Secluded with the Rogue

Chapter 10

Ten

T he wind didn’t let up even once. He knew that because he’d had to open the window a crack to gather some snow in a jug so they’d have water. Though through the night it had bothered Ezra less and less.

The howling at least hadn’t kept Calista from sleeping. Every minute that she slept peacefully, the vice around his heart loosened and he felt he could breathe a little easier. It had taken hours for the shivers to stop wracking her body. Longer still for her skin not to feel icy to the touch.

Every time he’d handed her a cup of cider or passed a plate of bread and cheeses, he’d surreptitiously tried to test the temperature. That, and he just enjoyed touching her.

He poked at the fire and added another log before turning their clothes over once again. Thankfully the garments had gone from positively soaking to merely damp because he wasn’t sure he’d survive much longer knowing she was practically naked under the covers he’d piled atop her.

Christ, it had been a difficult day. Torturous in more ways than one. The sickening fear had kept a tight grasp of him, that much was true. But undressing her earlier, revealing every curve, and every inch of skin. Removing her stockings and feeling the silky smoothness of her legs beneath his fingers? That had been torture of a different kind.

Added to that the way his heart had damn near squeezed itself to oblivion at the sight of her tears and finally feeling her pressed against him?

He’d survived it with Herculean strength and he didn’t know if he had another second of that left in him, let alone a few days or however long it would take for them to get out of there.

He didn’t mention anything to Calista, for he didn’t want to worry her more, but he didn’t know what he’d do if they were trapped much longer than that. There was enough firewood and cured meats and cheeses to last them three days. For water he could gather snow, boiling it should clean it enough to make it safe. And he knew David even had a store of tea here for when Marianne liked to sneak off with him.

But after three days he would start to grow concerned. Still, he was counting his blessings tonight because for a while he wasn’t sure they’d even get out of the storm.

Calista turned over in her sleep, facing him with one hand tucked under her head. She’d been incredibly brave, even joking with him when she was at death’s door. Every shiver, every tremble had damn near killed him. He hadn’t even noticed his own coldness until she’d demanded that he change.

And it had felt – nice. Nice to be cared about. His family wasn’t exactly the overly affectionate type. His whole life he’d been the spare. Surplus to requirements, especially when his nephews had been born.

He’d filled that void with good friends, drink, and women. Yet none of that had warmed him as much as this woman caring about him. Nothing had broken his heart as much as the sight of her tears.

And not a damned thing had tested him as much as being alone in a secluded cabin with her, one bed, and very few clothes.

He smirked remembering the look of shock she’d given him when he’d told her to get on the bed. Shook his head remembering how she’d tried to argue against it, tried claiming the chair because she was smaller.

In the end, she’d been too tired to argue for long so she’d dutifully gotten under the covers, dutifully ate the food he brought her, and allowed him to put blanket after blanket over her. She’d insisted that she would stay there only until she warmed up a little, then promptly fell asleep.

It was just as well because he wouldn’t sleep a damned wink. The chair was deuced uncomfortable for one thing. But more than that, he didn’t want the fire to get low. Not tonight. Not until he knew for sure that she was well.

Time ticked on with Ezra merely watching her sleep. Her hair had dried in soft curls that spread across the white pillow of the cot. Her cheeks finally had some color in them. And that mouth.

Shaking his head a little, he turned his attention to the fire. He couldn’t think of things like her mouth. Couldn’t think of how much he’d meant it when he said he was glad to be her white knight. Glad to be the one here with her.

Truth be told, it would have mattered not a jot if she’d come out here without him because he would have followed her. He was beginning to think he’d follow this woman anywhere should she ask it of him. Hell, even if she didn’t ask he’d probably do it.

Sighing at the impossible situation he found himself in, Ezra opened his hip flask and finished the last of the brandy. He’d tried saving it for Calista until she’d threatened to cast it up at his feet should he feed her any more of the stuff.

Gods, but she made him laugh.

A log snapped in the fire and he poked at a bit more to keep the flames stoked. Tomorrow at least they’d be able to don their clothing and he might actually be able to breathe again.

For now though, he rolled his neck, stretched out his legs, and settled in to watch his beautiful little damsel and wonder how the hell he’d keep his hands off her.

C alista wasn’t sure what woke her but a glance at the window gave little indication of the time. She thought it might be morning given that the tint to the snow was slightly lighter than it had been whenever she’d fallen asleep, but that was as far as she could guess.

Stretching was an effort given the weight of the blankets atop her and for a moment, she wondered why her abigail had put so many on her bed before reality came barreling in and she remembered everything.

With a gasp, she sat up. Or at least she tried to. It took considerable effort to shove the blankets down enough for her to do so.

She hadn’t meant to sleep! She’d meant to get warm then give the bed to – Ezra! As soon as she thought of him, her head snapped around, her eyes frantic. The sight of him in the rickety chair by the fire, head lolling to the side, poker still in hand, made her heartache.

He’d sat up all night tending the fire. Not only had he gotten her warm, dry, and comfortable last night but then he’d sat there and watched over her. Given that the embers were still bright red, she knew he must have dozed off only recently.

She took the opportunity to study him, her mouth drying as she leisurely perused his body. The blanket around his legs was still secured, but the one around his shoulders had fallen off in the night and there he sat, bare-chested and exposed to her.

She’d never seen such a sight and could not have dragged her eyes away for anything in the world. He looked like a tanned version of the Greek statues she’d seen in the museum, all honed muscle and bulging biceps.

Most men of the ton were soft and paunchy, too much wine and meat rounding them out. Ezra looked as though he spent his days working the land, doing hard labor to keep his body like that. Even his abdomen had ridges of muscles leading down to –

Calista snapped her gaze back up. She wasn’t venturing near that even in her mind.

Her own body ached as though she’d run miles. She felt still and sore but at least she was alive. Alive because of her white knight who looked more like a dark angel. She’d never be able to repay him, she thought even while her eyes, almost of their own volition wandered over him once more.

She would have happily studied him for hours if the sound of his gruff laughter hadn’t interrupted her and she looked back at his face to see him quirk his brow at her. “Have you looked your fill, Damsel? Or should I stay here a little longer?”

Calista’s cheeks grew so hot she almost longed for yesterday’s iciness to cool her down.

“I didn’t,” she started. “I wasn’t, I mean, I didn’t know you –“

“Don’t worry about it, love, “ he quipped, standing up and not bothering to cover himself. “I quite enjoy being admired.” Before she could argue the point, he reached down and snatched up his clothing. “But enjoyable as it is, I think I’ll go and dress in the water closet. Preserve my modesty, you know.”

Calista could only sit in her mortification until he returned, dressed and looking a lot more put together.

“There’s freshwater by the wash basin,” he said. “And David has the good sense to have toothbrushes and powders to spare. The soap is sandalwood so we might have to forgo that delicious floral scent of yours for a while, but sadly there’s nothing for it.”

“That’s, you.” She didn’t know what to say to his light, teasing tone. It almost felt as though there was nothing wrong. Like they were back at the Manor preparing for Christmas. Perhaps their situation wasn’t as dire as she’d thought.

Ezra walked toward the bed, dropping to his haunches and brushing a strand of hair from her face. Even that simplest of touches sent a shiver through her and eyes snapped to her body before darting back up to her, filled with a sudden concern. “How are you feeling?”

“Oh, um. I’m fine,” she answered.

“Still cold? You’re shivering.”

How could she explain that she hadn’t shivered from cold, but from the feel of his fingers against her skin? “No,” she reassured him. “Not cold. A little sore, maybe.”

“That can happen. We’ll make sure you get plenty of rest today.”

“Rest?” asked. “But I had planned to go for a long walk outside.”

He smirked at her sarcasm. “Well, there’s nothing wrong with your brain anyway,” he drawled. “Or that mouth of yours, apparently.”

He started peeling the blankets off the bed so she could move enough to swing her legs over the side. Still, in nothing but her stays and chemise, there was little she could do to cover herself up and a mischievous part of her didn’t want to. Especially when his own eyes wandered and he audibly swallowed before turning away.

He grabbed her gown from the chest and handed it over, the garment thankfully dry and toasty warm. “Go see to your ablutions and I’ll prepare some tea and breakfast.”

“Ezra.”

“Damsel?”

“The food,” she said. “How long will it last?”

His smile was perfectly serene, not a hint of worry in his molten gaze. “There’s plenty. And the storm won’t last much longer. Don’t worry, we shall eat like royals then be back in time to see to Marianne’s preparations.”

Feeling a wave of relief at his reassurance, Calista hurried to the water closet to dress and prepare for a day alone in a snowstorm with Ezra. Had she turned around, she might have seen the reassuring smile fall from his face.

As it was though, she happily skipped into the bathroom thinking perhaps being snowed in wasn’t so bad, after all.