Читать книгу Wild Heart - Lori Brighton - Страница 9

Ella settled onto a stone bench that overlooked the rose garden and tore open the note.

My Dearest Ella,

I settled into the cottage and I have to say, it is quite lovely! When that fancy carriage arrived, I thought I was dreaming. Lady Buckley was furious, but didn’t say a word, not bothering to wish me luck.

The woman hired to help me said you are only a short walk from the cottage! I just knew you’d find a way to make our dreams come true. From my bedroom window, I can hear the birds cry and the roar of the ocean. The air smells exactly as you described it!

Yours affectionately,

Fran

Ella bit her lower lip and swiped at the tears trembling on her lashes. She slipped the letter into her pocket. With their dream half accomplished, she felt a lightness, as if she’d lost the weight of her petticoats. She started down the drive and pulled the necklace out from under her bodice, needing the comfort of the cool metal. The pendant was as familiar to her as her own face. She knew every speck of the necklace, having studied it for hours as a child.

Yesterday when she’d clambered up the rocks to Leo’s side, she could have sworn the metal had grown warm. The feeling left her confused and nervous, but it hadn’t happened since. Perhaps she had imagined the heat. With a sigh, she tucked the pendant underneath her bodice and followed the gravel trail around the house.

The sun’s rays broke through the clouds, lighting the garden in a rainbow of colors. From the yew trees, birds chirped merrily and the sweet scent of roses mixed with the fresh scent of dew. It was beautiful and serene, so why did she still have an unsettling feeling? She plucked a fallen foxglove from the ground.

A fat bee landed on the flower and pulled her from her reverie. The insect crawled up her thumb, tasting her skin. At Lady Buckley’s insistence, she tried not to use her powers, but it came so easily with insects…she almost couldn’t control the sensations. Not once had she been stung by a bee, and she supposed that was one positive to her ability. His curiosity satisfied, the bee flew away to his next bloom.

She dropped the flower and continued down the path. The stables came into view and her heart did a strange little jump that she couldn’t quite explain. She hadn’t seen Leo since yesterday afternoon when he’d attacked his cousin. Well deserved, without question. But still…the power that radiated from the man’s body, the intensity, the darkness were frightful indeed.

After seeing the look on Henry’s face, she knew without a doubt Leo had a much better chance of harming himself than anyone else. Surely Henry and his friends had already spread word of the unfortunate incident. Could no one else see what would happen? Perhaps she should speak with Lord Roberts, perhaps even speak with Leo. He must realize his cousin was trying to make him look the madman.

Ella took her lower lip between her teeth and pushed open the stable door. She stepped hesitantly inside, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the dim light. Through the haze of sunbeams and dust, Leo stood in the middle of the wide aisle brushing a black horse. The cuffs of his sleeves were rolled to his elbows, exposing the sinewy muscle of his forearms. Beautiful, strong arms.

The sweet scent of hay and horses met her nostrils. She sneezed. Leo didn’t bother to look her way, as if deaf to her presence. His disregard hurt more than she wanted.

She sniffled and closed the door behind her. “Did you forget we had lessons this morn?” She offered him an excuse.

“No.”

Apparently, he didn’t feel he needed one.

“Your cousin and his friends left last night. You needn’t worry about seeing them.”

“That is unfortunate. I would have dearly loved to smash my fist into his face.”

She held onto her gasp of shock, refusing to indulge him. He took the reins of his horse and started past her.

“Where are you going?”

“Riding.”

“Leo, wait!” Her fingers curled in annoyance. If Fran wasn’t settled in the cottage, she’d leave the man here and now!

He didn’t respond. A stable boy pushed open the doors and Leo disappeared outside, his huge black horse following like a docile pup.

Ella waved at the boy. “Excuse me, you there. Can you saddle a horse?”

He swiped his nose with the back of his hand and nodded. “Yes, miss.”

“And make sure it’s a very nice, gentle horse.”

He went to a brown mare that looked more dead than alive with her drooping head and sagging brown eyes. She was perfect. Ella prayed Leo had been delayed. Clasping her hands in front of her, she paced back and forth, mentally urging the boy to hurry. Leo, blast him, was proving to be much more difficult than she’d expected, and the more she pushed herself on him, the better. She’d wear him down yet. If she could tame Lady Buckley’s spawn, she could tame Leo. Finally, the lad was finished with her mount. She followed him outside. Leo was gone.

“Where’d he go?” she asked frantically.

An old man leaned against the handle of his shovel and tilted his cap back. “The young lord?”

Ella nodded and jumped onto the box the boy provided. Before her, the horse loomed large and intimidating. She’d always feared horses, for they were the most difficult of the animals for her to control. That combined with the fact that she’d had little experience with the beasts as she tried to avoid them at any cost.

But surely she could ride. It looked easy enough. Closing her eyes, she tested the animal’s emotions. The mare was worried, but thrilled to be out of her small box.

Praying for safety, Ella pushed herself onto the beast. She resisted the urge to shift as the saddle dug into her bottom.

“It’s a sidesaddle,” the boy said. “You got to ’ave both legs on this side.”

Ella blushed. “Oh, of course.” It seemed preposterous to her, but she did what he said.

“The young lord went thataway,” the old man said, pointing down a trail.

“Oh, wonderful, thank you.” Ella had just wrapped her leg around the pommel, setting both legs on the side of the horse when the boy slapped the rump of her mount. She squeaked as she felt the beast’s fear mingle with the innate desire to run.

The horse burst down the trail. Clinging to the pommel, Ella tried to calm her racing heart, but with the landscape a brilliant blur, that remained impossible. The trees broke away, and a field splashed with yellow flowers stretched below. Through those flowers, Leo raced bareback toward a grouping of trees.

“Leo!” she called out.

He didn’t slow…didn’t look back.

She leaned forward, slapping the reins lightly against the horse’s neck. “Come on, girl.” The mare bolted down the hill. Terrified, Ella clung to the saddle, unable to do anything other than pray she would not die. She felt the horse’s thrill at being free and knew her mount would not easily stop.

Blimey, she was doomed!

Fran would have to move back to the orphanage; Leo would never learn to be a gent. She slipped. With a gasp, she tightened her hold and closed her eyes.

“Please don’t fall, please don’t fall,” she whispered. The wind whipped loose strands of hair painfully across her face, but she didn’t dare move her hands to sweep them aside.

“Please, Leo,” she stuttered, with each painful thud of the horse’s hooves. She groped for the horse’s mind and sent a soothing sensation of rest into the animal’s brain.

Her horse stopped, and she lost her hold. Suddenly, there was nothing but air. Ella had a split second to realize the seriousness of her situation before she rolled over the horse’s head and her bottom hit hard earth. Pain radiated up her spine. She collapsed onto her back, blinking up at the brilliant blue sky.

“Ouch.”

The mare’s face hovered over her. As if inquiring over her condition, the beast’s soft nose nudged her shoulder.

“I’m well.” She grimaced as she pushed herself up. “But you are walking back.”

With a deep breath, Ella stood. Her mount took a nervous side step.

“No, no, come here, love.” The sudden thunder of hooves sent fear racing into the horse. Her mount fled back up the hill so quickly, Ella didn’t have time to stop her. “No!”

A shadow fell from the sky. She spun and waved the dust away from her face.

“Are you injured?” Leo asked, looking thoroughly unconcerned. She felt arrogance and impatience, but wasn’t sure if the emotions were coming from Leo or his mount.

“You frightened my horse away.” She swiped the dirt from her pale lavender gown, her only good dress.

His face remained passive, but she knew he heard her, the blasted man!

Ella put her hands on her hips. “Well, I wouldn’t have raced after you if you’d stayed for your lesson. But I had the situation under control, until you thundered up here.”

There was a slight tightening of his jaw, and annoyance skittered over her skin. This time she knew the emotion was not coming from the horse.

“However, you are forgiven,” she quickly added.

He turned his mount.

“Wait, where are you going? You can’t just leave me here!”

He nudged his mount forward and took off.

“Ohh, you pompous ass!”

She spun around, hiked up her skirt, and stomped back up the hill. A sudden thumping of hooves made her stop in her tracks. She turned. Leo was coming straight at her, his body bent low over the beast, his intense gaze locked on her. Frozen in fear, Ella could merely stand there. Without losing stride, he reached out, wrapped his arm around her waist, and lifted. He slammed her down sidesaddle in front of him with a thud that jarred her teeth.

Across the fields they raced. The wind tugged at her hair and clothing, bringing sweet relief from the humid day. Fear gave way to excitement. Her heart thundered in her chest, matching the rhythm of the horse’s hooves as they beat on the ground. She closed her eyes and allowed the breeze to caress her skin, allowed her body to become one with the beast. This was not the jerky, uneasy movement of her mount, but a smooth, gliding sensation of flying…of freedom.

Slowly, she became aware of a deep aching need that spread from her core, down. She became aware of Leo’s body pressed against hers, the muscles in his chest as hard as granite, yet warm. His heart beat steady and strong against the side of her breast. Swallowing, she glanced through her lashes and studied his face. His features were the same as always, stoic and unreadable. But this close, she could see the gold flecks in his eyes and the pale and auburn streaks barely visible in his dark hair.

“Stop staring at me,” he snapped.

Her face heated, and she dropped her gaze. She didn’t dare delve further into his emotions, for fear of what she would find.

“Sorry,” she muttered. “Where are we going?” She asked as much to change the subject as to know the answer.

“If you want to come with me, you’ll cease your prattle.”

She managed not to argue. Really, his conduct was beyond rude. It was…reprehensible. She tilted her chin, determined to remain quiet for the rest of the journey. He slowed the mount as they neared a cluster of trees. The horse meandered down a dirt trail, and the soft roar of flowing water interrupted the serene chirp of birds.

“How is it you do not know how to ride?” His breath was a warm caress against the side of her neck.

She tilted her chin, ignoring the shivers that raced down her spine. “Am I allowed to speak now?”

He sighed, long and loud.

As much fun at it was, she decided not to further test his patience. “At the orphanage we had no money for horses.”

“Orphanage? Is that where my grandfather found you?”

She blushed and averted her gaze. No good orphan leech! Lady Buckley’s eldest daughter’s voice whispered through her head. It was her favorite phrase to throw at Ella, over and over again. “No, Lady Buckley took me in when I was a young girl.”

He didn’t question her further, and she was able to relax some. The trees gave way and a small clearing came into view.

The waterfall!

The place was a miracle of God. A clear creek wove its way through beech trees, cresting a small hill and splashing into the pool—a pool surrounded by ferns and moss-covered boulders. Truly a peaceful setting.

Leo slipped from his mount. He whispered something into the horse’s ears and then tied the reins to a branch. Without helping her down, he started toward the small pond of water. Ella resisted the urge to curse…to break a branch from a tree and hurl the limb at his head. Instead, trying to be as ladylike as possible, she managed to slide down the horse and land on her feet.

“So sorry.” She patted the animal who watched her warily out of its huge, brown eyes. “I’m usually not so clumsy, you see. I don’t really ride. But you,” she smoothed her hand down the horse’s neck. “Yes, you are lovely.” Appeased, the horse neighed and shook his mane.

Laughing, Ella turned to find Leo standing on a boulder, watching her with a frown. Her laughter died. What had she done now to annoy him? Really, was the man constantly in a bad temper? Without a word, he turned away from her.

“Leo, what are we doing here?” She climbed onto the boulders that surrounded the waterfall.

“Can you not just be silent? Enjoy the lull of nature?”

She frowned. “Well, of course I can. It’s just that silence was unusual at Lady Buckley’s. I wasn’t ever really alone, and there was always some child asking questions…” She trailed off when he turned and looked at her with his brow raised in obvious exasperation.

A sudden wash of melancholy made her sink to a rock. Sitting with her knees drawn to her chest, she stared into the water. What were the children doing now? Did they miss her? Would anyone else search through book after book until she found the answer to some outlandish question? Would anyone else show the patience she had with their many questions? Lady Buckley’s eldest daughter was an obnoxious twit, but the younger girls were quite kind.

Leo sat beside her and removed one of his boots. Her gaze darted from his foot to his face, back to his foot again. A bug buzzed near her ear, and she brushed aside the annoying pest as Leo removed the other boot. Without hesitation, he pulled off his stockings. Large, sinewy feet were bared before her. Her face heated, and she jerked her gaze away. What in the world was he doing? She couldn’t look…It’d be improper. Yet, she couldn’t stop herself from watching him out of the corner of her eye.

Leo stood and drew her attention to his tall form. When his hands reached for the buttons on his shirt, she jumped to her feet. “Wh…what are you doing?”

His gaze locked on hers, but he offered no response. Slowly, his fingers traveled down his chest until the shirt hung open and loose. With a quirk of his brow, he tossed the garment aside and stood before her bare-chested. Heat raced to her face. Had it warmed outside? Really, it was uncomfortably hot today. She slid her finger between her neck and collar, pulling the material from her damp skin.

“Leo, this is not very proper,” she said in a breathless whisper. “You really should—” Her voice caught as his hands went to the waistband of his trousers.

Blimey, no.

He couldn’t…He wouldn’t.

He did.

Ella spun around and squeezed her eyes shut. She heard the distinct swoosh of material and resisted the urge to peek.

“Leo, I know you do not understand English society, but this is most definitely not proper.”

A splash broke through the air. She turned. Leo stood in waist-high water. Never had she seen a man without his shirt on. Mesmerized, she could only stare, watching drops of water slip over each muscle, until trailing down below the surface. He raked his long, wet locks from his face and smiled up at her. It was the first time she’d seen him truly happy.

For a split second, she swore her heart actually stopped beating in her chest.

He held out his hand. An invitation her body begged her to accept. But her mind said no.

She shook her head, her eyes wide and unblinking.

He quirked a brow.

“It…it wouldn’t be proper,” she replied in a hoarse whisper.

“No one will see.”

His words thrilled, delighted, and frightened her. It would be so easy to be seduced by this man and his eerie eyes.

“Come,” he urged.

Her fingers curled into fists as she resisted the urge to comply. “No.”

If someone found them, she’d be fired for sure. He was…dear God, he was naked, she realized, taking in the clothing scattered across the rocks. Socks…shirt…trousers…yes, definitely naked. Blimey, she was going to faint.

“Ella,” he demanded. “Come.”

She tilted her chin, ignoring the pulsing desire that muddled her mind. “No,” she snapped back, crossing her arms over her chest.

“If you swim, I promise to come to my dance lesson tomorrow.”

She hesitated and took her lip between her teeth, mulling over the offer.

“If you don’t, I’ll be gone before you wake. That is the offer. It can be easy tomorrow, or it can be difficult. How badly do you want me to learn? How badly do you need this position?”

Ella’s mouth dropped open. “You…you are trying to blackmail me!”

He didn’t smile.

She narrowed her eyes, wanting so badly to tell him to go to hell. “Fine.”

The moment the word came out, she groaned. What in God’s name was she thinking? She jerked the boots and stockings from her feet before she could dwell on the inappropriateness of the situation. She refused to blush. Gingerly, she picked up the hem of her dress and stuck her toe into the water. Bitter cold shot through her like a needle.

“It’s freezing!”

“You’ll grow accustomed.” He leaned back and slowly moved his arms through the water, stroking backward, his gaze focused on her.

She frowned. “Turn around then.”

He sighed and turned his back to her. With her attention on him the entire time, she slipped her necklace over her head and placed it in her skirt pocket. Then quickly, she pulled the dress from her body. Only her shift, bloomers, and corset remained.

Dare she?

A shiver of anticipation caressed her skin. No one would know. Not Lady Buckley, not her small village, not Lord Roberts. How many times, during the heat of summer, had she wished to swim? She dared another glance toward the trail. The horse was attempting to eat its reins, but no other movement caught her attention.

Deftly, she undid her corset and dropped the contraption to the boulder. She took in a deep breath, her pinched lungs expanding. Leo moved toward the falls, his back still to her. Taking advantage of his lack of attention, she pulled the bloomers out from under her shift. A cool breeze blew up under her skirt, caressing her thighs like a lover’s touch. She sighed even as heat pooled sinfully in her stomach.

Leo disappeared under the water. Ella took her lower lip between her teeth. Surely the water was shallow enough. Steeling her courage, she jumped. The cold water stung her skin and she shrieked. Frantically, she tried to gain her balance on the slippery rocks, but her body had grown numb and useless. She only had time to suck in a deep breath before going under. Her shift, a white ghost, floated around her, binding her legs and drawing her further down. Above, sunlight glistened on the water’s surface seemingly so close, yet she couldn’t seem to reach it.

She felt his strength, his presence right before he appeared. Leo wrapped his arms around her waist, and together they burst through the surface. Fresh air forced the water from her lungs, and she coughed water all over his chest.

“Do you not know how to swim?”

She shook her head between coughs and clung to his broad shoulders.

“I thought you said you loved the ocean!”

She felt his worry, icier than the water, pierce her heart. Despite the frigid temperature, the realization that he cared made her body warm. “One does not swim in the ocean.” She coughed again. “One frolics with one’s clothing on.”

Leo’s hands clenched her upper arms, keeping her balanced. “Of all the bloody stupid—”

She glared up at him. “I had no choice. You practically forced me.”

They stared into each other’s eyes, annoyance, worry, and something else flashing. Heat seemed to pass between them, and instantly she was reminded that he was naked, completely and utterly naked. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and his jaw clenched. Ella couldn’t seem to breathe. She felt it…the need within him…for her? He wanted her?

He growled low in his throat and grabbed her hand, stepping away from her. “Come.”

She tried to ignore her disappointment. Surely she didn’t desire his kiss. Preposterous. But blast it all, what was that aching desire she felt when he looked at her? He pulled her toward the center of the small pond. The water rose to her chest and her panic flared.

“Leo, it’s getting deep.”

“Hang onto my neck.”

She slipped her arms around him and pressed her chest to his back. His body was stiff, his mind uncomfortable with her touch. She was uncomfortable touching him. Surely he could feel her nipples, hard as diamonds. The thought made her want to run back to the house and hide in her room. She started to pull away, but he latched onto her wrists, holding her close. Before she could argue, he leaned forward and skimmed through the water. The waves lapped up against her bare arms, tickling her flesh. Ella laughed. She felt his mind relax, and with it, she too seemed to calm.

He stilled next to the falls. Water cascaded over moss-covered rocks and sprinkled Ella with a fine mist. Before she could pull back, he turned in her arms so her breasts crushed to his chest. His lips were a breath away from hers, so close she had merely to tilt her head and her mouth would be on his. An aching need pulsed through her body, or his? She wasn’t sure and didn’t care.

His gaze lingered on her face…from her eyes to her lips, and she knew if he kissed her, she would never be able to resist.

“I can teach you to swim.”

Ella swallowed hard. It certainly wasn’t what she expected him to say. “I…I don’t know.”

He shrugged. “Suit yourself. But you’ll have to make it back to the rocks on your own.”

“You wouldn’t,” she gasped.

His face remained stoic. Frantic, she tightened her hold around his neck. “Please…” But she knew her words would mean nothing to this man, this barbarian. And part of her, a tiny bit, actually wanted to learn.

“Fine, teach me.”

A slow grin spread across his lips. Two smiles in one day? Was the man actually improving? He leaned forward, his mouth brushing against her ear and sending shivers over her skin. “Trust me.” His hands, warm and strong, moved to her waist.

She stiffened, her eyes going wide. No one had dared touch her so intimately. She knew her shift would be as clear as the stream and the frantic need to cover herself overwhelmed her.

“Lay back,” he demanded.

She did what he said, her breathing harsh, her body hot, realizing that through her wet shift he could see parts of her no man had seen.

“Just relax and you’ll float.” His hands supported her body.

Relax? Impossible!

Ella closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. Water lapped against her in a soft lull. She focused on the nature surrounding her. Sunlight filtered through the branches above, spotting her eyelids with gold. She felt Leo remove a hand, yet still she floated.

“Stay relaxed and move your arms.” His voice was muffled through the water, as if she dreamed of him. Perhaps she did.

Slowly, she lifted her arms, stroking the water as she’d seen him do earlier. His other hand slid away, and she sank, water covering her face.

She came up sputtering.

“Good.” He pulled her close, into the safety of his embrace.

“Good? I nearly drowned, again.”

“You exaggerate.”

She gasped. He didn’t seem to notice but merely took her hand and tugged her toward the bank. She jerked away from him as her feet curled around the rocky bottom. Without looking back he started out of the pond. The water lowered to his waist, and sunlight hit his back. Ella started to turn away when she spotted the white lines crisscrossing his back. Shock held her immobile. Scars, long and thin.

When his backside came into view, she sucked in a breath and spun around, resisting the urge to watch him emerge naked and wet from the pond. How had he received such scars? They were old and faded but made her heart clench all the same. Did Lord Roberts know about the wounds?

When minutes past, she slowly turned.

He sat on the boulder, watching her. No boots on his feet, no shirt over his broad chest, but, thank God, he wore trousers.

“Could you not look, please?” she asked politely.

His lips quirked slightly, and she was sure he would refuse. After staring into her eyes for more time than what she deemed appropriate, he finally turned.

She scampered up the boulders onto dry land. The warm air swept over her body, heating her wet shift. Not waiting to dry, she tugged her bloomers into place. She reached for her corset when Leo grabbed the piece.

“Excuse me!” she cried. “Give that back.”

He turned, his gaze sweeping up and down her body. Her breasts grew heavy under his attention and for a moment, she had the insane desire to let him look his fill. Propriety invaded, a sharp slap to her brain. Quickly, she crossed her arms over her chest.

“You don’t need the garment. They are ridiculous contraptions.” He tossed the piece into a creek that led from the small pool. Her corset started to float downstream.

“No!” she cried, taking a step toward the water. Leo’s hand shot out and his fingers wrapped around her ankle, the touch burning her skin.

“Don’t.”

She swallowed over her unease. “Do you realize how much it will cost to replace?”

“I’ll buy you a new one.”

Ella frowned. “You can’t traipse around doing whatever it is you wish. You can’t make decisions for people.”

He removed his hand, leaving behind a trail of heat. “Why not?”

Ella stumbled over the words. How could she respond to such a ridiculous question? “Because…because everyone has a right to decide their own lives.”

“But you?”

She stiffened. “What do you mean? Of course I’m in charge of my own life.”

“Are you? If you could be anywhere, do anything, would you have agreed to this charade?”

“Perhaps,” she said softly, lowering to sit on the boulder. It wasn’t fair to ask her that question now. Not when she felt cool and relaxed, surrounded by natural beauty. Not when she had a man looking at her with such heat, such intensity it made her toes curl. She plucked a daisy that grew through the rocks, feigning interest in the bloom.

“Perhaps now,” he said. “But at the time, if you’d had the choice, you wouldn’t have agreed. Control is an illusion that we all strive for, but none have.”

“But for the strong and rich,” she mumbled and tossed the flower to the pond, watching it float away.

“Not really, for there is always someone stronger, someone richer who comes along.”

“So what are you saying? We should settle back and allow everyone else to make the decisions involving our lives?” Suddenly, she felt the pupil and he the teacher, and she didn’t like it one bit.

“The most we can do is fight,” he said.

“Sounds exhausting,” she muttered and picked up her gown. She pulled the material over her head before she lost all sense of decency. “We should go back.”

Without argument, he dressed. Once again he didn’t bother to wait for her as he made his way to their mount. Ella stumbled down the rocks, cursing him under her breath. She had a feeling he’d left her on purpose, merely to bait her. She’d barely reached the horse when he wrapped his hands around her waist and tossed her onto the beast. He settled behind her, and she resisted the urge to sink into his strength.

“My uncle was going to teach me to swim,” she admitted as they made their way down the trail. “But he never returned.”

She felt his muscles tighten and his interest spike. Twisting her hands into her damp skirt, she slid him a glance. His face was unreadable, his gaze focused straight ahead.

“When did he go?” he asked.

“I don’t remember. I was around seven years of age. He sent letters for a while, but then nothing.”

They came out onto the field, and Leo nudged the mount into a gallop. The rest of the way was traveled in silence. Yet, when the castle came into view she felt a strange sense of disappointment. Truth was, she hadn’t felt so free or relaxed in years.

Leo slowed the mount in front of the stables.

“There you are.” The stable master called out. “We wondered what happened to you when Sally returned with an empty saddle. The lad said he saw the young lord here come to your rescue.”

Ella blushed. Did they know? Had they seen them at the waterfall? Surely they wouldn’t have followed.

Leo didn’t say a word. The stable master helped her from the mount while Leo effortlessly slid from the beast. Without a farewell, he started down a trail.

“Leo,” she called out. “The dance instructor will be here early tomorrow. Will you be there?”

He kept walking.

“Leo?” she tried once more. The man didn’t bother to turn, didn’t even respond. Before she could read his feelings, he disappeared into the trees.

“Blasted man,” she snapped. Really, the first thing he needed to learn was manners.