh of her breasts.
She sought his swollen manhood and caressed it. “I am begging,” she purred throatily.
Ransom struggled to breathe. He rolled to his back and drew her lithe form over him. “Then take w
hat you desire, my love,” he rasped, bringing her astride his slim hips. “Put me inside you and take all that I am.”
She continued to hold him, clearly not sure what to do. His hands gripped her hips and drew her down until he filled her. Unable to wait for her to begin moving, he taught her the rhythm.
“This is where I belong,” he breathed, thrusting upward to meet her.
“And where I want you to be.” She gasped when his hands cradled her breasts. Her head dropped back so far her hair brushed his thighs. He moved one hand to add to her excitement and she groaned.
Ransom didn’t know how much longer he could keep moving so deeply into her without releasing. She undulated so provocatively above him, he had to close his eyes. The mere vision of her on the verge of climax was more than he could stand. At last, he felt the first tiny tremor. He clutched her hips firmly as he drove one last time into her.
“I love you, Ransom!” she cried.
The exquisite sexual act between them paled when compared to her words. His eyes flew open to see her head thrashing back and forth. He realized she was not aware of her words. In the afterglow of their mating, he prayed her words were from her heart and not the result of unleashed desire.
Spent, Catherine fell forward against his chest. She breathed rapidly and it took many long moments for her to calm. His arms held her tenderly as his hand slowly traced her spine. In all his life, he had never known such contentment.
“I must leave you now,” he told her gently as he pushed her hair from her face. He felt her nod and sensed sadness within her. “When I return, we must talk, you and I.” He took her face in his hands and kissed her tenderly. “There is much I wish to tell you, kitten, but I want the time to make the telling right.”
She smiled. “I, too, have much to tell you.”
Despite his desire to stay, he could no longer remain in her arms. He sighed heavily and lowered her to the bed at his side. He claimed one more passionate kiss that left them both breathless before he made the supreme effort to roll away from her.
“I will leave men to watch the house, so you need not worry,” he reassured her as he donned his breeches. “You will be safe,” he grinned broadly and added, “until my return.”
“Be careful,” she requested earnestly.
Thinking of her claim of love, his smile softened. “Believe me, my Cat, I will be very cautious. I am most anxious to have our talk.” He kissed her quickly, then left the room. He dared not look back in case he found he could not leave her.
* * *
A stomping Lucifer awaited Ransom as he left the house. Three months away had left the horse skittish, but Ransom was ready to handle him. After all, he, too, was straining at the bit, anxious to return home even as they prepared to leave. The fully loaded wagon stood nearby.
“I have men stationed about the place and John will make sure all goes well.”
“Thanks, Holden,” Ransom said. He looked up to the window of Catherine’s room. He was about to turn Lucifer toward the trail when he saw the curtain draw back. He stared up at her as she watched his departure. He could not see the expression on her face, yet he rather fancied it filled with the same regret he experienced.
“You ready, Ran?” Holden rode up beside him.
“No, but we’re going, anyway.”
“Sorry, Ran, but it will give you a chance to fill me in on England and your parents.” He cocked a brow and lowered his voice. “And what you learned about Catherine.”
“If you weren’t such a good friend, I’d tell you to mind your own business,” Ransom said with a grin.
Holden chuckled. “I take it that means she spoke the truth and you finally accept you are in love with her.”
More men joined them and Catherine stepped away from the window. Ransom drew a deep breath and faced his friend. “Yes, Holden. I love her.” His admission aloud came easier than he had expected. He’d been trying the words out in his mind the entire trip home, but this was the first time he had spoken his thoughts aloud. He grinned at his friend, “I really do.” And he looked back at the window.
“I know,” Holden smiled. “You have for some time.”
Ransom frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Holden clearly took no affront to his sharp words. He just continued to smile. “You are a self-made man, Captain Kent. Nobody tells you anything, not if he values his hide.”
Thinking of how many times Holden had hinted Catherine was exactly what she professed to be, Ransom nodded in chagrin. “Perhaps,” he admitted, “but if I ever need to be told something in the future, I’d appreciate it if you’d do it. I promise it will only help our friendship.”
Holden laughed as he rubbed his jaw. “I’ll do the best I can. But if you don’t like what I tell you, it’s not my fault.” Holden headed back to the wagon as it readied to leave.
Ransom took one last look at Catherine’s window, then followed. He wondered at Holden’s words and mood. He seemed terribly amused about something. Ransom wondered what he did not yet know.
Chapter Eighteen
* * *
As she exited her bedroom, Catherine thought she heard the front door close. Curious as to who would be calling, she made her way to the stairs. She heard John at the bottom, “Wait here. I’ll call for my mistress.” She looked to see who had just come in.
“Sabrina!” Ready to go down to welcome her cousin, Catherine gasped when she saw the vehemence in her cousin’s eyes.
“Catherine,” Sabrina groaned. “How could you steal my intended from me after all I did for you?”
Out of the corner of her eye, Catherine saw John flee toward the kitchen. Rather than stop him, she stood speechless, wondering what prompted her cousin to speak such a lie. “I didn’t— I never—”
“You should never have done such a terrible thing,” Sabrina went on, her voice sounding convincingly appalled.
Dumbfounded, Catherine took a step down and clutched her hand to her chest, unable to fathom her cousin’s intent. “What are you talking about?”
“Yes,” Alice interrupted. “What are ya talkin’ about?”
Sabrina struck a wounded pose. “What did she tell you?” Alice cocked a brow, but did not reply. “Did she tell you the story I asked her to take my place? Did she say I loved another and didn’t want to wed the viscount?” Alice glanced at Catherine.
“I told no one anything. I swore not to!” Catherine cried, coming the remaining way down the stairs. “But if I had, that is what I would have said because it is the truth!”
“Oh, Catherine,” Sabrina groaned and pressed a hand to her brow. “How could you?” She moved gracefully to a chair near the wall and sat. She lifted tear filled eyes to Catherine. “It is bad enough you have stolen my intended, but to have me kidnapped by that . . . fiend! You have ruined me!”
Catherine was speechless. She had never witnessed such a brilliant performance. Sabrina should have been on the stage. Seeing the curious expression on Alice's face, Catherine felt the need to defend herself and promptly stomped to face her cousin.
“I saw you and Rafael in the inn. If you are ruined, Sabrina. You did it yourself.” Turning to Alice, she lifted her chin. “I do not know if you are privy to the truth in this, Alice, but I swear Ransom knows the whole of it.”
Clearly digesting Catherine’s words, Alice nodded with a smile. “I don’t doubt ya, child.”
Relieved, Catherine turned to see Sabrina rise. The look on her cousin’s face unnerved her. She took a step back.
“Whether he knows or not is unimportant, Catherine. You and he are living in sin. Your marriage is a farce. You are no better than the whore you accuse me of being.”
“Sabrina, I never—”
Alice moved forward protectively. A comforting arm settled about Catherine’s shoulders and she appreciated the interruption when Alice spoke.
“Mistress Catherine is the cap’n’s wife by his own words,” she stated firmly.
“M
istress Catherine,” Sabrina sneered, “had better leave before Ransom returns and hears of her treachery, if she knows what is good for her!”
“How do ya know he ain’t here now?” Alice demanded.
“Because I saw him in New York,” Sabrina stated. Astonished, Catherine saw Sabrina smile. “He sent me here to wait for him.” She moved about the foyer as if to examine it. “He said we would work everything out when he returns.”
“You are lying, Sabrina!” she declared. “Ransom would not know you, nor you him. The two of you have never met.”
“Poor Catherine,” Sabrina sighed. “Still such a child.” Staring straight at her, Sabrina smiled wickedly. “We met in England while he was there.”
Catherine realized the only way Sabrina could know Ransom had visited England was if she had seen him there. Alice told her the trip had been made in secrecy to protect both him and his father.
“Surely you don’t think I came here to this godforsaken country for my health? I was invited, my dear.”
“I don’t think the Cap’n would have asked ya here,” Alice stated, keeping Catherine from fleeing. “I think you’re here ta cause mischief and—”
“Shut up!” Sabrina snapped. “Ransom Kent married Sabrina Thorpe. No matter how either of you feel about it, I am his bride. The law will consider it a proxy marriage.” Moving closer, Sabrina pointed her finger at Catherine sharply. “You will be looked upon as a foolish chit who only filled in—for the honeymoon, too, would be my guess.”
Catherine couldn’t stand to let her go on. Whirling, she ran up the stairs. “Save what pride you have left and get out!” she heard Sabrina call after her. Slamming the door to her room, Catherine threw herself across the bed to vent the tears she struggled to keep from falling before her cousin.
The door opened slowly and Alice slipped in uninvited to sit beside her. There, there, child,” she consoled, patting her shoulder. “We ain’t gonna let that trash come in here and—”
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