Chapter 20

Sebastian heard Jonathan yell, but his only thought was for Eleanor, and he ran ahead, just as she screamed and wheeled about, running back into the darkness of the garden.

"Eleanor," he said gently. He took her hand in his, then wrapped his arms tight around her, holding her close. "Shh. It's all right."

He looked up to face the threat, and his spine slumped with relief.

"Mr. Gleeson. What are you doing here?" he asked the gardener, who blinked in astonishment.

"My lord?" he gasped. He held the lantern higher and peered at him, then gasped in disbelief. "Beg pardon!" He lowered the lantern that he had been holding again. "I thought there were thieves about, my lord. I'm sorry. So sorry." He was holding a walking-stick in his other hand, and he lowered it, looking apologetically at his boot-tips.

"Very well," Sebastian said tightly. "Apologise to the lady. She was most upset."

"At once," Mr. Gleeson answered, bowing low to Eleanor. "Begging your pardon, my lady."

"Of course," Eleanor said gently. "You were just doing your job."

"A bit overly-conscientiously," Sebastian murmured, but he nodded to the fellow. "On your way, then," he told him firmly. "And if you hear any disturbances, please report them to the butler immediately."

"Yes, my lord. I will, my lord."

Sebastian breathed out. He had feared that Jonathan had been pursued by the Watch, and evidently Eleanor had thought the same, because as soon as the gardener had wandered off up the path she collapsed against him, breathing out exhaustingly.

Sebastian looked at Jonathan hard.

"I will address your concerns," he said firmly. "But I must request that you do not bother my family any longer. You may remain here tonight, but I must insist that you find new lodgings tomorrow morning. Your presence here brings too much disturbance."

Jonathan looked at him wide-eyed but nodded. "Yes, my lord," he said softly.

Sebastian breathed out. The fellow had decided not to argue, and that was good, at least. He looked at Eleanor. She was leaning against him, her arms wrapped tight around him, still shivering in the cold. He glanced at her brother, who was standing there uncertainly in the darkness.

"Go indoors," Sebastian instructed him. "You can follow the gardener up the path—he's headed to the gardener's hut, and he can instruct you in how to get to the back door. Inform the housekeeper that you will be staying and ask her to organise some accommodation for you. We will follow shortly."

Jonathan glanced at him, his eyes wide in the darkness, but again he was no longer argumentative, and he turned around to go up the path, muttering in agreement and thanks as he went onwards up the pathway in the dark.

Sebastian stood where he was. His arms tightened around Eleanor, who was still shivering. He glanced sideways. They were at the stables. They really had walked too far from the manor. The lights from the ballroom were much further than he had thought.

"You're exhausted," he murmured, holding her close. He could feel the silky strands of her hair pressed against his face and his senses were becoming overwhelmed. "You can't walk back."

"I can," she said softly, but he could hear how she was shaking, even as she spoke those words.

"I think we should take my horse," he said swiftly. "You are too tired and cold."

"No," she whispered. "No. Please."

He frowned. "You are scared, aren't you?" he asked at once.

"No. Well, a little," she admitted, looking up at him. He grinned.

"You're scared of horses ?" The thought amazed him. He had never met anyone who was scared of horses before. He had been raised riding from the time he was four years old, and a love and trust of horses had been something he was raised with, something he took for granted. He stared at her in disbelief.

"Yes," she whispered, and he could hear she was sincere, her voice tight and frightened. "Yes."

"No!" He chuckled. "Sorry," he added, taking her hand. "But I was just surprised. You're really scared of all horses?"

She nodded. "I am," she said, and he could see a little sparkle of annoyance in her eyes. "Is that amusing?"

"No. No," he said quickly. "Not at all. I didn't expect that anyone would be scared of horses. Sorry," he added swiftly. She smiled.

"Well, I am," she replied.

He sighed, looking around. It really was dark, and now that the gardener and Jonathan had returned to the house, they seemed very isolated.

"Would it be all right if I rode with you?" he asked. "It is cold and unsafe out here, and I'd like to get you back to the house swiftly."

She looked up at him and he was surprised that her gaze softened.

"Mayhap," she replied softly.

Sebastian let out a sigh of relief. "Well, then," he said swiftly. "We should go to the stables at once. I'll have Starburst saddled up in no time."

He led her into the stables, taking her to the place where the feed was stored.

"If you wait here," he said gently. "I'll be a moment."

"Um...yes," she replied, drawing his coat about her. "I'll wait here."

"Good." He let out a sigh. He longed to kiss her. She looked so frightened, and he wanted to comfort her, but he had no way of telling if kissing her would frighten her even more. He made himself go to the tack-room instead, lifting the saddle and bridle from their shelf by the door.

"Come on, old fellow," he murmured to Starburst as he reached his stall. "We need to help Eleanor stop being scared."

Starburst snorted and Sebastian smiled to himself, sure the stallion understood him. He threw the saddle over, tightening the girth. Starburst stood still and didn't do any of his usual tricks and Sebastian patted him, relieved, and led him out onto the packed-dirt path between the stalls.

"Sebastian..." Eleanor murmured as he led the stallion past her and out to the mounting block outside.

"I promise nothing will happen," Sebastian said softly. "It's quite safe. I promise."

Eleanor looked at him wide-eyed but said nothing, and Sebastian gestured to the mounting-block, which had two shallow stone steps carved into one side.

"If you climb up there, you can step onto his back," Sebastian told her gently.

"My dress..." Eleanor said, gesturing to her ballgown. Sebastian frowned.

"Do you think it will get torn?"

"No," she admitted, and even in the pale light of the lamp outside the stables he could see her cheeks redden. "It's too short for riding. My legs will show."

Sebastian reddened. "It's just me," he told her gently.

She held his gaze and he swallowed hard. Her eyes were wide and frightened, but there was another expression there, one he couldn't read but which made his heart race with longing.

"Yes," she murmured. "It shan't be a problem."

Sebastian swallowed again, his heart soaring. She went up to the mounting block and stepped into the saddle. Her dress did, indeed, go up to her knees but Sebastian did his best to look away, walking up quite casually to the mounting block. Starburst stood like an angel, not trying to walk forward or sidle away as Sebastian mounted up behind her.

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her against him. His hands took the reins, and he bit his lip, trying not to react to the sensation of her soft, warm body nestled close to his.

"I'll ask him to walk ahead," Sebastian told her. "He understands if I lean just a bit forward and lift the reins, like this," he added, leaning fractionally forward, jerking gently upwards. Starburst stepped forward and Eleanor gasped.

Sebastian tightened his grip on her, holding her close against him. He breathed in, the scent of her dizzying him this close. Her satiny gown rustled against his legs, and he could feel her warmth pressed up against his chest. Her calves were bare, their warmth pressing on his legs, traceable even through the fabric of his thick trousers.

"We'll not go any faster," he told her gently, as Starburst walked ahead. He was walking briskly, and Sebastian could feel Eleanor tense, but as they walked for a few paces, she relaxed. He felt her rigid posture soften.

"He's going nice and slowly," Eleanor said.

Sebastian smiled. "He is."

She was still sitting very rigidly, but the terror that had been in her earlier was not there anymore—he could not feel her hands clawing at the pommel of the saddle anymore.

"This is not unpleasant," she murmured.

He grinned. "Good."

She was leaning against him, and he held his breath for a moment, his senses swamped with desire. He could feel her soft, lovely body pressed close to him, her sweet thighs resting against his legs, her soft warmth pressed to his chest. He could hardly breathe.

"Here we are," he said softly. "We're almost there."

He could see the lights of the house much closer now. The garden was silent, the moon's soft rays illuminating it to a grayish lightness. He breathed in. The air was cold and smelled dew damp. The moonlit garden was beautiful.

He guided his horse gently around the back of the house and led them to the stairs that led up to the back door. They would be able to enter the house without bumping into any of their guests.

He dismounted, thudding down to the lawn, and she gasped.

"It's all right," he said in a calm voice, gratitude to Starburst for his impeccable behavior filling him. The stallion didn't jink sideways or walk ahead and stood as still as a statue with her on his back. He patted him gratefully. "I'll help you to dismount."

"I'm scared."

He breathed in, his heart twisting. "I know," he told her softly. "But there's no need. I'll hold him still. Here. You need to swing your leg around, and then I'll catch you. Here you are," he added, as she swung her leg over and he reached up, gripping her waist.

She slipped her other foot out of the stirrup, and he lifted her, holding her up for a second before gently lowering her to the ground. He put her down carefully and she gazed up at him. Her skin was pale, her green eyes huge in the darkness.

"It wasn't terrible."

He chuckled. "No," he told her softly. "Good. You did extremely well. You were so brave."

She smiled. "I wasn't scared with you holding me."

Sebastian let out a long breath. "Good," he whispered.

She was looking up at him and he rested his hands on her shoulders. She was still clutching his coat about her and, though he was standing in the cold garden in his shirtsleeves, he had not even noticed the chill. His senses were lost in thoughts of her. He could still feel her closeness, the sensation of her body molding to his as they rode together.

He gazed down at her, seeing her frown.

"Will it be very hard to help Jonathan?" she asked, sounding frightened.

He shook his head. "No," he replied, though he wasn't sure.

"You are so kind," she murmured. "I can't bear to think of it. The children..." she started sobbing again.

Sebastian took a deep breath, his heart twisting. He knew how much she cared for children. His father was right—she was someone who loved young ones and had an immense capacity to care. He took another deep breath, suddenly knowing what he had to do. He could not bear to see her in such terror.

"I promise," he said softly. "I will save them. I will ride to London now. Tonight. I will not let this happen."

"You cannot," Eleanor said in a terrified whisper.

"I can," Sebastian said, spine stiff. "It is only six hours away."

"It's late," Eleanor murmured. "It's so dangerous, Sebastian. You can't."

"I can," Sebastian said, taking her hands in his. He lifted them to his lips, first pressing his lips to the back of one, then the other. "I can ride fast. I don't think anyone wants to argue with me." He chuckled. He gazed into her eyes. He had almost forgotten about Jonathan, his world having room enough only for Eleanor and her beautiful green stare. "I can do it. And the thought that you will be here for me when I get back will make it easy."

"Sebastian," she murmured.

He didn't say anything. She was gazing up at him, her hazel eyes huge, her soft lips just a little parted, and the scent of her was in his nostrils, the sweet rosewater and lavender smell of her skin. He gazed down at her, longing overwhelming him, making it almost impossible not to kiss her. She stared back up at him, and to his astonishment, as he leaned just a little forward, just a little, she leaned forward to meet him.

He leaned down close and pressed his lips to hers. She gasped and he drew her against him, holding her against his chest. Her scent consumed him, the silky skin of her lips drowning his senses. He held her close and shut his eyes and prayed.

Please, God, he prayed in his mind. Let me return to her safely and swiftly.

Her lips on his were sweet and damp and he kissed her, his longing overwhelming, senses dizzied by the kiss.

He held her a moment longer, then stood up.

"I will ride now," he said, taking her hand in his again. "Please, see to the end of the ball? The butler should dismiss the guests now."

"I will," she said firmly. She stood up and he squeezed her fingers and looked into her eyes.

"I shall see you soon," he said softly.

He smiled at her, and she managed a small, tense grin, and then he turned where he stood and walked back to where his stallion waited for him, reins looped about his neck.

He had a cold, swift ride before him before he could find peace or get some rest.