Much to her surprise, however, when she had walked into the vicarage she had discovered the drawing room nearly overwhelmed by the numerous children. Even more surprising, they had all been avidly eager to learn.
Her heart held a decided glow of warmth that battled the falling gloom of the late afternoon as she rattled down the road. She might not be about to alter the world, but at least she could make a difference in this small village.
For now, that was enough.
Lost in thoughts of the numerous supplies that she would need to order from London, Raine paid little heed to the shadows that lined the narrow path. Why should she? Since her father had given up his role as the Knave of Knightsbridge the roads were once again safe.
Or at least they should have been safe.
As she pondered how many slate boards and boxes of chalk she would need for the upcoming months, there was a rustle in the hedgerow that made her stiffen with the first flare of alarm. A tingle inched down her spine as she realized just how alone and isolated she was on the barren stretch of path.
Telling herself it was no more than a stray dog, or perhaps a grouse settling for the night, Raine futilely urged her poor horse to a faster pace. She was less than a mile from her cottage, she reassured herself. In just a few minutes she would be safely in the stables and…
A shriek of fear was wrenched from her throat as the hedges parted and a large stallion burst onto the road. On top of the saddle was a caped form that seemed terrifyingly huge in the fading light.
Raine’s heart beat frantically against her chest as she wrenched the cart to a sudden halt. Oh, God. She had been a fool not to accept the vicar’s offer to accompany her home.
Perhaps sensing her frozen fear, the man urged his large steed forward, his face nearly hidden behind a thick muffler.
“Stand and deliver,” he at last growled.
Raine’s heart skipped and then plummeted to her stomach. Not in fear on this occasion. No. She recognized that voice.
“Philippe?” she rasped, her stunned astonishment turning to fury as he tugged down the muffler to reveal the painfully handsome features she had never thought to see again. “God Almighty, you nearly made my heart stop beating,” she said, her voice harsh.
His green eyes glinted with an indecipherable emotion as he moved forward. “Oddly, you have the same effect on my heart, meu amor.”
Her hands tightened on the reins, making the poor beast toss her head in protest. Bloody hell. She could not think, she could barely breathe, as she struggled to accept that Philippe was not some figment of a nightmare.
“What are you doing in Knightsbridge?”
“You are not a fool.” His lips twisted as he studied her pale face with a hungry gaze. “You know precisely what I am doing in Knightsbridge.”
Wounded pride came to her rescue as she gave a tilt of her chin. Just weeks ago this man had tossed her off his estate like a bit of rubbish. She would not fall beneath his potent spell again.
“Actually, I cannot imagine. You made it clear when you commanded me to leave Madeira that you were done with me.” She forced a stiff smile to her lips. “Is there another maiden in the village you have come to kidnap?”
Philippe lifted his brows in mild surprise. “Surely you cannot be angry with me, querida? It was you that refused my offer of marriage, and you that demanded to be returned to your father’s care. It is rather unfair of you to punish me for obeying your commands.”
“I am not attempting to punish you,” she snapped. “I simply do not believe we have anything further to say to each other.”
“We shall see about that.”
His bland tone gave her no warning of his intentions, and it was not until he had leaned forward to snatch her from the cart that she realized her danger.
“Philippe, stop this at once,” she squawked, finding herself settled on the saddle in front of Philippe with his arm wrapped tightly around her before she could even begin to struggle.
“No,” he retorted, urging his horse to turn about and head down the narrow path.
Raine clutched at his arm, fiercely aware of the hard strength of his body and the scent of his skin that cloaked about her with a tangible force.
Dear heavens. Even after he had shattered her heart, she still responded to him with a searing awareness that was making her heart pound and her blood race with excitement.
Blast the irritating man.
She might be furious with him, but a part of her still trembled with joy at his unexpected arrival.
“You cannot leave my horse in the middle of the road,” she charged, desperate to distract herself from her treacherous reaction.
“That nag will not stray far.” Philippe urged his mount to a faster pace. “I will send Swann back to collect her, although it would be kinder to cut her reins and let the poor beast free.”
“Kinder for me, as well,” she muttered.
He leaned down until his lips brushed her ear. “And what is that cryptic remark supposed to mean?”
Her breath caught as she closed her eyes against the heat spreading through her body.
“It means that you devote a great deal of time to carrying me off to one place or another. Usually without my consent.”
“If I were ever so foolish as to await your consent, meu amor, then I would never be able to carry you off.” His arm tightened about her, his fingers tantalizingly close to the curve of her breast. “An appalling thought that does not bear contemplating.”
Instinctively, she attempted to twist away from the seductive touch. “Philippe.”
“Do not squirm, Raine.” His voice was suddenly thick with his own need. “Not unless you deliberately wish to torment me.”
“The notion has some appeal.”
He chuckled softly, but he made no response as they crossed the yard of her father’s cottage and within a few minutes entered the shadows of the stable. The horse had barely come to a halt when Philippe was leaping to the floor and crossing to speak with the elderly groom who was absently whittling in a corner.
Raine narrowed her eyes in suspicion as Philippe spoke briefly to the servant, who promptly strolled from the stable, shutting the door behind him.
Her suspicion only deepened when Philippe returned to the horse and easily plucked her from the saddle. With a deliberate motion, he slid her body down his own before she was back on her feet.
Raine swallowed a groan of pleasure as she forced herself to step away from his lingering touch and glared into the face that had haunted her nights since her return to England.
“What are you doing?”
Philippe shrugged as he casually tossed aside his hat and gloves. “It is warm enough in here to keep us from freezing and we at least have a measure of privacy.”
Raine shivered in fear. The stables suddenly seemed small and dark and far too intimate with the sweet smell of hay in the air. Dear God, she did not want to be alone with this man. Not when her body was already aching to be crushed in his arms.
“I do not want privacy. I want you to return to Madeira and leave me in peace.”
His hooded gaze regarded her in the shrouded darkness. “Is that what you have found here, peace?”
“Yes, I have,” she said, thinking of the eager girls she had just left.
“Your father said that you had spent the day at the vicarage with your students.”
Her eyes widened in horror. “You spoke with my father?”
“Our meeting was long overdue.” Something that might have been regret clouded the perfect features. “I owed your father my deepest apologies, as well as the assurance that I would make sure your future was properly secure.”
So that was it, she thought as she abruptly turned away to hide her hurt expression. He was here out of a sense of guilt.
“You have already secured my future. Or do you not recall the three thousand pounds you requested your servant offer me before having me escorted off your estate?”
There was a long pause, as if she had managed to strike a nerve, then she heard him heave a deep sigh.
“That was ill-done.”
“Why?” She gave a faint shrug, relieved when her voice came out cool and dismissive. “It is the method that most gentlemen use to rid themselves of unwanted mistresses.”
“Damn you,” he growled, his hands landing on her shoulders to turn her to meet his burning gaze.
“What?”
“Do you wish to know why I sent you away?”
“It was obvious that you had tired of me. Just as I warned you would.”
“I will never tire of you.” His hands shifted to cup her face in his hands. “There has not been a moment that you have not haunted my thoughts.”
Her heart slammed against her ribs. “Rubbish.”
The lean, heartbreakingly handsome features twisted with anguish. “My God, Raine, there is not a room in my house that is not filled with your delicate scent, or where I cannot recall the sound of your voice. And my garden…” He slowly shook his head. “It is now no more than a bleak reminder of all I have lost. You are branded on my heart. And that is why I was forced to send you away.”
Her knees went weak as his soft words slammed into her with ruthless force. He seemed so…sincere. As if he truly was in pain.
Was it possible that Philippe really had missed her? That he regretted allowing her to leave? Had he come to…
No, oh, no, Raine Wimbourne. She could not be so gullible. Philippe could never give her what she needed. And she could not endure being hurt again.
“Is that supposed to make sense?” she demanded.
He smiled wryly. “When does a gentleman in love ever make sense?”
“My God. No, Philippe.” With an agonized gasp she jerked from his touch and headed toward the door.
He caught her within a handful of steps, his arms wrapping about her waist as he buried his face in her neck.
“Do not run from me, Raine, I beg of you.”
Tears filled her eyes as she gave a frantic shake of her head. “I cannot do this.”
“Please, meu amor, you claimed that I had no need for another in my life, but you are wrong, just as I have been wrong for so long. I thought that being alone made me strong, but that was only an excuse.” He shifted his head to press his cheek against hers. “I was quite simply a coward.”
Raine was forced to grasp the lapels of his coat to keep from sinking to the ground. “You were afraid of me? Ridiculous.”
“I was afraid to allow you into my heart.” He made a sound deep in his throat. “No, that is not true. I had no choice about whether or not you entered my heart. You charged in without invitation. What I feared was acknowledging just how much you had become a part of my life. That was why I was so desperate to convince myself that you were no more than a passing fancy.”
The memory of his extravagant gifts returned with a sharp pain. “Your mistress,” she said in flat tones.
“Yes. A mistress does not break a gentleman’s heart. Or so I believed until you.” He grimaced. “But even as I was attempting to deceive myself, a part of me knew the truth. Why else was I frantic to find you after you disappeared from London? Why else did I force you to travel with me to Paris? Why else did I spend every moment attempting to bind you to me so tightly that you could never escape? Either I am truly a madman, or I already knew that you were the one woman who was destined to be my future.”
Raine’s eyes filled with tears. “Pretty words, but that does not alter the reason I left you, Philippe.”
“I know, meu amor. You asked nothing more of me than to accept that I need you. And I am here to tell you that I do. I need you so desperately that I will do anything.” Without warning Philippe slowly kneeled before her, his darkened gaze never leaving her face. “Even get down on my knees if that is what you desire, to prove I am empty and lost without you.”
“What are you doing?” she breathed in surprise. Never in her life had she expected to see Philippe Gautier on his knees. Not for any reason.
“I have something for you. Actually, I have two gifts.”
Her brief bemusement was shattered with a flare of annoyance.
“Good God, Philippe. Do you still think I can be purchased like a piece of goods?”
“No, you will want these gifts, I assure you,” he interrupted, reaching beneath his greatcoat to pull out a folded piece of parchment.
Raine stiffened, painfully reminded of her last day on Madeira. If this parchment held another three thousand pounds she swore that she would blacken his eye. And perhaps break that perfect nose.
With shaking fingers she unfolded the paper, her brows drawing together as realized there were no unpleasant surprises.
“A letter?” she muttered, her eyes widening as her gaze drifted over the elaborate, sprawling handwriting at the bottom of the page. “Good heavens, it is signed by the king of England.”
Still on his knees, Philippe flashed a heart-rending smile. “I requested that he assure you that Seurat has been released.”
Raine sucked in deep breaths of the hay-scented air. She was accustomed to Philippe charging into her life and creating chaos, but this made no sense.
“You have had him released?” She gave a shake of her head. “But why?”
“Because it was what you desired,” he said simply. “And from this day forward I intend to prove that I will do whatever necessary to make you happy.”
She licked her dry lips as she struggled to accept that he truly had made such a sacrifice for her. And it was a sacrifice. Seurat had threatened his family, and for Philippe there could be no greater sin. His need to punish the man was an overwhelming force in his life.
And he had given it up. For her.
“I…I do not know what to say,” she whispered.
With elegant ease Philippe rose to his feet, once again reaching beneath his coat.
“Here is my other gift,” he said softly.
Glancing down, Raine watched as Philippe pressed the golden necklace into her hand. Her eyes filled with tears at the sight of the precious locket. She knew it meant more to this man than all the jewels in Europe.
Slowly her eyes lifted to meet his searching gaze. “Your mother’s locket.”
A slow smile curved his lips. “She would want you to have it. You are the only female I have ever met that is worthy of her.”
She became lost in his smoldering gaze. “But I am not, Philippe. I am nothing more than a sailor’s daughter.”
“You are Raine Wimbourne.” He carefully reached to pull her into his arms, as if he feared she might recoil from his touch. “A woman of honor and dignity. A woman with a sweet, generous nature who brings happiness to all those whom she encounters. A woman who would rather live in poverty than to accept the blundering proposal of a man who is undeserving of her.”
Raine leaned back to regard him in startled horror. “I have never thought you undeserving, Philippe.”
“Then you should have.” He pulled her tightly to his body, his expression dark with regret. “I wanted you to love me. I wanted to you to offer me your very soul without having to risk returning that precious gift. I was a fool. And I have paid a dear price.” He leaned forward to press his lips to her forehead. “I love you, Raine. Please tell me that I am not too late. Tell me that you can forgive me.”
Raine felt a small smile begin to tug at her lips. Philippe had swallowed his pride to follow her to Knightsbridge. Even more he had released Seurat simply because he knew it would make her happy.
And he had said the magic words.
I love you.
Her heart sang with joy as she lifted her hand to lightly touch his cheek.
“I will forgive you if you make me one promise.”
Pulling back, he regarded her with a desperate gaze. “Anything. Anything at all.”
“From this day forward you must promise that you will stop your appalling habit of kidnapping poor, unsuspecting females.”<
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There was a moment’s pause, and then, giving a loud shout of laughter, Philippe swept her off her feet and held her tightly against his chest.
“Oh, meu amor, I can safely promise that the only woman I will ever bother to kidnap will be my beautiful, daring, passionate wife.” His eyes darkened with a smoldering heat. “And I intend to hold her hostage for all eternity.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
Madeira, One Year Later
AS WAS HER HABIT, RAINE SPENT the morning enjoying her breakfast in the beauty of the garden. It not only offered a few moments of solitude before her busy day of overseeing the household and meeting with the numerous villagers who now turned to her for assistance, but over the past weeks she had discovered that the crisp air helped to counter the morning sickness that plagued her.
Rising to her feet, Raine absently touched the faint swell of her stomach that was the only indication she would soon have an addition to her family.
Philippe was delighted, of course. At least when he was not worrying himself into a state of near panic. Since their wedding he had proved to be an astonishingly protective husband. He was forever fussing over her to ensure that she did not overtire herself, or take the slightest risk. Now that she was pregnant he was nearly insufferable. If he had his way she would remain tucked in her bed with a dozen servants hovering about to tend to her every need.
Not that she truly minded, she acknowledged as she entered the sprawling villa. It seemed unbelievable, but over the past year, Raine had tumbled even more deeply in love with her husband. Her marriage was not always easy; they were both far too stubborn not to have their occasional spats. But over the passing days they had developed a relationship that offered far more than mere passion. They were friends, and companions and partners as they worked side by side to keep Philippe’s numerous companies profitable, and to oversee the charities that Raine had already established.
It was a hectic, wonderful life that Raine could never have dreamed possible.
As she was climbing the stairs, Raine’s happy musings were interrupted by the unmistakable sound of Philippe’s low cursing coming from his study.
A Daring Passion Page 39
