Chapter 21

Lucian was staring at the missive that had arrived in the post. It was addressed to Eliza but Stella had assured him that the handwriting was the same as the other disturbing notes so he had opened it instead of having it delivered to her.

I miss watching you sleep.

A chill snaked down his spine as his stomach tightened. How often had that man stood at the side of her bed while she slumbered?

At the knock on his door, he looked up to find the footman, Timothy, and a maid, Sarah, at the threshold.

“Come in.”

Timothy drew himself up, straightened his spine and Sarah twisted her kitchen apron. Lucian already suspected what they were going to tell him.

“Miss Weston has run off, Lord Garretson,” Timothy announced.

“I apologize, Lord Garretson,” Sarah began. “I brought Thomas a sandwich and something to drink since he could not leave his post.”

“I was thanking Sarah and had taken a drink of the cool water when I looked up and noted that Miss Weston had disappeared.”

“Did you see anyone else about?” His biggest fear was that the man who was sending the notes and watching was much closer than they realized, and the reason so many footmen had been posted as guards.

“No. There was no one. Just her.”

“Tell me where she was and what she had been doing.” Lucian tamped down alarm that she had been taken.

Timothy explained how she had stepped outside earlier, then returned inside, only to come out later. He further described how she had strolled in the garden, paused to smell flowers, and finally sat on a bench.

Eliza had bided her time and waited until Timothy was distracted, of that Lucian had no doubt. Nobody had taken her from the gardens, but that did not mean that she was not now vulnerable since nobody knew where she had disappeared to.

Did she have no sense?

“At any time did you speak today?” he asked.

Timothy frowned and then told Lucian of their discussion.

Did her mention of the lake indicate that is where she had gone or was it a ruse so the footman would look there first while she searched another cave?

“I am sorry, Lord Garretson.”

Lucian simply shook his head. “You now understand my earlier warning to keep watch. Miss Eliza Weston is not only calculating but patient. She intentionally placed herself in a position far enough away from you and waited for the very moment you were distracted.”

“Are we to be sacked?” Sarah asked.

“No. Not this time, but warn the other servants that Miss Weston is not to be trusted.”

With that he rose from his desk and strode from the house, through the gardens and made his way to the path leading to the folly, looking for Eliza. If she was not there, and he suspected that she was not, he would go to the caves and pray that nobody found her before he did.

He paused at the folly, where a map had been left on a seat and looked about. At least she had come this way, but where had she gone?

Had she been taken from here and that is why this was left?

His stomach tightened again, and Lucian was just about to return to the house and demand that his servants search the entirety of the estate when a startled scream rang out further down the path.

He tossed the map back on the seat and ran toward the sound, stopping only when he reached the footbridge, noting broken planks in the center.

Had Eliza fallen through?

Lucian pulled his suitcoat from his body and was about to dive into the water when she emerged, her red hair plastered to her head and dripping wet, and droplets of water on her face, no different than ten years ago when she had fallen into the lake.

“You really should have your bridge repaired,” she called as she began to swim toward him.

Lucian stilled himself for when she emerged from the water. He already knew that the dress would cling to her perfectly formed body, but he would not give in to desire as he had before.

He must not!

Lucian’s mouth went dry as she reached the shore and pulled herself from the lake and onto the grass.

She had been desirable when she had just turned eighteen. That had been nothing compared to now. At eighteen, she’d been thin, though delightfully formed. Now, her body had reached a maturity often lacking in younger misses. Eliza was designed for passion and pleasure and Lucian’s body began to immediately react.

What didn’t help was that she wore a pale pink gown, nearly white and if she wore a shift, it did not offer much in shielding her body. Lucian noted the soft curves and fullness of her breasts, peaks tight from the cold water, the gently rounded hips that tapered to longer, shapely legs that he would not mind having around his hips as he…

Lucian blinked and shut down the thoughts that had controlled him the first time she’d ever emerged from the water, and the ones that nearly led him to seducing her.

He also was no longer two and twenty but one and thirty and should not have such a sudden and intense physical reaction. Except…

How long had it been since he bedded a woman?

Long enough, and Lucian didn’t want just a quick tumble. He wanted to savor, taste, and explore ever part of her.

Lucian stifled a groan as Eliza stopped before him.

For both of their sakes, he lifted his suitcoat and placed it around her shoulders.

She shrugged it off and handed it back to him. “I do not need that,” she insisted. “I was baking in the heat earlier. The dip in the lake was quite refreshing and I prefer to dry off and be warmed by the sun.”

“You do not realize just how exposed you are in such a light and thin material, Miss Weston.”

She glanced down and shrugged then looked up at him, her grey eyes questioning. “Miss Weston? Why not Eliza? You have addressed me as such before. In fact, you seem to go between the two.”

She was going to be the death of him.

“Miss Weston, I must insist that you cover yourself,” he bit out.

“Why, Lucian?”

“I did not give you leave to address me by my given name.”

“Yet, you have not corrected me previously,” she reminded him. “Besides, we have known each other long enough, and as I am temporarily residing in your home, should we not be on a first name basis?”

“What are you about, Eliza?” Lucian asked, not certain he was prepared for her answer.

Instead of saying anything, Eliza stepped forward again, placed her cool hands against his cheeks and drew him down before placing her lips against his. Just as she had done ten years ago and the other night. This was the third time she had kissed him, and his defenses were weakening.

It had not been Eliza’s intention to kiss Lucian she but could not help herself when she saw the heat and desire in his darkening blue eyes as he looked her over from the tips of her toes to the top of her head and back down, stopping at her breasts.

Heat rushed through her veins and she did not need the sun’s assistance in warming her.

She had expected him to push her away. Instead, his fingers slipped through her wet curls and to the back of her head and deepened the kiss. Eliza stepped closer until they touched. His other arm wrapped about her, pulling her tight against his body as he invaded her mouth, mating his tongue with hers, his arousal pressed against her lower abdomen. Eliza grew lightheaded and clutched onto his shoulders.

When Lucian’s hand slipped lower and grasped her bum, Eliza groaned and heat pooled in her nether regions.

She may be innocent and lack experience, but that did not mean that she did not want him. All of him, to learn all the secrets kept from women until they became brides, which she would never be.

No longer did he hold the back of her head but skimmed his hand down her back, and side, then up again until he cradled one breast, his thumb brushing across an erect nipple. Eliza’s legs nearly gave out and she clung even tighter to him.

When he slipped a leg between her thighs, Eliza pressed against him, hoping that the ache that had developed below would gain some relief, but it only made her want his touch all the more.

In a blink, Lucian raised his head, lifted his hand, and stepped away.

“You are a dangerous temptation.”

That may be the nicest compliment she had ever received.

“I apologize for taking advantage.”

His breaths were a little short so at least he was moved nearly as much as her. Unfortunately, he gained the control she lacked, and truly didn’t wish to possess.

He put his suitcoat around her shoulders one more time. “Leave it,” he ordered.

Eliza did not argue because the time for kissing, or anything else, had clearly come to an end, much to her disappointment.

“We are returning to the house and you will stay away from the water and the folly.” He returned to the folly and lifted the map. “And the caves.” With that, Lucian turned on his heel and marched away, likely assuming that she would follow.

A gentleman would have offered his arm, but likely he was not in his right mind, and neither was she. However, Eliza did come to one conclusion from their encounter—she would not be leaving Wyndhill Park until she discovered and experienced passion and finally rid herself of all innocence. But first, she needed to somehow convince Lucian to submit, which might be difficult.