Trust, he'd said to her once. This is trust.

She would have to trust that he would always do what was best for her, even if she did not agree with his methods. Would she not do the same to protect him?

Filled with feelings that had no outlet, she sank to her knees and opened her mouth, giving him the pleasure she knew he desired.

Ahhh...how she loved it as well. The silky feel of him, his ravished gasp, those long fingers clenched in her hair.

"Yes," he cried as he thrust his hips gently, his b.u.t.tocks like stone within her palms. "I would die for this."

A moment later he lifted her and carried her to the bed, her night rail drifting over her head to be cast aside. She sank into softness, covered by hardness and everything melted as he lifted her thigh and slid deep within her.

The strength of him, the hard length of his thrusting c.o.c.k, the damp skin, the near unbearable intimacy, was diminished by the intensity of his gaze.

Awash in heat and consumed by the memory of his words, she wrapped her arms around his straining body and cried with joy. Her tears wet his shoulder, mixed with his sweat, bound them together. Her body seized beneath his, suspended in o.r.g.a.s.m, held there by the steady plunge and withdrawal Marcus knew would prolong her pleasure.

And when he joined her, when he shuddered against her and cried out her name, she set her mouth to his ear and spoke her heart.

Chapter 21

"Mr. Christopher St. John has come to call, my lady." Elizabeth looked up from her novel and stared at the butler with mouth agape. She dropped the book on the settee next to her and rose. "Where did you put him?"

"In the lower parlor, my lady."

Marcus had departed with the steward to survey some tenant properties that required repair. Elaine had retired for an afternoon nap, and Robert and Paul had gone to the village only an hour past. She was alone, but unafraid, nodding at the two guards who stood on either side of the parlor door.

Taking a deep breath, she swept into the room. St. John rose when she entered, splendidly attired and angelically handsome. He smiled and the brief reminiscence of Nigel momentarily disconcerted her.

As she drew closer, she noted he appeared leaner, the ever-present shadows under his eyes were darker, and while his bearing was as proud as ever, she could sense the weariness beneath the facade.

"Rather daring of you to come calling here."

He shrugged. "I half expected to see Westfield charging through that door. I 'm relieved it's you instead. I 'm not worthy of a fight right now." He glanced over her head. "Where is his lordship?"

"Near enough."

His blond brows lifted, and his lips curved. "As long as he gives me a wide berth, I 'll manage."

"Eldridge is searching for you."

Immediately the smile left Christopher's face. "I know."

"You say you want to help me, but you place my life in jeopardy by maintaining your silence."

He spun away, moving toward the window to brush aside the curtain and stare at the front circular drive. "I never wanted to involve you. I knew the man was vile, but to use you, to threaten you..." He growled. "I wish to G.o.d that b.l.o.o.d.y journal had remained hidden."

"I cannot say I feel the same. Perhaps if it had not arrived, Marcus and I would not have found each other again."

Facing her, he offered a sad smile. He looked around, taking note of the liveried guards who stood conspicuously by the doorway. "I see Westfield has you well-guarded. That eases my mind somewhat."

"I see you look worn," she retorted bluntly.

"Thank you for noticing," he grumbled, "after I took such pains to make myself presentable. I must remember to discharge my valet."

"The best valet in the world cannot hide the signs of hard-living," she retorted. "Have you ever considered a change of occupation? The way you live is sapping the life from you."

His full mouth thinned with displeasure. "I am not here to discuss my way of life."

Taking a seat, she waited for him to do the same. "Very well then. I no longer have the journal."

St. John cursed so foully Elizabeth blushed. "Is it in Eldridge's possession?"

She hesitated a moment, wondering how wise it would be to tell him anything further. "No," she said finally, the restlessness of her fingers was the only betraying sign of her unease.

"Thank G.o.d. Keep it from him."

"He has been content to allow Westfield to work on it. At the moment, he seems most interested in finding you."

"Yes, he would be. I 'm surprised he waited this long, truth be told. I would venture to say he wanted all of his agents in a lather before he released them on me. He's nothing if not meticulous."Elizabeth studied St. John carefully. "Why did you come?"

"Once I learned Eldridge was looking for me I understood how delicate this situation has become. I don't know what to do. In the end there is only one solution and yet it's nearly impossible to implement."

She opened her mouth to speak when a sudden disturbance outside drew their attention. Leaping to her feet, she ran with St. John to the window. Out front, a village cart tottered precariously on three wheels. "Stay here," she ordered, knowing Marcus would wish to speak with the pirate, perhaps even detain him.

Elizabeth took only a moment to ensure a.s.sistance was being offered and then turned back to the room. I t was empty. She stood blinking.

"Where did he go?" she asked the two guards.

They rushed in and quickly searched the s.p.a.ce.

St. John was gone.

Marcus leaned his shoulders against the headboard and adjusted the weight of his wife's sated body, which draped over his own. Even her grumbled protest failed to make him smile. He stroked his hand down the length of her spine, soothing her back to sleep, while finding his own elusive.

Why had St. John come? I f his aim had been the journal, he would want more than just Elizabeth's verbal confirmation that it was no longer with her. And yet he'd learned no more than that before dropping out the window and fleeing. To have arranged the distraction of the broken cart in advance was typical. To have known the house was emptied of Ashford men meant he'd been watching them.

His arms tightened around Elizabeth and her face nuzzled his chest in response. The pirate's warning was clear, You are not safe. Even in your ow n domain.

Even as he thought it, Marcus stilled. He c.o.c.ked his head, his ears straining to hear over the soft crackling coming from the grate. He was greeted by silence, but he couldn't relax. The hairs on his nape stood on end.

He'd long ago learned to trust his instincts, so he slid down to his back and rolled, settling Elizabeth into the pillows. Her arms surrounded him, accustomed to his habit of waking her for s.e.x. Pressing a quick kiss to her mouth, Marcus disentangled himself and withdrew from the warmth of the bed.

"What are you doing?" she complained, blinking.

Her pout was flattering and he took a moment to relish it. There had been a time when he could only dream of having her in his bed, eager for him. His ring on her finger caught what remained of the firelight and his jaw tightened. He'd be d.a.m.ned if anyone or anything jeopardized her now.

Tugging on his discarded breeches, he whispered, "Hold that thought for a moment, love." He grabbed his small sword, which rested conveniently against a nearby chair, and withdrew the blade from its scabbard. Elizabeth's head came up from the pillow. With a finger to his lips, he warned her to silence, and then padded across the room on bare feet. Marcus took a deep breath before cracking open the door that led to the sitting room.

Through the tiny s.p.a.ce between the door jamb he could see across to Elizabeth's chamber. From the gap beneath her door, candlelight was clearly visible. Once again, his instincts had stood him in good stead. Someone was in there. Marcus rolled his shoulders and slipped out of his bedroom. St. John hadn't given up. He'd come back, as Marcus had suspected he would.

He'd wanted to position a guard in the sitting room, but Elizabeth had been horrified that someone would be so close while they made love.

She'd been adamant and, doubting his restraint, he'd acceded. Now he could only shake his head at his fascination for his wife, which overruled every other consideration. Moving rapidly, he reached the door and tested the k.n.o.b. I t was locked. Cursing himself, he returned to his room for the key.

Elizabeth was slipping on her dressing gown.

Marcus shook head and scowled. Stay here, he mouthed.

What is it? she replied.

For his answer he held up the key, and then he returned to the sitting room. Immediately he noted the light under her door was gone.

Hindered by darkness, it took him a moment to reach it. The chill breeze that flowed from the gap over his bare feet betrayed the open window on the other side. He was not fool enough to enter an unlighted room. Stepping out to the dimly lit hallway, Marcus grabbed the taper from the alcove and lit the candelabra on the console.

When he turned about, he saw the hallway door to Elizabeth's room was ajar. He kicked it open with his foot, candelabra in one hand, small sword in the other. The drapes were spread wide, allowing the pale light of the moon to cast shadows. The sheers fluttered in the soft evening breeze, a ghostly presence that made his fists clench tight. High as they were on the second floor, he doubted anyone would make the effort to enter or exit from that venue. Which meant they were either still in the room, or had slipped down the hallway while he'd gone for the key.Elizabeth.

All was quiet, but still his nerves sizzled with awareness.

"My lord?" murmured a deep voice behind him. "What is amiss?"

Marcus turned, and faced one of the guards. Behind him stood Elizabeth, who worried her bottom lip with her teeth. For a moment, his throat clenched tight at the thought of her traversing the unsafe galleries. But there was naught else she could have done and once again his heart swelled with admiration. She was a practical woman, and a brave one. He took a moment to collect himself and then answered, "Someone was trespa.s.sing in her ladyship's room. Wait with her until I can be certain the intruder is gone."

The guard gave a quick nod, and Marcus made a thorough sweep. The room was empty, but the sense of unease remained with him.

"Wake the other guards," he ordered as he returned to the hall. "Search the vacant rooms and exits. Discover how he gained entry. And from this night on, I want one of you to stay in my sitting room."

Pa.s.sing the candelabra to the grim-faced guard, Marcus caught Elizabeth's elbow and led her back to the bedroom.

"I t's time to come out of hiding, Marcus."

"No."

"You know I must." She stopped abruptly to face him.

His jaw tightened, and he shook his head. "I t's too dangerous."

"What else can we do? Look at the risk to your family, to your home."

Marcus took her face in his hands. "You are my family, my home."

"Please don't be obstinate."

"You ask too much, Elizabeth."

"I ask for freedom." Her eyes glittered up at him. "I weary of this. We make no progress with this endless waiting. We must take the initiative and force his hand. End this."

He opened his mouth, and she placed her fingers over his lips. "Don't argue further. I understand your position. Just consider it. That's all I ask of you."

Knowing she was correct did not ease his torment and when they returned to the bed he held her too closely, needing her physical proximity to warm the icy fear that tightened his chest.

"Please don't worry," she whispered, her soft lips moving against the skin of his chest just before she drifted back to sleep. "I trust you."

He held her close, loving her for believing in him enough to propose such peril. She'd once said she would never trust him, and he had believed that without question. To discover he'd reached her so deeply was a soothing balm to the festering wounds that were healing with every day that pa.s.sed.

But he had nothing but contempt for himself, unable to understand how she could display such unwavering faith when he continued to fail her at every turn.

For Elizabeth, the three days following the incident in her room were fraught with tension. Marcus withdrew to his study, where he worked tirelessly to find all vulnerabilities in his defense of her. The nights were worse. Because of the guard positioned on the other side of the bedroom door, she could not relax enough to enjoy lovemaking and Marcus refused to take her when she was so reluctant.

"I hate to see you so glum, dear Beth," Paul said one afternoon, as she gathered together the meal plans scattered across the dining table.

"I am not glum."

He arched a brow. "Are you bored then? I wouldn't blame you. You have been penned up for days."

Wrinkling her nose, she almost confessed how she missed Marcus, but that would not have been appropriate so she simply shook her head.

"Would you like to go to the village?" he asked.

"No. Thank you." Marcus wouldn't allow her out of the manse, but that was not her only consideration. Luncheon would be served shortly and that seemed to be the only time lately when she had a few moments of his charming discourse. She told herself it was silly to miss him when they were so physically close, but she could not change how she felt, and quite surprisingly, would not want to. She'd once dreaded needing him so much. I t was now a bond she relished."Are you certain?" Paul pressed.

Waving him off with a rea.s.suring smile, Elizabeth moved out to the foyer. A few moments more and then she could call Marcus away. Her step lightened as she thought of her husband and the smile he would bestow upon her when she called his name from the study doorway. Lost in the thought, she missed seeing the arm that reached out and s.n.a.t.c.hed her into the s.p.a.ce beneath the left side curving staircase. Her meal plans, which she'd been carrying to the kitchen to discuss with the cook, scattered across the marble floor.

Her startled protest was cut off by a pa.s.sionate kiss, her husband's large body crowding her to the wall. Her hands, lifted to push her attacker away, slipped around his neck and held him close.

"Sweet wife," he breathed, his lips pressed to hers.

Her heart racing at the sudden fright, she gasped to catch her breath. "Wh-what are you about?"

"I need you." He nibbled at her throat. "I t's been three d.a.m.ned days."

Eyes closed, she breathed him in. The warmth of his skin, the obviously aroused length of his frame, the large hands that moved feverishly over her curves...

"Why can you not remain naked?" he complained. "Too much material separates my touch from you."

Elizabeth noted their surroundings. The sunlight from the rear lawn poured in from the French doors displaying their ardor to any hapless pa.s.serby. Only from the foyer were they hidden from view. "You must stop."