He pulled back. “We should stop,” he said, trying to catch his breath and release her before the kitchen staff walked by and caught him with his hands on her.
“We should,” she said. “I’m not behaving like a proper chaperone.”
“You are a terrible chaperone,” he said.
“Just for that.” She grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him to her again. This time they stumbled back until he had her pressed up against the wall. His hands slid—accidentally, of course—to her backside. God, it was so round and plump and perfect. How was he supposed to stop kissing her when she felt like this in his arms?
She did something with her tongue no innocent woman should know how to do, and he felt himself grow rock hard. He could imagine so many delicious things she might do with that tongue.
And of course, that was the moment the kitchen door opened. The light hit them both, and Stratford pushed Emmeline behind him to shield her from the innkeeper’s view. The man’s brows rose. “I’m so sorry, sir.”
Stratford cleared his throat, feeling like a naughty schoolboy. “No matter. I see you have the food we ordered. I’ll let the others know we may eat now.” And he’d tell them to stubble it before the innkeeper heard more than he’d already been treated to.
“Miss Wellesley.” He gestured for Emmeline to precede him and tried valiantly not to look at her bottom as she moved in front of him. When she opened the door, she cleared her throat before he had a chance.
“Dinner has arrived,” she said, giving them all a quelling look that made him want to push her up against the wall all over again. Duncan and Phineas, who had been at each other’s throats, parted and straightened their coats, while Miss Neves, who had been standing on a table, stepped down. They all took seats, Stratford across from Emmeline, Miss Neves at the head of the table, and Murray and Mayne glaring at each other from across the table. The innkeeper set the food down and scurried out of the room, returning a moment later with decanters of wine. Stratford needed a healthy dose of it. Besides the tension in the room from the Highlander and the duke, he couldn’t stop looking at Emmeline and imagining lowering her bodice to free those impressive breasts.
God, he wanted to touch her again.
“I have a suggestion,” Emmeline said. Stratford sincerely doubted it was the same one he was thinking of. “It has been a long day for everyone, and tempers are short. Why don’t we all get a good night’s sleep and discuss things in the morning.”
“Fine,” the duke said. “It’s not as though we can start back for Town this late.”
Miss Neves said something in Portuguese Stratford didn’t understand. Judging from her tone of voice, it was not complimentary. Phineas had been known for his skills as a negotiator during the war. He would need all of those skills tomorrow if he was to persuade the lacemaker to return with him. Stratford looked at Emmeline and wondered what decision she would make. Would she return as well or remain determined to travel north to stay with her grandmother? If the latter, they too would need a chaperone. Stratford didn’t trust himself alone with her any longer.
INES
“Where are you going?” Emmeline asked, causing Ines to freeze halfway to the door. She had been so quiet, but it was almost impossible not to wake someone when they were sleeping in the bed beside you.
“To the privy,” Ines whispered, hoping the other woman would turn over and go back to sleep.
“We have a chamber pot.” Emmeline sat and peered at her in the low firelight. “And you are fully dressed.”
“Fine.” Ines pretended to be chastised. “I want to make certain Mr. Murray has no fever.”
“The duke said he would stay with Murray.” Emmeline’s blue eyes narrowed. “You are running away.” She threw back the covers, revealing she was still fully dressed. “Are you mad? You cannot leave on your own.”
“You look ready to leave yourself.”
Emmeline waved a hand, dismissing her concern. “I have Loftus.”
The women both glanced at the dog, who was sleeping on a blanket on the floor, snoring softly.
“And I have somewhere to go. My grandmother will take me in. Where will you go?”
Ines felt her shoulders droop and sat on the edge of the bed. “I do not know. I only know I cannot go back yet. I cannot! All my life I have wanted an adventure. All my life I have wanted romance and to fall in love.”
Emmeline’s jaw dropped open. “Are you eloping with Mr. Murray?”
“Não. He does not want to marry me.”
Emmeline crossed her arms. “You obviously have not seen the way he looks at you. He’d like to do more than kiss you, and men have been known to marry for lesser reasons.”
Ines felt a sudden burst of excitement. “How does he look at me? With lust? Oh, this is wonderful!”
Emmeline shook her head. “You are hopeless. You cannot run away on your own. I had better come with you.”
Ines took her hand. “You would do that?”
“Of course.” She gathered up her few belongings, and the movement woke the dog, who jumped to his feet, tongue lolling with interest. “Leave the candle. We do not want anyone to see us. Quietly now.”
Ines opened the door, but before she could step out, Loftus made a small whining sound. Ines looked down and into the eyes of Duncan Murray, who was lying across the door.
“I thought ye might try something,” he said, looking pleased with himself.
Ines peered down the hallway to make sure no one else was there then grabbed Murray’s uninjured arm and pulled him into the room. She closed the door then glared at him. “Why are you sleeping on the floor? You are injured, senhor! You should be resting.”
“I slept all day. Phineas tried to give me laudanum, but I switched drinks with him and now he’s snoring louder than a drove of piglets.”
Ines was actually impressed. “That means he will sleep most of the morning and perhaps into the afternoon. We will be long gone.”
“And where are we going, lassies? Surely the two of ye dinnae think tae cast oot on yer own.”
And of course, the idiot had to go and act like a man again. “We can take care of ourselves. For years Catarina and I survived on our own. I am not helpless.”
“Well, be that as it may, I will go with ye. I take it ye dinnae plan tae go back tae London. Will ye consider continuing with me tae Scotland?”
“I would not mind seeing Scotland,” Emmeline said.
“It’s settled then,” Murray said. “We go now, before dawn, and we walk until we find a farmer willing tae let us ride in his cart.”
Emmeline frowned. “What about the coach and driver?”
Murray shook his head. “Too easy for Draven and Mayne tae track. How do ye think he found us?”
Ines looked from Murray to Emmeline. “What about Mr. Fortescue?”
Emmeline shook her head. “He’s only stayed with us out of a sense of obligation toward me. He’d much rather go home. Now he will be able to return.”
Murray let out a bark of laughter. “If ye think he will just run home and give up, ye dinnae ken him verra well, lass.”
Emmeline gave him a stony look. “Shall we wake him and waste more time in discussions or leave now and put some distance between the duke and ourselves?”