Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine (reading an ebook TXT) 📕

avoid her, remaining constantly with his lords and William and the leading huntsmen.

When they left for Bramber Castle John bade William an almost affectionate good-bye. To Matilda he extended a cold, hostile hand, and when she curtseyed and murmured the appropriate words of farewell he turned away without a word.

"Has madam finished?"

Jo stared up with a start. The waiter was standing beside her, his hand on her plate. The food on it was practically untouched.

"I'm sorry, " she said. "It was very good. I'm just not hungry. "

She looked across at Nick. He was watching her through narrowed eyes, twisting his empty glass thoughtfully between his fingers.

"You hypnotized me!" She gasped.

He shook his head. "I did nothing. I merely sat here and listened. Two coffees, please, and the bill. " He looked up at the waiter. Then he turned his attention back to Jo. He smiled faintly. "You were what I believe is called scrying,

seeing pictures in the candle flame. No doubt you could see them in a crystal ball as well. You must be psychic!"

Jo had gone white. "That's nonsense—"

"Is it? It's more common to see the future than the past, I suppose, but either way, three hundred years ago you would have been burned at the stake for less. "

"And today I could make my living telling fortunes. Oh, God!" She put her head in her hands. "I'm frightened, Nick. "

"Why?" He picked up the bottle and poured the last of the wine into her glass. "You obviously have a gift. And if you are going to persist with researching into the past, the ability to do it yourself will at least save you Bennet's no doubt exorbitant fees. " He pursed his lips. "Do you remember what you said?"

She took a sip from her glass, glancing around at the other diners. No one was staring. No one seemed to have noticed anything amiss. "It must have been you asking about Prince John earlier, " she said slowly. "I saw him again. Only he was older this time. A teenager. "

"But you found him as obnoxious as before. " Nick was still twisting his glass between his fingers.

Jo nodded thoughtfully. "He seemed to think me attractive, but his methods of showing it were pretty crass. Thank you. " She looked up and smiled as the waiter put a cup down in front of her.

"Perhaps your reactions were tactless and high-handed. " A nervous tic had begun at the corner of Nick's eye.

She stared at it. "We are talking about me again, " she said softly. "It was not me. It was Matilda. "

"Whichever one of you it was, you should have had the sensitivity to handle the situation more discreetly. " Nick took the bill and began methodically to check it.

"Why are you so angry?" Jo said suddenly. "It's as if you're taking it personally. I didn't mention Richard, did I? Or is it just because I talked about the past? Or because I wasted this beautiful meal? Or did I shout and yell and make an exhibition of myself?"

He shook his head, reaching into his pocket for his wallet. "None of them. Come on. Let's go. " He pushed his chair back and stood up.

It was a glorious night, warm and balmy. They walked slowly back up Victoria Road. Most of the houses were in darkness. Here and there a window was still lighted, shadows moving behind the curtains.

Nick did not touch her. He strode ahead in silence. Only when they reached the step beneath the pillared porch did he speak.

"Are you going to let me come in?" She stared up at his face in the light of the streetlamp. "No, Nick. "

"Please, I won't hurt you, I promise. " He put his hands on her shoulders and gently pulled her against him.

She wanted him badly. She could feel her heart beginning to beat faster as his mouth moved gently against hers, and she felt her resistance weakening as he moved his hands slowly from her shoulders toward her breasts, massaging them sensuously through the thin material of her shirt, pressing her spine against the door. He felt in his pocket for his key, silencing her feeble protest with another kiss as he slotted it into the lock behind her and pushed it open. The hall inside was pitch-black. He did not bother to try to find the light switch. His arm pinioning hers, he kissed her more fiercely as the heavy door swung shut behind them, leaving them in darkness.

"Nick. " Jo gasped. "Please, don't—"

"Why?" She could hear the strange exultance in his voice as he tore her shirt open and dropped his head to nuzzle her breasts.

"Please, I asked you not to come in—"

"But you want me, Jo, " he breathed. "You want me. " Catching her wrist, he pulled her with him up the stairs, unlocking the door to her apartment and pulling her inside.

Only then did he release her. Jo groped for the light switch, trying to refasten her shirt and tuck it back inside her skirt. "Nick, please, I'm tired—"She backed away from him uncertainly. "Will you go if I make some coffee—"

"No coffee. It sobers you up too fast. " He strode into the room, pulling the curtains shut and turning on the table lamp in the corner. "What we need is some more wine and some music. " Leaving her standing by the door, he disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a bottle. "I see you've replenished your cellar. " He smiled at her. "Put some music on, Jo. And relax. " She was standing by the door, her hand on the latch. "Turn off the main lights and put on something quiet and sexy, " he went on, his voice suddenly gentle. "I said I wouldn't hurt you. Come on. Relax. " He turned away from her to find the corkscrew and set about drawing the cork and pouring out the wine.

Still hesitating, Jo moved to the