Page 11 of Until I’m Safe in Your Arms

At that, he burst out laughing. “Oh, I assure you, I have had my share of kisses before now. And I would have sworn you had as well.” He offered his arm and, grudgingly, she took it. “But I will concede you may simply know how to kiss naturally.”

“But I didn’t know about…about what you did at the end.”

“That’s what makes me believe you haven’t been kissed before.” He squeezed her arm against his body, sending another streak of heat shooting down to her toes. “Perhaps you might like me to teach you about it some time?”

Emma relaxed against him, holding his arm more tightly. Everything might just work out after all. “Thank you, Captain. I would like that very much…sometime.” She smiled into the darkness as they approached the veranda door. “Although, I think at this point, we should dispense with the formalities. Please call me Emma.”

“If you will call me Alex.”

Her smile broadened as they entered the drawing room. “I am honored, Alex.”

Chapter Four

Running, running this way and that, down this corridor—no, no that was a dead end. She paused for a split second, not knowing which way to go. A huge explosion to her right and she shrieked and ran to her left, down another endless hallway, searching for safety and finding none. Another explosion and rat-tat-tat of gunfire brought another scream to her lips. Putting her hands over her ears, she darted down the main staircase. Why couldn’t she find someone? Someone who would keep her safe in this madness of confusion and noise.

On the main floor now, she dodged around broken beams and leaped over rubble blocking her way to the outside. To safety. She stumbled and looked down to see the body of her aunt lying lifeless on the floor. No, no, no. She backed away, turned, and ran again, praying for someone to save her. A lone figure stepped out from nowhere—a man dressed in scarlet regimentals. She flew into his arms, burrowed her face into the hard chest, and slumped in relief. Safe at last. Raising her head, she peered up into the handsome face of Captain Alexander Bancroft just as the blast of cannon fire tore them apart.

A crash of thunder brought Emma bolt upright in her bed, heart racing as much from the frightful noise as from the horrible nightmare that had held her in its clutches. Gripping the bedcovers, she peered into the darkness around her, the shadowy shapes striking terror into her already frantic mind. Her eyes finally adjusted to the faint light of the banked fire and she fought to slow her breathing. “I’m safe now, I’m safe now, I’m safe now.” Repeating that phrase helped dispel her terror sometimes. Helped her remember she was in England, thousands of miles from anyone who wished her harm. “I’m safe now.”

This time, the little catchphrase worked. Moments later, her trembling subsided a little and she released her frantic grip on the covers. This nightmare had been worse than the others, more vivid, more real. Her mind shied away from the memory of it, but the terror lingered. She needed the comfort of light, for a while at least. Hopefully she’d be able to sleep again, eventually.

With shaking hands, she felt for the bedside table, struck a match, and lit the lamp. The pretty little pink and green room she’d been assigned sprang into relief, the fearful shadowy shapes now merely the posters of her bed and the wardrobe in the corner. Emma drew her legs up, wrapped her arms around them, and slowly her heartbeat returned to normal. She always hoped each of these nightmares would be the last, but had come to the sad realization that they likely wouldn’t stop anytime soon. Although this one had been somewhat different.

Most of the dream had been the same—the running, the confusion, finding her aunt, rushing down the staircase, discovering the soldier—however, there had been one significant change that had caught her attention even while she was held in the thrall of the dream. Usually, the soldier in regimentals turned out to be Lieutenant (later Captain) Samuel Hill Lawrence, with whom she’d formed an acquaintance that summer of 1857. Tonight, however, she’d been surprised the soldier trying to rescue her had been Captain Bancroft, although perhaps she shouldn’t have been. He certainly made her feel every bit as safe as Captain Lawrence had.

“Alex.” Simply saying his name aloud sent a frisson of warmth all over her chilled body and some of her fear abated. She lay back and burrowed deeper beneath the covers. She’d been such a wanton woman last evening it was no wonder Alex thought her more experienced than she actually was. She’d not thought of that before she agreed to kiss him.

But that kiss…

The memory of his lips on hers, his big hands cradling her head so gently as he turned it so their mouths fit together perfectly, made her warm all over. Made her tingle in unexpected places. And when he tried to put his tongue into her mouth—

Emma turned over abruptly onto her stomach, burying her head in the pillow. Never had she been so embarrassed in her whole life. She’d told him the truth, though; she’d never been kissed before, never dreamed gentlemen would try to do such things. She supposed once she was married, her husband would wish to do such things as well. Well, if they were married, that should be all right. Alex had said he would teach her more about kissing. If he were her husband, he could teach her so much more…

A longing deep inside her began to spiral upward. She wanted Alex to be her husband, of that she was certain. The safe haven of his arms was like none she’d ever known, and to have that haven forever was her greatest wish. His kisses had left her breathless and tingling, which was certainly a good thing. They’d not known one another very long, but that shouldn’t be an impediment if they wished to marry. Society approved of arranged marriages where the parties knew each other not at all. They at least had this house party to get to know one another. If they continued to get along as well as they had so far, Emma had no reason to believe their marriage couldn’t take place in short order.

All she had to do now was get him to propose.

*

Early next morning, Alex bounded down the stairs, keeping a sharp eye out for Yule. In his hand, he clutched the letter he’d received from their cousin Julius in the first post informing him that he was almost ready to make an offer for Augusta Hardy. That didn’t seem right at all, for unless he was very mistaken, Miss Hardy was in attendance at this very house party. Of course, Jules didn’t need to propose to the young lady before speaking to her father, and Alex had no idea if his cousin had been courting Miss Hardy before the wager had been declared. He therefore needed to speak to Yule at once to see if he thought this was actually true or if the missive was merely meant to help goad Alex into marrying the first young lady he could find in order to win the side wager. Alex would put nothing past his cousins in the matter of wagering. He’d noticed Yule speaking animatedly with Lady Cora Hastings last evening when he and Emma had come in from their tete-a-tete on the veranda. His cousins seemed determined to give him a run for his money to see who could marry first.

After last night’s kiss on the veranda, however, Alex was convinced his marriage to Miss Washer was all but assured. The young lady seemed more than willing to compromise herself with him. He’d spent a good deal of time last night tossing and turning in his bed wondering if Emma was planning to compromise him and thereby assure their nuptials. As far as the wager was concerned, such actions were completely acceptable, although he’d prefer those not be the circumstances to spur the wedding.

Heading toward the breakfast room, Alex kept an eye out for his uncle as well. Even though he’d made some headway toward learning more about Emma and her family, he didn’t know nearly enough. Uncle Jack and Aunt Lucinda likely had more information to impart. He’d ferret them out as soon as he consulted with Yule.

As expected, most of the gentlemen were in the breakfast room eating heartily before heading out to the shooting stands, his cousin among them. There was also a fair sprinkling of ladies partaking of the copious number of dishes as well, but Emma wasn’t one of them. That suited Alex. He needed to confer with his cousin and uncle before he could claim her company for at least part of the morning. He made his way over to Yule.

Alex slid into a seat next to his cousin just before Lord Taverham could set his plate down. “Pardon me, my lord, but it is imperative that I speak to my cousin this instant.”

With a long-suffering sigh, Taverham took himself off to the other end of the table.

“Good morning, cousin.”

“Morning.” Yule heaped grilled kidneys onto a piece of toast, then cut the bread into four precise squares and began to eat. As he chewed, he gesticulated with his fork, pointing it at the empty space in front of Alex.

“I’ll eat later. Right now I need your advice on an important matter.” He drew the letter out of his inner pocket. “I received this from Jules this morning. Do you think he’s serious?”

Sipping his cup of coffee, that smelled divine, Yule put out his hand. “What’s he saying?”