Cerridwen said hastily, “No need for that. I can tell her.” She exchanged a glance with Elizabeth.
Now he was suspicious. “What are you not telling me?” Dragons might not be able to lie, but they had perfected the art of avoiding speaking the full truth.
Elizabeth pressed her fingers together, as if struggling to contain her amusement. “Apparently the Nest built their nursery when the Romans were just arriving on these shores. To them, this is their territory, and we are but temporary inhabitants. They would acknowledge you as a local leader who is bonded to this land, but the concept of anyoneowninga piece of their land is foreign to them.”
Ridiculous! Pemberley had belonged to his family since Guillaume D'Arcy came over with William the Conqueror. And yet...creating Jenny's land bond, as his own father had taught him, included acknowledging all those who had come before his family, the Saxons and the Celts and the Romans. It had been their land, too. Perhaps this was the same thing under a different name.
And it would be interesting indeed to see this dragon building that had been there so long, something no scholar in Britain had ever known about. “Very well,” he said slowly.
Elizabeth looked surprised that he had agreed so easily. But her warm gaze as she held out her hand for his was all the reward he needed.
Chapter 8
RestlesslyFredericasatupin bed, plumped her pillow, and lay back again. Should she give up on Roderick and go to sleep? Usually he came to her as soon as the house was abed, but it was long past midnight now. He had not indicated any change in plan to her earlier, but perhaps he had been concerned that Darcy might notice. Still, it was unlike him.
Unless he had been caught by someone. He was so careful, though, always taking on an illusory form before leaving his bedroom for hers. More careful than she would have been on her own, but that was Roderick all over.
Most likely something had come up. How irritating, though! She had been waiting for this time together all day, through those long hours of pretending they were nothing more than acquaintances. She tossed and turned a few more times before deciding she would give him a quarter hour more. If she was even able to sleep, not knowing why he had decided to stay away. Was he growing tired of her already? An ache pulsed in her chest.
Then a familiar scratching sounded, and the door opened to reveal what appeared to be a maid. She knew who it was, though, and suddenly all was well again, as the maid’s features dissolved away, leaving Roderick in his dressing gown.
More relieved than she cared to admit, she pushed herself up on her elbows. “I thought perhaps you were not coming tonight.”
His mouth twisted. “My apologies. Darcy wanted to discuss the wards again, and I could hardly say that I needed to leave in order to spend the night in his young cousin's bed.”
“True.” With the joy she only felt in his presence, she held out her hand to him. “You are here now, and that is what matters.”
He set his chamberstick on a small table and took her hand, sending a familiar lance of desire racing through her. He lowered himself to sit on the bed beside where she lay. “I am glad.” He bent down and caressed her mouth with his.
Oh, how delicious he was! She wound her arms around his neck and tried to tug him closer, preparing to lose herself in him.
But his shoulders were tense, his body resisting her. Something was wrong. She released her grip and pulled away. “What is the matter?” she asked.
He sat up again, entwining his fingers with hers more tightly. But his face in the flickering candlelight was stern. “I received a letter from my father today, insisting that I come home immediately.”
Ice flooded her veins. Of course. He had told her from the beginning this could not last. “And will you?” She made her voice as level as she could.
“I must, no matter what my own wishes might be. I have delayed it too often already.” He sounded regretful, nothing more.
Suddenly his touch, his hands clasping hers, felt intolerable, like a lie. He was not going to fight for what they had. She had always known that, but somehow there had been a ray of hope inside her.
And now that hope was extinguished.
Leaving only anguish, the ache of knowing she was losing the only man who had ever seemed to understand her.
Buthewas showing no distress. While his expression was serious and his eyes seemed concerned, it was clear his heart was not breaking. Perhaps he was even glad to have an excuse to go back to his thrice-damned Wales.
Why should he not, after all?Hehad never sought out this liaison; he had even said it was a poor idea and that nothing could come of it but pain. She had been the one to push him into it, assuming his obvious attractionto her meant something more than the normal physical response of a male to any female. Had she ever been anything more than a momentary amusement to him?
This was her own fault. Left to him, they would never have been more than friends. And now they would be nothing.
She could do nothing to stop this agony, but she could try to preserve a bit of her pride. “Well, then, I suppose our little interlude is over,” she said coolly. “When do you leave?”
He hesitated. “Tomorrow afternoon, though I will only go as far as the Nest then. I must negotiate with the Eldest about when she will permit Rowan to join me in Wales, so I will spend the night there tomorrow and depart in the morning.” With no invitation that she might travel with him at least that far.
Her mouth went dry. They had no time at all, then. Could she spend the night in his arms, pretending her heart was not breaking? Or would it be easier to make a clean break of it right now?
It did not matter which was worse. She would not be able to keep her countenance for long. If she sent him away now, at least her memories of their nights together would be untainted by this. “Then you will need your rest, and I will not distract you from it.” She pretended to muffle a yawn behind her hand.
