CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Elizabeth had coloured a beautiful shade of pink on and off at the breakfast table this morning. He’d caught glimpses from her, and just to be mischievous, he’d held her gaze to smile at her, just to see her face flushing again.
She was stunning, her auburn curls matching beautifully with the dusky shade of her cheeks. Her eyes glowed, and her soft mouth curved into a sublime smile. If Madeline hadn’t called out last night, he would have kissed her all night long. There was no doubt where last night would have led. A kiss hadn’t been nearly enough. He wanted more.
He was being greedy, but he didn’t care. She intrigued him, mind, body and soul. Life had blossomed, full of possibility, full of colour and happiness. He hadn’t noticed how grey and dull it had become. Not until Elizabeth had provided a light to his darkened path.
“I thought we might all go horse riding this morning. The weather is clear, and I think we all should get out of this house,” he said.
Madeline sat upright, her face flushed with excitement. “A real horse and everything?”
“Yes. A real horse and everything.” James faced Elizabeth. “I was hoping you might take us both out for a horse riding lesson this morning.”
Pleasure washed across her face. “Just to be back on a horse would be amazing. That would be wonderful.”
That look caught in his chest. He would do and say anything to see it there permanently. “That’s great. Because I’ve booked three horses for ten o’clock.”
She playfully eyed his clothes. “If you’re going to ride a horse, you’d better change your clothes.”
He indicated his jeans and polo. “What’s wrong with this?”
“Your jeans are too good. And your shirt. You need to find clothing you won’t mind throwing away. Horse riding isn’t clean.” A sleek brow rose. “Have you ridden before?”
“Uhh, no. First time.”
Her eyes sparkled, playfulness shining. She crossed her arms, tapping a slim finger over her pursed lips as she ran her eyes up and down the length of him.
“Hmmm. Definitely best to change clothes. If you happen to fall off...well, it’s been raining. There’s a lot of mud around.”
He sent her a mock confused expression. “What are you trying to say?”
“Horses aren’t like cars. They have a mind of their own, and if they decide they want to buck you off, they’ll buck you off. Maybe I’ll pick out the oldest mare in the stables for you.”
“I thought I might impress you by riding a huge black stallion.”
She chuckled. “Listen, King Arthur, you can impress me by staying upright on a nag.”
James gave her a mock hurt look. “Don’t judge before you see. I might be a natural.”
Her mouth pursed. “You might be. After you learn the basics. Besides, I thought I’d ride the big black stallion and impress you with my skills.”
He cocked his brow, imagining her on a black stallion, hair wild and tossed about her shoulders, and his groin tightened uncomfortably. “Elizabeth, you’ve impressed me so much already.”
She coloured a beautiful bright red and laughed, the sound like music, finally relaxing the stiffness out of her shoulders. It caressed something deep down inside of him. “I think you’re easily pleased.”
He reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, twirling the auburn strand around his finger until it unraveled at the end. “Quite the opposite. What pleases me are rare gems that are almost impossible to find. Those rare gems shine the brightest of them all.”
“Do you like Liz’beth, Daddy?” Madeline said.
Her toast was clutched, forgotten in her hand as her bright gaze wandered between Elizabeth and himself. His daughter was far too observant. She missed nothing. He tenderly snagged her nose.
“Of course I like Elizabeth. I asked her to look after you, remember?”
Madeline chuckled. “Not like that. I mean you want to kiss her.” The little girl dissolved into a fit of giggles only a four-year-old talking about kissing could do. She definitely missed nothing.
Elizabeth had turned a deeper shade of red, her face fully flushed, which made him immensely pleased. At least she wasn’t denying wanting to kiss him back, and if she felt anything he was feeling, if they didn’t get out of here, he was likely to drag her away so he could start up where they left off last night.
“How about I kiss you?”
He pursed his lips and made kissing noises as he lifted her out of the chair and blew a raspberry on her cheek. Madeline squealed in delight. Beneath the sound of his daughter, he heard Elizabeth’s huskier laugh.
This was going to be a very good day indeed.
* * *
They decided to take the horses down to the beach on the last leg of their journey. Elizabeth was comfortable and relaxed on her horse, while his rear end was more bruised than a boxer's face in the ring. He shuffled, but the constant beating of the saddle against his backside failed to relieve any steadily growing discomfort.
Madeline had a smile on her face the entire time. He watched his daughter bouncing lightly in the saddle, gripping the reins just how Elizabeth had shown her. After a few corrections, Madeline had seamlessly gotten the knack. Madeline watched Elizabeth with hero worship in her eyes as she laughed at something Elizabeth said to her. Elizabeth laughed with her and leaned over to kiss Madeline on her cheek. The simple action was bittersweet, and he was surprised at the power of his response.
It was right asking Elizabeth to be Madeline’s nanny. He’d felt it in his gut. Granted, a bit underhanded in the way he went about it, but he refused to feel guilty about something that was working out so well. Madeline adored her.
He adored her.
It was almost too good to be true. He looked for the lead lining, but so far it hadn’t materialised. Maybe this time the universe was cutting him a break. He dared not think about it too much, just in case this was no more than a tantalising dream.
Elizabeth had chosen their respective rides, and the pony she’d deemed appropriate for his daughter had been spot on. The horse he rode, although not a nag as she’d teased him about, was docile enough for him to relax. At least if he fell due to his numb rear end, the sand would make a soft landing. He eased into the saddle and moved with the rhythm of the horse.
“That’s better. You’re not fighting the horse anymore,” she commented.
“Whereas you’re a natural.”
Elizabeth rode with a natural grace. She may not have had the advantage of riding in a pony club as a pampered girl, but she more than made up for it with the look and ease of a pro.
She flashed a smile at him that made her eyes dance. “Madeline has done well for her first time.”
“It’s the quality of the teacher.”
“Teaching can only go so far. The student sets the lesson, and she’s listened well and done what I’ve asked her to do.”
“If she wants to go horse riding again, you have my permission to take her out again.”
She sent him a sideways glance. “Would you like to come out again?”
He grimaced, and before he could answer, she laughed. He could watch her laugh all day. “Recover first, right?”
“I would like to be a little less tender.”
“It gets easier. You have to build up your muscle tone.”
“Are you saying my butt has no muscle tone?”
He loved the way her cheeks flushed a delightful pink when he teased her. On one level she was older than her age, but on another she seemed so innocent. He wondered what her boyfriends had been like. She’d never mentioned any of them. A stab of jealousy rose through him at that thought. He didn’t want to know if she’d given her heart to anyone else.
“Don’t answer that. I was teasing.”
“I know you were. Besides, I think you have a very nice butt,” she said softly.
“Why, Elizabeth, I do believe you’re ribbing me.” He chuckled, then, “I’m glad you came here. And not just because you rescued my daughter.”
She ducked her head, the trace of a smile on her face. He loved the way her feelings were so transparent through the expressions on her body. He enjoyed her real honesty. It was a breath of fresh air.
“I understand why Hanna liked being here.”
He liked the way she spoke about Hanna. People often found it uncomfortable to talk about people who had passed, as though they’d never existed. But she had lived. He had loved her, and she had given him Madeline. Elizabeth talked about her, giving her the respect she deserved. That simple respect eased his heart.
“It gives your mind space to think clearly. Pushes all the messy thoughts away and leaves room for the music.”
He regarded her for a moment. “She used to say something like that, too.”
They were similar. Both were sensitive, giving and thoughtful, but where Hanna was polished and groomed, Elizabeth contained a spark of life that had long been missing from his. It was a gift he wanted to return.
“If you’d like to, I know a couple of singing professionals who could give you some tips about your singing.”
She waved her hand as though brushing his suggestion aside. “I think they’d have much better things to do than waste their time on me.”
“When they hear your voice, I know they’d love to help.”
“Be serious.” She made a face at him.
“Elizabeth, I am being serious. I might not be able to sing, but through Hanna, I’ve heard plenty of voices, and I’m telling you that you have a talent. It’s raw at the moment, but with a little training with the right people, you’d be surprised how far you could go.”
She shook her head. Auburn curls bounced around her face. “I can’t possibly afford lessons.”
“What made you think I’d expect you to pay?”
He was confused for a moment; then, of course, he was so daft. She expected to pay. She’d been paying all her life. That was the life she was used to. Where nothing was given without an exchange being expected. To her, that was normal. To him, it was abhorrent. It made him wonder about her life, her experiences, the knowledge that people gave only if they wanted something in return. That when people cared, they wanted to give.
“It’s my pleasure to offer this to you…without payment.”
Confusion washed her face. “Why?”
This was the selfish part. Because she gave him joy. Something that was long missing in his life.
“I like hearing you sing.”
“You do?” Hope glimmered in her eyes, as though receiving praise was totally foreign for her. Of course it would be.
“Of course. You’re doing me a favour. Bringing music back into my house. For Madeline.” If she thought it was for Madeline instead of him, she might consider. “Just think about it. If you’d like me to arrange a lesson, let me know, and I’ll do it. Okay?”
“I’ll think about it.”
A hint of a smile touched her mouth. So soft. So gentle. She deserved far better than the life she’d been dealt, and he wanted so much to change it for her so she didn’t have to wonder how she was going to pay for favours. Indeed, that she even should pay for favours. She’d just be able to accept them in the manner in which they were given.
The breeze buffeted her hair, and she lifted her hand to tuck a strand away from her face. A look of stark horror washed over her features as she stared down the beach. The colour from her face drained, and the breath stuck halfway in her throat.
“Elizabeth? What is it?”
Her eyes darted to his, her pupils so large they bled out all colour. “We…we have to go.”
He frowned. She’d been enjoying herself and then just like that, a switch had been cut off. The bright spark plunged into darkness.
“What’s the matter?” He couldn’t think her reaction was because he’d offered music lessons.
“We have to go. Now. I…I feel sick.” She couldn’t hide the tremble on her voice or the way her hands shook as she tugged on the reins and turned her horse about.
Sick? She had turned a sickly shade of pale, but that didn’t make sense. Maybe there was another reason for her abrupt change of heart.
He looked about, but all he could see was a dark figure on the beach, rounding his shoulders against the brisk wind. Madeline waited on her horse, watching Elizabeth retreating back the way they came. He called for his daughter to follow before turning the horse about and retracing their steps.
Elizabeth cast a nervous glance over her shoulder. Her gaze went past him, but when he looked back, there was nothing there. Not even the solitary man on the beach.