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Evie scoffed audibly. “I am a duchess! I believe marriage to you lowered my status, so I can look a little bedraggled.”
Gabriel laughed and waved toward her. “Come now, before I freeze to death.”
Evie slowly made a few steps into the water. Her eyes widened, and her lips parted in shock before she turned and ran back up the bank, screeching. “I am not—” she said but didn’t finish her sentence as Gabriel reached her, took her into his arms, and carried her back into the water.
Evie screamed her heart out and laughed while Gabriel carried her until the water reached his waist. He then unceremoniously dumped her into the river. Evie came up sputtering, and he doubled over in laughter.
“Oh, you…” Her teeth chattered, preventing her from speaking quickly. “You are going to answer for that!”
She lunged at him, but he caught her in his arms and started rubbing her arms and back. “You better get clean, quick,” he said, chuckling, “before you turn all blue.”
He held her tightly in his arms, caressing her body in an attempt to warm and clean her at the same time. The water was icy cold, but he felt himself warming up.
“I forgot the soap in my valise,” Evie said on a moan.
Gabriel placed a soft kiss on her hair. “Do not worry, my dear wife; your servant will get it for you.”
He swiftly walked away into the frigid night air. Good. He needed to cool down, perhaps even freeze. That ought to help him subside his need for her.
* * *
After cleaning up hastily in the frigid water, they ran out of the river like the devil was on their tracks. Water was cascading from Evie’s hair and down her body. Her breasts were peeking out from her wet chemise, and she was certain Gabriel could see all the other parts of her body very well too. He was standing on the bank and studying her intently, his gaze locked on her as if he was preparing to devour her.
Evie hastily crossed her arms over her breasts. Gabriel finally looked up at her face.
“My apologies, I got distracted.” He smiled wolfishly, not looking apologetic one bit. “We need to get dressed in dry clothes as soon as possible.” He turned around as he was speaking and got some of his dry clothes out of his valise.
Evie followed his lead, although her teeth chattered, and her hands shook from the cold. She was barely able to strip off her wet chemise and put on a dry one when her fingers refused to cooperate.
“Blast,” she whispered, trying to wring the excess water from her hair. Her dry chemise was getting wet all over again. She felt Gabriel come up behind her. He gathered her against his chest and started rubbing her arms and body in warming gestures. After a minute or two, she started warming up, so she relaxed against him, her back against his chest, the back of her head resting on his shoulder. Gabriel slowed his movements, not rubbing her body anymore but moving his hands in a gentle caress.
A light sigh escaped Evie as she closed her eyes. She didn’t feel cold anymore. As a matter of fact, a strange warmth originated somewhere inside her and traveled through her body.
“Better?” Gabriel whispered in her ear.
“Mmm…” Evie mumbled a sound of acquiescence.
“Good,” Gabriel whispered and nipped her earlobe.
Evie felt she should be offended by the liberty, but she was too relaxed to care. Gabriel moved his mouth lower and kissed where her jaw met her neck, then lower still, kissing her neck open-mouthed. He drew little circles with his tongue as he traveled down to her shoulder. His hands, in the meantime, traveled upward and cupped her breasts; his thumbs caressed her hardening tips.
One of his hands moved lower and pressed lightly on her abdomen so that her behind was pressed against his crotch. She felt a hot, hard protrusion probing at her buttocks. She stiffened, and Gabriel stilled his movements, just letting her rest against him. After a moment, he let go of her and stepped back.
Evie felt the earth move from under her feet. She stumbled forward, feeling dazed. What was that?
Gabriel cleared his throat. “We need to get moving if we want to get anywhere before midnight,” he said, his voice hoarse.
Evie nodded, although she was not sure he was looking, and proceeded to put on the rest of her clothes. She couldn’t believe he’d recovered that fast from the encounter. Her limbs still trembled, and her legs felt like wool. He, however, quickly finished dressing, collected both valises, and threw them over the horses’ backs. By the time Evie finally threw on her gown, he was all ready for the journey. Gabriel helped her with the fastenings on her gown, and they started forward.
“Where are we going?” Evie asked as they moved in silence for several minutes.
“I have a friend—and I use the word friend liberally here—who lives nearby. We might as well try our luck in case there’s a warm bed for us there.”
Evie frowned at him. “Couldn’t we have taken a bath there?”
“There’s no guarantee he’ll be in, and even less guarantee that we’ll be admitted by his staff looking the way we did. Not that we look much better now.”
“So, who is this friend?” Evie asked curiously. She rarely saw Gabriel in the company of men. In fact, the Earl of Clydesdale seemed to be the only person he actively socialized with.
“The Marquess of Vane.”
Evie frowned in thought. “I don’t think I know him.” She prided herself on knowing every person in polite society by name.
“You wouldn’t.” Gabriel shrugged. “He’s a recluse and a hermit. I don’t think he’s been to London in all the time you’ve been out in society. He married when he was young.”
She nodded as the dark, tall silhouette of a castle made itself known. “We are here,” she said in relief.
“Indeed.” Gabriel urged his horse into a canter.
