The Tantalizing Miss Coale (The Notorious Coale Brothers) (5 page)

Her whole body was singing, nerves quivering each time he
touched her. The lamp had gone out and the fire had died to a mere glow. Ben was
now only a dark shadow above her. She reached down to caress his aroused body,
moving her hands gently, reverently over the taut muscle. He groaned at her
touch and lowered his head to claim her mouth, his tongue probing deep until she
was drowning in his kiss and she wrapped her arms about him, holding him
tight.

She gave a little gasp as he entered her but she was slick and
hot and there was no pain, only intense satisfaction to feel him inside her.
Ben’s slow, steady movement gradually quickened. She was losing control as the
rapturous sensations took over her body. No longer drowning, she was flying. She
bucked and trembled. Someone cried out but she did not know if it was her voice
or Ben’s, and the next moment her body was paralysed by such a spasm of ecstasy
that she could only cling on, her fingers digging into his shoulders.

‘Oh, oh, I did not
know
,’ she
whispered. He was enveloping her, above, around, inside her. She was acutely
aware of him, hard and heavy within her. Even as she lay back, exhausted, he
kissed her again, nibbling at her lower lip, his tongue teasing and exciting
while he started to move, deep, steady strokes that revived the slumbering fires
inside her. As he pushed deeper she threw her legs around his waist, clinging to
him. With a groan he began to cover her face with hot, urgent kisses. Her whole
body was on fire, her senses so inflamed that every movement, every touch was
almost too pleasurable. She gasped, cried out for him to stop—to go on. His arms
tightened as her body tensed and shuddered. She pushed hard against him while
her world splintered and she cried out with the sheer joy of it. She was vaguely
aware of clinging to Ben’s rigid body as she felt herself falling, falling
through the darkness and into...nothing.

They lay side by side, breathing heavily. With a sigh Ben
reached for some of their clothes to cover them.

‘You are mine now,’ he whispered, pulling her close. ‘Mine. I
will never let you go again.’

* * *

It was early when Sally woke. She lay still for a few
moments, eyes closed, listening to the birds singing outside the window.
Unusually, there was a faint smell of woodsmoke in the air. She was not in her
room at Markham, but she felt very comfortable. Safe and warm. Then the memories
of the past few days crept in. Cautiously she opened her eyes. The ceiling
looked very high, but that was because she was lying on the floor. Ben’s
greatcoat made a thin and lumpy mattress and she had only his jacket and her
voluminous riding skirts as a blanket, so the feeling of security must be due to
the fact that Ben was curled around her, his naked body pressed close, keeping
her warm. Her heart swelled with an unexpected longing. She wanted this moment
to go on forever.

Ben opened his eyes.

‘Good morning.’ He pulled her close and kissed her.

Immediately her body responded and she wondered if he would
take her again as he had done last night. When he moved away she realised how
much she wanted him to make love to her. She contented herself with watching him
as he sat up and reached for his shirt, which had somehow ended up over the back
of the settle. His brown hair was loose and fell almost to his shoulders. She
remembered running her fingers through those tangled locks and wanted to do so
again. Her gaze moved on over his broad shoulders to the muscled contours of his
back. She gave a little gasp.

‘How did you get these?’

Gently she reached out and touched one of the long white scars
that criss-crossed his skin. She ran her fingers gently over the raised wheals.
The scars were not new, but she shivered at the pain that had been inflicted
upon him.

‘That was your dear papa’s parting gift to me.’

He spoke coolly but she snatched back her hand as if he had
burned her. He dragged his shirt over his head.

‘I don’t understand.’ She struggled to sit up. ‘Did you come
back, after I had told you I could not marry you?’

‘No, my sweet, but our meeting was not quite so secret as we
thought. When you left me, your father and his henchmen were waiting. He took a
horsewhip to me, so I should not forget my insolence in aspiring to his
daughter’s hand.’

Her hands crept to her mouth.

‘I did not know,’ she whispered, horrified.

‘That is not the impression your papa gave me.’

‘You think I would have allowed such a thing?’ He had his back
to her, and although the soft linen now concealed the disfiguring marks they
were burned into her memory. She reached out and touched his arm. ‘Ben.’

He moved away quickly, whether by accident or design she did
not know.

‘Here.’ He picked up her chemise and held it out. ‘We had best
get dressed.’

Sally had not noticed the chill of the room until then. Or was
it the thought of those hideous marks on his back that made her shiver? No
wonder Ben wanted revenge upon her father. Perhaps last night had been part of
that revenge. It was a lowering thought, but perfectly reasonable. Her eyes
smarted. Whatever the consequences, she would never hold it against Ben.

‘We should leave as soon as we have broken our fast,’ he said,
shrugging on his coat. ‘Would you like me to light the fire? We could make
coffee.’

‘No, thank you. Do not do so for my sake.’

No fire or warm drink would thaw the icy block that was forming
inside her.

They shared what was left of last night’s meal and slaked their
thirst with a little water from the flask Ben carried. In truth, Sally wanted
nothing, but even though the food tasted like ash in her mouth she forced
herself to eat, for she had no idea what the day would bring, or when she would
be able to eat again. When they had finished Ben turned to her.

‘Now, we must think what we are to do with you.’

‘You said you would escort me to Murton.’

‘But you will still be in danger. Do you think your father will
not look for you, that he will not obtain another deposition from the doctors to
say you are insane?’

She crossed her arms, trying not to tremble.

‘I had thought of that. My stay in Murton is only temporary. I
plan to disappear.’

‘And do what?’

She wanted to reach out for him, for the comfort of his arms,
but that was impossible, so she got up and began to tidy the room.

‘I have no idea. Governess. Seamstress, perhaps.’

‘And do you think your father will give up that easily?’

‘No, but I have to try, and I will not involve my brothers. I
will not bring Papa’s wrath down upon them, too.’

‘I have another solution.’ She looked at him then. ‘It comes
back to the choice of marriage or the asylum. Marry me. We are only a few days
from the border. Once you are my wife you will be safe forever from your
father.’

Thankfully she was so close to the table she could lean against
it, otherwise she was sure she would have collapsed.

‘Why?’ she asked him, forcing the word out through her dry
lips.

‘Why not? I am six-and-twenty. It is time I took a wife.’

She went back to her tidying. Why not, indeed? Perhaps he was
using her to punish her father, but what did it matter? He had loved her once
and she...well, what was the old saying? Half a loaf is better than none. Half a
loaf was certainly better than being pronounced a lunatic.

‘A sensible solution, then.’ She forced her dry lips into a
smile. ‘Very well, I will marry you.’

‘Sal—’

She turned away. Fighting back the tears she said brightly, ‘We
had best be moving. The sooner we reach Scotland the better, don’t you
think?’

* * *

Ben watched her bustling around the room. It was not the
proposal he had intended to make to her, with tender words and assurances of
undying affection. He cursed himself. Just when he needed his most polished
address he had turned into an inarticulate fool. Her response had shown him
that
. A sensible solution
, she had said. When
had Sally Coale ever been sensible? She was teasing him, but after last night
she must know he was in earnest. He had tried to stay aloof, to tell himself she
was a scheming hussy but his heart had always known the truth. She was
headstrong and wilful, yes, but she was also kind and generous, brave and
spirited. For her to be locked away from the world as a madwoman was not
something he would allow.

He resisted the temptation to take her in his arms and show her
how much he cared. Once he started kissing her he might not be able to stop and
Sally was right, there was no time to lose. Nettleton would surely have notified
Lord Markham that his daughter had run away, and the viscount was not a man to
be crossed lightly. If he should discover them before Ben could make Sally his
wife then it could be difficult to prevent him taking her back. Not that he
wouldn’t try. Remembering how she had felt in his arms last night, Ben knew that
he would stop at nothing to keep Sally by his side.

‘Shall we hire another horse?’ she asked him. ‘Morgan cannot
carry us both all the way to the border.’

Much as he had enjoyed having her in his arms he had to
agree.

‘That would make us too conspicuous. Stay here while I ride to
the Hall and see what I can do.’

Less than two hours later he returned with a smart curricle
pulled by two high-stepping horses.

‘It belonged to my relative’s husband,’ he explained, seeing
her look of surprise when he pulled up at the door. ‘Thankfully Lady Margaret
could not bring herself to part with the carriage or the horses he purchased
with it.’ As he helped her up he pointed to the trunk strapped on the back. ‘She
also sent along a few things you might need for the journey. It will look better
for you if you have some luggage, you know.’

‘That is very kind of her,’ replied Sally, bemused. ‘But does
she know—’

‘Oh, yes,’ he grinned. ‘And she insists we make our first stop
with her on our return journey. Your first official visit as Mrs Ben Hensley. We
will try to make Appleby today. That will leave us with only twenty miles or so
to the border. We could be married by tomorrow night. What do you say, Sal?’

‘Yes, let us try, by all means.’

‘Good girl.’

Sally put up a hand to her hat as he set the team in motion.
Good girl
. Perhaps he did not hate her, then.
That was something. Half a loaf.

* * *

They made good time following the coaching roads, but
they were some miles short of Appleby when he slowed up. Sally had been dozing
beside him, but the change in pace roused her.

‘Where are we?’

‘Brough. You are exhausted, we shall stop here for the
night.’

‘Oh, but I am not doing anything, merely sitting beside you. If
you want to go on—’

He held up his hand.

‘We have travelled far enough today. We shall still make the
border tomorrow. Come, let me help you down. This place is very busy,’ he
murmured, taking her arm and escorting her into the building. ‘That might help
us escape notice.’

The landlord came bustling to meet them and in answer to Ben’s
pleasant enquiry replied that he could indeed find a room for them.

‘What name would it be, sir?’

‘Woods.’ Ben glanced down at Sally, his eyes brimming with
mischief. ‘Mr. and Mrs. Woods.’

* * *

Despite her fatigue Sally smiled, and some of the doubts
that had been assailing her during the drive began to abate. They had always
shared the same sense of humour. They had also been friends. Perhaps they could
be again.

* * *

Their room was a large one with two windows overlooking
the street.

‘I hope the noise won’t disturb you,’ said Ben.

‘I doubt it will.’ Sally removed her hat and put a hand to her
flattened curls. ‘I think I could sleep for a week.’

‘Oh, I hope not.’ As he reached out for her she turned away,
but not before he had seen the panic in her eyes.

His hands dropped to his sides. Perhaps she was regretting her
decision to come with him. He wanted to ask her, but was suddenly afraid of the
answer.

* * *

They were achingly polite to each other while the
servants brought in their dinner, and afterwards, when the table had been
cleared and they were alone, he saw her eyes travel frequently towards the big
curtained bed. The clock chimed eleven. He said gently, ‘Would you rather I
bespoke a separate room for you?’

She quickly disclaimed the idea. ‘We are almost husband and
wife, are we not?’ She managed a shy smile. ‘And I mean to be a good wife to
you.’

He put his hands on her shoulders, saying gently, ‘I do not
want a
good
wife, Sal. I want a willing one. Did I
hurt you? Last night...did I frighten you?’

‘No—no.’

‘Then what is it Sal? What is worrying you?’

He watched the movement in her slender throat as she
swallowed.

‘You told me you rescued me from Henry to...to thwart Papa. Is
that why you are marrying me, too?’

‘Lord, no.’ Relief flooded through him. ‘You are the only woman
I have ever desired for my bride. Last night I thought you wanted me, too. I
would not have taken advantage of you.’

‘You are very kind,’ she said quickly.

‘Kind! Is that what you think of me?’

With a cry she threw up her arms, pushing his hands away.

‘I do not know
what
to think of
you,’ she cried. ‘You burst back into my life, raking up all those memories,
showing me how much I—’

‘Yes?’ Ben’s voice was little more than a croak and he held his
breath waiting for her to finish the sentence.

‘How much I...love you.’

He closed his eyes, the breath draining from him. He had not
been mistaken.

‘That is all I wanted to know.’