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Worthington calling the police?
The screams faded in time and the mist began to clear. She lifted her head and shrieked at the dark figure
standing above her with a shotgun in his hand. Then the sun came through the clouds and she saw the
glint of silver hair.
"My lady, come out of the water. You'll catch a chill."
She jerked on Worthington's trousers. "Get down," she hissed. "You'll get killed!"
Worthington took her hand and helped her up. "My lady, the ruffians are seen to. Let His Lordship see
you back to the house while I wait here for the authorities."
Kendrick came out of the mist, bloodied from head to toe. She gasped and he swore. Instantly he was
back in jeans and sweatshirt.
"Just for show," he said soothingly. "Back to the house, Gen, and into a hot bath. Worthington will see to
the prisoners. Worthington, make sure the authorities hold them until Inspector O'Mally can question
them. If they seem unwilling to talk, by all means have them brought back here. I daresay I could
persuade them to give us the information we need."
Kendrick turned a frown on her as they walked back to the castle. "What in heaven's name were you
thinking to come alone here?" he demanded. "Good Lord, Genevieve, 'twas a foolish notion!"
She stopped halfway up the path and glared at him. "I had to walk. You train. Why can't I do the same?"
"Because I can take care of myself!"
"So can I."
"So I see by this morning's events. You will not leave again, Genevieve, without telling me."
"I don't have to answer to you "
"How am I to protect you when I don't know where you are!"
"Oh, just leave me alone," she moaned miserably, pushing through him and stumbling up the path. "Just
leave me alone!" As soon as she was on solid ground, she ran through the tunnel, through the servants'
quarters and up the rest of the way to her room. She slammed the door behind her, ran to the bathroom
and locked the door behind her. Not that a locked door would have stopped Kendrick.
She dropped her face into her hands and shuddered. As if her life wasn't hard enough with just dealing
with her love! Now to have men chasing her, even in her own back yard? She groaned as she pushed
away from the door and dragged her soggy body over to the tub.
How much worse could it possibly get?
Kendrick sat in his study, his feet propped up on the stool, his head back against the couch. He'd been
sitting in the same place for the past twelve hours, most of the night, waiting for Genevieve to come to
him. It had been a vain effort. She had taken a bath, then gone to bed. He couldn't bear to go comfort
her. His fear was still too close to the surface for that.
What a disaster. He'd come within inches of losing Genevieve without even being aware of it. And
rescuing her had only made matters worse! He was well aware of the ache she felt, the hunger to be held,
to be gathered close and kept safe. He understood completely; there were no words to describe how
desperately he wished he could oblige her.
A tap sounded on the door. He looked up in surprise. Why, it wasn't even dawn yet. What in the world
would she be doing up? He tilted his head back.
"Genevieve?"
The door opened and she looked in. "Still speaking to me?"
He smiled, pained. "Of course, love. By the saints, you're up early!"
She sighed and closed the door behind her. More fetching nightclothes with the slick feet, only this time in
green. What he wouldn't have given to have hands with which to pull them off her! She padded over to
the couch and sat down. Almost on top of him. Kendrick managed a faint smile. She was obviously so
distracted she didn't know what she was doing. Even though she wore his ring on her finger, she was still
hopelessly shy. Nay, her usual place was a good hand's breadth away. Marriage likely wouldn't change
that any.
"I couldn't sleep," she whispered, lifting her face to his. "I'm sorry about yesterday. I was rude."
"You were upset. I understand."
"I just needed to get out."
"I understand, Gen," he said softly.
"Will we survive this? Are you sure you don't want me to sign the papers "
"Absolutely not!" He took a deep breath and released it slowly. "I'll take what I have with you. It will be
enough."
"But "
" Tis a far sight better than the alternative."
She chewed on her lip as she looked up at him. "But you've been so miserable."
"Winter makes me moody."
"It does not."
He dragged his hand through his hair. "I've spent far much time wishing for what I cannot have, my love.
I'll stop. Perhaps later today we'll take up our work on the other chambers again. A distraction is likely
what will serve us best for now. And you've a wedding to plan, you know. I've always thought June to be
a fine month for nuptials."
She looked down. "When did you plan to marry Matilda?"
"The dead of winter."
That brought a smile to her lips, though she didn't raise her head far enough for him to catch the full effect.
"June it is then, my lord."
"Fetch that blanket, my sweet, and come curl up next to me. Shall I wake Worthington and have him
build up the fire?"
"No, it's fine," she said, rising and snatching the blanket off the chair near the door. "Let's watch
television, Kendrick. I need the distraction."
"It's too early for anything good."
"I don't care," she said, resuming her place next to him. "Just find something."
"I taped the Raiders game. Should we watch it?"
"Later, Kendrick. It's not even breakfast yet. I can't watch football until after I've had something to give
me energy."
"All right then, love. You take the remote."
"Control. I like that."
"I knew you would."
She drew the blanket around her, her eyes never leaving his. "You are a wonderful man."
"Tell me more."
"Read my mind. I'm too tired to talk now."
He leaned back against the couch and relented. He'd wring a few compliments out of her later when she
was engrossed in something else. The sooner she forgot about her fright yesterday, the better off she'd
be. The Inspector would likely show up before noon, and Kendrick didn't want her thinking about that
until absolutely necessary.
"Look," she said breathlessly.
Kendrick looked at the screen and rolled his eyes. "It's a cartoon. Gen, surely there's some football on
somewhere in the world. This isn't even a real show."
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