Page 15 of Rakes & Reticules
“I will speak with him immediately. Though not until after this storm passes. It doesn’t appear to be letting up. We might be trapped in this cabin overnight.”
Athena pressed her lips to his then settled back into his arms. “I’m all right with that. There are far worse things than sleeping in your arms. It truly is one of life’s greatest pleasures. At least in my opinion…”
“Mine as well,” he agreed. “Rest, love. I’ll keep you safe.” He closed his eyes and fell asleep with her in his arms. Life was good. Nothing could go wrong as long as he had Athena.
CHAPTEREIGHT
Achill slid up Athena’s spine, and she groaned. The warm blanket that had kept her cozy had suddenly disappeared. She flicked her eyelids open and frowned. Where was she? She stretched and then groaned again, this time in pain. It was then she remembered everything. Including the fall from Hades and the reason her hip bit with a harsh ache that hadn’t improved overnight.
“You have a fine bruise on your hip,” Roman said. “We should have taken that into consideration. I’m an arse for taking advantage of you when you are injured.”
She stared up at him. “I’m perfectly fine,” Athena told him. “It’s a minor injury, and you did nothing I didn’t want you to do. So stop feeling guilty.” She sat up. “How long have you been awake?”
“Not long,” he said. “I went to check on the horses. The sun should be up soon, and it would be prudent to ride back as soon as it does.”
She smiled. Roman had dressed, but she still sat there without a stitch on, and for some reason that didn’t bother her at all. If she wanted to, she was certain she could charm him out of his clothes. Especially since his gaze kept trailing over her bare flesh and he paid particular attention to her chest. He liked her breasts, and she wasn’t above using that to her advantage. “Are you certain I should put my clothes back on?” Athena trailed her fingers over the side of one of her breasts.
He swallowed hard. “As much as I’d like to keep you just as you are,” Roman began. “I’m afraid you’ll get cold soon enough. The fire in the hearth has died down and I don’t wish to start another when we need to leave shortly.”
Athena sighed. “I do admit that a chill roused me from sleep. I suppose I should dress.” She stood up and stretched. Her hip ached, but stretching helped ease it a bit. She reached for her chemise and pulled it over her head and then retrieved the rest of her clothes and dressed quickly.
Roman sighed. “You shouldn’t be able to wear men’s breeches, love. You’re a temptation in a gown, but your derriere is pure decadence in a gentleman’s trousers.”
“You will not convince me that it is in my best interest not to don them while I ride. I’ve had this argument with my father, and I will not have it with you.” Athena glared at him. “I don’t wear them outside of our property. I’ll never wear them riding in Hyde Park.” She rolled her eyes. “I do understand some decorum is necessary. But when I ride Hades, I like the freedom breeches allow.”
“I had no intention of ordering you out of them.” Roman’s gaze trailed over her body. “At least not in the way you’re suggesting.”
She laughed. “Darling, you just had a sound argument as to why I needed to put my clothes back on. Do not tell me that you now have reconsidered.” Athena adored this man…
“I much prefer you in a state of undress,” he agreed. “But we do not have time to frolic any longer. The sun is rising, and I need to see you home.” Roman tilted his head to the side. “Is your father in residence?”
Her father had sent her home with servants. He wouldn’t be there waiting for them. For that, she was grateful, since she had spent the entire night in the cabin. Though her maid and the rest of the servants might wonder what had happened to her. She met Roman’s gaze. “He’s in London.”
“Then I’ll have to return there to ask for your hand.” He kissed her cheek. “Will you miss me?”
“Always,” she said. Then she frowned. “How did you know where to find me? I mean yesterday afternoon. I hadn’t stopped at the pond as I usually do.”
Roman smiled. “I went to call on you first, but the butler informed me that you had gone for a ride. I headed toward the pond to search for you. You were a good distance ahead of me, but I saw you galloping in the distance, and you had flown right by the pond. I did my best to follow you in the hope I would eventually catch up to you.”
“That explains it.” She hadn’t thought to ask him that the day before. Another thought occurred to her. “You spoke with my sisters. What did they tell you?”
“Not much,” he said. Roman paused for a moment before continuing. “What happened to send you running? They inferred that the ton was not welcoming, and you decided to end your season early.”
How much should she tell him? Would it scare him away? She should be honest with him. If they had any chance of having a good relationship, she needed to tell him the entire story. She had almost finished reading her mother’s journal. “I need to show you something. Give me a minute.” Athena went out to Hades and retrieved the journal from her saddlebag. Fortunately, the rain hadn’t ruined it and the leather of the saddlebag had protected it from becoming waterlogged. Athena rushed back in and flipped through it. “Here, read this page.”
Today I learned that my family’s past will follow me wherever I go. It doesn’t matter that there is no truth in the rumors or that my ancestor had been exonerated. The very fact that he had been arrested for witchcraft all those years ago still haunts the Alden family. I am an Alden first, and everyone knows that. My fear is that it will follow my daughters and their daughters. If I could save them from that possibility, I would. Isla is merely two, and soon I’ll give birth to twins.
There is something I have never told my husband. He would love me regardless, at least I believe he would… Nevertheless, I cannot risk seeing fear in his eyes. It would devastate me. I’ve seen my own death and when my twins are born, I’ll never see them grow. This may be the last passage I write in here. I pray it is not. One day, they will find men to love them. I’ve seen that too. Fear of the future will delay the first, and temptation will be too much for one twin, and heartbreak will be another’s undoing. In the end, if they choose the right path, it will lead to a happy future, and even if our family’s supposed magical abilities haunt them, that love will be enough to guide them.
My daughters, if you’re reading this, have faith. Believe in love, and beyond all, be true to yourselves. I love you more than anything. I have no regrets. You were my greatest gift and if I could be with you now, I would be.
Sybil, Countess of Harwood.
Roman glanced at her. “You’re not a witch.”
Athena stared at him. “Of course not, and neither was my mother. Though this suggests she had other special gifts. That might let others believe that she did have some magical capabilities.”
“Do you think she actually saw the future?” he asked. “Is this why you ran?”
