Page 8 of Lady Elizabeth's Winter Stranger
Tom’s brief smile conveyed regret that the kiss had ended.He peered at her with a concentrated focus that made her pulses rush.When she read approval in his eyes, another wave of warmth washed through her.“If I’m about to break my neck, I’ll die a happy man, at least.”
She responded with a throaty giggle, when she should be telling him off in no uncertain terms.Or running for her life.
Cyril released an audible sigh from above.“A fellow has better things to do than watch you two bill and coo.”
Tom tilted his head.“If you expect me to risk life and limb to come to your aid, I’d stick a sock in it, you troublesome brat.”
“I told you about my arse.”It was clear Cyril found the word extremely pleasing to say.Elizabeth supposed he was that age to find pleasure in shocking the grown-ups.Although her experience indicated that some men were always that age.
“You did indeed.”
“Then come and get me.”
Tom sighed and made a jump for the lowest branch, which to Elizabeth’s worried eyes seemed a long way from the ground.His hands failed to find purchase on the damp wood, and he dropped back to earth with a muttered curse.
So far, Elizabeth had been so distracted by her interest in a compelling stranger that she hadn’t thought much about the genuine dangers involved in climbing a lofty oak on a snowy day.Her stomach which had been full of pleasurable, if socially unacceptable butterflies knotted in sudden worry.“Be careful, Tom.”
He sent her one of those laughing glances that made her feel all shaky and enchanted.“I’ll be fine.I have important things to do today.”
She smiled back, even as she took in his tacit message that kissing her again was on his list.Any girl of sense who had been out in society knew how to quash unwanted male attention.Despite chaperones and the rules of propriety, not to mention basic human decency, there was too much of it.But the idea of giving Tom a cutting setdown didn’t occur to her.It seemed that somewhere in the last hour, his attentions had become wanted.
How astonishing.How…troubling.
He jumped again.This time, his grip held.With the athleticism that she’d noticed straightaway, he dragged himself up onto the branch and began to scale the tree with impressive skill.
Her heart in her throat, Elizabeth watched him rise higher and higher.
Cyril’s expression filled with wonder.“Cor, you’re like a blinking monkey.”
Perhaps it wasn’t quite how Elizabeth would have phrased it, but Tom’s expertise as a tree climber flooded her with admiration.He went up quickly and cleanly, and now he was within reach of the boy.
“I’m concentrating.Don’t distract me,” Tom said breathlessly, as he stretched for the branch just below Cyril.“The branch you’re sitting on won’t hold my weight.Can you lower yourself down and I’ll catch you?”
“I think so.”But the child didn’t move.
It was the first sign of uncertainty that Cyril had shown since his shrieks for help.Elizabeth couldn’t help thinking that both boy and man were awfully high up in the sky.A fall now would mean serious injury or even death.
While she didn’t wish harm to anyone, it was disconcerting quite how much she wanted Tom to emerge unscathed from his heroics.This time, when her hands curled into fists, it was because she was strung tight with fear.
“Cyril, your arse is only going to get colder if you stay there.Come on, young man, move.I’m sure you’ve got a Christmas dinner waiting.You don’t want to miss out on that, do you?”
“No.”Cyril’s doubt was audible in the drawn-out syllable.
“Come on.You were brave enough to get up there.You’re brave enough to climb down one branch.”
Feeling sick, Elizabeth watched the boy gingerly shift closer to the trunk.
“That’s it.Slide down and I’ll catch you.”Tom slung his arm around another branch and held his hand out to Cyril.
Cyril came to a trembling stop.“I’m afraid.”
Elizabeth hadn’t been particularly impressed with Cyril so far, but right now, he sounded like a frightened child and her heart ached for him.Having two brothers, she was well aware what that small admission had cost him.
“Not you.”Tom’s laugh was encouraging.“You’re a hero.Don’t you forget it, Cyril.”
The voice conveyed a confidence that made Cyril sit a little straighter.He still didn’t budge, but even from the ground, she saw the tension seep from the taut little body.“Do you think so?”
“I know so.”Tom stretched out further.“Let’s get you down.”
