Page 56 of A Marriage of Convenience with a Rake
She smiled. “I wasn’t scared with you holding me.”
Sebastian let out a long breath. “Good,” he whispered.
She was looking up at him and he rested his hands on her shoulders. She was still clutching his coat about her and, though he was standing in the cold garden in his shirtsleeves, he had not even noticed the chill. His senses were lost in thoughts of her. He could still feel her closeness, the sensation of her body molding to his as they rode together.
He gazed down at her, seeing her frown.
“Will it be very hard to help Jonathan?” she asked, sounding frightened.
He shook his head. “No,” he replied, though he wasn’t sure.
“You are so kind,” she murmured. “I can’t bear to think of it. The children...” she started sobbing again.
Sebastian took a deep breath, his heart twisting. He knew how much she cared for children. His father was right—she was someone who loved young ones and had an immense capacity to care. He took another deep breath, suddenly knowing what he had to do. He could not bear to see her in such terror.
“I promise,” he said softly. “I will save them. I will ride to London now. Tonight. I will not let this happen.”
“You cannot,” Eleanor said in a terrified whisper.
“I can,” Sebastian said, spine stiff. “It is only six hours away.”
“It’s late,” Eleanor murmured. “It’s so dangerous, Sebastian. You can’t.”
“I can,” Sebastian said, taking her hands in his. He lifted them to his lips, first pressing his lips to the back of one, then the other. “I can ride fast. I don’t think anyone wants to argue with me.” He chuckled. He gazed into her eyes. He had almost forgotten about Jonathan, his world having room enough only for Eleanor and her beautiful green stare. “I can do it. And thethought that you will be here for me when I get back will make it easy.”
“Sebastian,” she murmured.
He didn’t say anything. She was gazing up at him, her hazel eyes huge, her soft lips just a little parted, and the scent of her was in his nostrils, the sweet rosewater and lavender smell of her skin. He gazed down at her, longing overwhelming him, making it almost impossible not to kiss her. She stared back up at him, and to his astonishment, as he leaned just a little forward, just a little, she leaned forward to meet him.
He leaned down close and pressed his lips to hers. She gasped and he drew her against him, holding her against his chest. Her scent consumed him, the silky skin of her lips drowning his senses. He held her close and shut his eyes and prayed.
Please, God,he prayed in his mind.Let me return to her safely and swiftly.
Her lips on his were sweet and damp and he kissed her, his longing overwhelming, senses dizzied by the kiss.
He held her a moment longer, then stood up.
“I will ride now,” he said, taking her hand in his again. “Please, see to the end of the ball? The butler should dismiss the guests now.”
“I will,” she said firmly. She stood up and he squeezed her fingers and looked into her eyes.
“I shall see you soon,” he said softly.
He smiled at her, and she managed a small, tense grin, and then he turned where he stood and walked back to where his stallion waited for him, reins looped about his neck.
He had a cold, swift ride before him before he could find peace or get some rest.
Chapter 21
Eleanor stood shivering by the stairs since she had handed Sebastian his coat so that he could ride off. She was now in her thin ballgown with its puff-sleeves, and she shivered again and bit her lip against the fact that her jaw was shaking with the cold. Then she walked briskly up the stairs he had indicated. The door at the top was open and she went inside, blinking in the utter darkness of the hallway.
“Is anyone there?” She called, but nobody replied, and she walked down slowly, finding her way with touch more than with sight. Her heart twisted with fear—not for herself, but for Sebastian. How much danger was he facing, riding alone to London?
It was madness.
Thoughts chased themselves around her mind. The road that wound up towards London was notorious for robberies and for attacks by bandits. Sebastian was unarmed, as far as she knew, riding in the pitch darkness. And the human dangers were far from the total of perils that could befall one—unexpected rises or stones in the road that could trip a horse, storms that could soak them both and make Sebastian sick, even the chance of being thrown off if his horse shied off the road. There were too many threats.
Eleanor reached the end of the hallway, where a lamp flickered to light the way downstairs. She took a deep breath and shut her eyes and prayed.
