Page 97 of A Gentleman's Wager

Bella snatched her hand and tugged her out through the front door onto the terrace. The wind blew right through them, making Louisa clutch her skirts.

“Look, see.”

“Look at what?”

“Up there, you ninny.” She pointed at Louisa’s window, just above the brow of the porch. “He must have climbed out of the parlour window, there—” She indicated to the right. “—and then scrambled across the roof, before dropping to the lintel. It isn’t far. I don’t suppose it’s too difficult either if you’ve mind for it.”

Louisa hugged herself, not the least bit soothed by the discovery.

Bella, immune or oblivious to the cold, and also, seemingly to Louisa’s discomfort, continued to stare up at the icy plinth as if she expected to see Pennerley climb out of the window that very minute. “I imagine he’s had lots of practice climbing in and out of bedroom windows, lecherous rake that he is.”

“Bella, can we go in, please.”

Bella wrapped a reassuring arm around Louisa’s shoulders. “Of course, if you like. The wind is rather fresh. Look, don’t fret, Lou. We can easily fasten it down. Let’s go up and secure it now, so there’s no chance we forget.”

~*~

Come bedtime, Louisa retired as usual. She locked and bolted the door, double checked the window latch, and stowed her letter opener under her pillow—none of it made her feel any safer. She ought to have asked Bella if she could share with her, but her friend was prone to rolling around rather a lot, so neither of them would have got much sleep.

What would she do if he came?

She turned the posy of heather in her fingers. Why had he even gone to the trouble of delivering such a thing? Was it an apology? That did not seem to make sense. But why leave a token? Why not just ravish her if that was his intent?

Damn him! Pennerley, the wicked rakehell who emerged from the shadows carrying the threat of erotic promise she understood. But Pennerley the sensitive gallant, she did not. “What is it you want from me?”

He did not materialise with a reply.

He did stalk her dreams that night, chasing her through enchanted forests, over meadows and hilltops. He tore away her clothing, stealing it, piece by piece, before binding her eyes with dark silk.

His breath whispered hot against her skin. His tongue delved into unexplored hollows, while his kisses burned. With firm hands, he pried her thighs apart and slipped into the space between them. The weight of him pressed her deep into the mattress. His staff lodged against her woman’s place. “Tell me, Louisa Stanley,” he sighed, eyes gleaming like coals in the dark. “Did you let Wakefield relieve you of your treasure or is it still mine for the taking?”

“It’s yours.”

He pushed. Impaled her. “So, it is.”

Louisa awoke with a start, her pulse racing and her skin bathed in sweat. Light filled the room. The curtains were cast back, and a fresh breeze was blowing in through the open sash window. The door bolt had been drawn too. She squealed, dipped a hand between her thighs, but there was nothing there but her own wetness. She howled.

“Miss?” Emma plunged through the door, in her usual state of fluster. “Are you ready to dress now? I saw the latch was undone, but you seemed to still be sleeping.”

“Is it late?” she asked, shoving back the covers and climbing out of bed.

“Gone noon.”

“Is Bella up?”

Emma worried her lip. “She’s gone out, miss.”

“Out?”

“Visiting. Her and Lord Marlinscar. They set off about a half hour ago to call on Mrs Castleton.”

“On foot?” Perhaps she might catch them.

“In his lordship’s carriage.”

Louisa slumped onto the stool before the dressing table. “Without a chaperone?”

“She seemed to think it best that I stayed and attended you. It’s really not such a big worry. Mr Rushdale did leave you under Lord Marlinscar’s protection, and not meaning to be forward, but us below stairs did wonder if he didn’t want a bit of space and quiet so that they might have a certain talk.”