hot blaze had been kindled while they had been mostly clothed. What would happen if they were mostly unclothed? He needed to stay far away from those dangerous, seductive thoughts and concentrate on how to proceed.
“Very well, then,” he said, picking up the thread of the conversation. “If you will return to your room and pack your clothes we will leave as soon as possible.”
She smiled at him, a heartwarming curve to her lips. “I must confess, my dear, I have never packed a trunk in my life. It may take me some time to get everything just as it needs to be. Then we must have breakfast. I am simply starved after last night.”
Memories of Juliet across the dinner table in the candlelight, of their interlude on the sofa with her beautiful shoulders and breasts, her soft, sweet lips and wickedly tempting tongue assailed him so suddenly he took a step backward and bumped into the bed. His mouth dried but managed an answer. “I will have breakfast ordered for an hour from now, if that suits you? Afterward perhaps I can assist you with your trunk. I hope to be on the road no later than nine.”
Her wide smile crinkled her eyes. She was planning something. He’d lay a year’s pay on it. Pray God he had the fortitude to withstand her.
* * * *
Torches and lanterns dotted the walls around the inn yard at Coalville as the carriage came to a halt for the final time that day. From the shadows, hostlers appeared to take the exhausted horses into the stables. Amiable jumped down and extended his hand to help his charge descend. The yard sloped somewhat, causing the drop from the step to the ground to be more substantial than usual.
Juliet hesitated, glancing from the carriage step to him.
Amiable shook his head, grasped her about the waist, and pulled her toward him. He bit back a groan as her body pressed against his, then slid full length down him, setting every nerve afire.
Steady. This woman had tried to break his resolution all day. He damn well wouldn’t let her do so now. He took a deep breath and offered his arm. God, but he was surely a doomed man.
They had not left Towcester until the noon bell had rung, making it impossible to reach Coalville before dark. He had advocated stopping earlier, in Coventry where they changed horses and accepted a late luncheon.
Juliet, however, had been adamant about pressing on.
He had ridden a good part of the day, for the weather had been fair. Still, as the light faded into dusky pinks and mellow purples, he reluctantly joined her in the carriage. It would be folly to ride in the gathering darkness. Equal folly, of course, to ride inside with her, but then this whole affair had a stamp of inevitability on it.
He took little comfort from the fact that Roberts and George rode directly above them, though he smiled at the thought of calling on them for help in fending off Juliet. To her credit, she had barely glanced at him the entire time they sat opposite one other. Neither did she speak, other than to greet his entrance into the carriage.
Perhaps she brooded, worrying over Glynis. She might be praying for the girl. Was Juliet of a religious disposition? So much he did not know about her. If she continued in this downcast manner, tomorrow he would ride some of the day with her and engage her in conversation to take her mind off the maid. His knight once again summoned to rescue her damsel.
Amiable entered the bustling coaching inn, crowded this time of night with all manner of travelers, and shouldered his way through the boisterous throng in search of the proprietor. He spied the man on the far side of the taproom and led Juliet toward him.
“My sister and I require rooms for the night, sir.” A sudden bone-tired weariness assaulted him. The strain of the journey and the stress of his proximity to Juliet were taking their toll. He glanced at her.
She looked weary as well. She had coped with the same stresses and strains. Her anxiety about Glynis had likely drained her
“Very well, then,” he said, picking up the thread of the conversation. “If you will return to your room and pack your clothes we will leave as soon as possible.”
She smiled at him, a heartwarming curve to her lips. “I must confess, my dear, I have never packed a trunk in my life. It may take me some time to get everything just as it needs to be. Then we must have breakfast. I am simply starved after last night.”
Memories of Juliet across the dinner table in the candlelight, of their interlude on the sofa with her beautiful shoulders and breasts, her soft, sweet lips and wickedly tempting tongue assailed him so suddenly he took a step backward and bumped into the bed. His mouth dried but managed an answer. “I will have breakfast ordered for an hour from now, if that suits you? Afterward perhaps I can assist you with your trunk. I hope to be on the road no later than nine.”
Her wide smile crinkled her eyes. She was planning something. He’d lay a year’s pay on it. Pray God he had the fortitude to withstand her.
* * * *
Torches and lanterns dotted the walls around the inn yard at Coalville as the carriage came to a halt for the final time that day. From the shadows, hostlers appeared to take the exhausted horses into the stables. Amiable jumped down and extended his hand to help his charge descend. The yard sloped somewhat, causing the drop from the step to the ground to be more substantial than usual.
Juliet hesitated, glancing from the carriage step to him.
Amiable shook his head, grasped her about the waist, and pulled her toward him. He bit back a groan as her body pressed against his, then slid full length down him, setting every nerve afire.
Steady. This woman had tried to break his resolution all day. He damn well wouldn’t let her do so now. He took a deep breath and offered his arm. God, but he was surely a doomed man.
They had not left Towcester until the noon bell had rung, making it impossible to reach Coalville before dark. He had advocated stopping earlier, in Coventry where they changed horses and accepted a late luncheon.
Juliet, however, had been adamant about pressing on.
He had ridden a good part of the day, for the weather had been fair. Still, as the light faded into dusky pinks and mellow purples, he reluctantly joined her in the carriage. It would be folly to ride in the gathering darkness. Equal folly, of course, to ride inside with her, but then this whole affair had a stamp of inevitability on it.
He took little comfort from the fact that Roberts and George rode directly above them, though he smiled at the thought of calling on them for help in fending off Juliet. To her credit, she had barely glanced at him the entire time they sat opposite one other. Neither did she speak, other than to greet his entrance into the carriage.
Perhaps she brooded, worrying over Glynis. She might be praying for the girl. Was Juliet of a religious disposition? So much he did not know about her. If she continued in this downcast manner, tomorrow he would ride some of the day with her and engage her in conversation to take her mind off the maid. His knight once again summoned to rescue her damsel.
Amiable entered the bustling coaching inn, crowded this time of night with all manner of travelers, and shouldered his way through the boisterous throng in search of the proprietor. He spied the man on the far side of the taproom and led Juliet toward him.
“My sister and I require rooms for the night, sir.” A sudden bone-tired weariness assaulted him. The strain of the journey and the stress of his proximity to Juliet were taking their toll. He glanced at her.
She looked weary as well. She had coped with the same stresses and strains. Her anxiety about Glynis had likely drained her
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