Page 42 of A Night of Forever
She did not reply but turned to finish her map. She tried to remember the exact distance before Durham that the road to the mine started. Finally, satisfied, she handed him the map.
“I shall send word to each of their lordships’ London houses,” the lieutenant said, “and to their country estates. That way at least one of them should learn our destination.”
It was not enough. “How long will it take us to get to Durham? If Dufort gets there first…”
“Please, my lady.” The lieutenant patted her shoulder. “Don’t upset yourself. I’ll send word and a copy of the map to our barracks in Yorkshire. My men will be waiting for Dufort by the time he gets there. He is traveling on horseback. We use carrier pigeons. The men should have rescued Lord Labourd before Dufort even reaches York.”
“Very well.” Isobel tried to stop the worry gnawing on her empty stomach. “I must get up.”
The lieutenant gave her a little bow. “I’ll send Mary to help you dress while I organize the carriage for the trip north. You will have a hearty meal, I will replace the dressing on your cheek, and we will leave for Durham after lunch.”
She reached for his hand. “Thank you.”
He really was a very nice man. His intelligent eyes were full of warmth, and his smile turned his usually stoic features rather handsome. He was not much taller than she, but his shoulders were broad and he was obviously in fine physical condition.
Why could she not fall in love with a man as kind and compassionate as Lieutenant Colbert?
Instead, her wretched, traitorous heart thumped excitedly for only one man.Stupidity, thy name is woman.Arend didn’t value her as anything other than a means to defeat his enemy.
Lieutenant Colbert placed his free hand over hers and cleared his throat. “It’s my pleasure. I’m so very glad I was there to aid you in your moment of need.” With that, he bowed over their joined hands and left.
It was only a few moments before Mary arrived.
“Lieutenant Colbert has asked me to accompany you on your journey, my lady,” the woman said. “Let’s get you bathed and dressed. The cook is busy making you something to eat before you leave.”
Isobel could not recall when she’d last eaten. “I admit I am famished.”
When Mary produced her garments, all cleaned, mended, and pressed, Isobel could have kissed her. Then, for the first time in two days, she slid under warm water and let it ease her muscles and aches. She forgot everything but the pleasure of its silky glide against her skin.
She allowed the washcloth to drift over her breasts. For a brief moment longing engulfed her and held her in its spell as she recalled the tender pressure of Arend’s lips against her skin, and the pleasure he had coaxed so easily from her. Her nipples hardened and her body tightened with one very special memory.
She prayed that when this business was over, she could erase his sensuous assault from her mind. It would be torture to marry another when her body wanted only him.
—
Once Isobel and Mary were seated in the carriage, Isobel could no longer control her tension and worry for Arend.
Outside the carriage window the lieutenant and several of his men rode easily beside the equipage. The sight should have reassured her. It didn’t. Her stomach knotted and roiled, and her cheek throbbed with every heartbeat.
It would take a few days for them to reach Durham, and Isobel had never had much patience.
When they stopped for the night at a suitable coaching inn, the lieutenant ordered a private dining room for them.
After she had freshened up, Isobel joined him. He held out her chair, and when she had taken her seat he ordered the meal to be served, together with a bottle of champagne. Once they were alone again, he poured the champagne and raised his glass.
“I have received word from Lord Markham,” he said. “They are only a day behind us. Apparently they have been awaiting instructions from Lord Fullerton, who is traveling with your stepmother. They did rescue Sealey and capture her but she is leading them all on a merry trail. They think she has Lord Labourd. She has demanded an exchange, Arend for her, yet she won’t tell them where the exchange is to take place. They are very pleased to learn the location from you.”
Isobel stared into her untouched champagne. “If we reach Arend first, she’ll have nothing to bargain with.”Please let Lieutenant Colbert’s men get to Arend first.
“I also learned why you are so determined to rescue Lord Labourd. I believe congratulations are in order.” He tilted his head and lifted one brow. “Is he not your fiancé?”
Furious heat flowed up her face as she realized he must have seen her momentary confusion. She’d never been so mortified, but she refused to lie to a man who’d been nothing but kind and compassionate to her. “Yes. And no.”
His eyes widened. “Perhaps you will explain.”
She shrugged. “The betrothal is a ruse. For some reason my stepmother was anxious for us to become engaged. I discovered it was because she and Dufort planned to frame Arend for my murder. She wanted to see him hang.”
The lieutenant studied her as she spoke, and by the time she stopped, his brow was furrowed and thunderous. “This concerns me greatly. You, rather than Arend, could still be their target. Dufort might be coming for you.”
