Page 77 of Sacrificing the Untamed Lady Henrietta
Finally, realizing that sleep was not going to come, he got out of bed and returned to Henrietta’s chambers. She lay on the bed, curled up in the fetal position, her back to him. Judging by the rise and fall of her shoulders, she was in a delicate slumber. He did not want to disturb her, but he felt he had to be by her side. After all, he had sworn to protect her. What if someone came in the night to hurt her?
Walking gingerly over to the bed, he lay down in the vacant space beside her. She stirred in her half-sleep, pressing closer to the warmth of him. Smiling at the sight, he slowly slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her in, his other arm forming a protective arc above her head as she slept on.
“Goodnight, my love,” he whispered, kissing the small of her neck.
“Goodnight, Ewan,” she murmured, nestling ever closer into the protection of his body.
* * *
The following morning, Henrietta awoke in Ewan’s arms. She could vaguely remember him returning to her in the night, so it did not come as a complete surprise. However, she had thought it to be a dream. In waking, she realized it was not.
Slowly, she turned, looking up at his sleeping face. He looked so peaceful and vulnerable, lying there beside her. It made her wonder what their life might be like, once they returned to Nightingale. Would they always sleep side-by-side like this? Would she be able to marvel at his slumbering face each morning? Moreover, did she want to?Yes… yes, I think I do.
He stirred, his eyes blinking slowly awake. “Good morning, wife,” he said sleepily.
“Good morning to you.”
“I hope you do not mind that I came through last night. I worried that someone might try and harm you as you slept, and I did not have the energy to spend another restless night on the chaise.”
She chuckled. “I do not mind, though I confess, I thought you were a dream.”
“Is that why you called me Ewan?” he teased. “Am I Ewan in your dream world?”
“I did not call you that!” she protested.
“Oh, but you did. Nevertheless, if I can hear it but once, whilst you are drifting in and out of sleep, I will be satisfied.”
She flushed with embarrassment. “You ought to return to your room before Gerome finds you abed with me.”
“How scandalous, to discover a husband in bed with his wife. Whatever will the papers say?” He grinned, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear.
“You know what I mean.”
He flipped back the coverlet and got out of bed, moving back through the adjoining doors to his chambers. Henrietta lay still a while longer, remembering the way he had held her close. She had never slept so well in all her life.
Shaking off the memory, she clambered from the covers and dressed quickly, leaving the corset loose to give her ribs chance to recover. She could hear Ewan getting ready in the opposite rooms. Knowing he would meet her downstairs for breakfast, once he realized she was gone, she took off out of the door.
Her parents had taken rooms in the same inn, though they were nowhere to be seen. Henrietta breathed a sigh of relief and stopped by Mr. Chambers on her way to the dining room.
“Good morning, My Lady. I trust you slept well?”
She dropped her shy gaze. “Yes, thank you. I don’t suppose there is any mail for me this morning?”
“Only the one.”
Her heart leapt with excitement.Perhaps, one of my letters managed to get through.
Mr. Chambers handed her the small letter, which she took gladly. Holding it like a precious jewel, she took it into the dining room and sat down. A bright sun shone across the sea, which had stilled to an even calm, like a millpond. She loved wintry days like this, where the sky was crisp and clear, and the sun glanced down with unexpected warmth.
Turning to the letter, she unfolded it and began to read. Her blood ran cold as she took in the words:
My dear Lady,
I warned you about the applications, did I not? Indeed, I took measures to ensure they were not sent, and yet you went against my wishes. It is a mistake to attempt to defy me. It is even more foolish to attempt to discover my activity. I told you, I am watching you. No matter how safe you may believe yourself to be, rallying these men around you, I will be waiting.
Sincerest regards,
A Friend
