The Inheritance (23 page)

"Fine. I just
walked Constance a bit and meandered around the front part of the
wood," she replied.

"Just a walk?"
James queried. That didn't sound like Elizabeth at all.

"Yes," she
replied, blushing. "I - uh - just didn't have a lot of energy this
morning. I didn't sleep very well last night. I'm sure you
understand."

"Yes, of
course," James replied, thinking how upset she had been that
morning, but it then occurred to him that Lord Michael would not
have left without warming her bottom, and suspected that was more
the reason for the careful ride than anything else.

"And you? Did
you and Lydia have a nice walk?" she asked.

"Yes. We did.
A very nice walk and a very productive conversation," he replied,
rather smugly, Elizabeth thought. "And Lydia has something she
would like to say to you. Don't you Lydia?"

I knew he would scold her
, Elizabeth
thought.
I didn't mean to get her into
trouble. But she really shouldn't have said such things when I was
so nearby
.

Lydia moved
quickly over and Elizabeth couldn't help but notice the sparkle in
her eye and the flush on her face. She knew it all too well.

"Dear
Elizabeth," Lydia began, reaching for her hand. "I am so dreadfully
sorry about my foolish words last night. I was remembering some
things that I have witnessed in my past - things that are still
very painful to me - and it just sort of came out. I was just
thinking out loud but it was very wrong of me. I'm sure Lord
Michael is a true gentleman, and from what I understand he loves
you very much indeed."

"Thank you,
Lydia. It's all right. I was upset for a bit but James helped me,"
she replied, kindly.

Lydia turned
and looked at him.

"Yes. James is
very - um - he has an excellent way of making things clear," she
said, tentatively. "Thank you for forgiving me," she said, turning
back to Elizabeth. "I'm very grateful."

"Oh Lydia.
It's so nice to have you here. Tomorrow I shall take you to the
stable and you can meet Mindy. She's the loveliest little mare,"
she gushed.

"That sounds
lovely, Elizabeth," James interjected. "But I believe lunch is
ready on the terrace. Shall we continue our conversation over
something to eat?"

Smiling
broadly, he gestured for his sister and sweetheart to move ahead of
him, easily imagining their red bottoms under their delicate
dresses. After Elizabeth's ride he had no doubt hers was very
sensitive, and having spanked Lydia firmly, he was greatly looking
forward to watching her squirm as she took her seat at lunch. It
would be interesting to see which of them wriggled the most.

Very late that
night, Elizabeth was lying naked on the bed in the secret chamber
languidly sucking on a chocolate. She had removed all the delicious
sweets from the bowl and placed them in five rows of six. Every
night she would eat one and enjoy the sight of each row growing
smaller. Rolling on her side she slipped her fingers between her
moist sex. She imagined he was there, holding her from behind, his
strong hard member pushing forward, insisting she allow him entry.
His fingers plucked at her nipples and she imagined his pelvis
brushing against her pink behind, scratching it lightly.

Master
, she called into the empty
chamber,
I do miss you
so
.

And no matter
how hard she rubbed or what thoughts she was able to conjure her
relief was denied. She finally gave up. It wasn't the same without
him. Nothing was the same without him.

Dressing
languidly, she slowly climbed the stairs to return to her quarters.
Stopping halfway up she cocked an ear, thinking she heard the
sounds of distant sighs.

Must be the wind
, she thought, as the
ghosts swirled around her, surrounding their sad mortal friend with
their ethereal comfort and love.

C
hapter Twelve

A Narrow
Escape

In the many
days that followed Hanley Hall fell into an easy rhythm. Every
morning after breakfast Elizabeth would write a note to Lord
Michael and leave it on the silver tray in the foyer as she made
her way down to the stable. Riding Constance never ceased to be a
joy, and as much as she wanted to explore the forest she resisted
the temptation. She certainly didn't want a repeat of her previous
encounter with Andrew Carrington, even though she was beginning to
think he was a perfect gentleman after all, in spite of Lord
Michael's bad opinion of him.

She had
exchanged pleasantries with the horseman on several occasions. He
had been extremely polite and respectful, and each time had been
the one to break off the conversation, either leaving the barnyard
for the day or to take Zeus or one of the other horses out for a
ride. She began to relax around him and was seriously considering
risking that ride on Constance in the forest after all.

While
Elizabeth was enjoying her time with her horse, James and Lydia
would take a walk in the gardens and the wooded area behind the
house, or down into the forest near the stables. Lydia had
attempted a short ride on Mindy but it was clear Elizabeth would
have preferred to be cantering and galloping and jumping over the
logs. Ambling slowly around a field was not much fun for her.

While Lydia
did want to learn how to ride better she didn't wish to spoil
Elizabeth's morning enjoyment so quietly told her she preferred to
spend the morning with James.

In the
afternoons James would disappear into the study leaving the two
girls to their pastimes. Elizabeth still had areas of the house she
wanted to explore and she and Lydia had great fun investigating all
the rooms and staircases. They invariably got lost and had to use
the aspect from the windows to try and find their way back. When
they weren't wandering around Hanley Hall they would play the piano
and sing - Lydia had a beautiful voice - or work on their
embroidery projects - and once in a while Elizabeth would take her
back down to the barnyard to visit the horses.

Late in the
afternoon the post would arrive and Elizabeth would rush down to
see if there was any news from her Master and was rarely
disappointed. His letters were brief but full of loving words and a
reminder for her to behave. His work was progressing well and not
having any distractions was allowing him to move things along very
quickly indeed. He had even hired two assistants because he was in
such a hurry to return, and he promised her a big surprise if he
continued to get such glowing reports from her brother.

On the
thirteenth day of Lord Michael's absence, the routine was following
its usual path as Elizabeth dropped her latest note onto the silver
tray. There was a messenger who stopped by around ten a.m. and she
always made sure the letter was there waiting.

She was having
difficulties. No matter how hard she tried she still could not find
her sexual release, and in a soft poetic prose had relayed the
matter to Lord Michael, adding that she was feeling rather edgy and
her bottom had long since recovered from the attention he had
bestowed upon it the afternoon before he left. She finished by
asking if there was any advice he might offer and stating how much
she missed him.

Walking
quickly out of the front doors to the stable yard she spied James
and Lydia walking toward the forest. They appeared to change their
minds and abruptly turned around, heading in the opposite direction
back up towards the house. Thinking nothing of it she proceeded to
continue onward. Not long afterward she was on board her trusty
though fidgety mare, walking at a fast clip across the vast green
field.

There was no
sign of Andrew Carrington, but Zeus was gone so she knew he was off
riding somewhere. She idly wondered if James and Lydia had turned
away because they saw him in the forest and didn't want to share
their walk with a thundering stallion and its rider.

Wandering
closer to the trees she stopped and listened. It was easy to catch
the sound of a horse even if it was some distance away. The ground
was strewn with dried leaves and twigs which made quite a noise as
the horses moved across them. But all she could hear were the songs
of the birds.

Constance was
agitated. The mare had not been out of the front fields for two
weeks and Elizabeth could feel her back legs move under herself.
That meant only one thing. Constance was getting ready to run. She
pulled the mare's nose around to her knee as Andrew had taught her
and it did settle the horse but not for very long, and the dancing
and prancing began anew.

"Oh bother,"
Elizabeth said to no one. "This is silly. It's my forest for
heaven's sake. Ok girl - let's go," Elizabeth declared, and
slackened the reins, signalling to Constance they were going down
the track after all.

Constance
surged forward breaking into a fast canter. It was exactly what
Elizabeth had expected and stayed with her, but kept the run in
check. Having not ridden the track for some time she needed to stay
alert in the event of new obstacles on the path.

It was
exhilarating. Constance felt solid under her as the trees whizzed
by and flashes of sunlight darted between the branches. They
reached the spot where she would normally turn and head for home
but the horse wanted to keep going and Elizabeth had no desire to
stop, so forward they went, though she slowed the mare to a
trot.

It was a new
trail and there was no telling what might lie ahead or where it
might lead, and excited by the exploration she continued on as the
path revealed itself in bends and turns. To Elizabeth's surprise
the trees became less dense and she sensed a clearing ahead.
Trotting forward she found herself moving into a beautiful meadow
leading down to a small pond, and there, sitting on a large blanket
enjoying a picnic lunch completely alone, was Andrew Carrington.
She heard a whinny and looking across saw Zeus, his saddle and
bridle off, happily grazing on the rich green grass.

"Hello
Elizabeth. What are you doing here?" Andrew asked, jumping up,
pretending to be surprised to see her.

What she
didn't know was that for the past week he had been laying in wait.
He had carefully packaged foods into tight containers which he
pulled into a tree at night to prevent raiding from wildlife. He
knew it wouldn't take her long before she'd want to go through the
forest again, and he also knew that Constance, detecting Zeus's
scent, would seek out her Greek God. It was only a matter of time,
and when it came to the seduction of pretty young women, especially
rich pretty young women, Andrew Carrington was a very patient
man.

"My goodness!"
she exclaimed. "How extraordinary. And what a beautiful spot," she
declared, walking her mare forward. Zeus, seeing his lady love,
started across to greet them.

"Careful - we
don't want any bad behaviour from our horses," Andrew chuckled.
"He's a lovely fellow but he is a stallion after all, and your mare
is very beautiful indeed," he winked at her, and Elizabeth felt a
warm flush cross her face.

Choosing not
to respond to his provocative remark she slid off Constance and
pulled the reins over her head. Andrew hurried toward Zeus with a
rope in his hand and caught him easily, then led him away and
tethered him to a tree. Elizabeth watched as he headed back and
noticed he had a very powerful walk. His legs marched forward with
long graceful strides, and his hair, no longer covered by his hat,
was thick and curly and a rich coppery colour. He was far more
handsome than she had thought.

"I'm sorry I
only have one rope. I wasn't expecting anyone else," he apologized,
looking directly at her, being the skilled fabricator that he
was.

"Oh - no
bother. I shouldn't stay," she stammered, wishing she could. The
fruit and sandwiches look delicious and there were some flasks
obviously carrying beverages.

"But you
must!" he insisted. "It's so lovely here and I would be delighted
to share it with such an enchanting young lady, spoken for or not,"
he smiled.

She looked
around. It was quiet and still. There was not a soul to be seen and
it was exceedingly pleasant. What would be the harm in having a
little something to drink and quick bite to eat? Lunch was at least
an hour away. And it would be nice for Constance to have a break
after her long run through the trees.

Andrew studied
her. It was obvious she wanted to stay. She just needed a little
convincing.

"Your mare
looks as if she could use a breather," he commented, moving closer.
"See how her belly is moving? You don't have to join me but I think
it best to remove her saddle and allow her to at least catch her
breath - if only for a few minutes," he said.

"Do you think
so?" she asked, staring at her mare's ribcage. She was breathing
quite rapidly. "Perhaps you're right. Would you be so kind as to
help me remove her saddle?"

"Of course,"
he replied, and expertly unbuckled and removed the saddle from the
mare's back. Constance shook in appreciation and nudged Elizabeth
with her nose.

"There. I'm
sure she'll recover in no time," Andrew announced. "And if you take
the reins like this," he said, unfastening them where they joined
together, "you can twist them around each other like this and loop
them through her bridle. This way she can graze without stepping on
them but they're still attached. I think Zeus is far enough away
that she'll be all right. If you'd like to join me on the blanket
we can keep her next to us," he offered.

Elizabeth
sighed. It seemed perfectly natural and she promised herself she
would tell Lord Michael everything just as soon as he returned. It
was all perfectly innocent.