The Earl's Desire (19 page)

“
What the hell?” He loosened his grip on her neck. She took the chance to push him away and flew off the bed. He realized what had happened and frowned at her, telling her with his expression that one day she’d find out what he really wanted to do to her.

“
I’ll get the door,” she said and rushed off. Merrick pushed himself up.

Christine opened the door only to see no one there. She stepped out and saw Lord Queensbury knocking on Merrick’s door. She turned to look at Merrick and said, “’Tis Lord Queensbury. He is at your door.”

“
Well, hello, Chris,” Lord Queensbury said to Christine.

“
Good afternoon to you, my lord,” Christine replied.

“
Lord Queensbury,” Merrick said from behind her.

“
Huntingdon.” The earl turned to look at Merrick.

Merrick walked toward his own room, opened the door, and ushered the earl in.

“
I was hoping we could talk about our business,” Lord Queensbury said, looking at Christine as she walked back into her room.

“
You too, Chris, in my room,” Merrick said. Christine bit her lip and followed him in his room.

Merrick and the earl took the settee near the empty hearth, and Christine went to stand by the window.

“
Now about our business, Huntingdon, have you got any information from your men yet?” the older man asked.

“
My men found a family similar to the one you’ve described. But further research showed they are not the one you are looking for. Their history is not the same, unfortunately. But I assure you that my men
are
looking.”

“
I do hope they’ll find something soon,” the earl commented. “It has been so long. I’ve been contacting so many people to see if they could find out something, but until now, nothing.”

“
I’m sure my men will come up with some kind of news soon.” Merrick came and put his hands on the man’s shoulder. “Don’t give up.”

Lord Queensbury nodded. “You’re right.” He got up and tugged down his coat. “Well, I’d better go. Don’t want to bother you any longer.” He turned to look at Christine. He frowned and then shook his head. “See you at dinner,” he said to Merrick and then left.

“
Are you better now?” Christine asked. “Your headache, I mean.”

“
I’m much better now. Would you prepare my bath?” He walked past her into his bedroom, half smiling to himself.

“
But I thought—”

“
Paris is still away,” he said over his shoulder.

Christine scowled.

Half an hour later, everything was in readiness for his bath, and Christine sighed with satisfaction. “May I go now, Merrick?” she asked, smiling up at him.

“
Nay!”

“
What?
” she asked. “I thought you didn’t want me to attend you anymore?” she cried in dismay.

“
Nay, Chris, I need you to attend me,” he said.

“
Merrick?” Christine began and swallowed, her heartbeat sounding loud in her ears.

“
Now come here, Chris, I need you to clean my back. Well, come on, I haven’t got all day. Dinner is in half an hour, and you need to change, too.”

She stood there, not knowing whether to obey his command or run away.

“
Chris,” he called softly.

She nodded her head and slowly moved toward him. He was sitting in the bath, naked, and he was watching her walking at a snail’s pace toward him. He had both his arms on top of the bathtub; he relaxed back as though he didn’t care how slowly she walked to him for she’d reach him in the end. Christine trembled at the way he was staring at her again.

“
Merrick?” She halted near the bath.

He looked up at her pretty face. “You don’t want to attend me, Chris?”

“
Oh, nay, not that.” She shook her head.

“
What is it then?” He raised his brows. She shook her head again. “Then mayhap we can get on with it?”

Christine picked up the cloth and dipped it into the soapy water near his feet. She tried. Honest to God, she did really try not to look at his private parts. It was entirely his fault that he was seated in such a way as to expose them to her. She squeezed her eyes shut and roughly squashed the water out of the cloth. Merrick laughed aloud.

What did he find so funny? She angrily slapped the cloth onto his skin with a thump.

“
A-ouch!” He caught her wrist. “Be careful, Chris. You don’t want to hurt me, do you?” he said.

“
Oh nay, I’m sorry,” she apologized, shaking her head.

He released her wrist.

She scrubbed his back until his skin was red and squeaky, then she moved to the next spot. His body was hard, his muscles firm, and there was not an ounce of fat anywhere. She concentrated so completely on her work that she wasn’t aware Merrick had become very quiet. In fact, he was aroused because she was touching him so intimately.

Christine rubbed so hard against his back that the cloth slipped from her hand and sank into the water. Her hands touched his bare skin, and because his skin was wet, her hands slipped, and her body fell forward, colliding with him. Her breasts smashed onto his back.

He felt the softness of her breasts, which caused a ripple of sensation thundering through his body. God, was he doing this to torture her or himself?

Christine straightened herself up and dipped her hands into the water to find the cloth.

“
I’m so sorry, Merrick,” she said as she caught hold of the cloth and brought it back up. “Here we are. Would you like me to clean your front?” she asked as she squeezed the water from the cloth dry.

“
Nay, Chris. In fact you may go now,” he said gruffly. He wouldn’t let her stay any longer. She would make him want to bed her right there and then.

“
Are you sure you want me to go now?” She rushed to face him.

“
Aye, Chris, I’m sure I don’t need you here.” He leaned forward so that she wouldn’t see his erection.

“
Thank you,” she said, smiling. She got up and rushed out of the door quickly before he could change his mind and make her stay.

* * *

After dinner Christine found it intolerable to stay in the drawing room with the other guests. They all, especially Lady Queensbury and Lady Anne, looked at her as though she was an odd species that they had never seen before. Lady Anne had been glaring at her all evening, and she had made sure that at every opportunity possible none of the other guests would talk to her. She also made sure that Merrick stayed by her side at all times. Christine found that this suited her just fine because she didn’t want to talk to any of them anyway. Lord Queensbury, on the other hand, was very polite and nice to her. He would sit beside her in the drawing room and converse with her.

When she found that she couldn’t handle the glare from Lady Queensbury any longer, she excused herself and escaped into the garden. As she strolled out farther, she thought she heard a noise. It softly drifted from afar. She strained her ears to catch it. It was coming from the bushes somewhere. As she slowly advanced toward the noise, the sound vibrated louder.

“
Hello, anybody here?” she whispered into the darkness, her voice shaking into the silent night. She frowned and halted. The stars glittered brightly, and the full moon illuminated her slight figure in the night. She peered into the blackness. She saw that the bushes were deserted, and there was no sign of disturbance anywhere. She took a deep breath and turned to go when there was that noise again.

She turned sharply and stared at her surroundings. Her heart was hammering in her chest. The sound came again.

“
Ho, God…”

Christine couldn’t catch the words. They were mumbled and incoherent. Slowly, she moved toward the bushes. The moonlight helped her see her way along the rough pathway. She followed the sound of that muffled voice, and it seemed to be getting louder. She was sure she was near now. She halted, and slowly, with hands that trembled, she pushed away the last shrub.

Her eyes widened with shock. It was the most outrageous scene she had ever encountered. For there she saw the form of a slightly built man with light blond hair that turned a pale white in the harsh moonlight. He was well dressed, and he was on top of a lady. He was doing something very odd to the woman, and she cried out into the night. Christine peered closer to take a good look at the woman in question. Good God, she was Lady Anne Wilson’s maid. And that man was hurting her for she screamed out loudly when the man pushed himself on top of her. He was holding her lower back, pulling her toward him, and her legs, they were spread apart while his body was between them. The maid screamed again, and she heaved as she breathed cold night air in and out.

Christine didn’t know what to do. Then she saw them kiss on the lips passionately. The maid pushed her whole body closer to the man, and she half seated herself on him. The man slid his hands down her back, then lower to her backside, and then lower still down to her thigh, into her skirt and—

Christine couldn’t watch. She twisted away and then ran to the safety of the Hall, to her bedroom. She wanted to shut the image from her mind. God, what were they doing to each other? She raced up the stairs, along the hallway, and collided with a hard chest wall. A pair of hands caught both her arms, sending sensations down her spine. She didn’t have to look up to know who the person in question was.

“
Chris?”

She heard his voice. She looked up to see his eyes searching her face. She swallowed hard and licked her dried lips. “Merrick.”

“
Is everything all right?” he asked as he touched the side of her cold face. She shivered. “You are cold, lad, where have you been? Look at you. You’re so white, and you’re shivering.” He released his hand from her face and led her toward her bedroom.

Christine mindlessly followed him, her head down, her eyes staring at the carpet. Once inside her room, he made her get between the sheets. She tiredly dropped her head on the soft pillow, her eyes ready to shut into a blissful sleep.

“
I don’t want you to get tired and miss out on all the fun the day after tomorrow,” he said as he pulled the blanket up to her chin and tugged it around her securely.

“
What is happening the day after tomorrow?”

“
Ah, I see you’ve forgotten already. There is a horse race, and I myself will be riding in the race. I wouldn’t want you to miss it for the world.” He smiled at her and placed his hand on her cheek. He started to stroke the soft skin.

She sat up abruptly. “Merrick, you can’t ride in the race!” she said.

“
And why on earth not, may I ask?”

“
You just can’t. You do remember that somebody did try to kill you last winter.” She reminded him, taking hold of his hands.

“
Chris, I think I can look after myself.”

“
But, sir, what if that person attempts to murder you again, would you let him get the chance?” she probed, still holding his hand tightly.

“
Nay, Chris, I wouldn’t let him do that.” He came closer to her, his face only inches from hers. “For I have a hell of a lot to teach you,” he whispered. His eyes sparked fire that caused Christine’s heart to flutter. She moistened her lips with her tongue, which attracted his eyes. He stared at it for a long time, savoring the beauty of its redness. He clenched his jaw for he couldn’t damn well kiss her there and then.

“
Merrick, ’tis no way to make a joke. I’m absolutely serious about this. What if that person is there during the race, trying to kill you? I wouldn’t allow such a thing to happen to you. Do you hear? You will not involve yourself in that race.”

Merrick laughed. “Now, now, Chris, calm yourself down. I’m a grown man now. I’m sure I can look after myself. Now lie down and go to sleep.”

“
But, Merrick,” she persisted.

“
Hush. Don’t talk any more. Now go to sleep, and don’t worry yourself about me.”

Christine gave up, too tired to argue. She could argue with him tomorrow when she would be less tired.

“
Night, Chris. Sweet dreams,” he said and lowered himself down. He kissed her on her forehead and then whispered, “You’ll be mine soon.”