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Well, damn.He’d need to be more careful. “Uh, someone in the village this morning told me about Ravenscroft House, and then you told me you were an owner earlier when I—”
“—played captor and then kissed me without permission?” she interrupted with a tantalizing curve of her lips.
“Yes, that.” Hawk couldn’t help but return the gesture. There was no logical reason for the easy way they interacted, for he’d never met her before, but he couldn’t help but think their paths had converged at this point for a reason beyond the search for stolen treasure. Which was a shame, for the unexpected attraction that crackled between them would run at cross purposes with his mission.
And that always came first.
Once more, the lady regarded him, and this time she raked her gaze leisurely up and down his person. Too bad she wouldn’t see much since he wore a gray greatcoat.Stop that, Hawk. She is not for you, and you are not looking for a romance.“What is your name?”
This might prove a problem. However, she’d been removed from London society long enough that he doubted she would remember such an unusual name. Still, he intentionally mangled his given name. “Hawk Montague.”
“Granted, I don’t meet many people, but that is an interesting name.” Interest wove through her tones, and in the golden lantern light, her tentative smile had the power to plow into his chest with the force of a blow. “So, are we of an accord that you will stay on to help out with the chores?” She searched his face for God only knew what, but he hoped she found it.
“I will do whatever you need me to do.” And yes, he did intend the double entendre merely to discover how she would react. No, perhaps he wasn’t looking for a romance, but a toss in the hay wouldn’t hurt, and what was more, it wouldn’t distract from his mission.
“Ah.” Then a shiver racked her shoulders, and she pulled the cloak more tightly about her person. “It is much too cold out here for you to linger in the barn.” She frowned and cast a glance around the immediate area. “I assume you have bags or a rucksack?”
Oh, yes, she would be trouble. Investigating the house as well as any of the outbuildings would be a difficult endeavor. “Of course I do.” Thank the gods he’d had the insight to leave the bag in the barn a few hours earlier. He pointed to the stall next to theirs. “In there. This far stall felt too cold to bed down in since there’s a hole in one of the boards.”
She darted her gaze to the wall, and he rather doubted she could see much, for that portion of the stall was plunged into shadow. With every breath they took now, the air was visible in the declining temperatures. “Well, it is too cold to stay out here in any event. You may take one of the guest rooms in the house.” He must have let his incredulity show, for she smiled again. “Just until Christmas, mind. The weather is dreadful just now, and I rather think it won’t improve. There are more than enough tasks to take up inside.”
He hadn’t anticipated such a boon. Being beneath the same roof as this woman and knowing she resided down a corridor from her would seriously tax his restraint, but he was still on a mission, and that’s how it would need to remain. “I appreciate that, Lady Ravenscroft.”
“Think nothing of it, Mr. Montague. I often sponsor local charities and showing kindness to a former soldier is nothing more than that.”
Well, that did absolutely nothing to stroke his ego. “God will smile upon you, surely,” he mumbled and then moved out of the stall to retrieve his bags, and damn if she didn’t follow. If he was fortunate, he would have some of that divine guidance as well. “Allow me to escort you to the house.” When he put a hand to the small of her back, a barely audible gasp escaped her, which made him even more curious about her life.
Well, damn.What now? He would be hard pressed to keep the whole of his attention on his mission.
Chapter Three
December 16, 1819
Belle awoke the next morning to more gray, overcast skies. No doubt it would rain again, for though it was chilly, it wasn’t yet cold enough for snow, and she really hoped that would be an eventuality soon. Christmastide was ever so much better with snowflakes swirling through the air and clinging to trees, which made the world look magical.
After doing the necessary as well as her morning ablutions, her maid helped her to dress. A simple day dress of a dove gray wool blend that featured three-quarter sleeves and a plain bodice would suffice for the day. Paired with an ivory wool shawl, it would keep the chill off well enough. Besides, she would no doubt spend a good portion of the day curled up somewhere with a fire and a book. That had been how she’d passed her time. It didn’t matter that there was a guest now beneath her roof.
“My lady, might I ask you a question?”
The sound of her maid’s voice wrenched Belle from her thoughts. “Of course, Anna. You can—and have—asked me anything.” Over the years, they had become close friends, and though it had been ingrained while growing up and then again residing with her husband that servants were not equals, she couldn’t help but confide in Anna. Five years alone had been a long stretch, and she rather suspected no one was better than another, regardless of class or whether or not they worked for a living.
“Would you ever marry again? After all, it has been five years since Lord Ravenscroft passed, and you would do well with companionship.”
She stifled a sigh. “Honestly, I don’t know. As of yet, there hasn’t been a man who has interested me in that way.”
“But if you returned to London, say?”
“Perhaps. I would leave that to fate, for I don’t know if I wish to offer up my heart again. Grief is exhausting, both to the body and to the mind.” To say nothing of how difficult it was to move past heartbreak.
For long moments the maid remained silent. “Did you know there is a man occupying one of the guest rooms at the end of the hall?”
Belle frowned at the abrupt change in topic. “I did. In fact, I authorized it after dinner last night.” She stood up from the vanity table where Anna had just finished dressing her hair. “I came upon a soldier in the barn who needed work, so I offered him the chance to do odd jobs here about the house in exchange for room and board through Christmas.”
No one needed to know of the unexpected and immediate attraction that had surged between them or the remarkable kiss they’d shared that had seen her whole world tilted.
The maid’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “From what I heard this morning from the kitchen maid, he is quite easy on the eyes.”
“Pish posh.” Belle moved toward the door so Anna couldn’t see her face. “I don’t know about that. It was rather dark when we met, and the moment we entered the house, I left him in the care of Walters.”
