Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

Caroline stayed on her side of the bed. It took her forever to fall asleep. The inn made strange noises, and she was still angry with Luke.

She could hear him next to her, his deep, even breaths telling her that he'd long since fallen asleep.

What must her servants be thinking? Did they assume she'd just stayed at his home? Was Mrs. Banks worried?

The woman had outright glared at Caroline as she'd gone out for the evening. "You're making a big mistake," the other woman had hissed.

Caroline had kept walking, not certain what to do about Mrs. Banks either. Caroline knew that Luke was not like her first husband.

Yes, he forgot to include her in major decisions. But he still wanted the best for her. And he was willing to admit when he was wrong and even compromise.

Her heart warmed as she looked over at Luke next to her. Outside, rain started to fall, the noise growing louder, drowning out the unfamiliar sounds of the inn.

She resisted the urge to lay a hand on his chest. She was still too angry.

She finally fell asleep, but she suspected it was nearly dawn before she did, and she woke after what felt like no time at all to find the sheets next to her already empty.

Dressing quickly, she made her way downstairs. The inn was full, many travelers delaying their departure because of muddy roads, she was sure. She searched about but didn't see Luke.

Pushing open the door, she stepped out into the cool, late winter air, pulling her wrap tighter about herself.

She didn't intend to go far. She just needed a bit of air to clear her head.

The rain had stopped, at least, even if the ground was still a mess.

She breathed deeply, enjoying the country air. Just on the other side of the inn, a little river snaked through the landscape, the sound of rushing water filling the air.

She started toward it, lifting her skirts to keep them from dragging in the mud. Her slippers would surely be ruined. There was nothing to be done for it. She hadn't worn sturdy travelling clothes and leather boots.

She was tired and her chest ached with emotion she didn't quite know how to name.

Anger was there. He'd done it again, firing off, making decisions without consulting her. How could she be married to a man who ran her life without allowing her independence? Then again, she swallowed down a lump.

When she pushed, he immediately made room for her. Her former husband would have never done that.

What was more, she felt stronger for pushing. For having a man in her life who forced her to dig a little deeper. He was the wonderful combination of strength, protectiveness, and kindness.

He was right, he'd never hurt her, and that made all the difference. It gave her the room to stand up for herself.

It made room for her to feel things she'd never thought possible.

Her heart began to thud in her chest. Because even upset, she realized that the emotion building inside her was something she never expected to feel.

She'd fallen in love.

The truth of it slammed into her, her hands coming up to cover her mouth as she approached the water.

She loved Luke. He was everything she'd been afraid to want. Masculine. Strong. But he was also a delicious combination of what she needed. Kind. Caring. Gentle.

"Caroline," Luke called just as she reached the banks of the river. "What are you doing out here? It's frigid and mucky."

She turned to tell him… she wasn't even certain what. Did she wish to say he needn't boss her so? Or did she wish to say that she loved everything about him? Even this…

Whatever the words she meant to utter, they were lost on a scream…

Because her foot slipped in the mud, sliding down the embankment and suddenly she was falling…

* * *

Luke watched Caroline slide down the bank and disappear into the river. For a single second he stood in frozen horror, and then he started to run.

Slipping and sliding through the mud he sprinted toward the water and over the bank.

Caroline popped up, her arms flailing, and he took off after her, running down the bank until he came abreast of her in the water. He dove in, heedless of the freezing temperature.

With long strokes he reached her, wrapping his arms about her and pushing off the bottom to make it back to the side of the bank.

Passersby had witnessed Caroline's fall and several rushed to help pull them both up the slippery side and onto sure ground.

Caroline shivered in his arms, her hair plastered to her face, her eyes so big and her skin so pale, all the fear he hadn't allowed himself to feel when she'd slipped slammed into his chest.

This was his woman. He knew some of his efforts were chaffing her. But he just couldn't allow harm to come to her.

He'd never held someone more precious.

Emotion welled in his chest as he thanked the men who'd pulled them up and then he began to trudge back toward the inn.

They needed a fire and dry clothes. Caroline needed to eat and then he'd check her for injuries.

He grazed his lips over her forehead, his breath trembling out of him as she shivered in his arms.

"I'm such a f-f-fo-fool."

"You are not," he said against the frigid skin of her forehead. "I distracted you."

Her fingers tightened on his neck. "Th-than-thank you for p-pulling me out."

He held her even closer as the innkeeper held the door for him and he strode inside. "It was nothing."

"N-not to-to me."

He looked down at her. "There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you, Caroline. I need you to know that." He meant those words with all his heart and a great deal more. He wouldn't unload the depth of his feelings now, he needed to focus on her care.

But soon. He'd tell her just how much he'd give to her.

"Thank you," she whispered.

He didn't say more to her as he lifted his head to look at the innkeeper. "My wife needs a bath and dry clothes right away."

"Yes, me lord." The innkeeper bobbed. "Right away."

"Wife?" she whispered as they stood next to the fire. Though a small fire burned in their room, the large one in the common room would keep her warmer until he could get her into a hot bath.

"I wasn't letting you sleep in a different room last night," he murmured back. "And I will confess that I am still applying myself to convincing you to make our union official."

She shook her head against him, still shivering in his arms. "Pulling me from frigid water was an excellent move then."

He squeezed her tightly. Was it? It was good to know that this trip might help his cause. Now to get his woman warm and dry...

Once he knew she was well, then he'd set himself to using other tools at his disposal to convince her to remain at his side.

Because he might go mad if she wasn't. She was quickly becoming his entire world.