Page 37 of The Lost Lord
“This? It has hardly been more than a few weeks,” Richard replied, stroking her again as she curved against him, seeking more. Yet he knew what she meant. It felt as if he were the innocent, experiencing lust for the first time. Ridiculous, of course. But how else to explain the frantic tremble in his body as he delved through layers of soft linen and cotton to find the hard tip of her—
Ahh. There it was. Miriam’s sigh echoed his own as hypersensitive skin met like. Richard rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger.
“More,” she demanded, her arm anchoring around the back of his neck. “I like that. Do it more.”
Richard grunted and complied. A long, satisfied sigh in his ear told him he’d found a rhythm she liked. His own lust lay banked, awaiting his lady’s satisfaction. But his forbearance would not be rewarded this night. The tail of a ribbon tickled his wrist. Richard grinned and tugged it. The long string unwound from her chemise. Miriam moaned.
“Excuse me. I heard a noise.”
Miriam froze in his arms. An arctic chill settled over them, cooling their ardor in an instant. Richard felt it in the stiffness of her back where seconds ago she had undulated wantonly against him.
“Mrs. Kent. Lord Northcote was wishing me good night,” Miriam said breathless guilt. She cleared her throat and pulled back. Richard dropped his arms.
“So, I see.”
The woman stood before them in a plain white night dress with an equally unadorned wrapper. A white cap covered her braided hair, which dangled over her shoulder. She eyed them accusingly. Richard had never heard such repressive condemnation in three small words as he did from Miriam’s caretaker. The thin woven ribbon he’d stolen dangled from his fingers, proof that his hands had been where they didn’t belong.
Chapter 16
Slowly, he removed his hand from Miriam’s bodice. Quickly he pulled it up, wishing buttons could magically fasten themselves. It would have had the added benefit of getting Miriam naked that much easier, although at this precise moment he wanted her modesty restored. He had no right to besmirch her innocence no matter how badly he wanted to.
“Another minute, Mrs. Kent.” Miriam spoke firmly this time. Her keeper eyed them with wary disappointment. “I shall see her to bed.”
Mrs. Kent sniffed. “It isn’t as though Miriam needs assistance with her fastenings.”
Miriam’s chin rose. “We are to be married.”
The woman’s expression changed almost imperceptibly from fierce remonstrance to pensive sadness. Fear. If he needed confirmation that Mrs. Kent suspected his motives, he had it now. Unease prickled the back of his neck. What might she do to prevent their union?
Until now, Richard had not had to consider failure. Yet, until Miriam wore his ring and he could sweep her away from Lizzie’s influence, there remained a distinct possibility of discovery. He could not break Miriam’s heart. Therefore, she must never suspect. Their leaving America was the only answer.
“I wish you joy,” Mrs. Kent replied woodenly, her eyes lighting accusingly on him. “Now, off to bed.”
Miriam sighed. “I am not a child. Are you planning to stand there until I return to my room?”
“Yes.” The women commenced a stare down, which Miriam quickly won. Mrs. Kent averted her gaze. “If you promise to return to your separate rooms, I shall wait out of earshot in the hallway.”
When she was gone, Richard bent to retrieve Miriam’s key. “I suppose I summoned her when I dropped this.”
“Heavy iron keys. My father swears by strong locks,” Miriam observed wryly.
“Understandable. He has a treasure to keep safe.” Richard threaded the string through a loop of the key. Miriam watched, wide-eyed, as he knotted the ends together around his neck and tucked the heavy iron key into his shirt. Close to his heart. Miriam smiled shyly. “I will come for you when the time is right, Miri.” He kissed her cheek, inhaling her sweet fragrance as though her delicate strength was enough to carry him through this mess he had made. “Not tonight.”
Miriam hitched up her sleeve. “I suppose I can wait a while longer. If I must.”
“Soon, Miri. I promise.”
Mrs. Kent coughed. Richard released his bride with great reluctance.
* * *
“Doyou take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?” the pastor intoned gravely. Behind him, a vista of thick green trees and gray cliffs obscured direct view of the river.
This could not be happening. Her? Marrying an English lord? When she hesitated, the pastor intoned again, “Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“Yes,” Miriam said eagerly, her gloved hand clasped in Richard’s. In her free hand was a large bouquet of summer flowers. Roses interspersed with lilacs and a vine dripping artfully down her wrist.
“Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?” the pastor intoned gravely.
