Page 18 of Christmas in the Scot's Arms
Chapter Five
Cecelia could still scarcely believe she was sitting beside Liam, but as Aldridge’s carriage hit a hard bump and Liam shot a hand out to steady her, she knew it was not just another lovely dream. His touch even lingered for a moment before disappearing. Over the past two nights, she had dreamed only of him. And oh, what dreams they had been! But after enduring her mother’s lecture directly after the ball about why Cecelia could not encourage Liam’s attention—and her own surety that Liam would never call on her after the way her mother had treated him—Cecelia had been positive she would never see him again.
In addition, Cooper’s granddaughter, who worked at the Rochburns’ home, had told Elizabeth’s butler that Liam was planning to return to Scotland soon. When Elizabeth had mentioned it, Cecelia had felt such a wave of loss that she had made a hasty excuse to go home, where she spent the rest of the afternoon staring up at the ceiling in her bedchamber, silently bemoaning her fate.
This morning, when there had been a knock at their door and she had heard his voice, she had been certain she was imagining it, but when she glanced down the stairs, he’d been standing there beside his sister and Aldridge. Aila had inquired if Cecelia could join them in ice-skating, and Cecelia had held her breath in fear that her mother would say no. But when Aldridge had commented that he would watch over her, as he and several of his friends were also going—in particular, the Duke of Blackmore—Cecelia had known that Mother would allow her to attend.
Mother had never truly given up hope that Blackmore would one day realize he wished to marry Cecelia. Her mother knew very well that Blackmore had talked her into racing horses in Hyde Park, and that he had convinced her to remove her stockings and shoes to wade in the water of the Serpentine, but apparently Blackmore had now been forgiven by her mother. He was a duke, after all. Mother had been livid when Blackmore had not appeared to offer for Cecelia’s hand when the whispers had started after they had frolicked in the water, but what her mother did not know was that Blackmorehadoffered and Cecelia had declined. She had not felt a special spark for him, but simply thought of him as a good friend. Yet, had she known how much damage those choices would cause, she might have accepted his offer purely to ease her parents’ burden and the worries that came later. But she had not known, and when her father’s gambling problem first came to light and they had ordered her to accept Jonathan’s marriage proposal, Blackmore had long departed London, having defied his father’s wishes, as Aldridge had his father’s, and gone off to fight Napoleon. She had been glad for Blackmore, though, never begrudging or angry.
Cecelia stole a glance at Liam to find him assessing her. Her heart skipped several beats. She liked him very much. He made her feel something she had never experienced in her life—a strange stirring in the pit of her stomach, a rush of heat through her blood, a tightening in her chest, and delicious pinpricks across her skin. She thought perhaps he might find her intriguing, as well. He had said she was surprising, had kissed her hand so tenderly, and had told her he believed in her.
A smile tugged at his lips, and she could not help but return it. Still, she lowered her gaze, almost fearing the intense feelings he caused in her. She stared at his large, strong hands, which looked as if they could protect her from anything, but she knew well that looks were deceiving. Jonathan had looked harmless, yet he had inflicted great harm. And Liam, for all the strength he appeared to possess, would not be able to protect her from the guilt that would likely kill her if she did not secure a good match that allowed her mother to avoid living in poverty.
The unfairness of it all made Cecelia’s stomach ache. She should not have come today! She had known Liam such a short time, yet she already mourned the loss of what might have been. Preposterous! Mayhap today she would find they would not have suited at all and she could rid herself of the sadness.
An hour later, swishing along the ice with the cool air blowing against her face, Cecelia pumped her legs as hard as she could in an effort to beat Liam to their designated finishing spot. When she reached it before him, she threw up her arms in victory while giving a very unladylike shout of joy and doing a twirl to show off her skills. It was the twirl that did her in. Her left skate slid away from her and down she went, straight into Liam’s waiting arms.
His arms encircled her and pulled her, gently and tightly, against his hard chest. As she grasped him to steady herself and her fingers gripped his arms of steel, she turned her face to his to thank him. Green, probing eyes met hers, and her breath caught in her throat. Today would not be the day that she learned he did not suit her. Every moment with him led her to discover more about him that suited her perfectly.
“You seem to always be there to save me,” she murmured, feeling drugged by his masculinity and nearness.
“I’m glad of it. What man would not wish to save such a lovely lass as yerself?” he replied in a deep tone that made heat pool in her belly. He reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Ye look bonny with yer cheeks all red and yer lips so rosy.”
She could feel his eyes raking over her mouth, and she was filled with a desire to know how he would kiss. Would it be perfect like the kiss she had always dreamed of receiving that would steal her breath and her senses, and send her heartbeat soaring? In that instant, she realized they were quite hidden from the view of the other skaters, and he could easily steal a kiss if he wanted to do so. His eyes took on a predatory gleam, and she knew he realized it, too.
An ache of longing coursed through her, so strong that it shocked and frightened her. She could not let him kiss her. She feared that if she did, her resolve to do what was needed would be permanently lost.
She pushed out of his arms, his eyes widening in surprise. “I’m very thirsty. And cold,” she added, though she was blazing hot from her wanting of his lips on hers.
“I can take care of both those things,” he said, and she was awfully glad he was not going to pursue stealing a kiss, nor question her abrupt shoving out of his arms.
He held his hand out to her, and she looked at it, debating with herself. She wanted very much to take his hand, but it was probably best not to indulge in such an intimacy when she knew perfectly well she could not allow it to go further. Yet, heaven help her, she reached out and grasped his hand anyway.
“Just for steadiness’s sake,” she said, praying he would not refute her excuse.
“Of course,” he replied smoothly, though she vowed a look of triumph had flared in the depths of his eyes.
They skated hand in hand to the side of the bank, and then Liam encircled her waist with his arms. She gave him a questioning look, to which he replied, “Only to steady ye. I’d not wish to see ye fall and hurt yerself.”
“Oh yes!” she agreed enthusiastically, then winced at just how keen she had sounded about having his hands upon her.
Once they were both off the ice, Liam led them to their shoes, his hands releasing her waist. One hand remained lightly on the small of her back to guide her. She had never felt so possessed in her life, nor more aware of how dangerous this man was to her. He was not a danger physically, of course. She knew instinctually that he would not lay a finger on her without her express consent. Too much honor radiated from him. No, her heart was in danger of being stolen by him, or perhaps simplylostto him. It would most definitely be broken if she was foolish enough to lose it to him.
I must not be foolish.
She repeated the mantra as she took off her skates, put on her shoes, and followed him to the carriage where they had left a basket of food and hot chocolate.
“Should we wait on Aila and Lord Aldridge before we indulge in a bit of the fare Lord Aldridge’s cook sent with us?” she asked.
Liam glanced toward the ice and shook his head. “I think they will likely be awhile.”
Cecelia followed the direction of his stare and frowned. Aila and Aldridge were skating facing each other. Aldridge had hold of Aila’s hands, and it was quite evident that he did not know how to ice-skate. Yet, his deep male laughter and Aila’s sweet feminine laughter still filled the air. Despite not knowing what he was doing, Aldridge seemed to be having a grand time just being with Aila. Cecelia started to smile, but then frowned in confusion as she recalled that Aldridge had told her mother that going ice-skating today had been his idea.
“Do you think Lord Aldridge wished to come skating today to learn how?” Cecelia asked Liam.
“Nay,” he answered with such surety that Cecelia slowly turned her gaze back to him, curious how he could be so certain.
“Then why did he wish to skate if he does not know how?” she persisted when Liam was not forthcoming with more information.
