The silence that remained was painful and the unblinking gaze with which her husband was watching Mr. Browning did not bode well.
“You will disappear from Francie’s life. Either you go to the West Indies with an escort of mine, or your body will be found on the road heading north. Your choice.”
In that moment, Tobias scared her, for she could see the chilling resolve within him. He was quite capable of killing his steward. “Tobias, I—”
He glanced at her, and his face was etched in a hard, unforgiving manner. “Mr. Browning and I have much to discuss, countess. I would appreciate your discretion at this moment.”
Livvie hesitated, and then with a nod, exited. Could she have prevented all this heartache? Was it really her wild heart that had influenced Francie to be so reckless? Would Tobias forgive her?
Chapter Sixteen
Moonlight bathed the land in an ethereal glow. From the window of their small but tastefully furnished chamber, Livvie watched Tobias with utmost discreetness. She did not want him to know she ogled him in such a blatant and wanton manner. It had only been a few hours since he had booted Mr. Browning from their lives.
Tobias had been generous enough to offer him a place at one of his estates in the West Indies as the steward. Mr. Browning could take his family to Jamaica, and perhaps the sun and lack of England’s cruel winters may give his wife a chance of life. Livvie also surmised her earl wanted the man as far away from England and from his sister as possible. But he had been generous indeed, for with his wealth and undeniable influence he could have sentenced the steward to the press gang or worse, death, and not an eyelash would flicker. Tobias had then announced there was no scandal, and they would treat it as a jaunt to Scotland and nothing more.
A simple dinner of baked trout and potatoes was had, and after several minutes of strained conversation, Francie fled in tears. Tobias had been bitingly polite as he excused himself and disappeared from the cottage.
It was after Livvie had taken a bath and was perched by the window that she had seen him in the distance, stripped to the waist, his feet dancing lightly, his hands punching and jabbing the air as he boxed with an unseen opponent in a primal rhythm. Need stirred hot and deep inside as she observed the play of muscles across his back and shoulders. Her husband was a powerfully made man, a gorgeous one. To look at him was immensely pleasurable and tenderness stirred in her heart.
He spun gracefully and her breath hitched. Did he see her? His hands flowed, and the expanse of his chest twisted like a snake as he moved to an invisible rhythm. Acting on impulse, she shrugged on her riding coat, and slipped her feet into slippers and hurried down the stairs. The cottage was silent, and only the crackle of the fireplace in the small drawing room could be heard. She headed through the kitchen and opened the latch on the backdoor and clambered down a few cobbled steps. Livvie moved carefully through a small back garden and around to the glen where she had spied Tobias. She faltered when, as she broke the corner, they came face-to-face.
“I…hello,” she said, somewhat breathlessly.
He was silent, watching her with icy green eyes.
“Wife.”
Her eyes took in the light sheen of sweat on his skin, the beauty of his body, his appealing maleness. “You are quite magnificent, husband.” The brutal power of his body, all muscle and sinew, was the most appealing image she had ever seen. Her fingers itched for a paintbrush and canvas to capture the raw, beautiful imagery of her husband. “I want to paint you,” she said huskily. “Just like this.” Livvie trailed her fingers over his chest.
He stared at her, seemingly transfixed, and he didn’t make a sound.
She moved closer to him. “What is it that you are practicing?”
At first, she thought he would ignore her, then he exhaled and tugged her to him.
“Boxing.”
He spun, his movements so fluid and graceful, so that she was facing away from him and her back nestled against his chest. He dipped his head and inhaled at her neck, and her heart tripped in pleasure.
“Whenever I…I feel with too much intensity, I find a quiet place and I practice.” He nuzzled her neck.
“Will you teach me?”
She felt his smile against her.
“Perhaps,” he murmured.
He shaped her fingers so that she spread her hands wide with his. Tobias pushed her forward and flowed in a rhythm, controlling her movements. It felt natural to dip with him, to allow him to lead her in the gentle but somehow sensual and provocative movements.
“I feel as if we are dancing,” she said softly.
They moved together for a few minutes until her motions seemed more fluid. She tipped her head to the night sky, the chill in the air forgotten as a slow burn started to build in her blood. She felt relaxed and stirred in the same breath. “Have you forgiven Francie?”
“Is there truly anything to forgive?”
“Perhaps not. It is sad she is so heartbroken. I could hear her weeping from her chamber. It takes bravery to go against family and society’s expectation for love.”
He sighed.
“No blistering retort declaring that love is nonsense?”
He spun her to face him. “No. There is something between my sister and Mr. Browning. Is it love? I do not know. When I first saw them in the parlor, a part of me wished I could leave them be. Even though I wanted to crush him for the heartache I knew she would endure. I desperately wished his circumstances had changed in the three years since I hired him, as I realized Francie would be content to live with him here for the rest of their lives.”
“The poor misguided fool,” Livvie said softly.
“He wept when I informed him he could never see my sister or speak with her again, he wept unashamedly,” Tobias murmured.
“And…and how will the scandal be weathered?”
“As how I’ve weathered all of them since I understood the cogs that kept society turning. With power, influence, and a good deal of thick hide.”
She rested the side of her face against his chest. “And I shall weather it with you.”
“I am glad you came with me.”
“You are?”
“Yes, I am certain If I had been alone, I would have beaten Mr. Browning to a pulp and then discarded his body somewhere,” he said lightly.
“And I am certain you are underestimating your honor. I do not think you have to fear from your temper. The very fact that you want to guard others against your anger, speaks much of your character.”
He framed her face with his powerful hands and tugged her closer. He kissed her thoroughly, and Livvie responded with helpless greed, desire roaring though her veins. He lifted her with easy strength, walking through the beaten-down path to the back door of the cottage, never releasing her from his drugging and somewhat violent kisses. Sensations cascaded through her quickly and so intensely she quaked in his arms. Somehow they reached their chamber, and he tumbled her to the bed with a satisfied groan that reverberated to the core of her.
She ached so desperately. With swift motions, he stripped her until she was gloriously naked, then he eased from her and removed his trousers and for the first time, she got a perfect look at her husband from the soft glow of moonlight spilling through the windows. He was so physically arresting her breath seized.