Chapter Thirty-Three
Jamie climbed the steps to the townhouse later that evening, wanting to check on Mari before going back to the boarding house. Other than the bruise on her face and being shaken, she insisted she would be fine. Effie had all but shooed him out of the way while she and Agnes bustled about getting a hot bath ready, but not before Mari had whispered that she loved him—and he’d surprised himself by how rapidly he had returned the feelings.
In spite of the way the rest of the evening had gone, Jamie grinned. He and the lass were going to have a wee talk about holding things back from now on.
Then he sobered. He’d gone to the authorities and taken a detective back to the address by the docks, but there was no trace of Wesley Alton. Even more disappointing was arriving at Algernon’s flat to find him missing as well, although a half-written ransom note had been found. Upon finding Mari gone, Alton obviously had wasted no time in checking out the whereabouts of his son. The police had descriptions, but Jamie suspected this time the two really were on a ship bound for France. With written evidence as well as two eyewitnesses who’d survived, Alton and Algernon would be fools to stay in England. And, whatever else Jamie thought of the bastards, he did not take them for fools.
“How is Mari doing?” he asked Agnes after Givens had shown him in.
“She is resting quite comfortably in her chambers,” Agnes replied and then smiled. “I suppose, given the fact that you saved her life, it would be all right if you wanted to visit with her for a bit.”
Jamie could hardly believe his ears. The last time he’d entered Mari’s chambers, he’d endured quite a lecture from both Effie and Mari’s aunt about the impropriety of such an action. But he was no fool either. He took the steps three at a time.
Knocking softly on the door, he hoped Mari was not asleep and then smiled as she called for him to enter.
He’d expected to find her abed. Instead, she was sitting in the window alcove, wearing a silk dressing gown that revealed enough delectable cleavage to make his mouth water. He swallowed hard.
“I was hoping you would come,” Mari said, stood and walked toward him slowly, her gaze not leaving his face.
What was she doing? The walk was positively seductive, and her eyes were half-hooded. If he hadn’t known the lass, he would consider the look an invitation along with the half smile playing on her full, luscious lips.
Are…are ye feeling better then?” he asked, feeling suddenly like a dolt.
“I am now,” Mari said as she reached him and put her arms around his neck.
“What are ye doing? Did ye suffer a hit on the head I dinnae ken about?”
Her eyes widened and she looked doubtful. “Am I not doing this right?”
“It depends, lass, on what it is ye are trying to do.” By the saints. His body was reacting with a will of its own, and he fought to contain himself.
A little frown formed between her brows and Mari stepped back. “I wanted to seduce you. I guess I just do not understand how to—”
“Wait. Ye want to seduce me?” Jamie stared at her. Maybe he was the one who got hit on the head, even though hisotherhead was swelling in anticipation and urging him not to ask stupid questions. “Yer aunt will have my hide if I take advantage of ye like this.”
“Effie explained we are hand-fasted.” The doubt returned to Mari’s face. “Of course, I know you did not mean it seriously, but—”
Jamie’s mouth covered hers in a firm, full kiss as he drew her to him. Every lush curve melded against him in perfection as he deepened the kiss, elated when Mari’s tongue began to battle with his. She tasted slightly of mint and something that was uniquely Mari. He drew back to look at her, but he didn’t release his hold.
“Where did ye get the barmy notion I didnae mean it?”
“Well, I knew it was Ian’s idea—”
“Ian’s? Nae, lass. I suggested it.”
Her eyes grew round as she studied his face. “You did?”
“Aye. When ye went missing in the blizzard, I kenned a part of me would die if ye did. ’Twas when I first kenned my true feelings for ye.”
The frown was back. “Then why did you not say so? Why did you let me continue on with Nicholas?”
A corner of Jamie’s mouth quirked up. “Letye? Ye are nae prone to following orders, if I recall. Besides,” he said as he brushed a curl back behind her ear, “the decision had to be yours. I will nae have a wife who feels duty bound.”
“You really wish to marry me?”
“Aye, I do, Marissa Barclay. Do ye want me on bended knee to say it?”
Mari smiled. “What I want you to do is make love to me. Now.”
