Page 53 of Wicked Designs
He rode his gelding so hard that twice Ashton shouted out to him over the thunder of hooves to slow down or his horse would throw a shoe. Then they would really be delayed. The trip had taken longer than they planned and they wouldn’t arrive at the estate until an hour past midnight.
Emily’s gifts were tucked away in his riding coat pocket, and he was desperate to see her, to hold her in his arms, to kiss her, to tickle her just to hear that breathless laugh. He hungered to taste her lips, to watch her eyes sparkle with delight or sear with the first blush of passion. He wanted to speak to her in Greek, to see how much she really knew. He longed to test her mind and taste her lips. She was an enigma to him, a woman unlike any other he’d ever met before.
The pearly moonlight broke over the distant manor’spale stones, taunting him like a mirage in the desert. Would Emily wait up for him? He hoped so. He wanted to tuck her into his bed and kiss her goodnight, and to his surprise, his desire to do so was not purely carnal.
How on earth had he come to care for this young woman in a way he never cared for anyone, save his closest friends?
Ashton had been right. She’d enchanted him, and he hoped the spell lasted forever.
When he and Ashton reached the manor, they abandoned their horses to a groom and went inside. A servant had dimmed the candles and the hall lay silent. A bloom of distant gold light brightened the path to the drawing room. Cigar smoke wafted down the hall towards Godric and Ashton.
Emily was not with them. Even gentleman such as themselves never smoked in front of a lady.
Godric and Ashton headed towards the room and found Cedric, Charles and Lucien lounging in wingback chairs near the fire. A gray cloud of cigar smoke hovered above their heads as they spoke in hushed tones and played cards.
“You’re back.” Cedric looked relieved to see them.
“It seems we have been missed.” Quiet concern laced Ashton’s tone.
Godric didn’t like the sudden pitch of panic in his stomach. Had something happened to Emily?
“I am almost afraid to ask, but where is Emily?” Godric’s heart was tight in his chest.
“Don’t worry, Godric. She’s in her room, asleep. She has been since ten o’clock.”
“Thank God for that. Excuse me.” Godric bid the others goodnight, desperate to reassure himself she was still there, still his.
He sprinted up the stairs but slowed at Emily’s door. He tested the door handle of her room. It was unlocked. The fools! She could have snuck out without their knowledge.
Stray beams of moonlight lit Emily’s room. The dark form of the young woman lay outlined on the bed. She was still fully dressed and looked as though she’d collapsed in exhaustion. Had she meant to wait up and fell asleep? A flicker of hope burned in his chest. He wanted it to be true.
Godric hesitated before he summoned the courage to enter and lock the door. He reached down, removed his boots, and left them near the door.
Padding softly to the bed he examined Emily. She seemed to be dreaming of happier days, with that soft expression on her face. He bent down carefully and brushed his lips over hers, not wishing to wake her, but she stirred all the same.
“Godric?” she murmured, her eyes still shut.
“Yes?” He knelt next to the bed as she opened her eyes.
“You’re really back?”
“Of course, my dear. I do live here, you understand.”
She tried not to laugh. “Do you? I had no idea.” She flashed him an impish smile. “I wanted to be up when you returned, but I must have fallen asleep.” She reached out a hand to touch his cheek.
Godric turned his lips towards the center of herpalm, kissing it. “What did you do while I was away?” He wanted to know everything that she did and whether she missed him. He’d hated every minute he spent apart from her, and he wanted Emily to reassure him he wasn’t alone.
He crossed his arms on the bed’s edge and rested his chin on them as she told him of her day, his chest filling with an odd warmth. Emily was an open book to him at times, but tonight her eyes were mysterious pools. He sank deeper and deeper into them, entrapped by the wondrous emotions reflected there.
She wrinkled her nose and then smiled. Her hand toyed with his cravat absently as she gazed at him, wide eyes dark as diamonds, veiled by midnight shadows.
“And you? How was your trip to London?” Her question left Godric with a smile.
“Pleasant enough, but…”
“But?”
But I missed you terribly, he wanted to say, but the words choked and died somewhere between his throat and his lips.
