Page 22 of The Banished Bride
“You wish to bathe?” Alex came up behind her. “Then go ahead. I promise I shall be as steadfast as you were about not peeking. I warn you though, it’s cold as a witch’s ti—er, that is, it’s quite icy, but there is a shallow pool just a little farther on. Here—” He peeled off his shirt. “You may use this to dry yourself. And if you leave your things on the bank, I’ll give them a good scrubbing and hang them up to dry.”
A look of utter disbelief spread across her face.
His eyes twinkled. “Army life teaches one a great deal of useful skills.”
“More useful than those most men possess,” she replied, but there was little sting to the words. After another look of longing at the water, she turned back to him. “You promise you will not look?”
“Word of honor.” Alex draped his shirt over her shoulder. “Hurry along, while the sun is still warm. I’ll go back to the cottage as soon as I am done, so you may come out whenever you wish.”
Flashing him a grateful smile, Aurora hurried to toward the spot he had indicated.
After a few moments, he fetched her garments and after giving them a good washing hung them up in the bush. Then he forced his steps to continue away from the splash and gurgle of the river. His word was his word, he thought with wry resignation, and however strong the current of his desire, he had to abide by his pledge.
But that didn’t mean he couldn’t try to imagine what usually lay beneath the folds of faded muslin. The graceful sway of her hips hinted at just the sort of rounded curves he longed to run his hands over and the swell of the breasts looked firm and ripe,their rosy buds ready to be taken between his teeth and teased to arousal.
Such thoughts brought back the memory of how those expressive lips of hers had felt pressed against his. Beneath the scowls and grimaces, they were tantalizingly soft and pliable. Lord, she was not nearly as cold or indifferent as she wished people to think. There was molten fire under the steel, he was sure. He had felt it in her initial response. Just as he had also felt her inexperience, her fear at in intimacy.
His brows drew together in consternation. What sort of a plaguey fool was her husband, to ignore her charms?
That was not his concern, Alex reminded himself none too gently as he threw the rough door of the cottage open and stepped into the gloom. Yet he found it hard to banish from his mind the fleeting look of need in the young lady’s eyes, made more poignant by the fact that she tried so very hard to keep it hidden.
At that very moment, had the cursed fellow been present, there might have been hell to pay.
“Has your shoulder taken a turn for the worse?” Jack looked up from sorting through the bag of supplies laid out on the table. Another roll of bedding lay on the floor, as did two battered iron pots and a small pile of kindling.
Alex growled something unintelligible, then took a seat on one of the crates. “Did you learn anything of interest?”
“I—” He paused and darted a look around the darkened interior. “Er, perhaps we should wait for Aurora to be present too, seeing as she seems to have some interesting ideas on the subject.” There was an awkward cough. “I’ll go fill the water jug for her while we wait?—”
“You will not!” At the look of surprise that sprang to the other man’s face, Alex made a grudging explanation. “She is taking a bath.”
The puzzled grimace tweaked into a rakish smile. “Lord, I am tempted to forget I am a gentleman and revert to the antics of a randy schoolboy, spying on the local village lasses.”
“I gave her my word she would not be disturbed.” The note of command in Alex’s voice was unmistakable.
Jack fixed him with a speculative gaze. “I thought you said you had not engaged in any intimacies with?—”
“I did! I mean, I didn’t!”
The other man’s eyes took on a certain glitter. “She is quite a lovely young lady, and one free to indulge in a dalliance. If you have no claim, then I am tempted to see if she might be willing?—”
“No!” Alex shifted uncomfortably on the wooden slats. “The devil take it, man,” he growled. “What I mean is, since I dragged her into this affair, she is under my … protection until I can see her safely returned to her home. It’s a matter of honor. I take it my meaning is clear?”
Even as he spoke, Alex couldn’t help but wonder what had prompted such an outburst. It was hardly his right to object if Jack wished to attempt a seduction. Why, just a short time ago, he, too, had been thinking improper thoughts with regard to the young lady’s person. But somehow, the idea of another man’s eyes—or hands—roaming over that lovely body caused a clenching of his fists, and not simply because he wished to keep such pleasures reserved for himself. Confused by his own conflicting emotions, he muttered a sharp oath. “Come now, it’s time we started thinking with our brains rather than our loins. Tell me what have you discovered. You can repeat it when Aurora returns.”
The other man’s brow furrowed slightly, but he made no reply other than to unfold a piece of paper and push it across the table. Alex took it up and skimmed over the scribbled notes.“So,” he said after a few moments. “Three possible suspects have passed through Kilmarnock.”
Jack nodded.
“Hmmm. We had better study what other route a traveler might take when coming from the south."
Soon the only sinuous curves that held thrall on their attention were the fine lines and squiggles on the rough map Jack had retrieved from his rucksack. So busy were they studying the roads and terrain leading to the coast that neither heard the faint rasp of the iron hinges as the door pushed open.
Aurora stood at the threshold, the light filtering through the still damp hair that cascaded down over one shoulder. Highlights of red and gold tangled around her fingers as they combed through the silky strands. “Do you wish for me to wait outside while you finish with your plottings?”
“You are—” Jack was already on his feet, but his words seemed to lag behind. Swallowing hard, he looked from her to Alex.
The earl stared at the play of sun and shadows upon her features, suddenly very aware of every subtle detail—the tilt of her chin, the plane of her cheekbones, the fullness of her mouth and the vibrancy of her eyes. A faint prickling sensation stirred over his bare skin and he looked away. “You are, of course, welcome to listen,” he finished gruffly, turning his attention back to the map. “The sooner we solve this, the better.”
