Raven (Gentlemen of the Order 2)

“Six hours,” he corrected. “At three hundred guineas a pair, Sloane’s Cleveland bays are renowned for their stamina and speed.”

When Finlay had knocked on her bedchamber door but an hour earlier, informing her of his plans, she had asked nothing about the journey. Jessica’s safety had been her primary concern. The need to discover the reason for Dr Goodwin’s duplicity had forced her to wash and dress quickly. The need to spend time alone with Finlay had robbed her of all rational thought.

“But you’ll need to stop and change the horses. Do you intend to remain in Godstow overnight?”

“I plan to change the horses when we reach High Wycombe—Sloane assures me they will make it that far—and collect them upon our return.”

“Tomorrow?” Logistically, they could not return to London before nightfall.

“Tonight,” he said. “Once we’ve questioned Goodwin, we’ll return to High Wycombe and collect the bays. Then we’ll travel the twenty miles to Blackborne and spend the night there.”

“Blackborne?” Mild panic tightened her chest. “For what purpose?”

“Sophia, I would see this business concluded quickly. I plan to interrogate Blent and Mrs Friswell. Do not be concerned about Jessica. Sloane and D’Angelo are more than capable of taking care of her. And I’ve sent word to Daventry, asking that his wife come to stay until our return.”

“But what if Jessica is unwell, Finlay? She spent the night shivering under a mound of blankets, complaining of stomach cramps and aching limbs.”

“It’s merely a reaction to the lack of opiates. Her body craves the laudanum Dr Goodwin prescribed. I’ve spoken to Mrs Brogan, who knows how to deal with such complaints.”

During her marriage to William, Sophia had been forced to leave Jessica in Mrs Friswell’s care. Sometimes a week passed before she was able to make the journey to Blackborne.

“I know it’s difficult, but I need you,” Finlay added when she failed to reply. “You know the area. You’re the only one who can corroborate the doctor’s story. The only one who has the right to question Blent and Mrs Friswell.”

Everything he said made perfect sense.

“But the coachman can turn around if you would rather remain at

Keel Hall.” His coal-black eyes softened. “The last thing I want is to cause you distress.”

“No.” She released a weary sigh. “I shall come with you. Besides, there is no evidence someone is trying to abduct my sister. Dr Goodwin is intent on confusing Jessica’s mind and hindering her recovery. Money is his motivation. No doubt he met a lover in the coffeehouse and was complaining about my interference.”

Most men would have appeased her, agreed, said anything to still her fears. Not Finlay Cole. He was a man of truth, honour, a man with a conscience. She could read his wary expression, hear his troubled thoughts.

“You don’t agree?” she continued.

He shrugged. “Things are never as they appear. Gut instinct tells me they all have something to hide. Experience says we must attack, not retreat. Hence the reason we are journeying to Godstow at this ridiculous hour.”

Sophia studied his firm jaw and muscular physique. A woman need fear nothing in Finlay Cole’s company. He was everything she had ever wanted in a husband, a friend and lover. Strong. Determined. Kind-hearted. Undeniably handsome with a body made for sin.

Indeed, perhaps she was drooling, which was why he said, “Your mouth looks so moist, Sophia, one might presume you’re thinking about walnut cake.”

Was her desire for him so obvious?

“I’m thinking about you, not walnut cake.” She swept her tongue around the seam of her lips. “Your confidence, your resolve, everything about you excites me, Finlay.” It couldn’t be helped. She was compelled to speak the truth. “Feeling you moving inside me was satisfying beyond compare.” She had thought of little else since.

He sucked in a breath and stroked his hand down his muscular thigh. “Perhaps you might choose your words carefully. Sitting in a bouncing carriage with a throbbing erection can be somewhat painful.”

“We have hours before we reach High Wycombe. Perhaps I might ease your discomfort.”

A primal hum resonated in his throat. “I swore the next time we made love it would be in bed.”

“Does it matter?”

“It matters to me.”

“Why?”

“After all these years, you deserve to have a man worship you properly.”