CHAPTER 14

Sydney’s eyes opened and she groaned at the sound of someone knocking on the door. She growled, slid out of the bed and grabbed the robe hung over the bedpost. “I’m coming!” She viciously tightened the sash, crossed the large medieval bedroom and tossed open the door. “What?”

            Preston Bailey blinked at the women who had obviously just tumbled from her bed.” Sydney ! I…I’m so sorry!” He looked down at the note in his hand, and then up at her, alarmed. “I swear I asked the fellow downstairs for Nigel’s room. Why would he give…?” He paused and then nodded in remembrance. “Oh, I see. Were there not enough rooms when you arrived that you needed to share again?”

            “I have no idea, Preston,” Sydney replied. “I didn’t ask. What are you doing here?”

            “Well, Nigel told me you were coming and he said we could meet for breakfast.” Preston shrugged. “I assumed he’d slept in.”

            Sydney scowled and glanced over at Nigel who was laying on his stomach, his face turned into the pillow. He hated being around Preston, why would he invite him for breakfast, unless…She slowly smiled and suddenly waved Preston inside “Come on in, I’ll wake him.”

            She returned to the enormous four poster bed and climbed atop the covers, scooting over to Nigel. His reason was petty and juvenile, but she’d give him what he wanted anyway. She caressed Nigel’s shoulders and leaned down to nibble him awake. “Nigel?” she called softly. “Wake up, lover.”

            Nigel stirred and waved an annoyed hand at her when she started tickling his cheek. “Ready again?” he moaned, sleepily. “You’re insatiable, Syd.”

            She bit the inside of her cheek as Preston ’s face turned bright purple. “Your brother’s here, Nigel.”

            That woke him up a little more. “Who?” He rose up slightly from the pillow and turned his head to look at Preston , standing by the door. “Oh.” He lay back down. “Why is he here?”

            “You invited him.”

            “No I didn’t.”

            “For breakfast,” Sydney reminded and cast a suspicious glance towards Preston who was looking both embarrassed and guilty. “Didn’t you?”

            Nigel lifted his head again and stared at her as if she has lost her mind. “That would ruin my appetite,” he insisted and then turned back to his brother. “What are you doing here? I never invited you for anything.”

            “Ah, well…you see, I…I thought, well…I was going to invite you for breakfast, Podge,” Preston stammered, still in shock over what he was seeing with his brother and Sydney. “I called your office and Karen told me you were here. It was very rude of you not to tell me you were visiting England , I am your brother after all...”

            Nigel sat up and ran a hand through his hair. “What are you blithering on about, Preston ?” He ran a hand over his face and tried to wake up. “We’re no where near London , so why would I tell you anything?”

After two wonderful months of dating, Nigel had decided to show Sydney he was serious about her, so he had invited her away for a weekend. No relics, no conferences, no students. Just them in a setting he knew Sydney would appreciate, for a little romance and some good heart to heart discussion.

They had taken a late flight into Wales and were staying at a medieval castle just on the outskirts of the city that had been turned into an inn. They both knew the owner and so he had arranged for them to have the best room and full run of the place.

Sydney could see from Nigel’s irritated expression that he truly didn’t know why his brother was there. She felt guilty for thinking he had planed the scenario to get one over on his brother. Her guilt made her lash out at Preston . “You lied to me?”

Preston took a quick step back. “Not…not really, I just…well…you see, I just thought I could help you with your current hunt and then, perhaps, when we were done you might assist me with a little project I’ve been working on and…”

“We’re not here to work, Preston,” Sydney stated and tossed an arm around Nigel’s shoulders. “We’re here on a…” She looked at him and wiggled her eyebrows. “Mini-break?”

Nigel grinned and nodded.

Sydney watched Preston ’s face lose all colour, and then turn bright red. He physically stumbled in his attempt to get to the door and she realized that Nigel spoke the truth, a mini-break was serious business to the English.

“I…I…oh dear. I am so sorry. I….I thought…” Preston reached for the door. “Truly I am so sorry.”

Nigel waved at him, suddenly in a more cheerful mood. “Sod it. We’ll meet you downstairs for breakfast, Preston ,” he offered. “But there will be no talk of relics.” He shot Sydney a stern look. “This is a work free weekend.”

Sydney grinned and laid her head on his shoulder, he meant business. “Yes dear.”

“Really, Po …N…N…Nigel. I don’t want to interrupt…”

“We’ll have breakfast,” Nigel insisted. “We have to eat, but then you have to go away.”

Preston smiled slightly and nodded. “Yes, yes, certainly. I…I’ll meet you downstairs then…Um…where downstairs?”

“There’s a dining hall, just ask one of the fellows down there to direct you.”

Preston nodded and hurried out.

Nigel shook his head and peered down at his girlfriend. God, it felt so strange to even think of Sydney that way. “No more answering the door for you,” he decided. “You’re always letting in the rubbish.”

Sydney grinned and suddenly swung a leg over so she could straddle him. She pushed him back into the pillows, but stayed sitting upright. “I thought you had invited him to show annoy him with our new relationship.”

Nigel’s hand wandered across her naked thigh. “Why would I do that?” He grinned then. “That would be petty and childish.”

Sydney laughed. “Yes, it would. And I am very proud of you for not stooping so low.”

Nigel smirked, only because he hadn’t thought of it. Preston ’s face was pretty memorable. He reached for the sash on her robe. “Speaking of pride…” He pulled the tie free and pushed the robe open so he could admire Sydney ’s naked form. “God, you’re exquisite.”

She leaned forward and lightly touched her lips to his, her hair falling like a waterfall of chocolate across one side of her face. “You’re pretty yummy yourself.”

Nigel’s hands slid up her back. “Why me, Syd?” he asked. “Why did you choose me? I mean, is this just a fling here or…or more?”

Sydney lay her body flush against his and pushed the fringe out of his eyes. “You tell me. You’re the one that invited me here.”

“You know how I feel about you, Syd.”

“How’s that?”

“Don’t be coy, it’s very unbecoming in a woman of your standing.”

Sydney kissed him again, another light touching of lips, but slow and sweet enough that he would understand. “I love you, Nigel. I can’t promise what happens next or later. We just have to…”

“Go with the flow,” Nigel finished for her. “I’m fine with that, but…”

“But?”

His hands caressed her, sliding up and down her back, stroked her as if she was his favourite cat. “We need to talk. I…there are things I want to tell you, things I need to say.”

“Okay,” Sydney agreed and started to respond to his stroking by arching her back and releasing a soft moan of pleasure. “Can…can we talk later though. Now I just…” Her eyes widened as one hand slipped between them. “Oh, Nigel!”

“Yes,” he smiled as rolled her over. “Later.”

“P… Preston ,” she reminded even as she clung to him.

“Can wait.”

IIIIIIIIIIIIIII

            Sydney stared out the parlour window of the castle at the grey drizzling skies beyond. A thick haze had settled over the moors just beyond the estate, making it hard to see much. She knew Nigel was out there somewhere.

He had turned quiet after Preston left and Sydney had opted to take a bath. She had tried to coerce him to join her, but he said he was still tired and wanted to nap. So she let him, but when she was done with her bath he was not in the bedroom and she had to go in search for him. She was told by the steward of the inn that Mr. Bailey had gone for a walk, but they didn’t know which way he had been headed.

            It concerned her that he would go off on his own and not tell her. She wondered what had caused his sudden mood change and hoped it was not anything Preston had said at Breakfast. Preston had seemed congenial and pleasant, only once trying to tell them about the relic, but quickly changed the subject when Nigel threatened to toss his plate over him. They bickered a little, but no more than normal.

            She tried to think if she had laughed too much at something Preston had said, had she been too friendly? She knew Nigel was jealous of any attention she showed Preston, he’d been that way even before they began a romantic relationship, but she liked Preston , when he wasn’t trying to pick at Nigel and she wouldn’t change how she behaved around a man just because Nigel was insecure.

            She sighed and paced a few moments before returning to the window. It looked like it was going to rain and she worried he hadn’t taken a jacket. She scowled. Why had he wandered off? What had upset him? He had said he wanted to talk, was that it? He’d needed some time to think of what he wanted to say? She couldn’t think of anything they hadn’t already told each other.

Unable to stand it any longer she grabbed someone’s cloak off the hook by the door and stepped outside. She stopped in the garden and picked a white rose from its tree, and then continued on. She saw him appear through the fog. His strides purposeful as he crossed the moors, his black leather coat flapped behind him from the motion, his hair damp from the mist and unruly from the wind.

Sydney felt her heart speed up as a scene from a Jane Austin novel tickled her memory. Nigel truly did look like Lord Darcy in his long dark coat against such a dreary back drop of fog and rain. She hurried forward and they met on the small bridge that crossed the little creek that flowed around the garden, separating it from the moors.

Without speaking, he took her face in his hands, cold from the air, and kissed her as if he had been away from her for years.

“Wow,” she whispered softly, her breath creating a mist of frost between them as she struggled to keep her balance after his powerful kiss. “What was that for?”

“For you,” he replied and smiled as she handed him the flower she had picked. He twirled it between his fingers and leaned on the bridge railing to stare down at the water.

She wound her arms through one of his and leaned her head against his shoulder. The soft leather of his coat felt cool against her cheek. “You okay?”

He nodded.

Sydney didn’t ask any more questions. If he said he was okay, she believed him.

They stood that way for a long time, staring out, lost in thought, until Sydney shivered.

“Are you cold?’ Nigel asked, concerned.

“I’m okay.”

Nigel looked at his flower. “I’m sorry the weather isn’t better for us.”

“It’s England , what can we expect?”

He smirked and nodded. “I love you, Syd.”

“I love you too, Nigel.” Strange how easily those words came to her lips with him when she could hardly say them to any other man. The more she said it to Nigel, the easier it became. How wonderful was that?

He turned so they were facing each other and carefully tucked the rose in her hair, where the sides were clipped in the back. “I wanted you to know, really know, how much I…” He lowered his eyes and turned back to stare at the water. “I don’t want to scare you away, Syd.”

She touched his arm and turned him back to her. “I don’t frighten easily,” she said even as her heart leapt into her chest. She caught his chin and gently turned him to meet her gaze. “I’m listening.” With all her heart she was listening.

“I know you want to…to go with the flow and…and I can do that. I understand why you want to do that.”

“But?”

“There is no but, I just…” Having no flower to play with, Nigel found himself fidgeting and he tucked his hands into the pockets of his coat. He took a deep breath and released it. He couldn’t do this, he couldn’t be this honest. He thought he could, walked for almost an hour to work up the nerve, but facing her now, his courage fled. “I can do that. It’s fine.”

“That isn’t what you wanted to tell me.”

“No.”

“Then what is it?”

“It doesn’t matter.” He ran his hands up her arms. “None of it matters because… because we’re together and…and I’ll take whatever you want to give me, Syd.”

Sydney reached up to caress his face. “What is it you want to give me, Nigel?”

He swallowed, hard and released her. “Just….just me, Syd. That you already have, really. That you’ve always had.”

She smiled. “I love you.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you believe me?”

“Yes.”

“What do you want me to give you, Nigel?”

He flushed. “You’ve already given me more than I ever thought I could have, Syd.”

“You want more.”

“No….yes…” He lowered his eyes and turned to the bridge again, clasping his hands together. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to pressure you. I…I can go with the flow, I’ve learned to do that, I just…”

Sydney suddenly sensed what Nigel had been trying to tell her. Why he had brought her here to a place of history and romance, shared with her the history of his homeland in a setting outside of work. And she understood why he had walked alone for over an hour in such miserable weather.

She mimicked his position at the rail. “You know, our work is pretty hectic.”

He snorted and shot her a look. “You think?”

“Dangerous too.”

He looked away. “Yeah, I noticed that.”

She smiled at his attempt at humour, but she could hear the small tremor in his voice. “We both try to be careful, but there’s no telling what could happen.”

He didn’t speak this time, just kept his eyes on the water.

That was when Sydney knew for sure what was bothering him. She wound her arms through his again and once more leaned on his shoulder. “You do the research and I make the decisions. It’s worked pretty well for us, hasn’t it? We make a good team, don’t we?”

“The best,” he agreed, softly.

“It would be foolish to change something that works, right?”

Nigel nodded and cleared his throat.

“And neither of us is foolish.”

“Well, you can be a little reckless sometimes, Syd,” he managed in another attempt to lighten the mood, but the huskiness in his voice spoke volumes to Sydney .

“Right, so as I am sure you’ve done all the research possible, I’ll have to make the decision. I say yes, we do it.”

He turned to her. “W…what?”

She smiled, slowly, to show him all the conviction and love she had for him. “You better ask me before I change my mind.”

He stared at her, shocked. How could she…? When did…? He hadn’t even…He stared into her eyes. He’d been so afraid to ask, so afraid her independence would cause rejection or that she was thinking it was too soon. “Syd…” he began. Did she really want this?

“We’d be very foolish to waste anymore time and we’ve already agreed that neither of us is foolish.”

Nigel’s heart flipped over in his chest and he pulled out the item in his pocket as he lowered himself to one knee. His heart was pounding so hard he was afraid he would have a heart attack before he could get the words out. “Marry me, Syd?”

Sydney’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected him to have a ring! He really had been thinking hard about it. And what a ring, it must have cost him a full year’s pay! The band was yellow gold, with a beautiful full karat diamond in the centre, surrounded by a cluster of emeralds and smaller diamonds. “N…Nigel?”

Nigel’s hand shook at her hesitation. Don’t change your mind, he pleaded. Please God don’t make me look like a fool, not now. He couldn’t have misunderstood this, not this, not now! “I love you more than anything, Syd. I always have and I would have been content to be by your side for the rest of my life as your partner and friend, but the chance to…to be your lover, your husband… your mate, for that I would spend eternity chasing relics and being shot at and…and selling my soul to the highest bidder, if…if you would only say yes.”

Sydney’s eyes glistened with tears as she held out her left hand, not the least surprised that she was shaking. “Yes,” she whispered and then louder because Nigel seemed too shocked to move. “YES!”

Nigel blinked. “Yes?”

She laughed. “Yes! Give me my ring, already!”

His one bark of laughter revealed a joy so powerful that it caused Sydney ’s tears to finally fall. He quickly slid the ring on her finger and had started to rise, only to have Sydney fall on her knees beside him, her legs would no longer hold her.

She threw her arms around him, clung to him. “Oh, Nigel. I never thought…” She couldn’t believe how happy she was. She knew she would be pleased when he asked her, she’d decided it would be the logical thing, but she had never expected to feel so ecstatic, and scared, and wonderful all at the same time!

“I know it’s quick, but we already know each other so well, we…we’ve seen each other in good times and bad, in…in illness and health and we…we would both give our lives for each other.” He pulled back to look into her eyes, so surprised to see her crying yet it filled his heart with even more joy. “We’re closer than two people could possibly be, I didn’t think we…we needed to wait. I didn’t think we should because…”

“I understand, Nigel,” Sydney assured and caressed his face. She did understand, this step was the final one in the challenge, everything else had been done, and because they led such dangerous and unpredictable lives, they needed to be together, fully together as much as they could be. “I love you so much I can hardly believe it.”

“Likewise,” he whispered as they held each other close again. “Will…will you mind taking my name? I know how independent you are and I could take yours if you prefer, being a modern woman and everything you…”

“I’ll hyphenate it. Sydney Fox-Bailey, has a nice ring to it don’t you think?”

“It’s beautiful, Syd.”

Sydney heard the tremor in his voice and pulled back, startled to see he was also crying. “Nigel?” She had never seen him cry and she caught one of his tears. “It’s the woman who normally cries at this kind of thing,” she teased affectionately.

“Since when have we ever followed normal behaviour?”

“God, you are wonderful.”

“I’m also very wet,” he stated and rose, pulling her with him. “Let’s get back to the castle and we can take that bath.”

“What makes you think I want you in my bath this time?”

“Your bath, your bed, your life, I’m here for good now so you will have to get used to it, Miss. Fox.”

Sydney wrapped her arms around his neck. “Well, I think such accommodations are well past due, Mr. Bailey.”

“No more talk of the past,” he warned as they headed back through the garden, arm in arm. “Today we talk of our present.”

Sydney leaned her head on his shoulder, contented. “And our future.” And what a future they would have, at least if she had anything to say about it.

The End

Fini

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