Page 80 of Her Baseborn Bridegroom

“Is she a bit slow?” asked Roland, looking up from his plate. His father leaned over and fetched him a sharp clip round the ear. “Ow!”

“Would everyone just eat their damn meal?” said Mason in a low, angry voice.

Linnet stared down at her plate as the fog in her brain started to clear. After being violently ill following breakfast, she found herself suddenly extremely hungry. She picked up her spoon and took a mouthful of nourishing stew. It was delicious. She looked up to give a smile at the servant who was hovering nearby with a loaf of bread.

“This is lovely,” she said. “Thank you.”

The old man gave her a grudging smile as Mason’s knife clattered to his plate. She didn’t dare look at him as those hard, angry eyes hurt. Instead she ate her stew as the wheels in her head turned furiously. She had lost her castle and estates. That was a blow. It had been built by her ancestor Sir Geoffrey du Cadwallader and had been in the family for generations. And now it had been confiscated by the crown. But strangely enough, it was the people who she suffered a pang over, rather than the turrets and rolling fields. Faces flashed through her head: Nan, Robards, Gertie and Diggory, Mother Ames, Mrs. Wickers, Sir Lang, Rolfe. Her fingers tightened on her cup of milk as she took a fortifying sip. She refused to even contemplate losing Cuthbert. Surely she’d be able to keep her page? But then how could she take him away from his grandmother? She shook her head and pushed it to the back of her mind. You’re still a Vawdrey.

She shot a look at Mason’s averted profile, which was still forbidding in the extreme. And where would they live? Her heart jumped. If it was here at court, then they need never be separated. She felt her cheeks grow warm at the thought. Then she remembered the Queen’s ultimatum and her train of thought faltered. Would Mason retain his position now he had chosen his marriage over his career? She thought he must have turned down a promotion but there had been no mention of him losing his current position as a consequence, had there? How frustrating that she had fainted, she thought, her cheeks suddenly flaming. And in front of everyone! Oh why had she done that? Now she didn’t have a clear picture of what had happened at all and she could hardly ask when everyone was as jumpy it was as if they were seated on a bed of hot coals! She glanced up from her plate and found her in-laws all staring at her with varying degrees of concern. Even Baron Vawdrey looked sheepish. He reached across from his position at head of the table and patted her hand.

“Don’t fret, lass. There’s nothing to be done about it now, more’s the pity.”

“At least it hasn’t gone to the Jevonses,” said Roland with satisfaction. “They’ve lost everything too. What?” he asked when Oswald tutted.

Mason threw down his napkin. He turned to Linnet. “Are you done?” he asked abruptly.

No sooner had she glanced down and found her plate empty, then he was hustling her up out of her chair.

“Mason,” Oswald admonished, but was ignored as Mason took her elbow and practically lifted her off her feet as he propelled her towards wards his bedroom.

Once they were through the doorway, he slammed it shut and turned the key, lifting her up, so he was stood between her legs and pushing her back against the door. Linnet clutched at his forearms as he pressed up hard against her, breathing hard.

“I’m going to take care of you, Linnet,” he said in a low, steely voice. “You won’t want for anything.”

She blinked at him. His eyes looked so bleak, she wanted to comfort him. But when she tried to reach up to touch his face, he grabbed her wrist and pinned it over her head.

“No. Let me say my piece.”

They stared at one another a moment in tense, pulsing silence.

Linnet swallowed. “Very well,” she said and licked her dry lips.

Immediately his gaze was riveted to her mouth. Then he groaned and crushed his mouth to hers in an almost-bruising kiss. Linnet moaned softly into his mouth and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, accepting his kiss with enthusiasm. She would try and piece together their lives afterward. Right here and now, this was what she needed. She could feel instinctively that he needed it too. Desperately. Then everything would be OK, she just knew it. She cried out in disappointment when he pulled his mouth away from hers.

“Mason,” she whimpered, but he closed his eyes.

“I need to say it, Linnet. I know I’ve been a selfish bastard, but you need to know I will provide for you.”

“I do know that!” she burst out indignantly.

He stared at her, his breathing ragged. “Do you?”

“Of course!” She panted, and arched her back to press against him. “And I need you to take care of me right now,” she shifted her hips to rub against him. Too many skirts, she thought distractedly. She was pressed against his hard lower belly rather than his groin. “Please, Mason,” she pleaded.

His eyes glowed and his grip on her adjusted slightly so that she slid down until she felt the bold thrust of his erection pressed where she needed it, up against the juncture of her thighs. She felt it even through the layers, and whimpered, trying to press closer.

He sucked in a breath. “You want me Linnet?” he asked, his voice gravelly.

“Yes!” She forced her eyes to meet his boldly, even though her face was aflame. Her mind cast about for the best way to entice him. “To . . . to reseal our bargain. In your bed.”

For a minute she thought she had said the wrong thing. Oh gods, she almost groaned. After all, what did she have to bargain with now? Nothing. No title, no lands.

“Our bed,” he corrected her gruffly, “can bloody well wait.”

He released his hold of her thighs entirely this time and she slid down his body until her feet hit the floor. Then he dropped to his knees before her and lifted up her skirts.

Linnet panted as she felt his strong hands strip away her undergarments. His feet encircled her ankles to lift her feet to step out of them, but to her surprise he left her shoes and stockings intact.