Keith caught her by the waist as she bent forwards between the two horses, but her horse decided he’d had enough of these crazy humans and trotted a few yards away. Served them right.
Violante’s stomach dipped as saddle and horse disappeared from underneath her bottom.
“Bloody hell.” Keith kept holding her, stopping her from falling and keeping her safe. As usual. He climbed down of his horse and put her down on the ground. “Are you all right?”
A bit sore, especially her ego. “Thank you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “Thank you, Keith.”
He hugged her back. “Anything for you.”
If she had any doubts about his love for her, they were good and gone.
“But you have to consider Mr. and Mrs. Beresford might not have found anything.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “Their search could bring nothing.”
“I don’t care. It’s what you did that matters.”
The lines on his forehead vanished as he smiled. “Let’s hope what they found is important, and that?—”
She cut him off with a kiss. A savage kiss. She’d never kissed anyone so aggressively. But he matched her wild passion, kissing her deeply. His tongue thrust inside her mouth and danced with hers. She returned the favour, exploring his mouth. Their teeth clashed. Their lips pressed hard against each other, and she was wheezing, but the desire igniting her blood didn’t want to settle.
They broke the kiss together, panting. More than a kiss, it’d been a fight.
He stroked her cheek. “You’re the most important thing in my life. No, let me express myself better.Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad! I cannot live without my life. I cannot live without my soul.”
Wuthering Heights. No, she wouldn’t cry. Crying would ruin this moment.
She cupped his face. “Thank you for your kindness and care.” She couldn’t express her feelings better, but she’d find a way to.
“Let’s go.” He helped her to her horse, his smile radiant.
They rode the rest of the cursed road at a good pace, smiling at each other as if they were on Windy Ridge again. At the post office, she couldn’t remain still. Now that she knew what his wire was for, she couldn’t wait for Mr. and Mrs. Beresford’s reply. She hadn’t realised how important seeing her mother again was until now. She owed that to Keith. She owed him many things.
“When are they going to answer?” she asked once they left the post office.
“It might take a day or two.”
She clung to his arm like a vine. “Imagine if they find her. I wonder?—”
Her happiness died a swift death at the sight of a familiar, bald, and broad man walking down the cobbled street. His large figure was at odds with the fairy-tale-like beauty of the narrow road. What was George the Blade doing in this godforsaken town?
“What is it?” Keith asked.
She ushered him to a dark corner. “Over there.”
He followed her gaze and grunted. “Is he the thug who attacked us in that alleyway?”
“George the Blade,” she whispered. George entered a public house and disappeared from view. “What is he doing here?”
Keith led her towards the horses. “I think a more pertinent question is, is he looking for you?”
Violante trembledby the time she and Keith arrived at the manor. She was so shocked she hadn’t spoken during the ride.
Too many strong emotions had overwhelmed her and tested her heart that day. Seeing George in the village reminded her of where she had come from and where she might end up if she wasn’t careful. The flowers for the celebration had arrived, judging by the pretty, colourful floral decorations all around the yard. A cascade of geraniums and orchids stood out. Tulips adorned the front door, but they couldn’t brighten her mood.
“You took only a ring from George the Blade, right?” Keith helped her off her horse in the manor’s front yard.
“Yes. I don’t have it anymore.” She removed her gloves, walking towards the front door. “I can’t believe he chased me here for the darn ring. There must be another reason. Or maybe he doesn’t know I’m here.”
Goodness, with George here, she risked more than the wrath of an outraged count for having lied. She risked prison or worse.
