Page 54 of Wynter's Bite

She shook her head. “They always go to Bath this time of year. I remember because Mother wants to go in the Spring, but Father refuses her because he doesn’t want to encounter Lord Halfax.”

“Splendid.” He extended his arm and led her down the drive.

“What are you doing?” she whispered as Justus knocked on the front door.

“You’ll see.” Justus’s grin broadened as a tired-looking butler answered. “I apologize for my late arrival, but Lord Halfax said I would be welcome any time.”

“His Lordship is away,” the Butler droned.

“Yes, I know.” Justus infused an aristocratic clip in his voice. “I spoke with him while my Lady wife was taking the waters. We’re on our way to visit her family in Wales, you see, and my good man Halfax said if we passed this way, we could stay the night.”

The butler’s eyes narrowed. “And who might you be?”

“Viscount de Wynter.” He gave the slightest of bows, which Bethany echoed with a curtsy. Her knees seemed to creak as if unaccustomed to bending like that. She watched as Justus leaned forward and captured the butler’s gaze. “But you will not remember that. Now awaken your head housemaid and cook. My wife requires supper, and we both need hot baths and a room.”

Bethany watched, jaw agape as the butler bowed and did exactly as told. Moments later, they were led to a sumptuous guest chamber and given hot baths before a sumptuous meal was served in the dining room. Justus also wore a fresh set of clothes, a snowy linen shirt and a bottle green tailcoat with matching trousers. He’d disdained a neckcloth and she couldn’t stop peeking at the glimpse of his bare chest.

“I cannot believe you’ve done this.” Bethany whispered as she wiped the crumbs of cobbler from her lips. “Tricked our way into a nobleman’s home. Was it wise to give him your true name?”

“The Lord of Rochester apparently did not announce my exile to the Elders or the other Lords, so my identity is safe for the most part. Besides, my Lady deserves better than another night out in the rain,” Justus said, sipping his wine.

“I wish you wouldn’t refer to me as such,” Bethany replied a little more curtly than she meant. She softened as Justus looked at her sharply. “I did not mean to take such a churlish tone. It’s just that in my perspective, Ladies are delicate creatures, shielded from the realities of our world. After all I’ve endured, I’m certainly no longer sheltered and naive. And I’d like to think I’m not completely helpless, that I can contribute to our endeavors.”

Justus stared at her with something akin to shock. “I never meant the word to imply that you’re to be hidden from the world. I am so sorry if I’d given you such an impression.” The sincerity in his voice warmed her all over. “When I refer to you as my Lady, I mean that I see you as the woman I value most in the world, my counterpart, my companion in literary exploration. I may never be able to truly live as Lord de Wynter again, but you will always be my first choice as Lady de Wynter, for I’ve never met a woman with more strength and wit than you.”

“Oh,” Bethany said quietly, overwhelmed by his passion. “That is a much better interpretation, and I apologize for assuming you meant something different. However, I do wish you would stop perceiving me as helpless. I am indeed grateful for all you’ve done for me, but I would much rather you allow me to help you. Teach me how to build a fire, to catch a fish so I may feed myself. Allow me to mend your clothes. Let me feed you when you are hungry.” Maybe if she had something useful to do, her increasing sense of unrest and nightmares about Morningside would abate.

His eyes glowed with said hunger. “Bethany,” he said hoarsely, “We’ve discussed this.”

“I am no longer weakened from my captivity, Justus.” She fixed him with a hard stare. “You’ve kept me well fed. But you are weakened if you go too long without blood. You should allow me to donate mine, so we may be stronger together.”

His blazing eyes searched hers so thoroughly that she shivered. “I will think about it, though there is food aplenty for me here. Tonight, I hunger for something else.”

“What?” She licked her lips, hoping it was the same thing she craved.

“To see the library.” A gleeful smile curved his lips.

Only a flicker of disappointment glinted in her mind before elation chased it away. “Heavens! I didn’t think of that. Of course a house such as this would have a library!” And reading would settle her jangled nerves. Pushing her chair back, she rose in tandem with him, her desire for kisses momentarily quenched by longing for books.

Like children on Christmas, they approached the library with giddy eagerness. The Halfaxes’ collection surpassed their most fervent imaginings, with floor to ceiling shelves lining a cavernous room. Three fireplaces were arranged in the chamber to provide optimal warmth in the winter. Justus lit the gas lamps to further illuminate the gleaming shelves, embossed book spines, and sumptuous furnishings.

“Oh, Justus,” Bethany breathed. “Look at all of those books.” Tears pricked the corners of her eyes at the beautiful sight.

“We have all evening to read,” he said, squeezing her hand. “Furthermore, I wager that if we borrow a few, they won’t be missed. The Lord and Lady of the house will be too busy searching for missing gold and jewels when they hear of their unexpected visitors.”

Bethany tried to feel guilty about what amounted to theft, but the lure of stories and verses she’d long been denied made her welcome the idea. “Besides,” she added. “We can always send them back once we are settled.”

That assuaged the last vestiges of remorse as they explored the library, reveling in the smell of the books nearly as much as their contents. A joyous cry escaped her lips when she found a work of Chaucer’s that she’d never read before.

Together, they curled up on the largest chaise she’d ever seen and read aloud to each other, pausing once in awhile to discuss the meaning of a particular passage.

Bethany rested her head on Justus’s chest, more content than she may have ever been in her life. A slight, balmy breeze blew in from the window he’d opened, bringing forth the scent of the warm spring night. His heartbeat pulsed against her ear and delicious heat spiraled in her belly at the feel of their bodies pressed together.

She lifted her chin to gaze at him, enraptured by the strong line of his jaw, his brilliant eyes, and sculpted lips. “Justus?” she whispered. “I know it is not ladylike for me to ask, but I very much would like for you to kiss me again.”

Those sensuous lips of his curved in a smile that made her belly flutter. “See, you are my counterpart, for I was just going to do just that.”

He lowered his head, those silken red locks of his hair caressed her face before his lips came down on hers, fervent and sweet. When his tongue slipped inside her mouth to slide over hers, Bethany gasped at the new sensation. Her hands tangled in his hair as her body curled to meet more of his.

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