Page 24 of Lady Tamsyn and the Pixie's Curse
Chapter5
“My mother looks . . . fluttery,”Tamsyn whispered. “It would likely be better if I speak to heralone.”
They’d sneaked into the castle via the stone terrace and now stood in the darkened passage, watching Lady Banfield pace in her parlor, stop to harangue one of the younger Hambly girls, then paceagain.
Gryff was more than happy to avoid the obviously distressed countess, but he grabbed Tamsyn’s wrist as she prepared to go. “I’ll wait for you on the terrace. Come and find me before you speak to your father. I might be abletohelp.”
He took the opportunity to press a quick kiss to her wrist and sent her off with a becomingflush.
He sat on the terrace, prepared for a wait and happy to see the clouds clearing at last, but Tamsyn returned after only a fewminutes.
“Father has retired already. Marjorie and Jane as well. There was a terrible ruckus with one of the servants—he struck Marjorie and tried tokillJane!”
“What?”
She shivered and he pulled her intohisarms.
“How could that happen? And yet, it sounds almost normal compared to everything we sawtoday.”
“Where isRowancourt?”
“Playing billiards with some of the other gentlemen.” She burrowed closer. “It all feels so wrong . . . like the whole world has gone mad since we first setfoothere.”
She felt so small against him. Turmoil colored her tone. His arms tightened, responding automatically to his need to keep her safe and certain. Her headtiltedback—
And a blood-curdling scream rang in the air, sounding like it echoed from the heavensabove.
She jumped, her eyes showing wild in the moonlight. “Oh, thisplace!”
She stilled then and stood a moment, her head held high like she was scenting the wind. Reaching out, she grabbed his hand. “Let’s go. I need to get awayfromhere.”
“But yourmother?”
“Thinks I’ve gone up to bed. She’ll never know—and there is someplace I’d liketosee.”
She led him then, not into the gardens, but to the other side of the castle, toward the sea. A longish walk, then a short, steep climb found them at the top of the cliffs, with the broad expanse of the sky and sea before them and the wind raking steady fingers throughtheirhair.
“One of the maids told me about this place, said it was her favorite spot. I had to see it—and I wanted to see itwithyou.”
He was glad, but he dropped her hand and let her take the last few steps without him. The sea wind caught her cloak and billowed it out behind her. Her shoulders were back and her slim form was framed against the star swept sky. As he watched she breathed deeply, sucking in the clean air like it would chase all of hertroublesaway.
“God, I’ve been a fool.” He said the truth into the wind, let the moon and the pounding waves bear witness. “Look at all that you’ve done today,” he told her. “How could I have said such witless things to you . . . damnation, was it just yesterday?” He shook his head, disgusted with himself. “You are a tower of strength hidden inside a tiny frame, and I was an idiot not toseeit.”
She smiled at him. “No. I didn’t know I could do so much until you challenged me.” Her words held an air of confession. “And I only attempted any of it because I knew you’d be there to see—and toprotectme.”
“Only you,” he said, stepping close and bracketing her face with his hands. “Since that moment eight years ago, when I first glimpsed you brightening up that dreary hall, I’ve only thought of you.” His gaze burned into hers. “Look, look between us, above us. There is no image to tell you that I’m lying. It’s God’s honest truth, Tamsyn. For me, there isonlyyou.”
“I don’t need to look,” she whispered. “You’ve never lied to me, and I don’t need the pixie’s gift to tell me so.” She closed her eyes briefly, then smiled up at him. “And it’s been the same with me, Gryff. Since that day, for me too. You are the one who looks, who pays attention—and sees the truth inme. Even when I despised you, I cared, and now . . . now I know how wonderful it is to have you by my side . . . and I want you therealways.”
He couldn’t speak, his own heart was so full. So he kissed her pert nose and a freckle on each cheek—and then his restraint was gone and his lips, then his hands were on her. He tucked her cloak over her shoulders and molded her breasts, right through her frock. He couldn’t stop. His palms slid over her, moving down to ease over her hips and slide down her thighs. He was learning her, claiming her as is his in the most primitivefashion.
She didn’t seemtomind.
He tugged her away from the cliff’s edge, then took off his own cloak and spread it out in a clever little dip in the hillside. Tenderly, he laid her down and settled to the business ofkissingher.
He took his time about it. They had several years to make up for, didn’t they? He breathed in lilac and brushed her mouth with his time and again. Eventually, he deepened the kiss. Diving into her mouth with each sweep of his tongue he tumbled them both down and down into sweetpleasure.
“Nuances,” he murmured against her. “Every one isdelicious.”
