Scoundrel With A Noble Heart (sequel of Disgraceful)

Chapter 86

Finally, Jacob came up with an acceptable solution. He asked for adjoining rooms for them. Marguerite's reluctance to stay there grew stronger as they followed the innkeeper climbing up the unlit, rickety stairs. They could barely see anything beyond a few steps ahead of them, for the only source of light was the small candle in the quiet man's hand. Marguerite felt her anxiety grow as they reached the second landing. The pitch black darkness made it impossible to make out the color of the walls or to see the end of the corridor. Marguerite forced herself to move forward. It took a great deal of self control not to run away from this hideous place.

Finally the innkeeper stopped in front of a door and unlocked it. He preceded them into the room and lit some candles before entering the other room through the adjoining door. The man briefly showed them the adjoining bathroom inside both rooms then left them both in privacy.

"Not bad, isn't it?"
Jacob cast a glance at the neatly made bed across the room and the small rosewood desk placed by the undraped window.
"Most importantly each room has a bathroom inside, so we don't need to grope our way through the dark corridor."
He turned to look at her and instantly smiled at her expression.
"Stop looking so stressed out. There's absolutely nothing to fear. I'll be in the next room. If you see or hear something suspicious, just call me."

Marguerite held back the strong urge to stop him as he departed through the main door. Much as she felt nervous in his presence, she hated to be alone in this spooky place. She sat warily by the bedside as she strained her ear to listen to the sounds from Jacob's room; the muted sound of doors being opened and closed, light footsteps, and things being dropped onto the floor and other surfaces. Hearing movements from the other side of the wall made her feel less afraid knowing that Jacob was awake and within close proximity whenever she needed him. A few moments later, the shuffle of feet subsided, replaced by the muffled sound of water splashing in the bathroom, and Marguerite felt a pang of envy. After long hours of traveling, she longed for a good, long bath, but she was too afraid to go to the dim bathroom.

After changing into a modest nightgown, she slipped under the warm, safe cocoon of the weighted blanket and lay on her back. Turning her head on the pillows, she glanced at the candles on the bedside table, hoping the lights could last until at least near down. She thought her fear would keep her awake all night, but it turned out the long trip had exhausted her and she actually drifted off in no time.

Marguerite couldn't tell what actually startled her, but somewhere around the small hours, she jerked awake to find herself in total darkness and her heart began to beat painfully hard in her chest. It seemed that a couple of hours had passed because all the candles had gone out. She blinked out the remnants of sleep and glanced in the direction of the adjoining door, straining her ear for any sound. But she could hear nothing but her own pounding heart, not even the howl of the wind outside, and suddenly the silence in the room grew uncanny. Blinded by an overwhelming fear, Marguerite leapt out of bed and pushed the adjoining door. The door swung open into a pitch dark room and she cried,
"Jake!"

Darting across the room, she scrambled up into the bed and groped blindly under the covers. She gasped when her hand came into contact with warm, velvety skin over hard muscles. All of a sudden, a startled shriek escaped her when her right wrist was seized in an iron grip, and before she knew it, she was pinned down onto the bed, his shadowy figure looming over her.

"Jake! It's me!"
She cried. He froze, his grip on her hand immediately loosened.

"Maggie?" His voice was laced with confusion.
At that moment, Marguerite's eyes began to adjust to the low light and she could make out his bewildered expression. Before she could get a word out, Jacob leapt away from the bed and across the room, hastily picking up the discarded clothes draped over a chair and putting them on. Marguerite sat up, and that was when she realized that he was completely naked beneath the sheets when she climbed upon his bed. Letting out another shriek, she snatched the nearest pillow and held it up to block her view.
"Why didn't you wear any clothes?!!!"