Page 66 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

She tapped the rock once.

“Was it too far or too short?”

She didn’t know how to answer with rock signals.

“Uh, two taps for too short. Four taps for too far. Followed by a pause and then two taps for too high and four taps for too low.”

She tapped twice to tell him it was too short, but she hadn’t noticed the height so she didn’t tap again after the pause.

“I’m throwing again. The same height but farther.”

It took six more tries, with her signaling between each attempt before the stick came to rest at her foot and she was able to step on it. Very carefully she reached down and picked it up. She gave it a slight tug.

“You have hold of it?”

She tapped three times.

“Tie it snuggly around your waist. Do you know a good knot so you’ll not be pulled loose?”

She knocked three times. She’d learned many knots from her brothers. Mostly when they used them to tie her up when she was captured during one of their games.

“Tap the stone five times when you are secure and ready to be pulled over.”

She tucked the stone under her arm as she tied a knot before tying a second and a third knot for safe measure.

She heard shuffling and talking but didn’t know what they said for she was so focused on the knotting of the rope. She gave it a few firm tugs and then tapped with her rock five times.

When the earl spoke this time, he was higher above her.

He instructed her to knock twice when all the slack was out of the rope and she could feel them pulling. She did as she was told.

“You should be able to step out and put your feet against the rock. We’ll pull you up, but use your feet to walk up so you are not dragged against the stone. Do you understand?”

She knocked three times.

Then she paused and took a deep breath. She would need to trust Reese enough to step out into the darkness. She didn’t hesitate more than a few seconds for she trusted Reese.

“I’ve got you, Harlow. I’ll not let anything happen to you. I promise.”

With that she stepped out and hoped for the best.

*

Reese felt the weight of her on the rope and ordered the groom to move the horse forward very slowly. It went against every instinct he had for he only wanted Harlow in his arms. To know she was safe.

But he couldn’t rush. To do so could cause injury to the woman he realized he cared for more than himself. Which was something he needed to keep to himself. For if his staff saw him grab hold of Harlow and kiss her silly, they would be forced before the minister by morning.

“Go slowly, Harlow,” he said when it seemed she was pulling at the rope frantically.

Soon he saw movement within the range of his lantern light. Her hair was as dark as the night so it was her face he saw first, and he gasped with the pain in his chest. His throat burned with emotion he needed to keep hidden. When she was close enough for him to let go of the rope to grab her, he did. Pulling her against his chest. He would tell everyone it was necessary for her safety, but he couldn’t take another breath without feeling her against him warm and alive.

“Hold!” he called. “I have her. Unhook the rope from the horse.”

He tugged at the knot around her waist and when she was free turned to make sure no one was looking before he pulled her close again, kissing her lips and her face and her neck until the light from above moved closer.

Having to pull away from her was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do. Only knowing that he’d have the opportunity to hold her soon when they were alone in his room allowed him to loosen his grip.

“Are you all right?” he asked again.