:: CHAPTER SIX ::
Lizzy backed away from him, but stopped when she realised she had nowhere to go.
He had never looked more glorious; a clean shirt with rolled up sleeves, his jaw clear of stubble, his well defined muscles gently pressing against his clothes. But she had no time to dwell, just as he forced himself to ignore the rise and fall of her chest beneath the tight clothing that she wore. His body had already begun to ignite.
He put up his hands.
"Hey! Relax! I'm not going to hurt you." He said, his features becoming concerned. "Are you alright?"
"I have to leave!" She said, gripped by the sudden necessity for escape, forcing the strands of hair from her face. "I have to leave, now!"
"Who's in there?" Shouted Blunderguts' voice as she continued to try and push the door open. "Yes, go round man!" She shouted to whoever was next to her. Lizzy's breath quickened and her stomach felt so light whilst blood pounded in her ears.
"I have to leave, now!" She shrieked again, pushing past him. She pulled open the back door and ran out into the rain. Her skin tingled as she felt the cool rain tumble from the darkened sky onto her.
"Wait!" He called after her, but she was already gone, vanishing in a torrent of rain.
Her mind was blank. She couldn't remember any of her earlier plans to run to Hereford, or down to Nottingham. She had none of her things with her. She was completely unprepared for leaving. But still she ran.
Ignoring the pounding fist upon the door, he reacted immediately, pulling his coat from a hook on the wall. A hand on his shoulder stopped him for a moment.
"Run, Will. I'll stall her. If she finds out it's you she'll kill you!" He didn't turn to see who it was, just ran.
He ran to the forests' edge and stopped. There was no sign of her anywhere. He couldn't even see her, the rain was so heavy.
"Miss Elizabeth!" He called in his deep voice, staring around for any sign of her. "Miss Elizabeth!" He called again. The frozen wind still whipped his face, stinging the cuts that already lay there.
A faint cry marked his decision for him. Done thinking, he ran towards it. The faster he ran, the more clearly he could see a figure dressed in white just ahead of him.
"Miss Elizabeth!" He shouted to her. She turned and looked at him for a moment, but in her panic continued to run. Her wet clothes clung to her and she shivered from the cold, outlining her figure. "Stop, please, you must stop!" He called, but she would not be deterred.
Already, however, her pace had begun to slow. Her delicate shoes were not made for running, and were coated in mud, as was the hem of her petticoat. But she refused to give in.
"Please, Miss, you must stop! You will make yourself ill! Please!" Will called after her, though with each call she pushed herself harder. Her legs ached horribly as she struggled for breath. She turned and could faintly see the outline of the hall, which from her distance was so small now. "Lizzy!" He called after her.
Her legs stopped, her knees buckled and she collapsed to the ground. Will ran to her. Wrapping her in his coat, he picked her up, her slender limp figure moulding easily into his arms.
He ran for shelter under the forest ahead; desperate to ignore the unconscious body he held. Laying her down gently upon the mossy floor, he re-wrapped her in his coat. Her hair had fallen free of its bond and lay smooth against her face dripping with water.
"Miss Elizabeth!" He called out loudly to her. "Lizzy, can you hear me?" He placed a work-roughened hand on her cheek, and then across her forehead. "Dear God! Lizzy!" He removed his shirt and wrapped it around her legs. It was clear to him that she needed to be free of those wet clothes, just as it was clear to him to get her back before their absence was noted. "Lizzy!" He called again, "Lizzy. Can you speak? Say something!"
Her eyes hazed open. She could just about make out the figure above her as Will's. Her body felt heavy and dreamy. She could no longer feel the icy wind, nor the wetness of her clothes on her skin. She seemed to just float there beneath him. From the silence she heard his voice.
"Lizzy! Lizzy, are you alright? Can you hear me?" Lizzy looked at him. "Oh God, Lizzy, thank God you're still awake. Lets get you out of here. Come on, Lizzy. If you stay outside much longer you could…" he trailed off, trying to pick her up. "Put your arms around my neck." He said. She did as he said and found herself pressed against his bare chest. His heartbeat echoed in her ears; it warmed her, soothed her…
The rain was beginning to clear showing him a clear path through the kitchen. He'd have to take her back that way. He was about to start for it when she spoke.
"Will." She said, faintly. The feel of his heartbeat pulsed at her very soul. He stopped and looked down to her.
"What?" he asked, nervously, "What is it? Are you cut?" His eyes fell over her body, searching for blood. "I see nothing!" He worried.
He looked down at her. She opened her eyes and looked at him. Their faces were almost touching now. His dark eyes beamed down on her, his strong arms firmly holding her. Her breath brushed against his skin as she tried to bring herself up to him.
Will felt her hand on the back of his neck, pushing his head down towards her. Her other arm moved to his cheek. It felt so right that she should be touching him; his hard body swelled at her touch. They held each other's gaze for a moment whilst small drops of silver rain that had found their way through the canopy fell about them. With the little strength left in her, Lizzy forced herself upwards. The background merged, all he saw was her, and she him. Her soft lips hovered above his; she longed to taste him further, harder. He brought her body closer, her chest tightening against his hands, his body reacting to her feel. As their lips touched the world about them froze. Time itself stood still and all noise and distraction disappeared.
Suddenly Lizzy fell back in his arms. Her eyes closed and arm fell away from him, limply. His throat sickened, his head pounded and his heart fell heavy within his body. She couldn't, he thought to himself, she can't be!
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