Chapter 8

Eight

C ora curled against Hayes and sighed. She could become accustomed to this rather quickly. She adored him and she should tell him that. When he awakened, she intended to share her love for him. He deserved to hear the words from her.

Hayes writhed against her and began to thrash. He swung his arm and hit the bedpost. Cora reared back, startled at the action. She glanced down at him and his eyes were still closed. Was he having a nightmare?

“No,” he shouted. “Don’t. I will be good. Please stop.” He whimpered, curling his arms protectively around his torso. As if he expected a blow to land there. “Father… Please…”

It was just like that previous night. He was out of his mind and lost in the nightmare. She wasn’t certain what she should do. Cora moved forward and he swung his arm out and connected with her shoulder. She winced as pain shot down her arm. It did not prevent her from completing her task. She had to wake him and shake him loose from the memory that haunted him. Cora leaned over him and placed her hands over both of his cheeks, then she pressed her lips to his. The quick kiss stopped his movements. She lifted her head and stared down at him.

His eyelashes fluttered open and his arms wrapped around her. “Cora?” His voice was husky from sleep.

“It’s me, love,” she said softly. “You were having a bad dream.”

Hayes shot up, bringing her into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. “Did I hurt you?” He began to run his hands over her body, checking for injuries.

“I’m all right,” she told him. “Darling,” she said. “You didn’t hurt me.” She wouldn’t tell him about the blow he’d landed on her shoulder. She would be all right and it would only distress him. Cora wound her arms around him and hugged him. “I’m worried about you. Are you going to be all right? That dream seemed terrifying.”

He just held on to her as if she’d run away if he let go of her. “I don’t wish to discuss it.” His voice had taken on a stony tone. One that suggested that he’d be stubborn about this. She would have to push him or he’d keep it all inside. If he had any chance of healing, he would have to discuss it.

Cora pulled back and ran her fingers through his mussed hair. “Hayes,” she said in a soothing tone. “You don’t have to say anything.” She brushed a kiss against his cheek. “You said enough in your sleep. I understand.”

He tensed. “I should go.”

That wasn’t going to happen. “Like hell you are,” she said firmly. “I won’t push you to tell me about what happened to you, but you are not going to leave me.”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I would never leave you,” he said. “That was my fear speaking.”

“What is it you’re afraid of?” She kept running her fingers through his hair. As if she were coaxing a wild colt to relax in her caress. “Do you believe I’ll think less of you? Because I know that your father abused you?”

Slowly, he met her gaze. She couldn’t quite make out his expression in the dark; however, she could feel the strain in his stiff movements. Perhaps she had said too much. “I never wanted you to know,” he admitted.

“Does it bother you that I do?” She laid her head on his shoulder. “Because it does not change how I feel about you.” She traced a heart over his chest as she spoke. “I love you. Tell me that you know that. I would never have invited you to my bed if I didn’t love you deeply. I do not care that you were abused as a child. At least not in the way you are thinking.” She kept her head on his shoulder, continuing softly. “I think you’re brave and wonderful. You endured much and are still a kind and caring man. What was done to you does not define who you are. If your father were still alive, I’d want to hurt him for causing you such pain. I hate him on your behalf.” She lifted her head and pressed her forehead to his. “But you, my love, are my everything. I am never letting you go.” She kissed him lightly. “Or have you already forgotten your promise to me?”

He shook his head. “No,” he said. “I made many promises. Some were not even said aloud.” He exhaled sharply. “I love you.” He ran his hand down her back as if he was reassuring himself that she remained in his arms. “I don’t want to let you go. The lord knows I don’t deserve you, but I’m keeping you.”

“Good,” she said. “Then there is nothing left to discuss.”

“Actually, there is one thing,” he corrected her. “We need to discuss our wedding.”

She grinned. “Well,” she began. “I’m not against a wedding. But don’t you think you should ask me first?” She wouldn’t say no, but she had to tease him. It would help lighten the mood. He’d been so anxious when he had awakened. Now he had finally started to relax.

“No,” he said. “You are marrying me.” His voice suggested there would be no arguments on that score. “Or need I remind you that I am never letting you go. Marriage was implied and you already agreed.”

“I suppose I did,” she said, then laughed. “All right, my lord,” she said in a compliant tone. “I am yours, and as soon as we’re able to, I’ll happily stand before a vicar and recite vows with you.”

“Good,” he said. “Then we will do it next week after I can obtain a special license. I don’t want to wait to have the banns read.I must admit, I don’t know how Foxcroft managed to wait this long to marry Victoria. I would go mad having to wait months to make you my wife.”

“I am all right with that plan.” She smiled. “I want to be your wife as soon as possible.” Her father would probably be happy about this marriage; he had always favored Hayes. “But for now you should go back to your bedchamber. I love having you here, but the servants will talk. In a sennight, we will be wed and never have to be separated again.”

He sighed. “I do not want to leave,” he said sullenly. “But you’re correct. It’s for the best.” Hayes kissed her lightly and reluctantly let her go. Then he slipped out of the bed. Cora followed behind him and slipped on her dressing robe as he put his clothes back on. Well, most of them. He carried his cravat and left his waistcoat open. She followed him to the door. He opened it and stepped out, but before departing, he turned and drew her into his arms, then kissed her. It was a passionate kiss from a lover that had pleasured her for a good part of the night.

Hayes really did not want to leave. That was why he’d stolen one last kiss. It would never be enough, but perhaps it would tide him over until he could kiss her again. He unwillingly pulled back from her and stared down at her. The hallway was dark with almost no light to illuminate her lovely face. He wished he had a candle to have a better view of her, but that would have drawn attention to them.

“Isn’t this touching,” a woman sneered.

He spun around to see who was there, but the darkness prevented him from identifying her. Hayes shielded Cora from the woman’s view, but that was probably unnecessary. “Who is there?”

The woman came out of the shadows and stood in the moonlight streaming from a nearby window. He frowned. Hayes knew her. It was his mother’s lady’s maid. What was her name again? “Ruth?” he asked hesitantly. His heart raced inside of his chest. Surely, his mother’s lady’s maid wouldn’t spread gossip about him leaving Cora’s bedchamber…

“Yes, my lord,” she said in a gravelly tone. “It is Ruth.” She said her name as if it was blasphemous. “The lowly lady’s maid that no one notices.”

“Why are you here?” Hayes was so confused. Shouldn’t she be in the servants’ quarters? “Does my mother need you?” That was the only logical reason for her to be up at this hour.

“No,” she said. “Your mother.” Her voice was full of contempt. “The sniveling coward is fast asleep. She had to take some laudanum to rest.”

“Then what are you doing skulking in the hallway?” Cora asked. Her voice trembled a little as she spoke. Was she worried that Ruth would mention that Hayes had been in her bedchamber? They might have to wed even sooner than a sennight. That didn’t bother him. He wanted to marry Cora, but he did not want her to be distressed.

Ruth lifted her hand, and he caught the glint of something shiny in her hand. He blinked several times. Was that… “Why do you have a pistol?” And why was she aiming it at him? Slowly he moved, so that he was completely in front of Cora. If she wanted to shoot him, then he wouldn’t stop her. As long as Cora was protected.

“Stop moving,” she ordered. Hayes stilled. “Or I’ll shoot both of you.”

Hayes had to do something, but he didn’t know what. “What have I ever done to make you want to shoot me at all?” he asked.

“You were born,” she sneered. “That sniveling half-wit managed to give him an heir. Of course, I couldn’t let that stand. I planted those seeds of doubt. Once he didn’t believe you were his… Well, then the true fun began.” Her lips twisted into a frightening smile. “All those times he locked you in the tiny storage room. Your cries and frantic shouting. That was music to my ears. If only he had killed you one of those times he beat you.”

“Why?” his voice was hoarse as he asked the question. “What reason do you have for having him treat me so terribly?” This woman was horrid.

“I loved him,” she said. “He loved me, but he couldn’t marry me. He had to marry your mother. His father had insisted on it. He might have divorced her and married me when his father died. But then she became pregnant and that was impossible. But if the heir died… Then we could finally be together.” She held the gun steady. “And now you think you can be happy with that whore behind you? That’s not going to happen. I thought once I locked the two of you in that room together, you would run away. I gave you enough laudanum to make you completely mindless.” She sneered. “You always did talk about your nightmares and the beatings when you were mindless.”

Had he? Hayes didn’t even know. “Why would you want me to do that?” He had awakened with his head in her lap. She’d been so kind… He froze. Was that why she had changed with him? Cora had never truly treated him with benevolence. No, that wasn’t true. She had tried to in the beginning. It had been him that pushed her away.

“Because she hated you. I wanted to give her a reason to pity you, too.” She sighed. “But the fool must not have truly hated you. That plan backfired on me.” She lifted the gun. “But I can take her away from you. Then you will never know happiness.” Her laugh was maniacal. “Your… whore must die.”

Hayes didn’t stop to think. There was only one thing he could do. He lunged forward and tackled her. The pistol went off and the shot went wide. “Cora,” he shouted. “Go get help.”

He didn’t stop to see if she did as he instructed. Hayes subdued the woman and took the pistol from her reach. Then he sat back and waited. The magistrate would have to be contacted. He prayed that he hadn’t lost Cora over this debacle. They had much to discuss. Like why she hadn’t mentioned his drugged ramblings. He didn’t doubt her love; however, he did wonder at the timing of it all.

Hayes sighed. Everything had seemed too perfect, of course, something had to go wrong. It wouldn’t be his life otherwise…

Cora sat in the drawing room and waited for Hayes. The magistrate had come to collect the lady’s maid, and he’d remained to answer any question the man might have. He had not glanced her way once in the entire time. She had only left momentarily to dress for the day. The rest of the household had started to waken. Wedding preparations were in progress. The next day Victoria would marry her earl. Cora was starting to wonder if she would actually marry hers.

Footsteps echoed down the hall. The door opened and Hayes stepped inside. He was so handsome her heart ached to gaze at him. He didn’t turn toward her. Hayes almost seemed to look past her. “We should talk.”

“We should,” she said. “But I want you to listen to me first.”

“That isn’t necessary,” he replied stiffly. “I heard all I needed to earlier.”

“Did you?” He turned his gaze toward her. “Because I don’t think you did.”

“What else is there to discuss?” He sighed. “We are still going to marry. I’ll leave tomorrow after the wedding for the special license.”

“I’m glad you are still planning a wedding between us,” she said in a soft tone. “But that is not all we need to discuss.” She crossed the room until she stood in front of him. Cora placed her hand on his chest. “I love you.”

He swallowed hard and glanced away. Hayes didn’t step out of her reach and she was grateful for that. “How can you love me?”

“Darling,” she said in a soothing tone. “I’ve always loved you. You’re the one that kept me at a distance. Nothing has changed. If you don’t love me…”

“Of course I love you,” he nearly shouted the words. “But…”

“There is not, but,” she said sternly. “You just said it. You love me. That’s all that matters.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Now kiss me before I decide that you can’t satisfy my needs and search for another man to marry.”

“Like hell you will.” He growled at her before he pressed his lips to her. He kissed her as if he might never have that pleasure again. The heat between them lit like a blaze, ready to consume them. This was what she had needed. The rest were just unnecessary details. They would see it to the end, and later, she would make him talk about all of this. But they had time. They had the rest of their lives, and she would love him through it all. He was never her enemy. Hayes was the love of her life and this was the beginning of their forever.