PART SIX
Eliza smiled as she was being woken up. She kept her eyes closed, enjoying the feel of William's beard tickling her skin, as he tenderly planted kisses across her face. He made his way up from her cheek, to her forehead, down to her other cheek, and then ended with a kiss on the tip of her nose.
She stretched languidly, then wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled her up into his embrace. She suddenly realized that he had no shirt on, during everything that had transpired the night before, she hadn't paid attention.
Now though, in the light of day, and in his arms, she realized that, other than the one time she had touched him quickly before the boxing match, she hadn't ever felt him shirtless. Timidly at first, she ran her hands over his back, then, enjoying the feel of his smooth skin and his muscles, she leaned into him more and she heard him moan in pleasure.
His hand went to her neck and untied the ribbon there, opening the top of her nightgown just enough to reveal her neck and part of her collarbone. Starting at the top of her neck he kissed her, taking his time, working his way down to the dip in her throat, then over to the edge her collarbone, right by her shoulder. "William…" she breathed, "I love you Lizzie, never ever doubt that." He mumbled, his lips still pressed to her body.
She arched her back, wanting to feel him more, to touch him more. She was shocked by the strength of the desire coursing through her. "I love you too." She said, taking his face in her hands and kissing him passionately on the lips. He kissed her back, pulling her on top of him as they lay on the bed.
"More, Will, I want more." She whispered in his ear. "Lizzie… we shouldn't." But his actions belied his words, she felt his hand work its way up her bare leg, tantalizingly close to the back of her knee.
She decided to mimic what he had done, she kissed his neck, as he had hers, and she felt his touch on her leg become a tighter grip, his fingers massaging her skin. His hand went higher, at her thigh.
He rolled her over so he was leaning on his forearms, looking into her eyes. "I…" he started to say, and then a very loud crash came from downstairs. Eliza felt William's entire body stiffen. He looked towards the door, concentrating on any other sounds that might follow. "WILLIE!" He heard his uncle bellow. Despite his old age, it hadn't affected his lung capacity, and he was still able to shout loudly enough that it could be heard through the entire castle.
Eliza, her hands still around William's back, could practically sense everything he was feeling, the tenseness in his muscles, the lines that had formed at the sides of his mouth, his eyes, squinting in anger.
"William… look at me." She said. She reached up and turned his face towards her. "I should see what happened to him." He said, resigned to the fact that their morning had been ruined. "Yes, you should. I'll meet you downstairs." He gave a low growl of annoyance, knowing that she was right. He pressed his lips to hers, with a mix of despair and roughness tinging the kiss, then he got off of the bed, grabbed a shirt, and hurried from the room.
Eliza lay on the bed for a moment longer, touching her lips softly, holding onto the fading feeling of his hands on her bare skin. It confused her, she knew she loved him, there was no question of that, but she hadn't expected that deep seated physical need that she felt for him. Maybe Petunia's books aren't as far fetched as I had thought, she mused.
William pulled on his shirt as he headed downstairs. Half of him was very annoyed at having been interrupted, the other half slightly relieved, I could barely control myself, he thought, that's not how our first time together should be. Lord help me, I want to marry her first, but she's so beautiful and sensual… I don't think I can resist her much longer…
He let his thoughts linger on the feel of her hands on his bare back, her hands caressing him with so much curiosity… William shook his head hard to clear his mind and headed to the drawing room.
"WILLIE! Where are ye lad?" His uncle called out again. "I'm COMING!" William shouted back thunderously. He was maddened by the fact that he still felt the need to obey his uncle, even after all of these years.
"What is it?" William asked, not seeing his uncle in the room. "Are ye blind? I'm over here." William followed the sound of his voice and saw his uncle, struggling to stand in the corner of the room. "What happened?" William asked him as he went over to help him. His uncle pulled his arm back. William shrugged and turned to go.
"Fine, help me up. My knee gave out." Alistair grumbled. William reached for him under his arms but his uncle was being more of a hindrance than a help. "Stop moving!" William snapped at him. His uncle shot him a glare, "You would never dare speak to me that way back then." William laughed, "Right, when I was a ten year old. I'm 30 years old now, I won't tolerate your attitude anymore." William knew what would anger his uncle most, with a grin, he scooped the old man up in his arms and carried him over to the settee.
Alistair was so shocked at being handled like a child he merely sputtered in outrage. William placed him on the settee and stood in front of him, "Do you not have a cane old man?" Alistair looked murderous, "NO, I do not need a cane." He said stubbornly. "Aye, now when you truly need one you refuse it, but back then you had no problem carrying it around and whacking me with it!" William said, the memory of his backside being sore coming back to him. Great, more memories I don't need resurfacing right now! William thought glumly, I was supposed to be on my honeymoon and instead I'm here dealing with this old codger.
"What are you frowning about boy?" Alistair asked him. "Nothing. Where's Catriona anyway?" William asked. He figured it was about time he focus and try to find out what was truly going on. Alistair's face shuttered and he crossed his arms over his chest.
Before William could figure out what to do to get some information out of his uncle, Eliza came into the room carrying a tea tray. William's face softened immediately, and he went over to help her. "Ah, thanks for making the tea Lizzie." He took the tray from her and placed it on the table by the settee. Eliza poured a cup for Alistair, "How do you take your tea?" She asked him trying to be polite. She had heard parts of his conversation with William and she was horrified to hear how he had treated William.
"Same as him." Alistair said huffily, nodding towards William. Eliza nodded and wordlessly made the tea sweet. She passed him the teacup. William took a seat in an armchair across from the settee, Eliza decided to sit next to Alistair.
"Alis, William and I, we just want to help you. Please, could you tell us where Catriona is? And why did you leave the estate to William?" Eliza asked softly, trying to get through to the gruff man. Alistair didn't respond right away, he absently stirred his tea. William was just about to give up and go when Alistair cleared his throat and begun to speak.
"Cat left, three years ago or so. I haven't heard word of her since." Alistair said in barely above a whisper, a tinge of sadness in his voice. Then it hardened, "It's your fault she left Willie." William laughed, "Of course it is, I haven't spoken to her in over a decade and it's my fault." He threw up his hands in exasperation.
"If you hadn't left she never would have thought of leaving!" Alistair shouted. "And if you weren't a tyrannical bully neither of us would have had to leave!" William shouted back. Eliza sighed and rubbed her temples. "Why did Catriona go?" She asked Alistair. "She ran off and eloped. I didn't approve of the man, so I threatened to disown her. She said she didn't care. She actually left. I dunno where they've gone. And that's all I know."
"You must have really hated the man, I can't believe you bequeathed the estate to me." William said in shock. Alistair scowled, "Well, it had to go to someone. Besides, it's in such disrepair, it'll cost you a pretty penny to renovate. Ha!" He said gleefully. William narrowed his eyes at him, "I'd have just let it rot then. Like I should just leave you here to rot along with it!" William stood and left the room. Eliza followed him.
Eliza found him standing by the kitchen's back door, looking out at the rolling hills behind the house. She stood in front of him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He held her back and let out a sigh. "I cannae even figure out what to do…" He muttered. He looked over at the neighbor's property. "Lizzie," He said, looking at her, "I have to go talk to Seasaidh, I'm so sorry, but she's the only one who might know where Cat has gone. Would you like to come with me?" He asked, worried about her reaction.
Eliza shook her head, "No, you go. Catch up with your friend. Perhaps I can get Alistair to talk to me alone." William smiled at her, and gently moved a stray curl behind her ear. He tilted her face up and kissed her, she kissed him back passionately. "I'll see you soon." He said, he kissed her palm and placed it over his heart, then took a deep breath and headed over to Seasidh's house.
Eliza watched him go. I trust him. She smiled and headed back in to try to reason with Alistair.
