“You don’t think they have left then?” She asked hopefully.
Jeb shook his head. “No. I am sure they are around somewhere. I intend to find them.”
“Please, Jeb, take care yourself. This person is dangerous, and won’t like you challenging them. Please don’t risk ending up like Mrs Banks, or Tabitha.”
“I won’t, I promise,” he murmured.
Jeb drew her into his arms and held her for several long moments. While she absorbed his strength, he marvelled at her tenderness and concern. It was wonderful to have her worry about him. To know she might reciprocate the unfamiliar emotions coursing through him helped ease his concerns over the depth of the feeling he had for her.
“I didn’t mean to frighten you, but word will get around the village soon enough. I just wanted you to hear it from me, and not from some gossip somewhere,” Jeb assured her.
“Thank you,” she whispered, and then pressed a fleeting kiss on his lips.
He was stunned, delighted, amazed, and happily returned the caress for a moment. Still, the looming shadow of Mrs Banks hovered in the darker recesses of his mind, pressing him to take it no further for now.
“Just promise me you will be extra vigilant.” His voice was husky with suppressed emotion.
“I promise.”
“I will deal with the return of the stolen items as soon as I get the chance.”
“It is alright. In light of what has happened to poor Tabitha and Mrs Banks, the thefts are a mere triviality aren’t they?” she replied quietly.
“Promise me you will do as I have asked? I could not contemplate what it would do to me if you became the third victim. Please, don’t do that to either of us. We have to discuss our future as soon as this is over.”
“I won’t take risks,” she promised. “Just promise me that you won’t take unnecessary risks either.”
She was thrilled at his possessiveness, and would have agreed to anything he asked of her, especially discussing a future together.
“I promise,” Jeb replied, and sealed it with a very thorough kiss. “I have to go,” he muttered when the temptation to stay began to outweigh importance of the terrible news he had yet to impart to the vicar.
Minutes later, he slammed his way out of the house and made his way over to the church.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Several days later, the village was still reeling from the news of the deaths. There had been no sign of the stranger, but Sophia was still tense and nervous, mostly because she had been stuck in the house with a considerably grumpy Delilah. She had made her displeasure at being confined well known to her niece, who was the only person around to hear her moan. Thankfully, Delilah had now lapsed into sullen silence, but Sophia suspected from the way she was now slapping items onto the kitchen table that the blessed peace wouldn’t last long.
She was right; it didn’t.
“Do you know something? I am going to go out for a walk.” Delilah declared as she threw several more beads and buttons onto the table. “Everybody else is going about their business. I don’t see why we shouldn’t either. Why, sitting here practically under house arrest is nothing but downright ridiculous and I shall do it no longer. You do what you wish, Sophia, but nothing untoward has happened to us. There is no reason to think it ever would. I don’t care what the Lord’s son says. I am going out for a walk to enjoy some of this sunshine.”
Sophia opened her mouth to protest, but didn’t want to get into an argument and so watched her leave. It was only when the door had slammed closed behind her that Sophia realised Delilah already had her boots on. She watched her out of the window, and felt rather envious as Delilah strode down the lawn. It would be wonderful to savour some of that sunshine herself.
Should she go out? Before she could make her mind up whether she wanted to go after Delilah, or take a walk on her own, there was a knock on the front door. She heaved a sigh of relief when she saw Jeb on the doorstep and stood back to allow him to enter.
“How are you?” Jeb asked as he stepped into the house.
“Worried,” Sophia replied fervently.
He glanced around the hallway. “Is Delilah around?”
“No, she has gone for a walk. Four days confined in the house is more than she has managed since the day she moved in,” she said ruefully. She was glad now that her aunt had gone for a walk because it gave her some time alone with Jeb to talk freely. “She declared it was foolish to remain inside, and went for a walk before I could stop her. I have to confess that I need a little fresh air myself.”
“Then you shall have it,” Jeb declared with a grin.
Assured they were alone, Jeb stepped closer and waited for her to look at him. Thankfully, she didn’t move away when he dipped his head and brushed a possessive kiss across her lips.
“I am sorry I haven’t been to see you before. Several friends of mine arrived from London the other day, and we have been investigating the murders.”