03 - The Wicked Lady (20 page)

"Really?" Trevor said. "I would think that was impossible. I do agree, however, the land is lovely. It's good English soil." He twisted in the saddle to look at her. "We'll have to ride more often. I didn't know you could ride."

"I dinna know I could ride, either," Kristen admitted with a nervous laugh.

"Are you serious?" Trevor grinned. "Well, you ride very well for the first time. Maybe you learn
everything
quickly." His grin grew wicked.

Kristen liked it when Trevor teased her. He seemed so much younger and carefree when he was in this kind of mood, one she sensed he wasn't in often. And that was a shame, she thought as she fought the desire to reach out and touch him.

"I would race ye," Kristen challenged, "but I better wait until my second lesson. I remember all tae well how hard that ground felt."

Trevor nodded in agreement. "I think that is a very good idea."

Kristen regarded him with a speculative gaze. "I suppose ye need tae get back tae work." Her voice dropped a notch, and she realized she didn't want him to leave her just yet.

"Well--" His hazel eyes lit up with a golden glow, as if he were toying with his decision. "I don't think it will h
urt to take a little time off. Let's ride to the lake." He turned to look for Hagan. "Hagan, come on and stay with us. We're riding back."

Hagan came galloping up on his pony. "But we haven't been out here that long," he complained.

"We are going to stop by the lake for a few minutes on the way back. I guess I can spare a little time. Will that make you happy?"

Kristen laughed at him. "You don't know what do with yerself when you're not working."

"Of course, I do," he scoffed, then rode off not waiting for her.

T
he lake shimmered a gray-blue. Rocks clung to the edge of the shore and sprigs of lavender bobbed in a gentle breeze. The gray rocks sprinkled with lavender led from the edge almost to the middle. She noticed that the black swans she had seen that first day were on the far side of the lake.

Trevor bent down and picked up a small, flat stone. He threw it across the water, making the stone skim just across the top.

"Splendid. Teach me," Hagan call out.

"You have to find a flat rock," Trevor told him.

"Kristen, you look, too," Hagan instructed.

Kristen walked along the edge of the pond until she found several good throwing rocks.

"How about this one?" Hagan asked.

She looked at Hagan and laughed. He had a rock the size of an egg in his hand."

" 'Tis a wee bit big."

"Yes, it is," Trevor agreed. "It will make a big splash, then sink. However, your sister seems to have found a nice supply for us."

Kristen watched as Trevor patiently showed Hagan how to hold the stone so he could get the greatest distance. She could picture him showing his own children someday. However, she didn't think that she'd be their mother. The agreement hadn't called for wee ones. Besides, Trevor would want children with someone he loved, and that wasn't herself. He would make a good father, she thought regretfully.

Trevor straightened and shoved his hands back into his pockets while he watched Hagan, and Kristen watched
Tevor.

She liked watching the man far too much. He was so handsome that at times i
t simply took her breath away. At the moment, he looked the most relaxed she'd ever seen him. She realized he must keep all his emotions bottled up inside him, and that couldn't be good for him.

"Would you like to toss a couple of stones?" Trevor turned toward her and asked her.

"I dinna know how," she admitted.

"Come over here and I'll show you," Trevor motioned for her to join him on the rocks.

Carefully, Kristen made her way to the end of the protruding rocks. Trevor wrapped his arms around her, taking her throwing arm and positioning the stone between her thumb and forefinger.

To hell with the rock
, Kristen thought as she enjoyed the closeness of her husband. Usually, the only time she was this close to him was at night when they were in bed. This little time felt like a real treat. Reluctantly, she dragged her mind back to the small stone that had brought them together.

"All right now, give it a try." He said and stepped away from her. She reared back and hurled the stone, watching as it barely hit the water at least ten times before sinking.

"I'm impressed," Trevor admitted.

"Beginner's luck," Hagan called from the bank.

Kristen laughed until she turned to walk back and saw a huge snake. Horror seized her. Immediately, she let out a blood curdling scream.

"Stand very still," Trevor warned as he eyed the coiled up snake.

" 'Tis easy for ye to say," Kristen barely choked out.

Trevor pulled a pistol from inside his jacket and, taking careful aim, he fired at the snake just as it slithered toward Kristen.

Kristen screamed, stepped back, and caught her heel on the edge of her skirt, sending her tumbling into the water.

Trevor scrambled over and fished her out of the cold water.  She was half-laughing and half-crying as he enfolded her into his arms.

"It's all right," he murmured. "I took care of the snake. It can't hurt you."

"I wasn't frightened, just surprised."  Kristen clung, trembling, to her pillar of strength.

Trevor clutched Kristen tightly until she quit shaking. Finally, he bent and brushed his lips on her wet hair, and once again assured her, "You're out of danger now, love. I think we need to get back, so you can remove these wet clothes." He plucked at one of her wet sleeves to illustrate his point.

"All right," Kristen said. She bent down and picked up her skirt to wring some of the water out of the material. Then she let Trevor lead her toward the shore. His arm still rested around her waist.

Hagan waited for them. He couldn't, however, hold his giggles back when he saw his half-drowned sister.

"Drat, Kristen. I guess you've had a pretty rotten day. First, the horse throws you,
then you fall into the lake." He shook his head. "I told my friends that somebody had to watch after you."

"Ye didn't do too good a job then."  Kristen frowned at him.  Did the child ever worry about her?  He seemed to always assume she would land on her feet.

Hagan held the bridle of her horse while Trevor helped her mount.

"I think you did a good job for your age," Trevor told Hagan. "Even
I
couldn't keep your sister out of trouble. It just seems to find her." Amusement played clearly on his face.

"If ye two are through discussing me, I'd like tae go tae the house." She gathered the reins and left them both staring at her.

Later that night, Kristen awoke with a sore throat and a stuffy head. She tossed and turned until she finally woke Trevor.

"What's wrong, love?"

"I dinna feel good," she whined.

"Come here." Trevor pulled her body next to his and threw his arm over her. She fitted perfectly with his curves, as if
they were made for each other. Soon, his warmth relaxed her, and she drifted off to sleep . . . miserable, yet contented.

The next morning her head felt three times its normal size, and her eyes ran water every time she
tried to open them. She was just plain suffering.

Trevor insisted that she stay in bed, and she didn't argue since holding her head up seemed to be a real chore. He even brought her some hot tea and toast, then sat with her while she ate. She realized he was trying to take care of her, and she thought that was sweet.

At midmorning, Hagan climbed up on her bed and started to read her children's stories. She was glad for the company, and she was really pleased at how fast and well Hagan had learned to read.

Trevor stuck his head through the open door, "How is our patient?"

Kristen moaned and pulled the covers over her head.

"She's a bit grumpy," Hagan informed him.

"Perhaps, she has a right to feel out of sorts." Trevor moved over to the bed, and pulled the covers back to reveal his patient. "Kristen." She didn't bother to answer. "Come on and just peek at me."

This time she barely opened one eye. "Have you been drinking the warm tea?" h
e asked, trying to be patient. She nodded her head. Her nose had turned a very prominent red, and she looked absolutely miserable, Trevor thought. He wished she felt better, before he had to go, but it didn't look like that would be the case.

Trevor sighed.  "I know you're sick, but I have to leave."

"Leave?" she croaked, cracking open both eyes this time.

"I must go to London. Something unexpected has come up,and Miller is packing my bags as we speak.  I shouldn't be gone long."

"I dinna leave ye when ye were sick," she accused.

"I was shot. Not sick. And you were one of the ones who put a bullet in me, or should I remind you of that?"
He squeezed her hand. "Besides which, I have a whole staff to wait on you hand and foot."

Her bottom lip poked out. She knew she was being childish, but she didn't feel well, and she didn't want Trevor to go. After all, he was warm to snuggle up to, and he was a dear, sweet mon most of the time. And, unfortunately for her, she loved him.  e didn't need to know that yet; it would give him too much power over her. After a few minutes, she said, "Go take care of yer business. I'll just lay here and die." At least he could feel guilty while he was gone.

He chuckled. "I think you'll be fine." He placed a finger under her chin and tilted her head up. "Are you going to give me a hug good bye?" Kristen jerked away.

"I am." Hagan leapt into his arms and wrapped his small arms around Trevor's neck.

"Well, I'm glad someone will." Trevor sat Hagan on his feet and patted his bottom. "Run along and see if Miller has my bags packed."

Trevor turned back to Kristen. "Well . . ."

She frowned while she pushed back the covers and got to her knees on the bed. Trevor hugged her to him. He held her so tightly that she could forget everything, even how bad she felt. He hugged her as if he loved her. Maybe he really didn't want to go. Finally, he leaned back and kissed her forehead.

"I won't be gone long." Trevor started for the door, but looked back at her. "You stay in bed and get well.
And don't go riding alone." For a moment, he thought she looked a little sad that he was leaving, but her next words shot that thought out of his mind.

"Yer a bloody nag."

"You heard what I said." Trevor chuckled, then shut the door.

Chapter Twelve

Trevor told himself for at least the twentieth time that he didn't feel guilty about leaving Kristen. However, his mood didn't change as he tried to find a different position in the carriage, so he could stretch out his legs.

Hadn't he said this was what he wanted? His freedom to come and go? He'd stayed much longer than he'd expected to. So why did he feel so damned guilty?

Besides, his business was urgent. He'd lost two ships in a bloody storm, and he'd have to commission the ship builders to construct replacements. The only problem was that he needed them immediately.

If he shut his eyes, he could picture Kristen curled up in bed. For one brief moment, he thought she'd looked a little sad that he was leaving, and he almost turned around and went back for one more kiss. But when he looked again, the look had left her eyes. So he'd gone.

He was getting soft, he thought as he shut his eyes, took a deep breath, and waited for the sleep he needed to take his mind off the many questions for which he had no answers. His life used to be very uncomplicated before Kristen and, he thought, with a wry grin,
dull
.

It was mid-afternoon the next day when Trevor's carriage stopped in front of the little brown building that held his office. He got out and stretched every aching muscle in his body. Damn, it felt good to be out of the carriage. He inhaled a deep breath of salt-tinged air. Oh, how he loved that smell.

The clerk sat up quickly when Trevor opened the door of the little office. "Hello, Your Grace."

"James, are you ever going to purchase some new spectacles so you don't have to get so close to your work?"

"Someday, when I get the time." James rubbed his glasses with a soft cloth. "Did you hear the bad news?"

"Unfortunately, bad news travels fast."

"I think it's a bit odd myself," James commented as he replaced his spectacles. "Two ships going down at the same time. Not bloody likely. This hasn't been the first time you've had mishaps."

"I've thought the same thing."  Trevor marched past him and headed for his office.

Rodney came out of Trevor's office and leaned casually against the door jamb. "So, I see you've left that pretty wife." He shook his head. "Damn fool, if you ask me."

"Well, nobody asked you." Trevor said as he brushed past Rodney, frowning when his friend chuckled. "Have you found out anything?"