HELD CAPTIVE BY A ROGUE

Chapter Eleven

The ride to London was long and tiring as the coach made its way along the main road at a steady pace. Kathryn was sitting opposite Christopher with Dodger lying next to her on the seat, resting his head comfortably in her lap. Kathryn's eyes were getting heavy for they kept slowly closing with her head tilting to one side nodding with every jolt of the coach.

Christopher watched her for quite some time before he finally reached over and scooped her into his arms and pulled her over to his side of the coach much to the displeasure of Dodger, who groaned and opened up his droopy eyes and shifted his position on the seat, without Kathryn.

"What are you doing, Christopher?" She asked, drowsily.

"Don't fight me, sweetheart. You were falling asleep and about to fall off the seat at any time if I hadn't moved you," he utterly briefly. He laid her down on his seat and rested her head in his lap, almost identical to the way Dodger had been lying with her and then he chuckled to himself. As he gazed down at her, visions of the night he shot her came to mind. She was lying in this same exact position where he'd tried to stop the bleeding from the wound in her shoulder. He had been fascinated by her delicate features for he had studied them intensely while they made their way to the roadside Inn. She still had the scar on her shoulder but it had heeled up very nicely. It wasn't that noticeable as a matter-of-fact, he thought for it didn't mar her beauty in any way.

Nightfall had come when they made the final turn down the street where the Steele townhouse was located and Christopher gently shook Kathryn awake. "We're here my little bandit," he said when he saw her open her eyes.

"We're where?" She asked, sleepily, yawning as she blinked her eyes open.

"At my townhouse, of course", wondering why she would ask such a stupid question. He stepped out of the coach and stretched his arms in the air, glad to be out of the cramped confines of the coach before he assisted Kathryn down.

Dodger made a dash for the front door as soon as he saw Kathryn disappear inside, almost knocking Christopher off balance. Cursing, he turned to his male servant. "Charlie, take the dog for a walk. I believe he will need to relieve himself." Christopher stated bluntly to his valet, who had ridden up top the coach with Henry, the coachman, all the way from Dartmoor. Charlie grumbled something under his breath because he couldn't believe his lordship would actually make him do such a menial task as walking the dog.

Kathryn came fully awake when they entered the main hall of his townhouse where they were greeted at once by his housekeeper.

"Amanda, this is Kathryn, my wife," he said, introducing his long time housekeeper to Kathryn.

A big smile came across her old face and she thanked her lucky stars that he'd finally gotten himself a wife. Maybe now his reputation won't be so black anymore, she thought hopefully. He had always been a wild one. Now that he was married, he would have to settle himself down and become respectable.

"Take Kathryn upstairs and show her to her room," Christopher ordered the housekeeper before he sauntered into his study, leaving the two women staring after him as he closed the door behind him.

"You must be very tired after such a long journey, your ladyship." The housekeeper said as she accompanied Kathryn upstairs and led her to the master bed chambers.

Kathryn stared at her in amazement for she had called her, your ladyship. No one had ever called her that before. As she pondered this, she realized she was now married to a Marquis which would make her a Marchioness. She would have to get use to this new title, she thought with awe.

Amanda opened the door to the bed chamber with Kathryn following her inside. "No one has slept in this room since his lordship's mother passed away," she said, eyeing Kathryn closely.