Page 116 of The Importance of Being Emma
‘Where Henry will insist on making you a custard poultice for your chest,’ he put in.
I giggled. ‘A mustard poultice, you idiot.’
‘Far too spicy, darling, it has to be custard.’ He turned towards Donwell. ‘Or we can go that way, to my place, where I’m sure I can think of something equally therapeutic to put on your chest.’
I shot him a provocative look from under my eyelashes. ‘That sounds promising, but what about George and Saffron?’
‘They’re out, not due back until early evening.’
I shivered, this time with pure pleasure. ‘Your place it is, then, but I’ll need to phone Dad. What if he goes on about me catching cold and insists on coming to fetch me?’
‘Leave Henry to me,’ Mark said briskly.
We shared one more lingering kiss, then broke into a run.
* * *
~~MARK~~
We reached Donwell Abbey in five minutes flat, half running, half walking, laughing all the way like a pair of kids. There was no sign of Father’s car, thank God; so far, so good. We stood on the doorstep and held each other close. I tilted her face towards me, aching to feel her lips on mine again.
Instead, I found myself saying, ‘Emma, are you sure about this? If you want more time—’
‘I’m absolutely sure, don’t waste your breath asking me unnecessary questions, you idiot.’
I grinned and felt automatically in my jacket pocket. Nothing. ‘Shit, I gave my key back to Father this morning, didn’t think I’d be needing it again.’
Her face fell. ‘We’ll have to go to Hartfield, then.’
‘No, wait, there’s still a chance I can get in. Stay here.’
I hurried round the back of the house. I’d just remembered that Father and Saffron were in the middle of a battle about the dog being relegated to the utility room whenever they went out. Saffron would tolerate this cruelty only if the window was shut, in case Tao caught pneumonia; Father wanted the window left open, to clear the smell of incontinent dog. Whether I could get into the house now depended on which one of them had been in the utility room last . . .
It must have been Father; the small upper window was wide open. With a whoop, I stretched up, reached inside, opened the big lower window, hauled myself onto the ledge and squeezed through the gap, nearly landing on top of poor Tao. He growled reproachfully as I dashed through the kitchen and into the hall to turn off the burglar alarm, before opening the front door for Emma. Then she was in my arms again; but this time wewere somewhere warm and dry and totally private, and the possibilities were endless.
‘You’re wet through, you need to get your clothes off as soon as possible,’ I said, letting go of her reluctantly.
She bent down to remove her trainers. ‘That’s the best offer I’ve had in a while.’
I felt myself harden just looking at her. ‘Come upstairs. Now.’
There was a teasing glint in her eye. ‘Not until you ring Dad.’
I almost sprinted across the hall and phoned Hartfield. ‘Henry? . . . Yes, I’ve found her, safe and sound — but too far from home, so we came to Donwell instead . . . Yes, I’m going to warm her up as fast as I can . . . What was that? Get her to swallow a chopped garlic clove with a spoonful of honey? Fascinating. Actually, I’ve got another little remedy in mind . . . No, nothing to do with onions, although it could make her eyes water . . . Yes, I’ll bring her home later.’ I replaced the receiver and turned to Emma with a broad grin. ‘There, that’s Henry sorted. He’s very interested in my little remedy, wants you to give him all the details so that he can add it to his collection.’
‘You’re shameless,’ she said, peeling off her jumper and hurling it at me.
I swallowed as I gazed at her breasts, barely contained by a wispy black lace bra. ‘Takes one to know one.’
She undid the belt of her trousers. ‘Are you going to stand there all day?’
‘I can think of worse things.’
The trousers came off and landed in my arms. I swallowed again. She was wearing a pair of microscopic black lace briefs, cut high at the sides, making her legs look even longer . . .
‘You’ll have to show me how the shower works,’ she said, climbing the stairs two at a time.
And from the back, she looked incredible . . . In a matter of seconds, I was barely a step behind her. ‘I think you already know exactly how to handle my equipment, Emma Woodhouse.’
