Rendezvous With Yesterday (The Gifted Ones #2)(40)

“Tell me,” he urged. His movements slow and careful, he brushed a tear from her cheek, then cupped her face in his palm.

A muscle worked in her jaw as she closed her eyes. “Thank you.”

’Twas only a shadow of a sound.

When next she opened her eyes, she backed away from him, forsaking his touch. And kept backing away, trekking steadily downhill, away from Fosterly.

Confused, he cautiously started after her. “Beth?”

Shaking her head, she turned and bolted.

His men leapt to their feet.

“Nay!” Robert threw out a hand to stay them, then gave chase.

Beth was fast. A lot faster than she looked. One would think he would have little difficulty catching someone with legs so much shorter than his own. But with her astonishing speed and head start, he didn’t reach her until they were at the base of the hill.

“Beth, cease!” Grabbing her by one arm, he dragged her to a halt, careful not to harm her or hold her too tightly.

She put up a brief struggle, then collapsed against him in tears.

“Why did you run from me?” he asked, baffled, as he folded his arms around her. Her own arms encircled his waist as she burrowed deeper into him. “I told you I would never harm you.”

Her sobs increased, almost violent in their intensity. Her small hands clutched his back, fisting in his surcoat.

“Why does Fosterly frighten you so? You were well until you saw it. Have you been here before? Mayhap when Lord Hurley was earl?” A sick feeling invaded his stomach. “Did he harm you in some way?” Fury flooded him at the notion.

“You don’t understand,” she sobbed into his chest.

“Then tell me. Help me to understand. What inspired such fear?”



“I c-can’t tell you,” she wailed miserably.

“You can. I would no more use your words against you than I did your weapons. You must trust me in this.” Cupping her face in both palms, he forced her to look up at him. “I vow I only wish to help you, Beth.”

Her hazel eyes shimmered with liquid. Her cheeks were blotchy and shiny with tears, her nose rosy. She inhaled with short choppy gasps.

Nevertheless, Robert thought her beautiful.

Speaking softly, he drew his thumbs across her cheeks. “Calm yourself now and tell me what has overset you.”

“W-When I saw the castle, I th-thought I was in England,” she choked out.

He frowned. “You are in England.”

His words only seemed to upset her more.

“Don’t you see?” she cried. “I c-can’t make it work!”

“Make what work?”

“N-no one is going to drug me and s-send me to England!”

“Someone drugged you?” he demanded, outraged.

“N-No! Nay! That’s just it!”

He paused. “You think someone intends to drug you?”

“N-Nay.”

“Beth, I do not understand. Why are you so distressed?”

“B-because it means I’m c-crazy after all!” Her sobs grew louder, her breath hiccuping in between them. “I’m m-mad! I’m looney! I’m w-wacky in the wicky woo! I’m c-completely nuts!”

Rendered helpless by her tears, Robert let her duck her head and bury her face in his surcoat once more. “You think you are mad? That is why you ran?”

“Yes. Th-This can’t be real. It’s just n-not possible. It’s all some c-crazy hallucination.”

“Nay, Beth, ’tis not. You are not mad. You are merely weary.”

“Of c-course you’d say that. Y-You’re a hallucination, too.”

He smiled. “I assure you I am quite real.”

“N-no you’re not. I m-made you up in my head. I knew you were t-too good to be true! I kn-knew it!”

Chuckling, he tipped her chin up with one finger. “You think me a mere apparition conjured by a broken mind?”

She nodded miserably and bit her lip again, drawing his gaze to it.

His pulse leapt. “Then I suppose I shall have to prove otherwise.”

She was mid-hiccup when he dipped his head and touched his lips to hers. He meant it to be a brief kiss, as light as a breeze. But lightning struck.

At least, that was how it felt.

One tiny taste and sizzling heat arced through his veins, robbing him of his will and coaxing him to deepen the contact.

Beth froze in his arms, her only movement the erratic lifting of her breasts against his chest by residual sobs, and the softening of her full, pink lips.

Then she tentatively returned the gentle pressure.

And he was lost.

Combing his fingers through her soft, fragrant hair, Robert cupped the back of her head, tilting it to allow him greater access. He splayed his other hand across her back, urging her closer until her body was flush against his own. She tasted so good. As good as she had in his dreams last night. Heated, erotic fantasies that had led him to fondle her sweet curves in his sleep and awaken hard and longing to fulfill every one.



Her hands crept up his chest, slid over his shoulders, and dove into his hair.

Heart racing, Robert drew his tongue across the seam of her lips.

They parted on another gasp.

Groaning, he took swift advantage and delved within, exploring, caressing, stroking, and inflaming.