‘Well, that settles it,’ he announced firmly. ‘You can’t possibly go back to town in this state. The best place for you is bed.’
‘Oh, but I—’
Rising to his feet, he said, ‘There’s no way you can walk on that. A cold compress, a good night’s sleep and we’ll see how it is in the morning…’
He’d had two objectives and his first had been achieved more or less by chance. Now, with a bit of luck, he could make use of that same chance to achieve his second.
‘However,’ he went on, ‘at the moment our priority is to get you back.’
Gathering herself, she made a valiant attempt to struggle up.
‘Stay where you are,’ he ordered. ‘No doubt we could make it back under our own steam, but it’s a fair distance, so it would make more sense to have some transport.’
She was waiting for him to say he would walk back and fetch the car, when he asked, ‘Do you have your mobile handy? I’m afraid I left mine in my jacket pocket when I changed.’
‘Yes.’ She fished in her shoulder bag and produced her phone.
‘Thanks…I’ll ask Mullins to drive round and fetch us…
‘Ah, Mullins,’ he said after a moment, ‘Miss Dunbar has hurt her ankle walking back from Daland Tower. We’re by the beechwood, if you could pick us up…’
Then, to Tina, ‘He’ll be here directly.’ Switching off the phone, he slipped it casually into his trousers pocket and sat down beside her, his muscular thigh brushing hers. ‘Now, I was telling you about Mag. Where had I got to exactly?’
‘One night Sir Gerwain didn’t turn up…’ she prompted somewhat distractedly.
‘Right…Well, the next day, Mag learnt that he was about to marry a lady of rank. A lady he’d been betrothed to since they were both children.
‘Left pregnant and alone, Mag threw herself off the battlements into the moat.
‘But, if the ghostly legend is to be believed, on moonlit nights she still walks there, waiting for her faithless lover.’
Hearing Tina’s sigh, he said, ‘I told you it was a sad story.’
‘To be honest, I hadn’t expected anything else. I’ve never heard of any ghost who haunted a place because he or she had been happy there.’
His teeth gleamed as he laughed. ‘And I always thought it was men who were practical and women who were romantic.’
‘Perhaps it is as a rule.’
Looking into her eyes, he said, ‘But you’re a fascinating mixture of both.’ Then, sounding almost surprised, ‘I’ve never met a woman who intrigued me as much as you do.’
The intensity of his gaze was as intimate as a touch. It made her senses reel.
Still gazing into her eyes, he leaned forward and, while she sat there as though mesmerized, touched his lips lightly to hers.
Then, a hand on her nape, he deepened the kiss until there was nothing in the whole world but him and what he was making her feel.
Eyes closed, heart pounding, she had just accepted that she was lost, when he drew away and said, ‘Mullins will be here at any moment.’
As he spoke she heard an engine and a second or two later an estate car came bumping over the rough grass towards them.
Richard helped her up and into the car before pulling on his jacket and climbing in beside her.
‘If I’m not going back to town tonight—’ she spoke the thought aloud ‘—I ought to let the hotel know.’
‘Don’t worry,’ he said easily. ‘I’ll take care of that as soon as we get back.’
When they reached the castle, Mullins drove carefully over the cobbled courtyard and, stopping by the impressive door, got out to open it, while Richard came round to Tina’s side and, stooping, instructed, ‘Put your arms round my neck.’
When she obeyed, he lifted her out effortlessly and carried her inside, saying to Mullins on the way, ‘Thanks and goodnight.’
‘Goodnight, sir, madam.’
‘Goodnight,’ Tina said huskily.
Though she tried to stay calm, being held in Richard’s arms and cradled against his broad chest made her heart start to throw itself against her ribcage and her breathing quicken and grow ragged.
Since she had first seen him standing in Cartel’s loading bay she had been drawn to him, fascinated by him, beguiled and bewitched.
And that dark enchantment and the sexual tension that accompanied it had never slackened. In fact it had increased, so that she no longer trusted her ability to be strong, to follow the course she had set herself…
But somehow she had to hide that growing weakness, otherwise he would take advantage of it and then she would lose what little was left of her pride…
As he carried her up the stairs and into his suite she realised that, like the previous night, though her breathing had quickened, his hadn’t altered in the slightest.
Carrying her through to the guest room, he said, ‘I presume, from all you said earlier, that you’d prefer to sleep here.’
It was a statement rather than a question and it made it easier to answer, ‘Yes, thank you. I would,’ and sound as if she meant it.
When she had dropped her bag on the nearest chair he carried her into the bathroom and, setting her down carefully, helped her off with her coat before asking, ‘Shall I ring for one of the maids?’
‘Oh, no. There’s no need to disturb anyone so late. I can manage perfectly well.’
‘In that case I’ll fetch your bag.’
Returning with them almost immediately, he queried, ‘Sure you’re all right for the moment?’
‘Quite sure, thank you.’
‘Then I’ll ring the hotel and find some strapping for that ankle.’
Handicapped as she was, it took her longer than usual to shower, clean her teeth and put on her nightdress and gown. Finally, warm and dry and scented, she brushed out her long corn-gold hair. Normally, for bed, she braided it, but, fearing a plait might look childish, she returned to the bedroom with it loose around her shoulders.
He was sitting in one of the low chairs, his long legs stretched out, his ankles crossed negligently.
Rising to his feet at her approach, he said lightly, ‘All ready with the first aid kit.’
‘I’m sorry to have been so long,’ she apologized.
‘Considering the difficulties, I think you’ve been remarkably quick…’
He turned the quilt back. ‘Now, then, if you’d like to get into bed, I’ll take a look at that ankle.’
Her calf-length nightdress was relatively modest and, slipping off her gown, she got into bed, praying he would do what he needed to do and go quickly.
When she was settled against the pillows, he examined her ankle once more, his strong fingers gently probing the slight swelling.
Seeing her wince, he said, ‘It should be a lot less painful once it’s strapped up.’
Taking a pad soaked in something cold and a stretch bandage, he sat down on the edge of the bed and proceeded to deftly apply them.
‘There—’he tucked the end in neatly ‘—how does that feel?’
‘Much