Chasing Eliza (23 page)

He
paused as the importance of that last thought struck home. When had
he begun to think of himself as a future father?

“
So you have the names of the ships, the dates and times of
arrival, along with codes and contacts.” Dominic muttered, staring
in shock at the papers. “What does Jemima have?”

“
She has the codes, giving exact details of what each shipment
entails along with cargo lists and buyers, oh and details of the
French spies they have smuggled into the country, who the spies are
meeting, where and when etcetera.” Eliza finished in a rush,
lapsing into silence as Sebastian whistled in
appreciation.

“
So, you and Jemima have full details of the exact cargo
Scraggan has been handling, along with his contacts, including
human cargo? Its information on his entire network.” Edward
murmured as he folded the papers and handed them to a shocked
Peter, who was clearly still reeling from the news about Jemima’s
dire situation.

“
This makes our return to Leicestershire even more urgent.”
Edward declared flatly, wondering if he should kiss her or shake
her.

“
I’ll order the horses.” Peter declared, stalking from the
room. Now he had a location for Jemima wild horses wouldn’t keep
him from going to her. He stalked down the long corridor, his boots
ringing loudly on the tiles with a sense of purpose that made
everyone step back out of his way.

Within
minutes they were riding out of the stable yard. Using the low
slung gate at the back, they wove through the narrow lane at the
back of the houses and shops lining the main street, taking a
circular route to face north.

Once in
open country there was little opportunity for conversation as their
horses galloped swiftly towards home.

She
could barely see straight by the time they pulled into the coaching
inn later that night. They had changed horses more times than she
cared to count, and had even eaten while riding. Something Eliza
had never tried before and certainly didn’t relish doing
again.

Everyone
was driven by the race to return to Leicestershire and save Jemima
from the gallows. Despite their best efforts, they still didn’t
know if they would get there in time, or if the man from the War
Office would arrive in time to arrange a pardon, or stay of
execution while her guilt was questioned. It was all a jumbled mess
that nobody seemed overly confident they could unravel.

The news
of Jemima’s plight weighed heavily on Peter who, with each passing
mile, had become increasingly tense and withdrawn. Eliza blocked
out the image of her sister with a thick corded rope around her
neck with a shudder, and felt hatred burn within her for Scraggan
and everything he stood for. The man was pure evil. She could only
hope there was some justice in the world and he would one day face
his own reward for the evil he had wrought upon the
innocent.

Wearily
she dismounted, stumbling on the uneven cobbles. She had to hold on
to the saddle for several moments before her legs could hold her
weight.

“
Do you want me to carry you?” Sebastian murmured, offering
her his arm as though she was a fine lady he was escorting in to
dine.

Eliza
took his elbow gratefully, trying not to lean on him too much and
shook her head.

“
I’m fine, just a little tired.” She was about to turn back to
collect her saddle bag when Edward appeared beside her with it
clenched in his hand.

“
We’ll eat and get some sleep. We have another early start
tomorrow.” They had made great time and were already further than
they had hoped, but everyone knew the dire consequences if they
were delayed at all.

Despite
careful checks, and circuitous riding by one of the men every few
miles, there was no sign of Scraggan’s men, and that worried
Eliza.

“
Why do you think they have stopped following us?” Eliza
murmured later that evening when they had finished eating and all
sat in thoughtful and weary silence around the table.

“
I think that Scraggan’s waiting for news about Jemima.”
Dominic ventured, interrupted by Peter’s snort. “He’s waiting for
her to be hung.”

“
Let’s face it, Scraggan put her there.”

“
Jemima wouldn’t murder anyone, or be involved in any highway
robbery.” Eliza reaffirmed, not sure if she was trying to convince
herself or them. She knew her sister well, but couldn’t quite
forget how worried and preoccupied Jemima had been at their last
meeting. As though she knew something she wasn’t
telling.

“
I think that Scraggan is waiting for you to ride to the
rescue and will have men littered around Derby waiting.” Edward
muttered. “You simply cannot go there.” His voice was flat with the
certainty of his belief and defied argument.

Eliza
stared at him for several moments, contemplating the possibilities
before deciding he was right.

“
But he knew I was going to Padstow and was following us
there.”

“
He might not know about the hidden papers. He may think you
were going there to find Jemima. Once he was sure you were headed
in the wrong direction, he was secure in the knowledge that
whatever Jemima knows is going to the gallows with her.” He winced
at the harshness of his words and apologised.

“
But the men were trying to kidnap me.” Eliza argued,
uncomfortable with the complexity of trying to figure out how
someone as warped as Scraggan would operate.

“
He wants you for information.” Dominic replied calmly. “I’m
sorry we have to discuss things so frankly with you.”

“
It’s alright. We cannot hide from facts and have to discuss
it if we have any hope of getting her free.”

“
I think there is still the threat that now you are returning
to Leicestershire, you are going to pose a risk to Scraggan’s plan.
Especially now we have the papers that will condemn him.” Dominic
added, nodding towards the saddlebag.

He
didn’t add that the papers would be a bargaining chip to secure
Jemima’s release – if they could get the man from the War Office to
meet them in Leicestershire in time.

“
I don’t know about all of you but I am exhausted. I think
given how late we were up last night, we all need a good rest.” She
pushed away from the table and waited until the men surged to their
feet.

There
was an air of nurse maid to her that reminded Sebastian of a nanny
that used to look after them when they were boys. She had a
do-as-you-are-told briskness about her that brooked no argument.
Bidding everyone a rueful goodnight, Sebastian took note of the
admiration in Edward’s gaze and with a smirk, did as he was told
and headed off to bed.

Her soft
cries in the silence of the night woke him with a jolt. Within
seconds he was across the room and bursting through the connecting
door, his now loaded pistol drawn in readiness against any attack.
He paused to study the room for intruders before his gaze landed on
Eliza.

She was
lying in the middle of the bed, her head tossing in distress,
ensnared by the nightmare that tormented her.

Quickly
checking the door to the outer corridor was locked, Edward placed
his pistol on the small bedside table sat down on the soft
mattress.

“
Eliza.” He murmured, gently shaking her shoulder. He frowned
when she didn’t respond and continued to mumble and toss her head,
tears coursing steadily down her face as she slept.

“
Eliza, wake up darling.” He shook her harder only for her to
suddenly cry aloud and sit upright with a jolt.

He
immediately swept an arm around her waist, worried she would jump
from her bed in fright only to freeze in shock as her bare breasts
brushed the hair on his forearm.

Eliza
lay gasping as images from the horrid nightmare lingered for
several moments before reality intruded.

“
You were having a nightmare.” Edward murmured softly,
watching as she hiccupped around a sob, and wiped the dampness from
her cheeks before becoming aware of her naked state.

“
You’re too late.” He whispered, watching ruefully as she
hurriedly tried to tug the blankets upwards to cover her
nudity.

Eliza
blushed and mumbled an awkward apology, frowning when he tugged the
blankets back down again. She glanced up at him hesitantly, his
rejection of a few days ago sharp in her mind.

Nothing
but stoic acceptance and raw need stared back at her. “Edward?” She
whispered softly, shivering at the intent on his face as he drew
near.

Their
breaths mingled softly for several moments before his lips caught
and held hers.

Her
heart beat heavily in her chest as the hard band of his arms swept
around her, tugging her closely against the solid wall of his bare
chest. The tender tips of her breasts rubbed the coarse hair with
sensual anticipation.

He took
advantage of the meagre space between them to slide his hands
upwards and into the long tendrils of her hair, holding her head
steady for his marauding lips. She moaned softly as his tongue
probed deeply into the moist recesses of her mouth. She felt
consumed, possessed by his sheer power as he began to use the
pressure of his chest to ease her backwards onto the
bed.

“
We can’t do this Edward.” Eliza protested softly as her back
met the cool sheets.

“
I know. We aren’t going to make love. I want to pleasure
you.” He whispered, dropping nipping kisses along her jaw as he
leant over her.

The
luscious mounds of her breasts were as soft as they looked, and he
groaned softly at the feel of their plush weight against his bare
chest. He moaned softly at the delicious sensation of her feminine
curves pressing against him and knew he would have to dig deep to
find the strength to stop before they went too far.

“
P-pleasure me?” Eliza whispered, not sure if she liked the
idea, but his wicked fingers were already creating wonderful
sensations against her breast as she was pressed down into the soft
bed by his weight.

“
I won’t hurt you. I promise.” He whispered huskily, tugging
the sheet down and away from her leaving her bare to his rapt
gaze.

She
instinctively tried to cover herself, but he would have none of it.
Carefully grasping hold of her arms, he tugged them high above her
head, holding her wrists together in one loose palm as he eyed the
mound of her raised breasts and the glorious dips and hollows of
the rest of her.

Eliza
gave herself over to the delicious sensations that began to coil
low in her belly as he explored her body with his clever fingers
and mouth. The only sounds within the room being the crackle and
pop of the fire in the hearth, and the soft moans his masterful
seduction drew from her.

She
gathered the strength to raise her head and look down at him as he
paid homage to her breasts. The sight of his lips on her pale skin,
combined with the heat pooling low in her belly made her squirm
restlessly in search of something she couldn’t define.

He knew
instinctively what she was asking for. Drawing closer to lie on his
side facing her, he tugged her around to lie facing him and draped
her leg over his hip, leaving her open to him. It was as far as he
dared go without actually lying between her legs and possessing
her. He deepened the kiss and tormented her breasts as his fingers
sought and found the moist warmth of her.

Eliza
instinctively recoiled against the intrusion of his fingers but he
wouldn’t relinquish his hold on her. He swallowed her soft moan and
was rewarded for his persistence when she began to move her hips
restlessly beneath his hand.

The
delicious feel of her warm body undulating beneath his hand, along
with the scent of her was enough to have him gasping. His body
ached with the need to possess leaving him with the desperate need
to dig deep into his self control.

“
God Eliza, you’re killing me.” He growled, gritting his teeth
against the need to possess her.

“
More.” Eliza demanded. She was bathed in a fine sheen of
sweat, her sexually charged body burning with desire. It was more
than she ever thought possible. He was more than she had ever
considered probably. She wanted everything he had to give her and
wasn’t going to let him leave her without having the answers she
yearned for.

“
Eliza.” Edward whispered, drawing back until his eyes locked
with hers. His eyes searched the amber depths, seeking her
permission to change her forever.

“
If we make love, there is no going back.” He warned; every
fibre of his being locked on her answer.

“
Take me.” She whispered.

His
answering groan was all she heard as he eased her onto her
back.

Edward
lay over her, waiting for the thundering of his heart to ease and
his senses return. In all of his sexual encounters, he had never
experienced such intense satisfaction before. Such toe curling,
mind numbing sensual release that made him forget everything.
Including withdrawing in time to prevent a child, he thought with a
frown as he slipped out of her and moved to lie beside her,
struggling to believe he had been so reckless.