What the Earl Desires (12 page)

With a groan, she headed back to the other room, and made sure there were no distinct footprints in the dirt covered floor. Colin waited for her by the door, keeping an eye on the men.

Outside she breathed the fresh air with gratitude. She saw their horses but even they didn’t ring familiar to her from the night of the attack. Shite. She hated to be at a disadvantage. Head up, she stared at the tall thick trees around and back to the run down cottage.

“It looks like a crofters hut,” Colin said.

“Any idea how far from the main house?”

“None. Sorry.”

Swallowing her disappointment, she headed back to the entrance. “Come on.”

“Why back inside?”

“I have to get back to the house and fast. I know this route.” She stopped by a man and grabbed part of his dirty shirt before winding it around a stick she’d grabbed outside.

They searched and found a way to open the passageway. Once inside, Colin lit the cloth and the flame illuminated the area. She took the lead and set off at a good pace. At the place they entered she felt for a release catch and then rolled the torch on the dirty floor, submerging them into coal-black darkness one more time.

Activating the catch, she peered through the crack and found the antechamber blissfully empty. They snuck through and the section closed silently behind Colin. She glanced at him and gave him a slight smile.

His hand shot out and only curved around her wrist since she tamped down her instinctive reaction to move. She allowed him to tug her in closer until his green eyes stared down at her, smoky with desire and something else.

“Do not go back down there to deal with them by yourself, Najja.”

The words were said in a low tone, one covered in the iron will of a man who didn’t expect to be disobeyed. It was almost cute. But she didn’t take orders from anyone other than Father.

She stared back at him, silent. His gaze narrowed and he gripped her chin in two fingers.

“I mean it.”

Jo’s voice calling her name could be heard along with feet pounding on the stairs. She had to get him to let go.

“Promise me.”

She couldn’t lie to him. “I cannot.”

“Damn it, Najja.” She could feel his frustration.

“It is my job to protect them.”

His jaw tightened and his nose flared. “I thought it was to protect Jo.”

“Her family means the world to her. If they die, part of her will and I will do everything in my power to keep that from happening.” His eyes darkened and swirled. “In here, Jo,” she hollered before stepping out of Colin’s intoxicating touch.

Colin could think of nothing he’d like to do more than slam the door and lock it, keeping Jo out and him alone in here with Najja. What was wrong with him that he couldn’t get her out of his mind? Awake or asleep it didn’t matter, his thoughts stayed on Najja.

He took another step back ensuring there was proper distance between him and Najja when Jo barreled into the room. As she and Najja spoke to one another he allowed his gaze to linger over the woman he didn’t know how to handle.

He had never met a woman like her. She didn’t run from danger, she sought it out. Her own life not as important as Jo’s. She had this air about her he’d only seen from men he’d been allowed the honor of serving with. And at the same time she kept herself barricaded behind this veil of collectiveness. He’d seen a few glimpses of her true self but they were fleeting. Like she’d forgotten how not to be a shadow.

He wished for nothing more than to strip it from her. Along with her clothes and indulge in the fiery nymph he knew she was, the one she kept locked behind her carefully crafted mask.

“Go get it cleaned out,” Jo said.

He snapped to attention. Jo pushed Najja to the door. Drat. He’d totally forgotten about her hand.

“You have to come with, Jo. It is not proper for--”

“Stuff it, Najja,” she interrupted before launching into a torrent of words he didn’t understand.

He watched Najja blow an exaggerated breath and leave. Lord he wanted her in his bed. Maybe then his ache for her would be fed and lessened.

Jo pinned her gaze upon him. The eyes, normally full of vigor and happiness were shrewd and dare he say it, dangerous.

“I like you, Mr. Faulkner.”

“Colin,” he said, well aware of needing her in his corner.

She waved one hand. “Fine, Colin. I like you, but I love her like my sister.” She shook her head, hands fisted and rested on her hips. “She
is
my sister. If you hurt her--”

“I have no intention of hurting her.” He realized that was true. Many things came to mind when he thought about Najja, hurting her not one of them.

“Keep it that way. I know she seems tough, but…just do not hurt her.”

Jo preceded him from the room. “Jo?”

She paused and glanced over her shoulder at him. Her blue riding habit brought out the intensity of her eyes. “Yes?” Eyes which seemed still a bit leery.

“What…does she enjoy?”

The smile which she gave him made him realize she truly had the potential to take the
ton
by storm.

“Najja loves riding, falconry, and the outdoors.”

Falconry? He asked the question aloud.

“Yes. Falconry. She brought Indrani with her. Or the falcon followed her. One never knows with those two.”

He flashed to the day he believed he saw a bird on her horse’s saddle.
Guess
I did see it.

“Indrani?”

“A beautiful Gyrfalcon. Female.” A thoughtful expression crossed her elegant features. “You give your word there is no intent to harm her?”

Gyrfalcon? He had heard of them, seen a male once. Blinking, he focused on Jo. “You have my word.”

“Okay.” The vacillation vanished leaving him faced with the sparkling young woman. She practically skipped down the stairs. He followed at a more leisurely pace. Jo had iron beneath her delicate appearance. And apparently it showed when it came to Najja.

He had no further opportunity that afternoon to be alone with Najja. After dinner he retired to his study and focused on his work. Abel poured him some whisky then left him alone. His eyes burned with exhaustion when he finally finished. The whisky sat untouched at his left and he ignored it. On his way to bed he paused and detoured to Najja’s room, drawn there by an invisible thread.

In the dark he hesitated, hand on the handle. If he closed his eyes he could feel her curves against him, taste her…

He cursed and strode to his room. Berry waited and was dismissed with a wave of one hand. He sank in a chair only to rise and pace seconds later. His body strung tight seemed ready to explode.

“I need to get a woman.”

Even as the words slid from his mouth, he knew not just any would do. Only one would. And he needed her directly.

With a growl of disgust at himself and his lack of control, he headed for the door. There was no footman and no butler which was fine. He wasn’t a man who normally left at this time of night and they deserved to be asleep in their beds, not waiting on him because he had a fire in his blood he couldn’t quench. Shoving into his coat, he ran to the stable and headed for Salvage’s stall. Once his gelding had been bridled he swung up on his horse’s bare back and rode out as if Lucifer himself nipped at his heels.

Sliding off at The Brown Goose, he strode through the door, Salvage released into the care of a sleepy lad. He scanned the raucous crowd before striding to the back corner.

“Are you not usually sleeping now, Faulkner?” Wilkes questioned taking a draught of his ale. He growled and waved for his own drink. When he grabbed the entire bottle from the woman, Wilkes laughed. “She got to you,” he stated once they were again alone.

There was no point in denying that truth. “It is making me crazy, Wilkes.”

The man eyed him from beneath bushy brows. “I can tell.” Another drink. “What are you going to do about it?”

He had no clue. And from the smug indication on his face, Wilkes knew that very thing. Colin rubbed a hand over his eyes, his sleep had been lacking, most nights dreams of Najja wakened him with a stiff rod and the need to bring himself to release.

There was no talking for a short time.

“I heard the earl is sick.”

Colin shrugged. “I see.”

“Figured that would be your response.”

“There is no love between us.”

Silence hung between them until Wilkes cleared his throat. “It is time for another shipment to head to the coast. Do you have a plan?”

No. Damn it all. He had nothing figured out. “I will ride it. My men are scared and rightfully so. The last one left the riders dead. Sliced them with sabers like bloody savages.”

“Take Najja.”

His gaze flew to meet the remarkably sincere one Wilkes sported. “What?”

“The journey is three days. Think about it.”

His shaft swelled, well aware of what three days with Najja meant. Two nights alone with her. He shook his head. “I will not risk a woman.”

Of all the responses he expected, laughter was at the bottom of the list.

“She is unlike any woman you know, Faulkner.”

That phrase bespoke more than a passing cognition. It bordered upon an intimate acquaintance. Flames of jealousy and rage erupted within him. He longed to reach across the table and beat Wilkes until he lay in a bloody pulp.

“Explain,” he commanded, voice rough with the tenuous control on his fury.

Wilkes by all appearances saw the danger lingering within him. “I watched her.”

He growled low in his throat at the mental image of Wilkes enjoying Najja in her natural state.

“Not like that, Faulkner, although she did not wear very much. It was with a pasha in…well that is not important. Isra…he was not the most pleasant of individuals. Anyway Najja was his entertainment.”

Mindless bloodlust roared over him, tingeing the world red. He fought to calm down and it wasn’t a simple task.

“She was pitted against others,” Wilkes paused briefly, “for sport.”

Every nerve stretched taut, he forced himself to stay seated. “And?” The word more of a rasp than anything.

“I have never seen anyone,
anyone
, fight like that. She uses forms of combat I have never seen. She is unique, Colin.” Damn if Wilkes didn’t sound reverent.

“And you think she can help?” He was a bit thrown by the use of his first name. It had been years since it had passed those lips.

“Yes. One who would think you were moving your goods with a woman along and if they were foolish enough to attack,” he met his gaze square, “they would lose.”

He mulled over that for a moment. It could solve two issues. His unquenchable urge to have her and to stop from losing any more shipments. Somehow he doubted it would be that simple though.

“Go home, Faulkner.”

Exhaustion rained upon him full force. He gave a nod and tossed money enough to cover the drinks and left for home. Upon entering his stable, he shuddered from the cold while his horse was turned over to Tim.

At the last moment he made his way back to where Fineas was stabled and peered in half expecting him to be gone. The stallion was there, his snort full of arrogant fire. And yet intermingled in the scent of horse and hay, Colin swore lingered spiced roses and vanilla.

He expelled a groan.
I obviously need rest.
Why would she be out here on this bitterly cold night? Fineas snorted again, his hooves shuffling the straw. One final glance into the black stall he struggled to see anything.

With a mental chiding, Colin headed for his house and the warmth of his bed. So intent on his trek he never noticed the slender figure garbed in solid black at one with the night moving toward the back of his large house.

Colin had to force himself to pass by the room Najja had used since her arrival. All he could think of was how it would be once they were together.

Lord, what is the matter with me?

He fell across his bed and that was all he remembered. At least until he dragged his heavy lids open to see Berry moving around, setting out his attire for the day.

Colin pushed up and found he only wore trousers and his shirt.

“Good morning sir,” Berry said without preamble.

“How…did you?”

“Of course, sir. You have a bath waiting.”

That sounded divine. He groaned in pleasure as the hot water soothed him, banishing any remaining chill.

“When you are ready sir, Lord Adrys, would like to speak with you before you take the ladies for a ride.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. He’d even forgotten about the ride. “Very well.”

Forty minutes later, he strolled into the library and found Lord Adrys leafing through a book.

“What can I do for you, Adrys?”

“Morning, Colin. Nothing, nothing. I just wished to expound upon my gratitude for what you have done for my family. We shall be leaving in two days. I insist on having you over for a meal once we are settled.”