“My family will be beside themselves with worry.”
“Perhaps you should have considered that before you set out to visit a bachelor on your own.” He hadn’t meant to snap at her but lord help him if he wasn’t losing whatever remained of his patience. Regretting the outburst, he forced himself to calmly ask, “Does no one know where you were headed?”
“I did inform my lady’s maid.”
“Well then. There you are. She will no doubt reveal your secret in order to appease your family. They will then realize what happened – that you were forced to seek shelter with me until it was safe to return.”
“They might make us marry.”
Robert gave her a weary nod. There was no getting around that potential dilemma. “Come. I suggest we return to the warmth of my home before we turn into snowmen. We can continue this discussion there.”
He helped her mount his horse, then swung up behind her and gently urged the stallion forward at a moderate pace. Snug between his thighs and with her back pressed into his chest, Robert could not regret what had happened no matter how much he told himself to. He should not find her attractive, nor should he harbor a secret pleasure over the thought of keeping her trapped with him for a while longer. He ought to hate her, despise her, wish her to perdition.
He’d tried that, but it hadn’t worked and now, with the weather seemingly wishing to thwart his attempts at adding distance, he might as well surrender himself to the idea of having her near. A lot could happen while she remained in his care. A spike of arousal swept through him in spite of the cold. It had been months since he’d last been this close to a woman. Cursing himself for the scoundrel he was, he tightened his grip on the reins.
“Please ready a room for Miss Townsbridge,” he told Dartwood when they returned. “The weather seems to be against us, so she shall be staying here. For the moment.”
“Yes, my lord,” Dartwood said without displaying the slightest hint of shock. “Shall I have a couple of hot baths prepared?”
“Please do,” Robert said. He helped Athena off with her cloak. It did not escape his notice that she was trembling. He met Dartwood’s gaze. “Make haste, if you would.”
As soon as the butler was gone, Robert tore off his greatcoat and reached for Athena’s hands.
“Wha-what are you doing?”
“Helping.” He tugged at her gloves, tossed them aside on the hallway table, and brought her hands close to his mouth so he could blow warmth upon them. He rubbed the icy fingers with his own, blew on them once again, and finally, when he was satisfied that the majority of her chill had subsided, pulled her into the parlor so she could warm herself near the fire while they waited.
“I’m such an idiot,” he heard her say after a few moments of silence. “Forgive me.”
He crossed to the side table and poured two measures of brandy. He handed one of the tumblers to her. “This will soothe your insides and make you feel better.”
She took the glass with thanks and drank like a woman who wasn’t a stranger to hard spirits. He almost chuckled. Of course she wasn’t. She’d probably pilfered her father’s liquor before the age of fourteen, if only for the sake of broadening her horizons.
A satisfied sigh left her before she said, “It was wrong of me to come here as I did, to barge in on your life without invitation. I’m sorry. I have an unfortunate inclination to act before I think.”
“You don’t say.”
“And once again with dire consequences for you.” She gave her head a violent shake and turned her gaze toward the flickering flames in the grate.
“Let’s weather one storm at a time, shall we. As long as we’re able to keep your sojourn here a secret, we might get through it without any matrimonial vows at the end.” He studied her shapely figure, unable to tear his gaze away – completely unwilling to try. Her gown was made for winter, woolen, with long sleeves and a neckline intended to offer additional warmth. It was proper, save for the contours it put on prominent display.
With her back turned toward him, he feasted his gaze on the base of her neck instead, on the creamy expanse of unblemished skin caught between her upswept hair and the spot where her gown began. The fire crackled and he drew a ragged breath at the thought of trailing his finger along that soft flesh – of pressing a kiss there.
“One can only hope.” She turned, her eyes fractured with shards of emotion. “Lord knows I am not the sort of woman any man wants for a wife.”
Anger coiled its way around him. He wanted to shout at her, demand she explain why she thought this way, and insist she take the words back. No matter the wrongdoings of her youth, she still deserved to find happiness with a husband who loved her for who she was. No matter how much he’d blamed her over the years, he’d never wished her ill, and he’d certainly never imagined her actions might cause her to think she would be denied an affectionate husband. A thousand words crammed together in his throat, but he could not get a single one out. So he simply stood there, a silent witness to her self-deprecation, until Dartwood came to inform them that their baths had been prepared.
Gritting his teeth, Robert escorted Athena upstairs and directed her toward the bedchamber where she’d be staying. “Meet me in the library when you are ready. There’s a great deal more we need to discuss.”
Chapter Three
SINKING INTO THE HOT water, Athena savored the bliss of complete relaxation. It had been an eventful day so far and it wasn’t over yet. Snatching up the nearby soap, she proceeded to wash herself. The scent of roses mingled with the steam as she worked the soap into a frothy lather. Warmth infused her limbs to chase away any lingering chill. She was safe now, out of the storm.
A helpless smile caught the edge of her mouth. Despite her best efforts to avoid getting into trouble, the weather had chosen to thwart her, landing her under the roof of a man who wanted nothing to do with her. Very well, best efforts would in all likelihood have involved not coming here in the first place, but still. Her plan had been perfect to her mind; come, say her piece, and leave.
Setting the soap aside, she sank deeper into the water. She hoped Darlington was right and her maid would tell her family where she had gone so they wouldn’t worry too much. Athena’s smile slipped. Her parents would have her hide when she returned. And she could not blame them. Once again her reckless behavior – her foolish belief she could fix things with nary a thought to the consequences – threatened to wreak havoc on someone else’s life. On Darlington’s life.
God. If ever there was a man with the right to despise her, it was he.
She rose from the bath and snatched up a towel. Time to get ready and face the reprimand he would surely give her. When they’d parted ways half an hour earlier, he had not looked the least bit pleased. A sigh left her as she reached for the dress she’d been lent by one of the maids. Her own gown was sopping wet and the hem was covered in flecks of dirt from the ride over, so the housekeeper had insisted on having it cleaned. Although her breeches were fine, she couldn’t very well wear them without a shirt.
Choosing not to add her attire to the list of concerns, she rang for a maid to help tie her stays, then put on the dress. Cut from a practical brown shade of cotton, it wasn’t as warm as her own, but at least it was dry.