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“Then do,” she whispered.
“’Tis a house of God…and I need…to talk with ye…about my plans.” Her kisses kept interrupting him until his head swam with the heady strawberry essence that permeated her skin.
She took a deep breath and rested her forehead on his chest. “’Tis so hard to be modest when you appear in all your rugged glory. You are much more in control of yourself.”
He smiled at her poetic words and held her against him. “If ye could feel through all your layers, ye would see how out of control I am.”
He held his breath as her hand snaked down the front of him to feel his hard jack through his plaid. “Oh,” she said, but there was a happy satisfaction in the word. When she began to rub, he snatched her hand away and pulled her out of the unused confessional. Although, it was a place for the revealing of sin. And what he wanted to do with Lucy inside was truly sinful.
He took a deep breath and adjusted himself. “I came to give ye your gift.”
She smiled and looked down where his plaid tented out. “Then please give it to me.” Her words were so suggestive that he nearly pushed her back into the box.
“Och, but lass, I have no wish to burden ye with my bairn.”
Her smile faded. “That would be difficult.”
“As it is, I will stay in London until we know for sure ye are not.”
Her smile returned. “So if I am, you will stay?”
“I…I have a duty, lass.”
She sniffed, nodding quickly. “Of course.” She dug her hand into the pocket underneath her petticoat and pulled out a small box. “Happy New Year.” A less joyful, less lustful smile returned to her lips.
He took the box, unfolding the top lid to reveal a circular gold charm, a locket. He pressed the small lever open to see a miniature portrait of Lucy on one side and a lock of her golden hair tied in a braided knot secured into the other side. “For when you have to return to Edinburgh.” Her words were soft.
“’Tis rich indeed, and I will cherish it,” he said.Daingead. He should have gotten her the mirror. It was priced closer to her gift.
He exhaled long. “I fear I am not as rich with gifts.” He pulled his package out. “There are several things to it.”
Her gloved fingers untied the knot and opened the cloth. Two collars lay there. “They are for Pip and Percy,” he said, picking one up. “Their names are burned into the leather. Pip Cranfield,” he said, pointing out the name that had scrollwork etched into each, making them decorative. “So no one can say they aren’t yours if they get away.”
She smiled at him as she lifted Percy’s. “They are perfect,” she said. “Thank you.”
He pulled forth a slender gift. “I also have this.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Now poisons do not onely kill being taken into the bodie, but som being put or appliedoutwardly.”
Ambroise Paré, 6th-century French royalphysician
Lucy pulled thewoven ribbon on the second package. “You didn’t have to get me a second gift,” she said. The collars for her pets meant more than Greer had probably intended. They were a tangible way of showing his support in her quest to save the two dogs from the abusive bear-baiting sport. Pip and Percy were hers to keep. Perhaps she’d leave court and live at Cranfield House so she could love them and the three children every day. Certainly all five of them needed more attention than Simmons could give, especially if he moved away.
“I wanted to also give ye something to wear,” he said.
She laughed lightly. “Do I get a collar too?”
She let the flaps of soft wool fall off and stared at two silver sticks about a quarter inch thick and seven inches long. They each had a pearl at one end opposite a vicious looking point at the other.
“They’re to hold your hair, but…” he lifted one up like a miniature sword, “ye can use them as weapons if needed.” He thrust the ornamental hair stick at an invisible foe. “Very effective and easily concealed.”
The pair was beautiful, practical, and evidence that he wanted her to be safe. But her heart squeezed slightly. “For when you’re no longer here,” she said. “For me to protect myself.”
He didn’t answer, and she forced a sweet smile. “They are lovely, Greer. Thank you.”
He studied her closely as if not convinced. “Ye like them?”
