behaved as such by taking advantage of a young lady under his care? He’d violated one of his primary rules about never dallying with an innocent. Pushing thoughts of the alluring lady beside him from his mind, he squinted to see through the curtain of rain.
Angelica’s thoughts were on that kiss as well, but along a completely different vein. Despite the angry manner of the embrace, it had left her wanting Richard to kiss her again. Had she merely fallen under the spell of a practiced rake, or did she harbor tender feelings for him?
Sneaking a peek at the earl’s face in the golden glow of the lantern, his skin misted with rain, she felt her heart turn in her chest. With the slightest encouragement, she knew she could fall in love with Richard. She forced her gaze back to the road, barely visible through the downpour. She mustn’t make that mistake. He saw women as most men saw a good horse-when one took his fancy, he had to possess it, but once he did, he was always looking for another to excite his interest. She wouldn’t allow herself to become just another forgotten creature in his stable of women.
“Are you getting wet, Angel?”
Richard interrupted her thoughts. She was surprised how matter-of-fact his voice sounded. “A bit.”
“Under your seat is a traveling rug. Pull it out and cover yourself.”
Angelica quickly found the rug and spread it over their feet and legs. Even with the curricle hood up, the rain had left her gown damp and the warmth of the woolen cover was welcome. She sat back wondering how late the hour as they passed an old cottage beside the road, a lantern hanging lit by the door. Was Richard so desperate to be rid of her that he would make them journey all night long?
As they moved slowly southward, the rain lessened to a slow drizzle, but from the carriage lanterns, Angelica could see their vehicle traveled through deep water. Her alarm growing, she was about to voice her concerns when a wheel sank down to the axle and the curricle suddenly dipped to the right. Thrown against Richard, she would have fallen into the water had he not grabbed her even as he struggled with the reins.
“Are you all right, my dear?” The earl’s voice was full of concern.
Attempting to right herself, Angelica discovered that the angle of the curricle prevented her from moving away from him. The feel of his muscular limbs against her made her stutter, “I-I am unharmed, but whatever shall we do?”
“Can you hold the ribbons while I get out and see if I can lead the team to pull us out of this hole?” His face seemed barely inches from hers.
“Yes,” Angelica replied as she reached for the reins, never taking her gaze from his.
He sat looking back at her in a bemused manner as both their hands held the leather leads; then he seemed to remember himself. He carefully eased out of the carriage, and she slid into his vacated seat, finally stopping when she came to the tilted curricle’s side.
Water swirled up near the tops of Richard’s Hessians, but he paid little heed, his thoughts were so full of Angel. He was amazed at how her nearness affected him. Not merely with desire, but with an urge to take care of her and protect her. Pushing such disturbing thoughts from him, he trudged to the horses’ heads and was about to encourage them onward, when the sounds of rushing water echoed from ahead. He returned and removed a lantern from the carriage, telling Angel to hold the team steady while he inspected the road.
Walking through the darkness, he held the lantern high as the water only got deeper. He stopped and peered into the night. He could barely make out a bridge. Water rushed past the stone structure in a torrent. They’d come to a river which had overflown its banks and they’d get no further south tonight.
As the water reached his fingertips, he knew it would be dangerous to continue in the direction of the bridge. The rapidly flowing water tugged at his body, trying to draw him
Angelica’s thoughts were on that kiss as well, but along a completely different vein. Despite the angry manner of the embrace, it had left her wanting Richard to kiss her again. Had she merely fallen under the spell of a practiced rake, or did she harbor tender feelings for him?
Sneaking a peek at the earl’s face in the golden glow of the lantern, his skin misted with rain, she felt her heart turn in her chest. With the slightest encouragement, she knew she could fall in love with Richard. She forced her gaze back to the road, barely visible through the downpour. She mustn’t make that mistake. He saw women as most men saw a good horse-when one took his fancy, he had to possess it, but once he did, he was always looking for another to excite his interest. She wouldn’t allow herself to become just another forgotten creature in his stable of women.
“Are you getting wet, Angel?”
Richard interrupted her thoughts. She was surprised how matter-of-fact his voice sounded. “A bit.”
“Under your seat is a traveling rug. Pull it out and cover yourself.”
Angelica quickly found the rug and spread it over their feet and legs. Even with the curricle hood up, the rain had left her gown damp and the warmth of the woolen cover was welcome. She sat back wondering how late the hour as they passed an old cottage beside the road, a lantern hanging lit by the door. Was Richard so desperate to be rid of her that he would make them journey all night long?
As they moved slowly southward, the rain lessened to a slow drizzle, but from the carriage lanterns, Angelica could see their vehicle traveled through deep water. Her alarm growing, she was about to voice her concerns when a wheel sank down to the axle and the curricle suddenly dipped to the right. Thrown against Richard, she would have fallen into the water had he not grabbed her even as he struggled with the reins.
“Are you all right, my dear?” The earl’s voice was full of concern.
Attempting to right herself, Angelica discovered that the angle of the curricle prevented her from moving away from him. The feel of his muscular limbs against her made her stutter, “I-I am unharmed, but whatever shall we do?”
“Can you hold the ribbons while I get out and see if I can lead the team to pull us out of this hole?” His face seemed barely inches from hers.
“Yes,” Angelica replied as she reached for the reins, never taking her gaze from his.
He sat looking back at her in a bemused manner as both their hands held the leather leads; then he seemed to remember himself. He carefully eased out of the carriage, and she slid into his vacated seat, finally stopping when she came to the tilted curricle’s side.
Water swirled up near the tops of Richard’s Hessians, but he paid little heed, his thoughts were so full of Angel. He was amazed at how her nearness affected him. Not merely with desire, but with an urge to take care of her and protect her. Pushing such disturbing thoughts from him, he trudged to the horses’ heads and was about to encourage them onward, when the sounds of rushing water echoed from ahead. He returned and removed a lantern from the carriage, telling Angel to hold the team steady while he inspected the road.
Walking through the darkness, he held the lantern high as the water only got deeper. He stopped and peered into the night. He could barely make out a bridge. Water rushed past the stone structure in a torrent. They’d come to a river which had overflown its banks and they’d get no further south tonight.
As the water reached his fingertips, he knew it would be dangerous to continue in the direction of the bridge. The rapidly flowing water tugged at his body, trying to draw him
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