Saved By A Siren: Spencers in Love Book One Page 7

  It wasn't long before Lucifer picked up his pace and they were racing again. Elise clung to the arm in front of her and reveled in the feel of the cold air on her face. She had no idea where she was but instead of feeling panicked, she felt exhilarated and grateful to be with Gilles. No one had ever made her feel this safe and alive.

  By the time Lucifer slowed and the sound of cobblestones met her, Elise was deliriously happy. Gilles slid from the saddle, taking her with him. She barely felt her feet touch the ground as he set her down. Overcome with joy, she almost reached for him but stopped herself.

  "My lord, that was wonderful! I loved every moment of it! Thank you!" Elise started to twirl but he stopped her.

  "Easy! You almost danced into horse droppings." Gilles lifted her easily and set her down a few feet away. He placed her arm on his sleeve and led her to the house.

  "Can we do that again soon, Spencer?"

  "Any time you like. Though I think I'll see about getting you a horse. With the right training and saddle, I think you could ride on your own if you had an experienced rider and horse to lead."

  Elise gasped and launched herself at Gilles, her arms locked about his neck.

  "Truly? That would be divine!"

  Gilles pulled her close for a moment then set her down.

  "Easy, love. We don't want anyone gossiping." He chided.

  Elise deflated and bit her lip.

  "Sorry!" She whispered.

  "Ah, hell." Gilles cursed as he raked his hand through his hair. "I hate that we have to hide how we feel but it won't be for much longer, I promise." He took her hand and pulled her towards the house.

  "What do you mean?" Elise stopped.

  Gilles quickly switched topics.

  "I'm starving. Let's get inside before our breakfast gets cold. I know how much you dislike cold eggs."

  "Yes, but what did you mean..."

  Gilles interrupted her, "After that we should probably prepare for my family's arrival. I wonder what Cook is preparing for dinner. Mirabelle can't stand fish. We should let Cook know..."

  Gilles kept a steady stream of light conversation flowing through breakfast. As they rose he excused himself saying he needed to send a letter to Lucien. Elise changed out of her heavier dress and into a muslin day dress. Still exhilarated from her ride with Gilles, she sat at the piano and began playing a jaunty, joyful tune.

  It wasn't long before she heard Gilles approaching.

  "I wanted to get a letter off to London before it's too late. I've asked Lucien to look for a suitable horse for you. I'm hoping he'll be able to track one down before he leaves. I've also sent details to my saddle maker. I'd like to have a saddle for you as soon as possible so you can start learning how to ride." Gilles settled into his chair and crossed his ankles.

  Elise turned to face him, a bright smile filled her face.

  "You're spoiling me, my lord!"

  Gilles shrugged. "It pleases me. I told you, I like doing things for you."

  It was as simple as that. Elise tilted her head as she considered what she could do for him. Her first thought had her blushing. Then she remembered the night before. She quickly set aside the blushworthy parts and remembered the unsettling moments. Could she help him be free of his nightmare? She rose and approached Gilles. Once she reached his chair she reached out and found his shoulders, then the arms of the chair. Elise lowered herself to the floor between his knees and felt him tense. Curiosity flared. What could she do in this position that would cause him to respond in such a way?

  "Will you tell me about this nightmare you have every night?" Elise asked as she rubbed her cheek against his thigh, it was warm beneath the buckskin.

  Gilles went very still.

  "There's not much I can say."

  Elise felt disappointed. Was he rejecting her help?

  "I want to help, Spencer."

  "I know, Darling." She felt him play with a lock of her hair and she relaxed. "I wish I could tell you everything. Maybe it would help if I could purge it in some way. But there's so much I don't know. I can't know if anything I say now might put you in danger later."

  Elise nodded against him, marveling at the solidness of his legs where her face and shoulder rested against him. Gilles was so strong and brave, she couldn't imagine what could have happened to cause such a nightmare. It must have been truly terrible.

  "I understand." Elise whispered.

  "Someone I was very close to died. I couldn't stop it from happening."

  She gasped and rose to her knees and slid her arms around his waist, resting her head against his stomach.

  "And you blame yourself, don't you?"

  "I failed, Elise." Gilles' voice had gone raspy with emotion.

  "I know you can't explain it to me right now, but I know you didn't. I know enough about you already to know that you would do anything for the people you care about and you did everything you could."

  "I wish that that was true, love." Gilles sounded so tired and lost again. Elise felt an ache in her heart. She would give everything to keep him from sounding like that.

  She stood and slid into his lap, pressing close as her hands found his face.

  "Elise, someone might see us." Gilles protested, sort of. His hands circled her waist and he shifted beneath her.

  "It pleases me. And I'm quite certain it pleases you." She stated imperiously as she brushed her lips against his.

  "You have no idea how much this pleases me." Gilles whispered as she licked the corner of his mouth. "We have to be careful."

  "I'll hear Holderson long before he comes in. No one else has any reason to be near this room right now." Elise brushed her lips along his cheek until she reached his ear and took his lobe between her teeth and nibbled gently before sucking on it. She was finding that whatever worked on her seemed to work on him just as well.

  Gilles groaned and she felt a hand cup her breast.

  "Oh, that pleases me very much." He mumbled.

  A thought flared and took hold. Elise sat back and took his face in her hands again.

  "What? Is he coming?" Gilles started to lift her off of him.

  "No! Listen!"

  He stilled and she could feel him staring, waiting.

  "This person that you lost, they cared for you as much as you cared for them. Right?"

  "Yes!" Gilles whispered. Elise could feel his pain, almost as much as if it were her own.

  "I know that you didn't fail them. But even if you had, they would forgive you and they wouldn't want you to hurt like this. They would want you to be happy."

  Elise felt his shoulders relax, as if a great weight had lifted.

  "You're absolutely right." Gilles pulled her to him and his lips crashed against hers hungrily and she tasted tears.

  His lips were everywhere, her forehead, her eyelids, her chin, her cheeks, her nose.

  "I was so stupid to wait so long to come here." Gilles spoke the words against her neck causing her to shiver. He licked and sucked his way to the corner of her shoulder and began nibbling. He found the lace trim at her neckline and slid his tongue under it and traced his way down along her décolletage. Elise moaned and thrust her breasts forwards. His tongue licked up and down her cleavage and dipped in between her breasts. Her fingers speared through his hair and her head fell back. Gilles bit the edge of her gown and tugged with his teeth. It slid down, almost revealing a nipple. Again he slid his tongue beneath the fabric and he felt the pebbled tip against his tongue. She mewled and he felt his cock throb and jump. Elise felt it too and wiggled her behind against him.

  "Jeeesus!" Gilles swore as he held her still and rocked his hips against her. He found her ankle under the hem of her skirt and his hand began gliding up her calf.

  "Take me upstairs, Gilles." Elise begged, her voice muffled as her face was buried in his hair.

  "I wish I could. God, I wish I could." He stroked the soft flesh behind her knee.

  Elise whimpered and parted for him.

 
This was heaven, Gilles thought. It had to be. Nothing had ever been this good.

  Just as he was saying his thanks, Elise stiffened in his arms. Her head jerked. It was now hell, Gilles amended.

  "Holderson is coming!" She leapt from his lap, tugging her bodice up and shaking out her skirts. "Is this alright?" She gestured towards her breasts.

  Sublimely alright. For a moment, Gilles could only think of lewd things. He forced himself to be serious and looked her over.

  "You look like you've been kissed but everything else is in order." he glanced down at himself. Other than the very obvious bulge in his trousers and possibly his hair, he was fine. Gilles ran his fingers through his hair and tried to cross his legs. Too painful. He grabbed the bigger book off the end table, opened it and set it face down on his lap just as the butler entered.

  "My lord, my lady." His gaze swept over them and he valiantly kept his lips from curving. "A carriage has been spotted and should be turning into the drive just about now."

  "Maman must have had them on the road before the sun came up."

  Elise could hear Gilles' smile and tried to focus on his happiness and ignore her nerves.

  "Does Cook know? She'll need to prepare a bigger lunch." Elise stood and began pacing.

  "She's been informed and she says lunch will only be delayed by half and hour. She will have tea and scones prepared shortly."

  "Oh, good. I'm sure they'll need refreshment. Should I meet them in the hall?"

  Gilles stopped her by taking her hands.

  "Relax! Wait here and we'll settle them into one of the parlors off the front hall. You can bring them back here when you're ready." Truthfully, he wasn't sure he wanted to share this room with anyone else. He liked having it just for them.

  Elise tried to pull away to start pacing again. He turned her face towards him.

  "It's going to be alright. They will love you. I promise."

  She nodded and tried to look brave.

  "My shoes! They're upstairs!"

  "Leave them! They'll want you to be comfortable. You're perfect just as you are. Isn't she, Holderson?"

  "Yes, she is, my lord." He stepped towards the door. "I will see to the front door and have the Blue Parlor readied."

  "I'll be right there." As soon as Holderson was out of the room, Gilles gathered Elise in his arms and kissed her soundly. "Trust me, all will be well. I'll come for you shortly." With that, he was gone.

  Chapter 13

  Mirabelle opened the carriage door and jumped out before it had come to a full stop and stretched.

  "Finally, it feels so good to get out of that torture box!"

  "Hellion. I didn't realize we were such terrible company." Alastair said as he stepped down. Mirabelle pulled a face and shrugged. He pivoted around, appraising the grounds and the front facade of the house. "Impressive." He turned to assist his mother from the carriage.

  Celine stepped out and her face lit up as she took in the serene beauty.

  "Magnifique! No wonder Gilles is so content to stay!"

  At the mention of his name Gilles walked briskly through the front doors and skipped down the steps. Mirabelle and Alastair exchanged glances.

  "You made good time! I'm so glad you're here!" Gilles lifted his mother into an exuberant hug.

  "You're well, mon garçon?" Celine asked as she searched his face.

  "I'm very well." He kissed her knuckles then reached for his sister.

  "I'm glad you survived the trip!" He swung Mirabelle in his arms and kissed her forehead.

  Finally, he turned to Alastair and pulled him into an embrace, slapping him heartily on the back before letting go.

  "I'm so glad you're all here! Come inside!"

  Gilles lead them up the steps, stopping at the entry to introduce them to Holderson.

  "Welcome to Longwood, if there's anything you require, please let me know."

  He showed them to the Blue Parlor and bowed out.

  Gilles watched Alastair's eyes. As usual, his pupils bounced about, cataloging details.

  Mirabelle stuck her head out the door inelegantly.

  "The decor in this hallway is quite unusual."

  "Mirabelle!" Her mother scolded. "Come in here and sit down."

  "We spent hours sitting, maman." She pirouetted, examining the decor in the parlor.

  "It is unusual." Alastair muttered as he looked out the window at the grounds.

  "This room is more in the usual style." Mirabelle remarked as she examined the figurines on a side table.

  "It's rarely used."

  Everyone looked expectantly at Alastair.

  "The upholstery shows no sign of wear and the curtains are evenly faded on the backside from being closed for long durations."

  Celine shook her head and turned to Gilles.

  "You needed a chaperone?" She smiled expectantly at him.

  "I'm surprised it took you this long to ask."

  Celine shrugged.

  "You're brother and sister insisted on discussing the decor."

  "But, really? Did Longwood double as a rug showroom when the late earl was alive?" Mirabelle asked.

  "I promise, it will all make sense shortly. If you'll excuse me for a few minutes." Giles turned to leave then turned back around. "You might want to assume that anything you say will be heard, even if you whisper." He strode quickly out of the room, leaving his family puzzled.

  "What do you suppose that means?" Mirabelle asked, her head once again in the hallway. "There are tapestries everywhere! Absolutely everywhere!"

  "Come in here now and behave as if you have manners, mignon!" Celine demanded.

  Mirabelle sighed and looked to Alastair.

  "What do you make of it?"

  "I believe he means that you shouldn't say anything uncouth." He smiled as she stuck her tongue out at him. "I'm not certain but I think someone is quite sensitive to sound."

  "That would certainly explain the hall." Mirabelle said as she finally sat down.

  A moment later, Gilles entered with one of the loveliest women the three of them had ever seen on his arm. Mirabelle gasped loudly while Celine's jaw fell in shock. Alastair barely moved. His eyes squinted as he began noting as many details as he could. All three looked down at her bare feet and then up at her unfocused gaze.

  "Maman, Mirabelle and Alastair, it gives me great pleasure to introduce you to Lady Elise DeVere, The Countess of Cambroke."

  "Stop!" Mirabelle exclaimed. "This is better than I imagined."

  "Vraiment?" Celine asked breathlessly.

  Elise's head tilted towards each voice.

  Alastair moved forwards, his eyes locked on Elise's face. She sensed his movement and turned towards him. When he was close enough she held her hand up in his direction.

  "Sir Alastair, it's a pleasure to meet you."

  He repositioned himself in front of her hand and bowed over it.

  "The pleasure is mine." Alastair released her hand and stepped back. He looked at Gilles. "She's blind."

  "Indeed. And in my spare time, I sell rugs." Elise replied with a completely straight face.

  Mirabelle laughed and stood up.

  "Oh, Gilles! She's marvelous!" She stated as she crossed the room. She took Elise's hands and kissed each of her cheeks. "I'm Mirabelle. I'm so happy to meet you."

  "Thank you, I'm so pleased to meet you."

  Celine rose and approached, assessing Elise from the top of her head to her toe nails. Gilles felt Elise stiffen and sway closer to him.

  Once his mother stood before her she raised her hands to her face. Elise jumped but didn't pull away.

  "You will do very well, mon petite! Very well!" Celine kissed both of her cheeks and placed her hand on her arm. "Do come sit so we might know you better."

  Elise let her lead her through the room, snapping the fingers of her left hand as she moved. Alastair watched her, his head tilted. Gilles came up behind her as she neared the chair his mother had selected for her. He took her elbow
and guided her as she sat. He took the seat at the end of the couch so he was nearest to her. Holderson arrived with the tea tray and set it on the table in the middle.

  "Would you be so kind as to pour, Mrs. Spencer?"

  "Of course, but you must call me Celine."

  Elise nodded and smiled.

  Once his mother poured Elise's tea, Gilles intercepted her cup, added two sugars and a drop of milk and placed it on the table in front of her. He turned the handle out to the right then took her hands and guided them to the edge of the table. Celine and Mirabelle exchanged wide eyed glances.

  "Stop babying me, Spencer." Elise whispered.

  "I don't want you to burn yourself or spill it." He whispered in return.

  "It's not even that hot."

  "Must we go through this every time I do something for you." He sighed.

  "I'm not helpless, you know?"

  "I didn't think you were but I know you're probably disoriented. This isn't one of your rooms."

  "I'm fine."

  Alastair, Celine and Mirabelle watched the exchange with intense interest, their heads swinging back and forth as if they were watching a tennis match.

  Mirabelle clapped. "This is lovely!"

  "I'm sorry, we're being rude." Elise said as a blush crept up her neck.

  "Not at all! We're quite enjoying it" Offered Celine.

  "Where are your rooms, Lady Elise?" Alastair asked as he set down his tea cup.

  "I don't really have rooms. There's just the one downstairs that I spend most of my time in. He's referring to the rooms I travel through and use on a daily basis. I've memorized those areas and can find my way without assistance."

  "Then why are we in here and not in a room you're comfortable in?" Alastair asked, looking at Gilles.

  "I wasn't sure if she wanted everyone is her personal space. If anything is moved..." Elise interrupted him.

  "It's not my personal space. This is your home, I don't have a claim on anything here."

  Gilles sighed and squeezed the bridge of his nose.

  "How many times do I have to tell you that this is your home? I live here now and it's my home too. But it's just as much your home as it ever was. The ballroom is yours and so is the back sitting room. The gardens are very definitely yours. What use would I have for them?"