Tenacious Trents 01 - A Misguided Lord (30 page)

She took a sip and welcomed the slow
burn of brandy down her throat. She took another and licked her
lips as Clay sat back down beside her.

He brushed the hair from her face and
placed his lips to her brow. “I was so afraid I had lost
you.”

She wanted to ask why. They had been
lovers, but their relationship had not gone beyond that night. Did
he truly care for her that much? No, she couldn’t hope. It would
crush her in the end. Besides, she couldn’t think straight right
now. Her emotions were too raw and she needed to know what
happened. “I don’t understand how you are here.”

His smile was gentle. “I was at the
mill when Tobias about pounded the door from its
hinges.”

“
I thought you had returned
to London.”

“
I wasn’t about to leave
the area until you talked to me.”

Warmth swept through her, but she
tampered her hope. What if he just wanted her to continue to be his
mistress? She could never do that now.

“
As soon as Tobias told me
what happened, I came after you.”

“
Thank you.”

Clay placed a hand under her chin and
forced her face up to look at him. “You are mine. I was not about
to let you go. Especially with someone like Wilkes.”

She stared into his eyes. She was
his?

“
What happened to
Wilkes?”

Clay’s face hardened. “He is
dead.”

The coldness of his voice almost
frightened her and Elle took another drink. The only time she had
heard that tone before was the day they visited the
mill.

Did Wilkes die before or after? What
had Clay found?

“
Did he … I can’t
remember … he wanted to …” Tears welled in her eyes, afraid to
know the answer but needing to know the truth.

“
Hush.” Clay put a finger
to her lips. “I was in time.”

His eyes bore into hers and Elle about
collapsed from relief.

“
I shot him before he could
do anything further.”

“
I was so afraid that he
had … that…”

“
Don’t think about it. It
didn’t happen.”

She looked deeply into his eyes to
gauge the truth, praying he wasn’t just protecting her.

“
Trust me.”

Elle did.

“
You put up one hell of a
fight though.” Was that pride she heard in his voice?

“
I feel like one must if
they had been thrown from a horse,” she groaned. Everything in her
body hurt. Now that her panic was put aside from the fear of
worrying about what Wilkes may have done, she felt every single
muscle and bruise. Her head pounded something fierce as
well.

“
You need to rest.” He took
the goblet from her hand and gently pushed her back against the
pillows before tucking the blankets around her body. Was he going
to leave her now? Elle wasn’t so sure she wanted to be alone. The
days’ events were still too vivid in her mind, as was the nightmare
reliving what happened. Was it fair to ask him to stay? She reached
out and grabbed his hand.

Clay stopped and looked at
her.

Elle bit her bottom lip before she
spoke. “Please don’t leave.”

A slow smile formed. “I have no
intention of doing so. Ever.”

What did he mean by ever? Her eyes
grew heavy and she tried to force them open. She had to know, but
she couldn’t stay awake. Tomorrow, she would ask him tomorrow.
Surely his ever didn’t mean forever.

*

Clay settled back in the chair and
watched Elle slumber while he drained the glass of brandy. She was
going to be alright. His hands shook with relief and he put the
goblet on the table. As tired as he was, he could not take his eyes
from her. This was love. The all-consuming desire to protect
someone with your life, to want to feel them in your arms, their
lips on yours, to never be parted again was love.

She was not the type of woman he was
supposed to marry. If he had followed in his father’s footsteps and
done as he was taught, he wouldn’t have given her another thought.
He couldn’t think about it. It didn’t happen. He was a better man
and recognized her worth and his desire. Nothing was going to stop
him from making her his wife.

Elle groaned and shifted in her sleep.
It would take days of recovering before she didn’t hurt. Her wrist
lay on top of the blankets, splinted and bound from the break.
There were scratches and bruises on her face, arms and legs. Each
time his eyes lit on the dark marks left by fingers on her skin,
rage filled his being. He almost wished Wilkes was alive so he
could beat him within an inch of his life and then start all over
again.

“
No,” Elle whispered in her
sleep and flung out an arm.

The nightmare was returning. How often
would she have them? He couldn’t let her face them alone. Clay bent
and yanked off his boots. He wouldn’t leave Elle alone again to
face her demons. Walking to the other side of the bed, he slid in
beside her and pulled her close. When her face rested against his
chest her breathing calmed and her body relaxed. Clay closed his
eyes and followed her into slumber, content to be exactly where he
was supposed to be.

*

Hushed voices pulled at her
consciousness. Elle didn’t want to wake. She was so tired and hurt
everywhere. They just all needed to go away.

“
I want to see
Elle.”

“
Hush, Jamie. You saw her
but we need to let her sleep,” Leigh’s voice chastised.

Elle forced her eyes open to find her
siblings standing next to her bed. Then they flew open and glanced
to the opposite side of the bed. She had woken again last night in
the arms of Clay. He had been sound asleep and the comfort of being
with him had allowed her to slumber more. Thank goodness he was
gone now because she wasn’t sure how she could explain his presence
in her bed.

“
How are you feeling?”
Leigh asked.

Elle forced a weak smile. “Better, but
sore.”

“
Lord Bentley says you will
recover but it could take some time.”

“
I will be up and around
before you know it. Maybe even today.”

“
Don’t even consider it,”
Bentley’s voice came from the doorway.

“
He is right. You need to
rest.” Leigh tugged on Jamie’s hand and the boys followed her from
the room.

Bentley closed the door after them and
came forward. “I am glad you are awake.”

Why? Did he wish to talk? Elle wasn’t
sure she was up for a conversation at the moment.

“
You gave me a scare and I
never intend on living through that again.”

He wasn’t the only one, but why did it
matter so much to him?

Bentley bent and pressed his lips to
her forehead. “The maid will bring you something to eat, and help
you with anything else you need.” He straightened. “You are to rest
and later, we will talk.”

Elle watched as he turned and left the
room. She closed her eyes. Yes, there was much they needed to
discuss. They hadn’t really spoken since that night. Did he wish to
take up where they left off? Could she? Did she want to?

She groaned and rolled over. She
wanted to be with Clay, more than anything. But could she be his
mistress?

Elle stood at the window and stared
down into the vast gardens surrounding Acker Hall. Drake and his
mother were sipping tea in the shade and Clay was playing some type
of game with the boys. He carried Jamie as they chased after the
other three boys or came after him. Leigh lay on the ground
underneath a tree reading a book. She should have known her sister
would make use of Drake’s library. If Leigh had it her way, her
days would be spent reading, not that she ever complained of her
chores. But, Elle knew her sister well and Leigh loved being
absorbed in a book over spending time with people.

Bentley hadn’t talked to her yet and
it was beginning to set her nerves on edge. He visited often to
check on her, and he dozed in her chair at night while she slept,
eventually crawling into bed beside her, but he hadn’t broached any
subject since that day. What did he want to discuss with her? If
she didn’t find out soon, it was going to drive her mad. It was
time to find out. Besides, she couldn’t stand to be in the room any
longer. Other than her wrist, most of her body had healed and she
had little discomfort, and she refused to stay up here another
minute while everyone else enjoyed such pleasant weather. Striding
across the room, she pulled the bell and waited for the maid to
come help her dress.

“
I am not sure this is
wise, Miss Westin. Lord Bentley said you were to remain abed.” The
maid pulled at her apron.

“
Let Lord Bentley take it
up with me. As he is not my father, brother or husband, he has no
say in what I do.”

The young woman bit her bottom
lip.

“
I promise you will not be
in trouble. Besides, Lord Acker knows how stubborn I
am.”

“
But, Miss Westin,” she
pleaded.

“
If you don’t help me
dress, I will simply go down in my chemise. What do you think they
will say to that?”

The maid’s eyes widened. “Oh, miss,
you can’t do that.”

“
Exactly. But I will if you
don’t help me dress.”

Had her wrist not been splinted from
the break Elle would have been able to dress by herself. But as it
was, she had to rely on help. Besides, she knew Drake well enough
to know that the young maid would not be in trouble.

“
Very well, Miss.” The
young woman went to the armoire and opened the doors. Inside were
most of Elle’s gowns, the very ones she had packed when leaving
with Wilkes. It was kind of Lady Akers to see that they were put
away, but she really couldn’t intrude on their hospitality any
longer. She and the children did have their own home and she needed
to return to it soon.

“
Which gown, miss?” The
maid asked.

Elle glanced at them before deciding
on the lavender. It was flattering to her figure, and the light
material would be comfortable in the heat.

Once dressed she settled at the
dressing table, she looked in the mirror. Goodness, she looked like
Medusa with her hair sticking out at odd angles and in
tangles.

“
We washed all the blood
away but we were afraid to brush your hair on account of the
stitches.”

How could she forget the gash in her
head? It no longer pained her, unless she lay oddly on the pillow.
And the thought of brushing her hair filled her with trepidation,
but she couldn’t go around looking like this. “Let’s take it gently
and slowly, though I doubt I will want it curled or arranged around
my head.”

She faced the maid’s grim face in the
mirror. “Very good, Miss Westin.” And she picked up the comb and
began working at the tangles.

After an hour of winces, a few tears
and apologies, Elle’s hair was free of knots and flowed down her
back. She would love to have it washed but wasn’t sure it was
possible with the stitches. Still, she couldn’t go on indefinitely
this way. Maybe tonight or tomorrow. As it was, this would have to
do.

“
One moment.” The maid
ducked out of the room and Elle searched for her walking boots.
They set beside the slippers she wore they day she left with
Wilkes. Those shoes would need to be tossed. They were torn, dirty
and stained, and she wanted no reminders of that day.

“
Here you go, Miss Westin.”
The maid returned with a lavender ribbon. She allowed the young
woman to tie it in her hair and stood back. Most of her bruises
were fading and in time they would be gone. What mattered now was
leaving this room.

*

Children were exhausting! But, Clay
wouldn’t have it any other way. He couldn’t remember the last time
he had known such freedom, to simply let go, laugh and enjoy.
Wasting the day doing nothing but playing as pirates or knights was
wonderful! He swung Jamie up on his shoulder and took off toward
the castle, which was actually a copse of trees. They were yelling
and chasing after him as Jamie squealed. Clay’s face hurt from
smiling but his cheeks wouldn’t relax from his grin.

A moment later there was silence and
he stopped. Then the boys screamed again. This time they yelled
“Elle,” and took off in her direction. Clay set Jamie on the ground
and he ran after his brothers. Clay simply stood and watched her,
standing in the garden, breeze ruffling her dark hair and the gown
of her lavender dress. Should she be up? Was she strong enough to
be walking about? Was she strong enough for their
discussion?

His stomach knotted. At the time he
told her he wanted to talk, he intended to beg her forgiveness but
she was too tired. And, each time he went to her room he found
another excuse. He feared her rejection. What if she didn’t want to
marry him? What if she never wanted to be part of his life and
wished him to leave? Clay couldn’t bear the thought and decided it
was best if he simply didn’t broach the subject. She couldn’t
reject him that way.