To Protect and to Cherish (16 page)

             
She stepped into the room and opened her mouth to speak. No sound came out.

             
She tried again, “Slade,” the sound was a mere squeak, but he spun around.

             
Jillian realized at that moment that she was standing in his room with just a shift and her stays. Her eyes widened and she made an attempt to cover herself.

             
He turned quickly away from her, “Jillian,” his voice sounded every bit as odd as hers.

             
She watched his shoulders rise and fall for a few beats. He was as nervous as she was.

             
She cleared her throat, “Is Oswin in here?”

             
He shook his head, but did not turn around. She walked forward until she was standing at his back.

             
“Is he coming in here to help you get ready for dinner?”

             
Slade shook his head again.

             
Jillian’s hands felt like lead. She knew what she wanted them to do, but she could not get them to obey.

             
Finally, she leaned toward him and pressed her forehead between his shoulder blades. He was warm, his skin was moist from his exertions. She inhaled deeply, smelling hard labor, horse, and fresh air.

             
“Jillian,” his hands still gripped the table in front of him, “I am dirty and smell rotten.”

             
His words gave her courage. She reached her hands around his middle and ran her hands up his chest, “I don’t care, Slade,” she spoke into his skin.

             
He covered her hands with his own for a moment before turning in her arms. She wasn’t sure what to do next, but Slade took matters into his own hands by scooping her up into his arms and carrying her to his bed.

             
Some time later she lay with her head on her husband’s chest, listening to the rapid pace of his heart.

             
“Why today, Jillian?” he stroked her mane of hair which had come completely free of its pins and combs.

             
She shook her head, “Because you were not home yesterday.”

             
He stopped moving his hand, “You mean you were ready yesterday?”

             
“You’ve been so tired, Slade. I did not wish to demand more of you when you were already working so hard.”

             
His loud laughter caused her to start.

             
“I would have put aside any fatigue for this, Jillian,” he assured her.

             
She scooted away from him and propped herself on an elbow, “Perhaps it is best you didn’t. You would not be alert enough to carry out your duties if you had wasted your energy on me.”

             
He propped himself up on his own elbow and faced her, “This is no waste of energy.”

             
She smiled, realizing he could see the blush in places other than her cheeks now, “I didn’t mean to imply it was, Slade. I just meant to say I knew it could wait.”

             
He reached out a hand and brushed a strand of hair away from her face, “You are breathtaking, my love.”

             
She pulled herself toward him and kissed his lips tenderly, “I need to dress for dinner.”

             
“So soon?” he was clearly disappointed.

             
She sat up, “I think it will take me a little longer than usual to become presentable.”

             
He smiled and watched her leave – wearing his dressing gown.

CHAPTER
10

“I wish you would tell me where we are going, Slade,” she
watched the footmen carrying her trunks downstairs after supper. “It is silly to add the strain of extra luggage to the horses. I am certain I packed more than I need.”

             
Slade took her to the sitting room and pulled her down to the sofa with him, “I do not imagine it made that much difference.”

             
She allowed him to take her hand in his.

             
“Are you tired?” he leaned into her hair.

             
She smiled and shook her head, “No, but I think I may go to bed anyway.”

             
He angled his body away from her so he could look at her face, “Your bed?”

             
She looked down at her lap, “If you wish.”

             
Slade rose suddenly, effectively unseating her. He caught her in his arms before she fell to the floor, however, and carried her into his room, using his foot to shut the door behind them.

             
Jillian awoke the following morning to a peculiar sensation on her arm. Thinking it was a bug, she swatted at it, but it persisted.

             
She opened one eye and glared in that direction. It was a finger, tracing patterns on her skin.

             
“Are you one of those people who is out of sorts in the morning?” Slade was propped up on one elbow, looking at her.

             
She pulled the sheet up to her neck and rolled onto her back, “I am not out of sorts; I am just trying to sleep.”

             
“But we need to get up so we can leave,” he urged.

             
Jillian opened the other eye and stretched, “I suppose when you put it that way, I must get up.”

             
Slade leaned forward and dropped a kiss on her nose, “Wouldn’t want to keep the mystery waiting.”

             
She muttered something about peace and quiet before yanking the sheet from Slade’s bed and exiting to her own room as regally as a queen.

             
Slade got up and closed the adjoining door, assuming Jillian would call Erin to help her dress. He washed and readied himself for the day before going to find her. He toyed with the idea of knocking at their private door, but decided he would be better off entering through the sitting room.

             
“Come in,” she answered his knock.

             
“It’s me,” called out as he opened the door.

             
Erin was standing behind Jillian, knotting the duchess’s hair tightly.

             
Jillian was dressed and smiling, “Good morning,” she spoke as if this was the first time she had seen him this morning.

             
“You look lovely,” he sat next to her. “Will you want breakfast in here or downstairs.”

             
“Downstairs, unless you do not plan to join me.”

             
He leaned back in his chair, “I am all yours for the next two weeks, love. Where you go – I go.”

             
She felt her heart flip over in her chest.

             
“I think you have it backward,” she responded.

             
“Hmm?”

             
“I believe we should say that where you go – I go. You are leading the way, are you not?”

             
He winked at her – right in front of Erin – and stood up, “Now that I recall that,” he extended his hand and waited for her to take it.

             
Jillian didn’t even bother asking Erin if all the pins were in place. She took Slade’s hand and rose.

             
“Thank you, Erin,” she called over her shoulder as her husband led her down to the breakfast room.

CHAPTER 11

Two weeks at the shore were not enough for Jillian to get her fill of her husband. The cottage he had let was near the shore, but the weather had turned cool and damp.

              Jillian did not care, though. Nor was Slade complaining. They enjoyed the time alone.

             
“I shall not be sad to get back home,” Jillian admitted as the carriage neared the village, “but I will miss you.”

             
He pulled her hand into his lap, “Am I going somewhere?”

             
Jillian sighed, “You are pulled in all directions, Slade. I cannot expect to have all your attention.”

             
“You can expect more of it than before,” he spoke sincerely. “I truly am not as busy in the winter as I am in the fall.”

             
She smiled up at him, hoping this was true. She had grown quite accustomed to his presence.

             
“And if you find yourself with too much time on your hands, you can appeal to my sister. She has said she would take up riding with you, has she not?”

             
Jillian looked out the window at the falling rain, “I fear we will not be doing that until the spring.”

             
The winter was mild, so Amy and Jillian did have an opportunity to ride.

             
“Slade said he was going to come and watch you,” Jillian stood and watched Amy seated on a stationary Gacela, “but I told him you did not need an audience.”

             
Amy was sitting astride, gripping the reins with all her strength, “Thank you for that kindness. Anthony is occupied today with a dispute between two tenants. He also wished to watch the event.”

             
Jillian smiled, “Shall we walk about a bit?”

             
Amy’s eyes swung from the horse’s head to her friend’s face, “Do we have to?”

             
“No,” the younger woman laughed, “but this is not actually riding.”

             
Amy chewed her lip, “Perhaps you could just lead me about?”

             
Jillian took the reins and clicked to the horse, prompting the mare to move forward.

             
After several turns about the ring, Amy decided it was safe.

             
“Will you walk next to me if we go down the lane a bit?”

             
“Would you like me to ride Jemma or walk?”

             
Amy grimaced.

             
Jillian waved to Peter, “I think I will not need Jemma today,” she smiled at the groom. “Thank you.”

             
By the time the women walked up and down the lane twice – or Jillian and Gacela walked while Amy rode – Amy was comfortable on the horse.

             
“Perhaps you should have Peter saddle Jemma and we can ride together,” Amy suggested.

             
“I think you have ridden long enough today, Amy,” Jillian remembered her own sore muscles after her first day of riding.

             
Amy was willing to get down without further discussion, so Jillian was sure she had said the right thing.

             
“Do you mind if I come over tomorrow?” Amy asked as they walked away from the stable.

             
“I would enjoy that very much,” Jillian stepped up to Amy’s carriage, “and I will ride beside you this time.”

             
“You did not have Peter unsaddle Gacela. Will you be riding?”

             
“I believe she is itching for a run,” Jillian admitted.

             
Amy entered her carriage and turned to look at Jillian, “I am glad to leave that part of her exercise to you.”

             
The following morning brought Amy as promised, but the woman walked so stiffly she drew stares from the staff.             

             
“How is it that you came away from yesterday’s outing without so much as a kink in your neck?” Amy groaned as they sat together in the parlor.

Jillian laughed, “I assure you, I was not so comfortable the day after I first rode. I could scarcely believe it when
Slade told me I should get back up on the animal again.”

“Did you?”

“I did – and felt better for it.”

Amy dropped her chin to her chest, “I do not think I can do it.”

“I believe you can,” Jillian stood up and grabbed her sister-in-law’s hand, “and I know something that will make it easier.”

Amy followed the younger woman, but slowly due to the general pain in her body, “I hope it involves lying still and never having to move again.”

Jillian grinned, “It does involve lying down.”

Soon, Amy was lying on her face on Jillian’s bed in just her shift, “I feel quite silly.”