Chapter 18
The intoxicating fragrance of the night-scented blooms stole to them as they crossed the velvety lawn separating the house from the formal rose garden. They passed beneath an arch clustered with heavy, dew-drenched blooms and Ruark’s keen eyes searched the darkness until he found what he sought. He left her side for a moment and returned with an armful of cream blossoms. “I think I shall always give you cream-colored roses,” he promised. They moved on to the eerie yew walks in deep, black shadow. “You aren’t afraid?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Not with you beside me,” she answered him.
As they walked side by side he reached for her hand. Her fingers curled into his and he wished he could stay handclasped with her until dawn. “These yew walks are reputed to be haunted,” he said, then stopped and looked down at her. “You haunt me,” he said huskily. The moonlight hardly penetrated the tall yew walk where they stood. As she gazed up at him his face was all shadowed planes and stark cheekbones. His eyes were half closed and she saw the black smudge of thick lashes which concealed the desire she knew smoldered there. The slant of his jaw emphasized the arrogance of his mouth which could give a fierce curse or an unbelievably heartrending kiss.
He cupped her face in gentle hands and dipped his head to capture her mouth. The moment he tasted her, the kiss changed, becoming hot and sensual. His hands left her face to crush her against him. She could feel something hard as marble against her belly and dimly realized it must be his shaft.
He could feel the tremors flowing through her body and his strong brown hand came up to brush against her breast. She shuddered with pleasure. She could no longer deny the great attraction she felt for Ruark Helford. His sensual masculine appeal made her weak with yearning. Her defenses against him were crumbling and she realized her feelings for this man could undermine all her plans. She desperately wanted to believe that he was different from other men. She longed to trust him, hoping he would always be loving and generous toward her. She wished he would fall in love with her and ask her to marry him so that she would be safe with such a strong protector. She dared to hope that he was beginning to care deeply about her, for she realized she could begin to care for him. But she knew if she gave herself to him before he had made a definite commitment to her, he would not value her.
She tried to push his hand away and with a ragged moan cried, “Ruark, please.”
He lifted his head momentarily, but didn’t think he could stop.
“I will trust you implicitly. … I will let you set the pace, Ruark,” she said softly, knowing they were the only words to stop him.
He groaned. He knew she was virgin. The sweet trust in her voice made him curse. “Dammit, Summer, you shouldn’t trust me. You mustn’t trust me! I want to be alone with you … I want to make love to you. Go … go now, run before I take your maidenhead!”
She laughed prettily. “I won’t run from you, Ruark. I know you will protect me with your life,” she said simply.
“I’m going to seduce you, Summer,” he threatened, to give her fair warning.
“I don’t care, Ruark. If that is what you want, then seduce me.”
He groaned hoarsely and bit back a curse. He drew her to a bower and pulled her to the seat beside him. “Forgive me, love, for my rampant male behavior. I should be shot.”
His mind searched desperately for safe ground and he turned to the subject of his work. “It’s a good thing I’m going to be kept busy here. Tomorrow I have to visit the local militia and read them the riot act. They’ve been so slack, smuggling and even wrecking goes on under their noses. I intend to tear a strip off someone. I’ve got reinforcements coming down from the Bristol garrison. Then I’ll inspect the Marine Patrol and their ships and point out their shortcomings. I’m going to be a very popular man,” he said ruefully.
“Will you have to be away from home often?” she asked ingenuously.
“Yes, I’ll have a circuit of courts at Falmouth, Penzance, Newquay, St. Austell, Bodmin, Saltash, and Plymouth.”
“Plymouth is in Devon,” she ventured.
“Yes, but I have jurisdiction. You see, it’s too easy for Cornwall criminals to run across into Devon and think themselves safe from the long arm of the law.”
“You won’t really have to sentence people to death, will you?” she asked in a small voice.
He hesitated, then told her the truth. “I’m afraid so, Summer, but I will always be fair, impartial.”
“I trust you,” she said softly.
“That is unwise,” he murmured.
“I throw myself upon your mercy,” she said, laughing.
“I am known to be merciless,” he admitted.
Her heart beat thickly with fear, for she knew he spoke the truth. Surely Spider would be finished with the business by now. She arose to walk slowly back toward the hall and he followed, keeping his dangerous hands stuffed into his pockets so they would not reach out to crush the delicate primrose.
As they approached the house, Mr. Burke came to the door with a lantern in his hand.
“Thank you, Mr. Burke, I shall see the lady home.”
Panic rose in her throat. She gasped, “I’ll not scandalize your servants.”
“Mr. Burke would not tolerate such gossip among his staff,” Ruark asserted.
“Then Mr. Burke is a most upright man.” She smiled at the Irishman. “Would you do me the honor, sir, of lighting me home?”
Mr. Burke bowed formally and glanced at Ruark. “The lady knows what is correct even if the lord does not,” he said dryly.