Regency Romance Collection From Christina Courtenay Read Free Page B

as if it could have been built recently, rather than nearly a thousand years ago. The Romans had obviously been amazing engineers and had created a bathing place of great beauty. The view did not disappoint her this time either. As it was such a cool day, there was steam rising from the warm water to hang just above the surface in little clouds. This lent the whole an aura of mystery that was quite breathtaking.
    Her reverie was interrupted by a familiar voice.
    ‘Please do not look at me, Miss Ravenscroft, then no one will know that we are having a conversation.’
    Amelia nodded almost imperceptibly and waite d for Lord Demarr to continue. She gazed at the pool as if enraptured, but was in fact struggling to compose herself as the sound of his voice had made her jump.
    ‘ Good girl,’ he said approvingly. ‘I was going to send you word, but as you are here anyway, I may as well tell you now. There has been a slight hitch in our plans. I have been unable to extricate myself from an engagement this evening without causing suspicions, so we will have to leave tomorrow night, if you are agreeable?’ Again Amelia nodded slightly. ‘Good. All the preparations are in hand and, provided you can escape from the house undetected, there should be no reason for anyone to suspect we have eloped.’
    ‘ Thank you,’ Amelia breathed quietly. ‘I was afraid you would have changed your mind this morning.’ She chanced a glance in his direction, but this proved to be a mistake as her heart began to behave in a highly irregular manner when she saw him smile slightly.
    ‘ No, my dear, once I decide on something I never go back on my word. I will be there tomorrow night, never doubt it.’
    ‘ I’m glad.’
    ‘ I had best be off. I will get word to your butler when all is ready. Until then, au revoir .’
    The next time Amelia glanced over to wh ere he had stood, he was gone. She wondered if she was making the biggest mistake of her life, but surely nothing could be worse than staying in the same house as Bernard? She shuddered at the mere thought, and promptly returned to her aunt.
     
    Much to Amelia’s relief, Bernard took himself off soon after dinner, presumably to try and recoup his losses of the previous evening. She excused herself shortly after the tea tray had been removed and crawled gratefully into bed, falling asleep almost as soon as her head touched the pillow.
    She was awakened just after midnight by someone placing a hand over her mouth, and her eyes flew open trying to see the intruder. She didn’t really have to look, however. As the odour of unwashed male and alcohol fumes reached her, she knew it couldn’t be anyone other than Bernard. She saw him grinning at her in the faint moonlight in a very self-congratulatory way.
    ‘ Good evening, my dear cousin,’ he whispered. ‘I just thought I’d look in on you to see how you were sleeping.’
    Amelia glanced at the door to see whether she had forgotten to lock it before she went to bed, although she didn’t think so. He saw where she was looking and his grin broadened.
    ‘ No, you didn’t forget to lock it, my sweet. I took the liberty of having a duplicate key made this afternoon and it worked.’ Triumphant, almost like a child who has gotten away with a naughty prank, he chuckled. A spoilt, selfish child was what he was, Amelia thought savagely, used to getting his own way. But not this time, she was determined on that.
    She bit down hard on the hand that was still covering her mouth and h e yelped and snatched it away. She spat out the taste of him and tried to roll away, but he was quicker and caught her arms, pinioning them to her sides.
    ‘You little hellcat!’ he exclaimed. ‘I’ll soon tame you.’
    He proceeded to try to do just that, coming down heavily on top of h er while he tried to kiss her. Amelia twisted and turned and bucked to heave him off, but when this did not succeed she tried to think of some other way. During their struggle,