* * *
Adeline lay on the bed. Her dress was unbuttoned, her wreath and flowers on the table. She watched in the half light as Alexander undressed himself carefully. His body was exquisite, his chest muscled, waist narrow, shoulders big. She felt herself ache for him even as she smiled and wished that moment would last forever.
“My sweetling,” she whispered. He turned and smiled at her and her body tensed up with a familiar ache. She sighed as he sat down on the bed beside her.
“My flower,” he whispered, kissing her. He pressed her back onto the bed with surprising strength, his lips tight on hers. His body pressed on hers insistently, and she felt herself long for him even as he stroked his way down her body, his hands clutching at her curves.
“I want you,” she whispered, pressing herself against his hard chest.
“I want you,” he whispered back, kissing her neck, her breasts, her belly. “But I also want to make you feel good.”
Adeline sighed as his touch moved lower. “You do already,” she said, a small frown creasing her brow. “What more could you give me..?”
“This,” he said, and moved lower, parting her thighs and kissing her gently between them.
Adeline closed her eyes, a thrill of pleasure shooting through her like nothing she had ever felt before. She had to draw a deep breath.
“Truly?”
“Yes,” he whispered. He moved her legs further apart and, gently, tasted her. It felt heavenly.
He repeated the motion, licking her repeatedly. She closed her eyes. It tickled and tensed, warmed and chilled her, and she found it hard to lie still as he gently parted her folds and repeated the motion with more insistence. She bit her lip, fighting the urge to cry out.
The feeling was rising in her, building and growing, as it had done the previous evening but with more slow insistence. She clenched her eyes shut and bit her lip and then groaned.
He was still licking, kissing, sucking. She felt her body reach a peak of such bliss she thought she would actually pass out. She cried aloud.
Suddenly, the whole world was a wash of feelings, flowing from her hips to her brain and back, a forest of sensations that was too big, too vast, too complex, for her body. She felt herself cry out and collapse.
After a moment, she felt him move up the bed. He lay beside her.
“Was that good?”
She opened her eyes, still exhausted. “Was that good?” she chuckled.
He grinned. “Good.”
Then he drew her close to him and kissed her and, gently and slowly, made love to her with an exquisite care that made her want to cry. This was the most beautiful lovemaking she had ever felt. It was also her wedding night.
SETTING FORTH
Adeline clutched the bag of provisions she had gathered from the kitchen that morning. A loaf, some fruit, a bag of curds. She watched as Alexander packed the small roll of goods he had brought with him.
“Are you ready?”
He nodded. He looked up, such a depth of love in those brown eyes that her heart melted anew.
“Reckon,” he said, bending to fasten the pack.
She smiled to herself, still amazed by the fact that this fellow, fine and handsome, was coming back to her home – theirs, now.
I don’t know what my son will think of that.
A small smile played round her mouth. She knew that Tam would accept Alexander – he liked him from the literal first moment they’d seen him. However, he was the future baron, and things would be difficult for him, were she to continue living at the manor with Alexander.
She smiled to herself. She already had a plan in place – a small farm, on the edge of the estate, with a little house, just for the two of them. In her mind, it had climbing roses on the wall, and a small terrace, where she could sit, of an evening, and sew.
She shook her head. She was getting quite poetic!
“Should we go?”
“Aye,” he nodded, hefting the pack onto one shoulder. “Let’s go, now.”
She nodded and they headed out into the garden.
At the gate, she was surprised to see Brogan. He was waiting by the wall, glancing about as if afraid somebody might see him.
“Brogan,” she said gently. “What is amiss?”
“Milady!” he grinned. “Nothing amiss, nothing at all! I just…well…I wanted tae bring ye this.”
Adeline stared and then let out a little cry of surprise as she saw a raisin loaf and fresh oat bannocks. “Oh, Brogan!” she said. She smiled down into the big, friendly face.
“I reckon you could do with the provisions,” he said shyly.
“Thank you,” Alexander agreed. “We can certainly use them.”
Adeline beamed at him, then turned back to Brogan, who was looking at the floor, clearly shy. She took his hand.
“Thank you,” she said. “It means a lot to me.”
Brogan went red. Adeline wanted to laugh, but she didn’t want him to misinterpret it, so she simply smiled.
“Thank you,” she said again.
“Adeline?” Alexander said from at her shoulder. He had tensed up, and she felt a little annoyed. She had a right to say goodbye to her friends!
“I’m coming,” she said with a touch of frostiness. “You take care, Brogan,” she said. “And if you have need of aught here, you know you can always call on me at Dunrade.”
“Thank ye, milady.”
“Send my regards to the abbot,” she said, taking the bundle gently from his hands.
“I will, milady.”
“Adeline…” Alexander’s voice sounded insistently.
“I’m coming, sweetling,” she said briskly. “Just wait. If the new dormitory needs further work, you must also let me know,” Adeline said, feeling overwhelmed by her need to repay the kindness she’d been shown.
“You are too kind, milady,” Brogan said. “We have sore need of the new dormitory…the old one leaks, and of a night, the wind can howl sorely through the back entrance…”
As he gave her a catalog of the woes of the old dormitory, Adeline felt Alexander grip her arm. She spun round with an angry retort, but his face twisted with desperation.
“Get down,” he hissed. “Please?”
She let him drag her down onto her knees, then looked up, confused. Past the hedge rode two riders. The first had a grim expression and dark hair. The second made her blood run cold.
“It’s the baron…”
“I know,” Alexander whispered. “I saw a man in his livery go past earlier.”
“You should have told me.”
“I did try...”
“Sorry,” she whispered back. “I know.”
They looked at each other, and then leaned further back into the shadows as the baron neared the place. He looked in over the wall, and Adeline felt her complete body tense as she watched, through the leaves, how his gaze sought out each corner of it.
Brogan – who at first had gaped at them in amazement – seemed to understand quite quickly what the difficulty was. He leaned back against the wall too, then, as the sound of hoof beats died away, gestured quickly to them.
“He’s gone,” he said. “It’s the third time he’s passed here.”
“He’s looking for us.”
“Milady…” Brogan frowned. “You should stay! We can shelter you…”
“It’s alright,” she whispered gently. Inside, though, she felt icily tense. She looked up at Alexander. “My sweetling..?”
“We could sneak out through the back gate,” he whispered. “Join the road to Duncliffe. I doubt he’ll think of looking for us there?”
“My uncle knows my ties of friendship to the earl’s house,” she whispered.
“All the same,” Alexander replied, “his bullfrog there thinks we’re here.”
Adeline had to bite her tongue to stop herself from laughing outright. “His bullfrog!” she whispered. “You’re right…it’s very what he’s like.” She shivered.
&nbs
p; “Come on,” he whispered. “We have to try the back gate.”
Adeline shivered again, nodding.
It was their only hope.
Wrapping the bundle of food into her cloak, she thanked Brogan, then hurried away. Her own horse was in the stables, as was the one Alexander had ridden here. He mounted hastily. She did the same.
“Ready?”
She bit her lip, nodding. She felt afraid, but didn’t want to appear less brave than he. “Ready.”
He gripped her hand, gently, once, and together they rode away.
As they set foot on the pathway, she heard it. Hoof beats, fast and insistent, coming back along the road.
She whirled round, glancing desperately at Alexander. He gripped the horse with his knees and turned him, nodding.
“Back that way!” he called.
Adeline wheeled right, just as the riders exploded out of the tree line. She stifled a scream as she turned, seeing who led them.
“Alexander!” she hissed. He turned to her, giving her what he hoped was a reassuring look.
“I see him – the bullfrog. You’re alright.”
She tensed and nodded, the nickname having the power to make her smile even now. They rode together, speeding toward the path.
As they rode, she heard curses and shouts. The pathway thundered with the sound of hoof beats, those of her mount and his, their pursuers only inches behind as they thundered down the pathway.
The forest was a wild blur of browns, greens and ocher, shooting past at a rate that made no sense. She could feel the ground churning under the feet of her horse and knew how mad it was – the ground was wet, and they could slip and stumble anywhere! She gripped the reins tightly and held on with her knees and carried on.
I know what I’m doing and I know this path isn’t that dangerous…
She repeated the litany in her head, knowing it was foolish. She could die, or Alexander could. They could be thrown, or ride into a tree-branch, and break bones. She heard a cry.
“I see her! I’ll get her.”
Her blood ran cold. The terror mingled with the fear of the ride itself, a hideous mix inside her that made her palms sweat and her legs cramp and her heart stop. She was clinging to the reins, leaning forward, her whole body attuned to the ride in a way that would have been beautiful, exhilarating, except that it was a deadly game.
“Stop that madwoman!”
She heard the cry and screamed as one of the riders gained in speed. Alexander was riding beside her and she turned towards him. He looked strangely remarkably calm.
She twisted away. She heard a thump and a smack, and then, suddenly, the sound of something heavy, falling. A horse snorted. She heard hoof beats careen left.
“Alexander?”
She turned sharply towards him. He was still riding. He held a short stave in his hand – she had no idea where he’d obtained it – and he had a hard look on his face. The look of a killer.
“We’ll outflank them.”
“Yes!” Adeline shouted. Suddenly, her fear was gone, replaced by a dangerous elation. They were riding far ahead now, and she could hear the hoof beats of their pursuer getting fainter and fainter as they climbed the track. Her heart was soaring. She whooped.
“We did it!”
“Almost,” Alexander agreed. For all his caution, though, he’d slowed. She slowed down too and together they started a trot.
“You think we made it?” she whispered. Suddenly, the fear and anger gone, she was completely drained. She leaned on the pommel of the saddle, arms shaking. Her head touched her horse’s neck. Her horse stood with his head down, sides heaving, breath snoring.
“I think so.”
“Whew.”
Adeline looked about, listening hard. Down below on the road, she heard the sound of hoof beats, heading swift North. She looked at Alexander, who nodded.
“We misled him.”
“Whew,” she sighed again. Throwing one leg over the horse, she jumped down to the ground. Her ankles jarred and she sank down against a tree trunk, letting her back slide until she was squatting there, leaning on the tree’s base.
She heard a thud and Alexander dismounted too, walking across toward her. He too knelt on the leaf mold. His head hung forward. His hands were loose, the palms blistered from where the reins cut in.
“That’s bad,” she said, reaching out and running a finger down his swollen, red hand.
He chuckled. “Been too long. Not used to it. Hand’s soft.”
“I see.”
Adeline leaned back against the tree trunk with her eyes closed. Her whole body shivered. Now that they were safe, the knowledge of how in danger they had been was something she could admit to. She felt her teeth clench and wondered if she would ever feel safe and ordinary again.
“You alright?”
She felt his hand grip her wrist and nodded, touched by his caring.
“Aye,” she said softly. “I’ll do.”
He grinned. His eyes were troubled. “You could have been hurt.”
“We could have been killed.”
He nodded, expression sobering. “I know.”
They sat quietly. The clearing was silent except for the sound of their breaths, and that of their horses. At length, she felt her heart beat start to slow down somewhat.
“We can’t…”
“If I thought…”
They both spoke together. It was reassuring, hearing that. Adeline twisted sideways, smiling up at him. She felt weak beyond describing, but she felt safe, and better.
“You say first,” he said.
“I was going to say…if you still want to go back to the manor…it is too unsafe. If I thought we could make it, I would go there. But now..?”
He sighed. “I think the same.”
“What were you going to say?” she asked.
“I was going to say that we cannot risk returning.”
She smiled. It felt good, to have someone who seemed so utterly in tune with her. She reached out to him and his fingers laced with hers. The touch was reassuring.
“We could go west,” he said after a long while. “Past Duncliffe. I ken people there. Well, one fellow, anyway,” he said. “We could settle there. I can work.”
“I know you can,” she said, smiling up at him. Oddly, the fact that he would even think of it meant so much. She tried to imagine Camden working to support his family, and failed.
This is different. Alexander is caring and he cares for me.
She leaned against him, amazed again by her good fortune.
“You’ll catch cold,” he whispered after a long while. “You’re shaking.”
“Am I?” Adeline frowned, surprised to notice he was right. A fine shudder ran through her, like a horse that has run too hard. She glanced across the clearing at their horses.
“They need to be inside, too,” she acknowledged. “And it’s going to rain, soon.”
“Aye,” Alexander nodded again. “You’re right, lass.”
She tried to stand, but her legs were stiff and sore. He reached down and helped her up. Gently, he led her to the horse and held the bridle while, tired beyond anything she’d imagined, she slid up into the saddle, far too exhausted to do it very gracefully.
Alexander swung up, too. She noticed how tight his jaw muscles were and realized that his wound must be causing him pain. She looked away, feeling guilty. It was her fault he’d had to ride like this.
“I wish they’d leave me alone,” she said, as they rode slowly, side-by-side, down the hill. “If I could reason with Alec, maybe…”
“No.” His hand was tight on her wrist, surprising her. “I’ll not countenance you trusting that blackguard.”
Adeline raised a brow, amazed by the wintry coldness in his voice. His face was tight.
“Alexander,” she said. “I am the mother of the heir. I doubt…”
“I don’t trust him,” Alexander said firmly. “And nor should anybody. He thought to wed you to
that monster, for his own ends. He has nobody’s interest at heart.”
“You’re right,” she acknowledged.
They rode on in silence.
It was starting to get on for afternoon as they rode slowly down the hill. Adeline frowned at him.
“Where are we going?” she said.
“We should do as we planned, mayhap?” he asked.
Adeline, surprised that he genuinely sought her opinion, nodded carefully.
“Yes,” she said. “I reckon so.”
He nodded. Side by side, they rode down the path towards Duncliffe.
The ride was a day’s length, and Adeline felt herself start to get tired. They stopped at one o’ clock, the bells declaring the hour in a distant village, and ate bread and apples. Adeline felt her head start to throb, and a steady tremor running through her.
“Cold,” she whispered. “I feel cold.”
“Adeline!” Alexander stared at her, sounding alarmed. “You’re shivering.”
Adeline nodded. The woodlands were blurry before her eyes, her vision hazing over. She could feel her head was aching, but she was cold, so cold…
“Come on,” he said, and she felt a hand descend onto her arm. “We have to get you to the manor. Fast.”
“I’m fine,” she protested, leaning forward. Why was the forest so noisy? Her head ached.
“Come on,” he said again, and she felt him rein in beside her, his body close to her. “We need to get back.”
She rode half-asleep, the pathway sloping down, then curving left. It was cold and she gripped the reins and rode with eyes half shut. Why did everything ache?
It was getting dark, the woods wet and scented with loam, when at last they reached the valley floor. Adeline felt Alexander gently take her wrist, as the road started, abruptly, to rise.
“We’re almost there,” he said, guiding her gently up the incline. “About fifty yards more. Not so far, now!”
“Not so…far.”
As they reached the great familiar gate of Duncliffe, Adeline collapsed in the saddle and everything went dark.
A HARD DECISION
Alexander sat on the chair in the corner of the still room. He felt as if his whole body were covered with insects – restless, unable to settle. He heard footsteps in the hallway and shot upright.
The Highlander's Brave Baroness (Blood 0f Duncliffe Series Book 10) Page 16
