She soon forgot her own discomfort, however, as she fought for control of her skittish mount. The bay's footing was none too certain, and he slipped more than once, almost tumbling Brie into the mud.
They had just slid down a slope into a narrow hollow when lightning suddenly streaked across the sky. The flash startled Jester, making him rear, and the resultant clap of thunder sent him bolting into a frantic gallop.
That seemed to be the signal for the frenzied sky to unleash its fury. Icy sheets of rain slashed at Brie's face, blinding her as she tried to check her horse's speed. She couldn't see the great stallion racing beside her, but she felt Jester swerve when Dominic reached out to catch hold of his bridle. The bay reared again, just as a strong arm swept Brie from the saddle.
Brie struggled instinctively against Dominic's hold, but he tightened his grip and managed to set her before him. "Bestill, you little wildcat," he shouted in her ear. "You could never make it home on that beast. We passed a cottage that should provide shelter."
Brie could only nod in agreement, for an icy blast stole her breath away. When she shivered, Dominic drew the edges of his cloak about her, then wheeled the stallion about.
The driving rain obscured all but skeletal shapes from view, but they made their way unerringly through the storm. Brie was no longer worried. The great stallion's footing was solid and the arms that held her were strong and secure. When shards of sleet began to sting her cheeks, she turned her face against Dominic's broad chest, grateful for his warmth.
After what seemed like hours, they came to halt before a small cottage. Brie recognized it, and when Dominic set her down before the door, she lifted the latch without knocking and dashed inside out of the icy rain.
Dominic was not far behind her. "Not the Royal Palace," he said looking around, "but it will do."
"It belongs to Bennet Johnson," Brie informed him through chattering teeth. "I had heard he was away visiting his son."
The cottage was little more than a
hut actually, boasting only one room. The interior was dark, for the shuttered window allowed only the tiniest bit of light to filter through its chinks. Brie could barely identify the few pieces of furniture. At one end was a pitted wooden table and three rickety chairs, and at the other, near the fireplace, was a cupboard that probably contained cooking utensils. A cot rested against the far wall, and in one corner stood a small storage chest.
It wasn't much of a haven, Brie thought with disappointment; even though it provided protection against the rain, it wasn't much warmer than outside. She could see the curling puffs her breath made as she stood dripping on the wooden floor. Shivering with cold, she wrapped her arms tightly around her.
Dominic's gaze swept Brie's trembling figure. "See if you can find some blankets and some dry kindling while I take care of the horses," he ordered. "I'll start a fire when I return. And take off those wet garments before you freeze to death."
When Brie turned to stare at him, he met her look of indignant astonishment with a mixture of tenderness and amusement. "That wasn't a proposition, chérie," he said with a grin. "I prefer a more appropriate setting when I make love to a woman." He was gone before Brie recovered enough to respond.
She stared at the door, vaguely hearing the hollow sound of rain pounding against the roof. Then giving herself a shake, she groped her way to the window. Throwing back the shutter did little to illuminate the room, however, for the leaded pane was encrusted with grime. Fortunately, there was a tinderbox and two candles on the mantle. She lit them with shaking hands and began to search through the chest.
She found only one blanket. Tossing it on the cot, she rummaged a bit more and came up with two scraps of rough cloth that could be used for towels. Pleased, Brie turned her attention to the wood box by the hearth. The results were more disappointing. There was only a tiny amount of kindling and one small log with which to make a fire.
Brie was too cold to wait for Dominic to return, so she piled the kindling carefully in the fireplace and struck a spark. She held her freezing hands over the tiny blaze, but it did little to ease her misery. Her wet clothes still felt like ice against her skin, and her teeth were chattering so badly that even clamping her lips shut didn't help.
Determinedly, Brie dragged two of the wooden chairs across the floor and placed them on either side of the hearth, then removed her sodden coat and draped it over a chair to dry. She was rubbing her arms, trying to generate some warmth, when Dominic entered carrying an armful of firewood. The icy gust of wind that accompanied him nearly took her breath away.
Dominic slammed the door shut with his heel and strode across the room, dropping his load beside the hearth. As he removed his hat and cloak, he raised an eyebrow at Brie, as if expecting an explanation of her disobedience.
Brie resisted the urge to squirm under that penetrating gray gaze, telling herself that he had no right to give her orders. "There is only one blanket," she said stiffly, indicating the one on the cot.
He flashed her an amused grin. "Then we will have to share, won t we:
"Of course not! I don't plan to share a blanket with you, now or ever."
"You would rather freeze?"
When Brie didn't answer, Dominic eyed her in a way that made her want to hit him. There was a dancing gleam in his eyes that showed very plainly he was deriving a perverse kind of pleasure from their predicament. Smoldering, Brie planted her hands on her hips. "I think you are enjoying this! In fact I didn't know better, I would say you planned for us to be stranded here."
Dominic laughed. "Even I have not such powers over the heavens, my lady."
The husky sound of his laughter sent an odd shiver up her spine, but she pretended not to notice. "I will not share a blanket with you," she said adamantly. "And I will not undress."
Dominic took off his jacket and waistcoat and laid them across the chair. "Yes, you will," he replied evenly. "I don't intend to let you catch pneumonia."
Hearing the soft assurance in his voice, Brie glared at him. But when Dominic stripped off his shirt, she caught herself staring in fascination. She knew she shouldn't be watching him undress, but she found she couldn't look away. Dominic's bronzed skin was sleek and wet, and it glistened in the candlelight. Dark hair furred the wide expanse of his chest, tapering at the waistband of his tight-fitting breeches. His shoulders were broad and well-muscled, and as he turned and bent down to feed the fire, Brie could see powerful sinews flexing in his back. She swallowed, feeling a curling sensation somewhere below her stomach.
"Why the sudden reserve?" Dominic said casually as he prodded the logs. "I've already seen you without your clothes on."
Brie felt a blush start at the roots of her hair and flood her face. For a moment, she gazed at him in mute embarrassment. Then angrily she turned her back to him, silently cursing Dominic for being an overbearing, arrogant tyrant. Crossing her arms, she stood staring at the wall.