Mantheria knew that if she’d told her family—her parents, her brothers, and her sisters—about the pinches and the groping, they would have wanted to fight for her honor.But her reputation would be besmirched, and she was so tired of fighting!Another shiver rolled through her body.She was even more tired of being alone.She sincerely prayed that wherever Andrew was, he was not scared, cold, or alone.
Except Mantheria wasn’t alone; Sunny had come with her.
She knew that he would eventually marry and provide an heir for his title, and when it happened, it would break her cold, little heart, but until then, she could take comfort in their friendship.Last night, he had undressed and bathed her without one lascivious touch or unpleasant grab.Then he’d bundled her into her nightgown and to bed, tucking her in like a little child.Her heart warmed, although the rest of her shuddered from the cold.Instinctively, she moved closer to Sunny and discovered that his body was quite warm and giving off a great deal of lovely heat.Closing her eyes, Mantheria rubbed her cold nose against his bare shoulder and fell back asleep.
* * *
Sunny was notcertain if he was awake or asleep.Her head was resting against his chest, and her arm was around his middle.He breathed in the sweet smell of her hair and then reveled in the softness of her skin.
This was no dream.
He took a deep breath, and she stirred a little.Sunny held as still as possible, as he experienced fluttering sensations in his chest and stomach.Mantheria was in his arms—he didn’t want her to wake up and for this moment to end.Sunny closed his eyes to intensify these lovely sensations.He had fantasized about holding her so many times, but never before had he felt such a euphoric satisfaction and completeness.Mantheria had finally let him be close to her.
The sun was shining through the gaps in the curtain window.Time was not on his side.Nor had it ever been.They had missed Andrew at several places by minutes or hours.And as much as Sunny wanted to snuggle with Mantheria in this warm bed, her son might be out in the cold at this very moment.He felt a new responsibility for the boy and could almost picture himself as a stepfather.He could not lie abed with his beloved any longer.
Yawning, Sunny thought that at least the sunshine meant that it had stopped raining.That was something.
“Mantheria, sweetheart,” he whispered in the low voice of a lover.“We should dress and see if there is any news about Andrew.Hopefully he is safe at Timsbury Manor, but if he is not, we should resume our search immediately.”
She sat up abruptly, and he missed her warmth and sweet, curvaceous body next to his.The freezing air that met his chest was perhaps a good thing and cooled down the rest of his overheated frame.
Mantheria sprang out of the bed in her borrowed nightgown that barely reached past her knees, showing her lovely calves and ankles.“You’re right, Sunny.How did I sleep so long?Hopefully Nick has already ridden to Timsbury Manor.”
Without a glance back at him, Mantheria went toward the fire where their clothes were hanging and hopefully dry.He averted his eyes while she changed, and then with great reluctance, he pulled off the coverlet and moved to the fire to put on his gear.Sunny quickly put on his wrinkled buckskins and shirt.Mantheria didn’t look much better.Her expensive dress had certainly seen better days.Then she picked up her half-smashed hat and tossed it into the fire.A laugh escaped his throat as he buttoned up his coat.
Mantheria shrugged.“It was unredeemable.”
Sunny picked up his stiff but dry stockings off the drying line and took them over to the bed with his boots to put on.The stockings were easy enough to slip on, but he couldn’t quite get his muddy boots past his heel.He yanked and pulled and managed to get the first one on.But the second one wouldn’t budge.He cursed under his breath and tugged harder, only to topple over the side of the bed and onto the floor with a loud thud.
Sunny’s back and backside throbbed, and he was tempted to cover his face with his hands.But he was glad that he didn’t, for Mantheria finally looked at him—on the floor—and she laughed loudly.He gave her a silly grin.Then she covered her mocking lips with her hand and giggled some more.It was at his expense, but Sunny did not mind.He loved to hear her laugh, and he wanted nothing more than to make her happy.She came over to help him up, not that he needed it, but Sunny was not about to waste an opportunity to feel her delicate hand in his.He got to his feet and sat back down on the end of the bed, prepared to start again.Only this time, Mantheria grabbed his muddy boot and angled it over his ankle so that it could pull up to his knees.It was a small act of service, but it unmanned him.Or the way she had parted her lips as she’d assisted him.
Sunny watched as she poured water from the pitcher into a basin and washed her face, and then plaited her long blonde hair.He could feel his hair rise on his arms and had a feeling of lightheadedness.Perhaps he’d hit his head when he’d fallen off the bed.Still, he craved to be touched by her again.Even if it was simply tugging on his boot.
When she was finished, she glanced back at him, sitting on the bed.“My face is clean now.So Elizabeth would say that I have been good.”
Leaning forward, he hoped that she believed that.Elizabeth had loved Mantheria, and he was certain that the last thing the little girl had wanted was to make her twin sister feel bad with her last words.“I am certain she would.”
Smiling brightly, Mantheria held out her hand, which was not quite as clean as before, thanks to his boot.“Do you need help again, Your Grace?”
Sunny’s breath quickened, and he returned her smile.He put his hands in hers and allowed her to help him to his feet.He would have enjoyed nothing more than to stand together, holding hands, and smiling at each other, gazing into each other’s eyes.But he had taken on the responsibility to help her find her missing child.He pulled away and went to the fire to collect his now dry effects and place them into the bandbox.Mantheria did the same and even folded the borrowed nightgown—or attempted to, at least.The woman he loved was obviously not used to menial housekeeping tasks, for her folding looked very bumpy and uneven.He took her bandbox and stacked it on his own before opening the door for her.
They walked down the dark, narrow hall to the stairs and the taproom.Another place that he’d never expected to see his proper duchess.They were met in the middle of the room by the proprietress.
Mantheria handed the woman the borrowed nightdress.“Thank you for your kindness, ma’am.Has Nick been able to go to Timsbury Manor yet this morning?”
“Aye, he has and is back again.A young master Noman was seen by Barney Potts when he was herding the sheep.Barney let the boy travel with him and then took him to the vicar’s house when it started to rain.He recognized the lad’s tattered coat was quality, he did.Even though it was missing two silver buttons.Then Barney returned to his own farm with the sheep.Your son is in good hands with Mr.Terrence.”
Sunny stepped closer to the woman.“How close is the rectory from here?”
“Not a half mile.”
“Can you have our mounts saddled at once and we can settle our bill here?”Mantheria asked eagerly.
“What about your breakfast, Your Graces?”the proprietress asked.
Sunny worried that Mantheria would tell the woman that they did not require any sustenance.His stomach grumbled loudly in protest.He watched her glance out the front windows at the muddy road.His dirty boots were not going to look any better today than they had yesterday.
“Perhaps some coffee and gruel.If they are readily available.”