“I’ll tell David it was all down to me,” she said. “I promise to keep out of the way. So what happens next?”
* * * *
David wrapped another rag around Freddie’s arm, both to secure it and cushion it, before he tied the rope around the lad’s waist. The poor boy’s face was ashen, creased with pain, and perspiration dotted his skin. It wasn’t going to be easy to get him to the surface, but David could think of no other manner to get him out of the pothole. There was not a feasible alternative.
“Ready?” David asked. “It won’t take long once we get going.”
Freddie nodded and winced as the movement obviously jarred his arm somehow. “Ready.”
“Remember, all you need to do is try not to hit your arm off the sides. Will and I will do all the work,” David cautioned Freddie as he crawled behind him. “If you need to swear please use a euph…a pretend word.” He didn’t think Freddie would comprehend the word ‘euphemism’. Especially in the state he was in. “In case my lady is close enough to hear.”
“Ah, wimmen don’t like us cussing, eh?” Freddie, for all the world, sounded like a man of his father’s age, and sage with it.
“Exactly,” David agreed gravely. “Now, can you get onto my shoulders like we discussed?”
“I’ll give it me best.”
It was a tight squeeze, but without too many swear words on either side, Freddie was maneuvered onto David’s shoulders and very carefully David stood up. That gave Freddie a good few feet start toward his climb—or assisted rope walk—upward.
“Pull up now,” he called and watched as Freddie moved steadily away from the dank, dark cave and into the open air.
Once the youth swung and used his feet to stop himself brushing his injured arm on the side. Stones rattled down and David ducked to avoid a face full of earth.
Then cursed roundly as a large stone fell squarely onto his right foot.
“What’s up?” Freddie twisted and looked down, anxiety etched on his features.
David took a deep breath. “A rock that I really didn’t want to make contact with. All’s well now, carry on.”
“If you says so.” Freddie resumed his awkward scramble upward.
Pain radiated from David’s foot so swiftly it caught him unawares, and knocked the breath out of him in one long hiss. He tried to move his leg and found it impossible. The rock had wedged itself in such a way that he couldn’t dislodge the foot with ease. No matter, he would do it once the lad was safe.
Not until Freddie’s body disappeared and Will’s face filled the aperture instead did David breathe a sigh of relief. “All right?”
“Yes, he’s tucked up under a blanket and they’ve started back via Becketts. Now to get you up, eh?”
David thought rapidly. If it was only him and Will around he could swear and use rage to get free. “In a minute. Who’s left?”
“Just me. Oh, and your lady.”
“Hell. Couldn’t you get her to leave?” He didn’t want her to witness his attempts to get out. Silly, male pride or whatever, he preferred her to think him invincible, or as near as.
“Not a chance,” Will said. “She’s stubborn. Worse than my missus, and that’s saying sommat.”
David had already guessed that. Normally he’d be pleased she wouldn’t suffer fools gladly and had a mind of her own and was not afraid to use it. So unlike the fade-into-the-background young lady he had first met. Now, though, he wished to high heaven she was one of those debs who had been brought up to think a man’s word was law and his directives to be followed come what may.
However… No wonder she more than intrigued him.
“Then tell her to put her hands over her ears. We might have a problem. That last push by Freddie gave me a rock on my foot.”
“Bloody hell.” Will’s voice rose to a screech. “So what now?”
“I move my foot. You ask her to come over here. I try to send her back. Then you come back for me. Nothing to it.”
“Sounds easy. If anyone can do it, you can.” Will didn’t sound too concerned. “Once you’re out, we can get off back for breakfast.” David was about to upset his equilibrium.
“It won’t be,” David said darkly. “Easy. I’ll wager with you on that.”
“I’ll get her and see.” Will didn’t appear convinced by David’s edict. “She’ll abide by what you say, won’t she?” He didn’t sound too sure. “Don’t young ladies of your class listen to their menfolk?”
“Not always, and sadly she’s not mine.” Yet.
“She’ll listen,” Will said confidently.
“Would your Maggie?”
“You have a point.”
He soon found out that Josephine had no intention of being sent away.
“Categorically no. Not a chance, my lord. Think again.” Josephine was adamant. “I am not leaving until you are up here and safe. Send Will with Freddie. I will wait for you, and we can go back together. Will might be needed to help get Freddie back. We need no help.”
“But…” David searched his mind for how to say it wouldn’t be seemly. “Are you not worried about the thunder and the proprieties?” he said at last.
“What?” Josephine appeared amazed he should even feel the need to mention them. “David, please do not be silly. It’s daytime, for heaven’s sake, and we are merely out for a ride. With your godmama’s blessing.”
He thought it best not to say that made little difference to the tabbies whose one aim in life was to spread gossip, whether they—and those they maligned—were in the capital or not. Gossip somehow became known all over the country. Shared via the air, maybe? It often seemed so.
“Besides,” Josephine continued, “Will needs to go, you need to get out and I need to wait for you. That is the total sum of it.”
David shrugged and glanced toward Will. There was no point in arguing anymore. He wriggled his foot, ignored the sharp and instant pain that slight movement brought and thought he’d be able to release it from its confines with relative ease and a lot of agony. “As she says. Go and reassure Bert all will be well. We won’t be long.”
“You don’t need a hand up?”
David shook his head. “Come on, Will, I might be getting on in years but I can still manage a climb like this, especially with a rope.” He didn’t mention his foot, now on fire and doing its best to split the leather of his riding boot. “Just get the lads home, reassure their mothers they are alive and tell Lady Foster to have hot water ready for us. Say we’re making this damned place secure or something.” He waited until Will nodded. “Anyway, if we go back over the plank, not by Becketts, we may well beat you home.”
“Don’t forget you need the ’osses. You’ll have to come back for ’em.”
“Damn.” He’d forgotten they were at the top of the gorge. “I’ll get them, and we’ll see you back at the estate.”
Will, obviously still reluctant, nodded. “I best get off then.”
Josephine watched Will walk away with reluctance in every step. He must have sensed something was wrong as well as she. She knelt and peered down the opening to the pothole. “What now?”
“Now you close your ears to my cussing and wait until I get out.”
I knew it. “And the cussing is why?”
“My foot was hit by a rock when I was pushing Freddie out. I have a feeling it is now the size of a football.”
“Then get out before it won’t let you. What can I do to help?”
“Stand far enough back that you do not hear me swear.”
“Very well, shout if I am needed.” She had no intention of doing anything other than moving out of his range of vision. A few cuss words wouldn’t harm her, and if he did call for aid of any description, she intended to hear him.
And give him succour? Where did that idea come from? In fact, when did this nervous energy and worry for him arise? It was all very confusing. In a few short weeks he had turned her thoughts and intentions on their head, and now… Now I need to see what happens n
ext. She was under no illusions that he wouldn’t come back to her and push for marriage. But even though she accepted that something about him called to her, she had no idea what.
First things first. He seemed to be taking an awful long time to reach the surface. Stand back indeed. Josephine inched forward and peered over the edge of the hole.
David was halfway up the side of the pothole and swearing softly under his breath. He looked up as she took away some of the light that showed and grimaced. “Sorry if you heard that. My damned foot is proving to be almost as much of a liability as Freddie’s arm.”
“Is it broken?” she asked worriedly. If it was, how on earth would she manage to get him to the relative warmth of the cave?
Drag him like a heathen. Or an animal? Well, if I have to.
“No, thankfully, I think I’ve just wrenched it. However, as I can’t put weight on it, my ascent is not as easy as I’d hoped. No matter, I’m on my way. Watch your head.”
She took that as a subtle directive to move back and did as he requested.
Five or so very long minutes later, David’s head appeared over the rim of the hole, followed by his torso. He grunted with effort as he managed to wriggle out and flop onto the ground like a stranded fish.
The thunder, which Josephine had thought had left the area, echoed around the crag once more, and yet again raindrops descended, ever faster.
“You can’t stop here,” she said forcefully. “You will get soaked if you do. As I have no intention of leaving you alone, therefore so will I. It is miserable enough without being soaked to the skin. Plus, if I am not mistaken, there is a storm brewing.” She didn’t mean over where they were together, without a chaperone, or with regards to the boys’ behavior. “Can you crawl toward the crag? There’s a sort of cave there where we will be dry.”
“You go.”
“Do not be daft,” she said in a forceful, brook-no-nonsense tone. “If you don’t try to crawl, I’ll get hold of your hair and drag you that way.”
He smiled and grunted. “Forceful lady.”
“You better believe it. So, hair or crawl, the choice is yours.”
“Some choice,” he grumbled but his expression belied his annoyance. “Crawl, of course. Please note I have never crawled to a woman before. Enjoy it whilst you can.”
“I’ll enjoy it a lot more when we are dry and out of this storm. Come on.”
“Despot. Where to?”
Josephine pointed to where she’d left her jacket and the blanket. “About thirty or forty yards back. Under the crag. It’s not a big overhang but it will be better than being struck by lightning.”
“Then please go first, love. You get there and give me the incentive to follow.”
She opened her mouth to argue and he forestalled her. “No point in us both getting soaked. Unless, of course, you want to disrobe in front of me?”
Drat the man. Even out there, at the mercy of the elements, that idea made her tingle.
“If—” Lord, I almost said when. “—if I did, it wouldn’t be in a cave in a storm, believe me.”
He got up onto his knees and swayed. His expression kept her where she was. Help was evidently not wanted.
“True. I suppose somewhere a little more comfortable would be better. However, as the best we seem to have is a cave of sorts, I’ll make an assignation to meet you there as soon as possible.” He winked. It was obviously an effort. “It may well be me disrobing for you.”
“Hmm.” The pictures that conjured up. “Well, get a move on.” Dare she appear a little risqué? Why not. “Or all I’ll see is goose pimples and you’ll catch your death. Neither is appealing.”
“There’s an incentive,” he called as she moved away. “My lady waiting for me to undress in front of her.”
“In your dreams.”
“Oh yes, now go.”
Crawling and sliding on the slippery surface, with the soil turning to mud and the storm increasing and getting closer, was not the best way to improve his temper.
At least she’d stopped arguing and retreated to where she could be dry. David gritted his teeth and moved slowly toward the part of the crag Josephine had indicated. He remembered that cave, although it could hardly warrant being called by that name. It was better than being where he was—or down the ex-cave where the boys had been. He hadn’t mentioned the fact that just as he’d reached safety, the rest of the cave had disappeared under a heavy fall of rock and soil. Luckily, the noise had been drowned out by a large thunderclap and Josephine hadn’t noticed.
David crawled on. He didn’t look up to check how far he’d gone. It would be what would be. Somewhere to his left, there was a shower of sparks, a crack and a hiss. Slowly an old elm split in two and sank gracefully to the ground. A flash of flame glowed and disappeared in the steady rain. It showed him how close the storm was, and he did his best to increase his pace. He didn’t fancy being burned to a crisp.
“Come on, stir your stumps or there will be no brandy left.” Josephine sounded whimsical. “You are almost here.”
David let out an inarticulate sound and crawled the last few yards and under the overhang. Into blessed dryness. He rolled over onto his back and did his best to catch his breath as his chest heaved and he fought for air.
“You said brandy?” he asked hopefully once he decided he could speak in a semi-normal voice.
“I lied. I have water, bread and cheese, oh, and half a pastry. Sadly, no brandy.”
“Ah well, it’s probably for the best. Then I can’t be accused of being under the influence.” David looked down at his bedraggled appearance. He hadn’t realized just how wet he was. Every contour of his body was outlined in faithful detail. He glanced at Josephine and noted just where she looked, looked away and risked another quick glance. She caught his gaze, and in the dim light he fancied she blushed.
“Never be afraid to look at me, love. Though, unless you are ready to study a lot more of me, maybe avert your eyes.” He moved his injured foot without thinking and bit his lip on the sudden pain that caused. “Damn. No need.”
“Pardon?” She sounded bewildered. “No need to what?”
“I was going to get out of my buckskins and try to dry them,” he explained. “But I best not take my boot off, for I will never get it back on. I can’t get them over my footwear, so therefore that outcome is not achievable.” In spite of himself, he shivered. “Ah well.”
“Take your jacket off and wrap this blanket around you.” Josephine held out an old but warm blanket. She waited until he started to struggle out of his wet thorn-proof jacket and sighed. “Men.”
“Men what?”
“Never ask for help. You cannot do it by yourself, can you?”
He raised one eyebrow. She was, of course, correct. His jacket was ideal for what he’d had to do earlier but a bugger to get off in the confines of their temporary accommodation.
“Here, let me give you a hand.” Josephine grabbed hold of a sleeve and pulled. Eventually, between her tugging and him wriggling, they managed to get it off. Josephine shook it out and splattered them both with water. “Idiot that I am. I’ll spread it out over that lump of rock.” She suited her actions to her words. “That should help a little.”
David looked at his shirt. “This is only damp. Best I keep it on.” He untucked it and wafted the hem around. Damp or wet, either was unpleasant.
“If you want pneumonia, well, yes. Otherwise do not be daft.” Exasperation colored her voice. “Just take it off.”
“But I’ll be half-naked.” He felt obliged to point that out.
She sighed. “The most innocent half,” she said impatiently. “I promise not to let my urges overtake me. Well, I would if I had any.”
David nodded and pulled his shirt over his head before he wrapped the blanket around himself. He made certain she didn’t have a chance to see his scars. There was no point in bringing them into the conversation at that point. “What about you?”
“I’ll b
e fine.” She shivered. “I just got a little chilled waiting for you.”
“You will get even more chilled if you do not keep warm.” Even in the dim light of the cave, he noticed the fine shivers that rippled over her skin that wasn’t covered. “We’re stuck here for a while so come here.” David shuffled until he sat with his back to a part of the wall that was reasonably smooth and spread his legs and arms wide. “Come on, I won’t tell if you don’t. Bring the food, and the water.”
Her teeth showed white as she grinned. “What about the brandy?”
“You said we had none.”
“Ah well.” Josephine crawled over the floor of the cave, dropped a large sack by his uninjured foot and carefully moved about until she sat in the circle of his arms and legs. Not touching. “I lied. I wanted to save it for when it was needed. Like now, to warm you up.”
As his body was on fire from her scent and her close proximity, being warm was not a problem. “You’ll do that, by being where you are.”
Josephine stiffened and tried to move forward.
“This is ridiculous.” David pulled her back. “I promise not to give in to my urges. I do have them, but I’m perfectly capable of controlling them when need be. Now let’s get comfortable, eat something, drink something, and then… Why, then we can discuss our future, perhaps? What do you say?” He held his breath.
The silence seemed to last for ages.
Chapter Thirteen
What exactly did he mean? Tight as a bowstring and scared to move a muscle, Josephine did her best to relax. It wasn’t easy. Every fiber of her body appeared, to her scrambled brain, to be immersed in him. The only thing she could sense was David.
Outside, the storm was noisy, almost overhead, but she was hardly aware of it. Rain sheeted down and made a waterfall outside the cave’s entrance. Lightning showed the streams of water in flickering colors. At any other time she would have been entranced. Now she barely gave it a second look. If she moved just a tiny bit, her bottom would rest against his…his… Oh lord, woman, say it. His staff, his manhood, his body. Dare she? Just to discover what it felt like. Would it be fair when she still hadn’t made her mind up about their future?
The Viscount Meets his Match: A Regency Romance Page 20
