Free Lisette by Gayle Eden

she played hoops with the girls then went
to the stables and groomed some of the horses, and kept herself
busy.
    * * * *
    Elisha decided she was not going to send him
a note. He figured she had regrets. He suspected—she had not meant
to lose her head.
    She regretted it. With him.
    He went out with Monty to inspect some of the
property after the storm, and liking Montgomery very much, they had
interesting conversation. He particularly enjoyed hearing the man
talk of his years in Egypt. He spoke often of his friend Jahi, whom
Marston recalled seeing in London. The man taught now, in Egypt,
and was betrothed to a high-ranking woman he cherished.
    At some stage, Monty was speaking of how he
and Juliette came to wed. It was story Marston observed, that the
Marquis conveyed with a multitude of expressions and inflections,
from pensive to passionate, to at last grinning unabashed that he
was the most fortunate man on earth. It was clear that he
encouraged whatever his wife’s interests were, and clear too, that
he felt a kind of profound love and a unique bond with her.
    Eventually it was nearly his last day and to
say he was chaffing was an understatement. Elisha walked the garden
path, smoked a cheroot, wondering, replaying everything, and
decided he had not fully convinced her he could be trusted. He
bloody wished Smith were there. No. That would not get her to trust
him either. He bloody had to do it on his own. He had to have time
with her to accomplish it.
    “Note for you, sir.”
    “Thank you.” He crushed the cheroot and took
it from the servant, reading it quickly before he tucked it in his
jacket pocket.
    Forcing his heart to calm, his adrenalin to
calm too, Marston found Monty and Juliette in the sitting room
    “I thought I might explore the local village
before my stay is over. Might I trouble you for a mount?”
    “Yes of course.” Monty looked up. “Take the
muscled bay you rode the other day. Do visit the bookshop whilst
there. You’ll find some treasures, I guarantee.”
    “Thank you, I shall.” He left them and went
up to change, doing it quickly; dove gray trousers, white shirt,
his polished boots, a riding jacket of charcoal, and over it a
light caped coat. His gloves he pulled on as he hurried down the
stairs, finding the groom already had the beast saddled and waiting
out front.
    “Enjoy yourself,” the man said.
    “Thank you.” He smiled and dug in his heels.
His whole body tightened with anticipation. Every caution in his
head did not matter. She would not let him court her. She’d
rejected him. She did not want marriage. But would he pass up a
chance to be with her? Bloody hell no.
    The village had much to offer and was quite
bustling when he arrived. Riding though, he nodded to those who
stared at him. He dismounted at the tavern she had mentioned,
paying a lad coin to see to his mount.
    Striding through the door, he was immediately
struck by thick smoke and the earthy scent of ale. It was noisy. He
saw several of the serving wenches eyeing him.
    Elisha was looking around and spotted the
archway, heading there, and passing a girl who asked his
pleasure.
    “Just ale.’ He looked at her.
    She had been smiling but it faded. He watched
her look him over before she turned away. It did not do much for
his vanity to think even she saw something there to dislike.
    Entering the beamed room, he immediately
picked Lisette out, despite her having the wide hood of her long
coat up. She was leaning against the wall and nearing the far
corner. She had on trousers he would guess. When he got closer,
Elisha saw her hair was in a long braid.
    “Ere ye be.”
    He attended the wench and gave her coin,
taking his eyes back to Lisette. “Do you wish to remain here or go
elsewhere?”
    “Finish your ale, then go to the older man at
the bar and request a room for a few hours. They’re used to
it.”
    He looked down and saw she was handing him
coin. “Let me know which one and I’ll take the back stairs and