Page 51 of My Gentleman Spy
Beside him, Rosemary stifled ayawn.
“Come upstairs. We had the servants make up a room for you as soon as your mother’s missive arrived. In the morning we can discuss things further over a decent English breakfast and come up with a plan to run your Miss Wright to ground. Sleep is what I daresay you need right now,” saidBat.
“An excellent suggestion. Of course, by then my dear husband you will have debriefed me on all the pertinent details,” addedRosemary.
She took hold of her husband’s hand and a smile appeared on her face. Her husband would be shortly finding himself underinterrogation.
“Good night Will, welcome home toEngland.”
* * *
Upstairs in his room,William dropped down on the end of the bed and sat staring at the fire which had been lit for some time, judging by the warmth in the room. It was nice to have others thinking of his welfare oncemore.
He hadn’t realized how big the hole of loneliness had been in his life. With Hattie’s disappearance he was once more staring into thevoid.
He was tempted to take off his coat and climb in under the blankets, but he was still too restless. The day had forced him to face some uncomfortabletruths.
He pulled the heavy counterpane off the bed and draped it around himself before taking a seat by thefire.
He closed his eyes, intent on calming his mind. Sleep however quickly took him and he slipped into a deepdream.
For so long the woman in his dreams had been Yvette, but another had recently taken herplace.
Hattie.
He saw her standing looking out to sea from Europa Point. He smiled in his sleep remembering the way the sun picked out the gold highlights in her hair. Hair which kissed her shoulders and curled softly at theends.
She turned and smiled at him, happiness evident in her face. He was her hero. He had saved her from a terrible fate and given her a new life. She held out a hand and his body felt light as he took it. Drawing her close to him he heard herwhisper.
“I loveyou.”
Will woke with astart.
He was still seated by the fireside, but the logs had burned down, leaving a golden glow ofembers.
His mouth was dry and an erection strained at the buttons on his trousers. His body hungrily demanded the sexual release it had so recentlyrediscovered.
“You are under my skin,” hewhispered.
Sex was only part of the reason he wanted Hattie back in his bed. He wanted to know everything of her, possess both her mind and body. He had known her body, but she had held fast to what lay within her soul. When Hattie finally yielded up the truth she would be willing to give him herall.
“You my little minx are going to tell meeverything.”
And that included uttering the words that would make her hisforever.
“Rest well my love, wherever you are tonight. Tomorrow you become myquarry.”
