Earl of Alnwick by Meara Platt

Author:Meara Platt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical
Publisher: Meara Platt
Published: 2021-01-23T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

BETWEEN HIS BODY’S savage desire for Katie, and his uneasiness about the innkeeper and the coachman, Niall did not manage a wink of sleep the entire night. It mattered little since he’d make up for it later in the coach, but he was riled and exhausted, and those were not a good combination.

He needed to keep his wits about him, at least until they were safely on the road again.

“Katie,” he whispered, shaking her gently to wake her. The sky had turned gray with the approaching dawn and he did not wish to lose another moment of time.

“It cannot be dawn yet.”

“It is, love.” Bollocks. He hadn’t meant to use the endearment. For all his lecturing about her keeping to her Caleb disguise, he was the one who needed the reminder most.

She snuffled, obviously having fallen back to sleep.

He shook her again, trying to ignore the heat shooting through his body as he put his hands on her warm, little body. Her sweet face was peeking out from under the covers. He did not think a more beautiful girl existed.

What was happening to him?

She’d gone to bed last night believing he did not like her.

Hah! That pendulum had swung hard in the opposite direction. He used to think of her as an irritatingly priggish miss who always showed him up with her perfect manners and perfectly complacent ways. But now?

Yes, she was still perfect. Lovely and engaging, compassionate and clever. He knew exactly what was happening to him.

He was falling in love with Katie.

Not merely falling, but tumbling, careening, diving headlong into love with her.

It was a frightening feeling.

He’d never felt so out of control before, so desperately famished for any woman or so afraid of losing his heart.

What a jest, a Jameson desiring a deep and committed lifetime love.

But how could he be certain these feelings he had for Katie would last? After all, he came from a long bloodline of cads and heels. What if he returned to his womanizing ways?

Katie was the last person on earth he would ever wish to destroy.

He was distracted from his musings by the sound of their coach being brought around to the front. He left Katie’s side to peer out the window and saw the coachman speaking to the innkeeper, Swann. By their intense manner, they seemed to be plotting something, not merely holding idle conversation.

When they both looked up at his window, he knew what they meant to do. He’d drawn back before they noticed him, but this did not give him much advantage. “Katie, get up. Now.”

The urgency in his voice finally roused her. She shot out of bed and hastily donned her boots, jacket and cap. “What’s wrong?”

“You do not leave my side even for a moment. Got it?”

She nodded. “I suppose that means I cannot kick you out of here while I use…” She glanced toward the chamber pot.

He sighed. “I’ll turn around. Be quick about it.”

He returned to staring out the window. Once she had finished and washed up, he gathered their pouches, took her hand, and led her downstairs.

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