Enchanted Summer: (Regency Romance) (21 page)

“Yes, Celia,” Bella replied. “I think about it night and day, of how close to the brink I was because of being impulsive.”

“I think I am to blame in this, too,” Celia added, for she had given the matter a lot of thought. “You see, I have not allowed you to grow up. I was too comfortable in mothering you and in letting you be our infant child endlessly. I think it is because in you I saw that carefree youth that I was never allowed to experience and I have wanted to protect you from the harsh edges of life, to keep you sheltered from the reality that made an adult out of me so early in my youth.

“I thought that Mama lived vicariously through you and babied you, but I have to admit that I have a greater burden in not letting you mature. Even the way I address you is revealing, for I never call you Bella, but ‘pet’ or ‘child’. You see, I think I unconsciously wanted at least one of us not to be exposed to the harsh reality of our situation.

“I’m not too afraid of this adoration of Liddell’s that sees you not as a woman but as a goddess, for he is a practical young man and must soon come down from that cloud. It’s up to you, Bella to become a mature young woman, neither child nor goddess.

“Liddell is very much in love with you. I hope he will see that he has fallen in love with a young lady who is anxious to improve her mind and her person and that she is growing into adulthood aware of her responsibility toward others and to herself.

“Do you understand what I have tried to say, Bella?”

“I do want to become a better person, Celia, but I fear I need guidance.”

“I am most anxious to help you in every way I can,” Celia said, her eyes misting. “Come, my dear sister, embrace me, for I fear I am at the point of tears already.”

Celia and Bella walked hand in hand to the garden where Robert and Liddell waited for them.

* * *

The journey to Shelton was soothing as it was uneventful and the hours passed swiftly.

When they arrived at Rook’s End they found the house with only the servants in it. Uncle Worth had not yet returned from Liverpool and neither had the young ladies sent word from Bath.

Robert, Ellen and Liddell stayed with Celia and Bella only for a few more minutes while they settled in, then continued on to Shelton. Robert had offered Liddell his home for the two days the young man planned to remain in the area. It was still early and though Ellen was too exhausted from the trip and too anxious to see her father to return, both Robert and Liddell were to return to dine at Rook’s End with the girls, for none of the four wanted to end the evening so early when twilight shadows had just begun to steal around the quiet estate.

“I have known Liddell for some time, Bella,” Celia said to her sister, “and I am very happy that you and he are now friends. He is one of the sweetest-natured young men I have ever known and if your relationship would grow into the direction of marriage I would be almost as happy as you. I hope dearly that someday he shall become my brother-in-law.”

“In time,” Bella said, “for I do not want to rush into another relationship. I think both of us will benefit from a leisurely engagement. I do so want to do things right this time. But I am happy that you approve of him so wholeheartedly, for I have become very fond of him.”

“Celia,” Bella added after a moment, “will it not seem strange to live at Farley Hall?”

“It was Mother’s home for a few years when she was a child, Bella. I believe that since it was once her home it will soon seem home to us, also.”

“Still, it is wondrous and strange!”

“It’s a beautiful house. I am very anxious for you to see it. It’s rather neglected, for lack of money…” A knock at the door interrupted the girls’ conversation.

“Nellie!” The girls embraced her in turn and Nellie, her eyes filled with tears kept looking from one to the other and finally told them that Worth Delaney had sent an express. He was to arrive in two days’ time. And word had been sent to the house also that Caroline and Sylvia were to coincide with his arrival.

After a few more minutes of talk with Nellie the girls settled by the window and Nellie went to tell cook that two young men were expected for dinner.

* * *

The following morning Celia went to call on Mrs. Bundy. Bella stayed home to rest from the journey which in her still delicate condition had tired her.

Celia found Mrs. Bundy in low spirits and noticed how the sweet lady had even neglected her appearance. The ribbons on her hair which were usually crisp and bright drooped as her mood and her bright chartreuse gown had stains down the bodice.

Celia did all she could to lift her from dejection for she had never seen her in such a condition. Mrs. Bundy had always been lively and optimistic. She stretched the visit longer than she had planned and entertained her with exciting renditions of the events that had rocked their lives of late until she was glad to see the kind lady’s spirit rise.

Mrs. Bundy was delighted that Farley Hall had passed to them and marveled at the stroke of fate that had change their fortune.

“How happy I am for you, dear,” she said, “and for your dear mother, who must be beside herself with joy!”

“We still feel the newness of it,” Celia replied, “and must adjust our minds to all the changes. I only await my uncle’s arrival and then we shall make plans to remove ourselves to—”

Celia had stopped mid-sentence on seeing the change in Mrs. Bundy’s face, and guessing the reason for it she leaned over and clasped her hand.

“Dear Mr. Bundy, you fear our departure.”

Tears glistened in Mrs. Bundy’s eyes and rolled down her powdered face that was as soft as molded dough.

Celia glanced around the room, a small prim parlor furnished with the furniture she had for many years seen in Mrs. Bundy’s house in London, for throughout the years she had been in and out of that house as had the lady been to hers.

“There is only one thing left to do,” Celia said. “You must make your home with us at Farley Hall. I’m certain Fred will agree with me, for he is very fond of you.”

Mrs. Bundy looked up, in her eyes a mixture of elation and incredulity.

“Yes,” Celia repeated, happy at how the solution had instantly presented itself to her. “You are going to live at home with us, sweet lady. Farley Hall is a huge place and there certainly is room enough for our dearest friend. You are as family to us. You must know that!”

“Celia, my dear, you’re not jesting? This is not something said just to cheer me up?”

“Of course not, Mrs. Bundy, I’m speaking in earnest.” Her mother’s reaction crossed Celia’s mind momentarily but only so, she had always known how to deal with her mother. Besides, she was soon to marry and Bella would follow her footsteps shortly after. Then Mrs. Meade would be left alone without company in that large house with only Fred. The only friends close by were Henrietta and her family at the lodge, and even that was a distance of ten miles.

“My dear, you have given me such happiness that I must now reveal something of special import to you.”

h?” Celia winced. She was a little afraid of revelations for great events and assorted calamities had shaken them of late. She could not bear another one so close in the heels of the last ones.

“Before I moved here to Shelton to be close to your family, I had a meeting with my solicitor in which I named you, Fred and Bella as my heirs. And you will also be happy to hear, Celia that part of your inheritances from me will be given to you in the next few weeks. Fred is my main heir, as he will need funds to restore the hall, but you and Bella will each have a trust account, which will be settled on you very soon, to use as your dowries.”

“I’m—I’m at a loss for words, Mrs. Bundy. You’re so kind,” Celia’s eyes filled with tears. She hugged Mrs. Bundy as the lady also sniffled with tears of joy.

“There are many things to do, Celia. Will you help me with all the moving and the arrangements? I’m certain there are some pieces of furniture here Margaret might like to have at the hall.”

“You will be surprised to find hardly any furniture at the hall, Mrs. Bundy. Sir Hugh sold most of it to pay off bills, so of course your furniture will be very welcome.”

“Oh?” Well, then we can take it all!”

“Please have dinner with us tonight, Mrs. Bundy, and we shall then have more plans to make for your removal to the hall.”

“Celia, do you imagine how happy you have made me?”

CHAPTER 23

Early next morning, Celia awoke to the sounds of birds twittering and the smell of roses underneath her window, which were full-blown and heavy with scent.

She dressed quickly and before anyone was up went to the little wood which had been the scene of so many happy and bittersweet memories. She remembered Robert’s words, to always have her walking cane with her.

She crossed Crescent Meadow where moles and rabbits scurried away at her step and headed toward a place that had once lived so much in her thoughts: the gamekeeper’s cottage in the Shelton Forest. It would be locked, she was certain, for Robert had told her the caretaker had gone to another town to care for his mother, who was ailing, but at least she would be able to see it on the outside and re-live that other time in her mind.

If the outcome of her life had been different she would not have been able to bear the sight of the cottage but now, with her heart filled with her love for Robert, it was another happy place to her, a place where she had shared an enchanted summer with him.

She walked through the dense wood where trees in full foliage shivered under the sun and the breeze made lace patterns on the nettles under her feet. The sharp autumn wind whipped at her face and the scents of pine and cedar and fir tumbled on her senses.

But as she went down the slope and the cottage loomed before her she noticed that there was smoke coming out from its chimney. She wondered if the game keeper had returned ahead of time from his trip and was inside cooking his meal. Well, no matter, she did not think he would mind if she just stepped inside for a moment and glanced around. Landrew was a nice burley fellow and she had spoken with him on several occasions.

She knocked and having no response she turned the door knob and walked in and exclaimed in delight as she saw Robert leaning over a boiling kettle.

He turned to her and his face lit up in surprise and in a few long strides he had reached her and clasped her hard against him.

“Our memories have coincided,” he said, pulling her away from him for a moment to look into her eyes. “I wanted to re-live that time again.” He took her face in his hands and his lips now sought hers with a craving and a need which she instantly matched. They pulled away from each other, astonished at their runaway emotions and breathless from the kiss.

“We better have some tea,” said Robert with a short laugh, “or I will begin to think that elopement is the only decent way to get married, rather than wait several weeks.”

In the same manner that he had done that long-ago time he brought the cups and the spoons to the table where she sat. But this time he poured the water of the tea leaves in the teapot and then served her a cup of the steaming liquid. He then sat before her and covered her hand with his while they waited for the tea to seep.

“If you had searched for a way to give me immense joy you would not have found anything than better than seeing you come into this room.”

She told him that at the ball the next day when he had danced the waltz with him there had been a moment when she almost blurted her love for him and how she had slept only a few hours that night.

“I didn’t sleep at all,” he admitted, a boyish look on his face as he remembered.

“I felt there was nothing left to live for,” he added.

“My love…”

“I had been so certain of your love—and then, the blow!”

“You were right to be certain of it. Yet I could not admit it.”

“Even now I have this fear that if I do not marry you now, today, something will happen.”

“Nothing will happen. We’re together at last and nothing will ever pull us away from each other,” Celia assured him. “Do you know,” Celia added, glancing around the room, “I often imagined that we were married and that this was our house—this sweet little cottage but that it was in another vast forest where nobody knew us. And that I cooked on that hearth and waited for you to come home.”

“And what did I do for a living?”

“Oh, you hunted, or kept sheep. The details were not ironed out in my mind. I think what most appealed to me was that we had no connection to anyone and therefore no responsibilities. We were isolated in an immense wood and lived only for each other. Very selfish, I may add,” she said with a smile.

“Well, then, I don’t think I would want to leave you alone in a cottage in a vast forest while I worked. I would be afraid for you. I’d hardly stir from the cottage and we would be forced to eat acorns and nuts and whatever vegetables we could grow here—and make love all day. An endless honeymoon.”

“That would be idyllic,” said Celia. “I wouldn’t mind that at all, for to be with you every minute of the day would be the essence of joy.”

They recalled their time in London and how they had feared deep in their hearts that it would never happen again.

“We’ll go to Italy for our honeymoon,” Robert said, “and not come back for weeks. I wish we could go to Paris and visit those artist places you yearn so much to see, my darling, but Paris is still too unsettled for travel. At another time we will do the Paris trip. For now we will travel to other places in Europe that I’ve seen and that I’m anxious for you to see. That will be our vast forest, Celia, where we will be alone among strangers.”

He yearned to take her away from all the people that were constantly needing her and taking up all her time. Deep in his heart, perhaps because of the endless months of uncertainty and waiting, he still felt that something could go wrong. That such happiness could slip from his grasp.

“Let’s have a picnic in the wood today,” said Celia, cutting through his gloomy thoughts, “with Bella and Liddell. Do you think Ellen might be well enough to join us?”

“We’ll ask her,” Robert replied with a sigh. “But must we leave the cottage now? You haven’t even started on your tea.”

“I didn’t mean right at this moment,” Celia said with a laugh. “I would not dream of running off before drinking my tea again.”

“It would not matter,” said Robert, “because this time we would be leaving together.”

“You know, Robert,” said Celia, “the next day, after that wretched day when Nellie went to my room to give me the sketch book that you had returned, I asked what you had said to her. She was quick about it, for it was the day of the ball and everyone was very busy, but she repeated that phrase: “Give this to Miss Celia, will you,” and off on your horse again. I must have repeated that phrase of yours a thousand times and always with the same sinking feeling…”

“I had gone there with the intention of giving it to you in person but my heart failed me at the last moment. I feared another rejection that would slice my heart.”

“Oh, my dearest,” said Celia as Robert leaned to kiss her and ran his tongue along the underside of her lower lip. He got up and locked the door. It would be weeks before they were married and on their way to their honeymoon. But meanwhile, their thirst for each other could not wait, not when they had gone wanting for so long.

Robert twirled a strand of Celia’s honey hair in his fingers. ”I dreamt of your beautiful hair every night, my love,” he said when they lay close together in one of the upstairs beds. “When I wasn’t dreaming of your lovely mouth and your eyes that are like the bottomless sea. He kissed her again and Celia sighed deeply. His lightest touch sent waves of tingles that pooled in her belly and made her mound throb. He kissed her again and again until they were gasping for breath.

She leaned into his arms as his hand ran lightly over her breasts, perking her nipples into tight rose buds and sending shoots of tingles clear down to her toes. He leaned down and suckled one breast and then the other. Then his hand found her throbbing mound, and his touch sparked sensation until she reached a climax. They lay still for a while, his groin pressed against Celia’s leg. She touched him, too, shyly at first and then with more confidence because she wanted to give him the same pleasure he gave her. His moan told her she was on the right track and she continued on this way until he reached a climax.

They couldn’t consummate their union until the vows were read, so they stayed in each other’s arms and fell asleep thus, as close to each other as they could be, their arms tight until sleep slackened them and they drifted into dreams of each other as Robert whispered endearments in Celia’s ear. They had yearned for each other so often that lying tightly in each other’s arms was a heaven they could not yet get used to.

Afterwards they sat in conversation for a while as the hours sped as if they were minutes. And when the sun was blazing hot about the cottage they went back to the house, for although they would have liked to stay alone in the little wood for the rest of the day they were too conscious of convention and what was expected of them to change the rules.

But the afternoon was delightful and the picnic which included the kindly Mrs. Bundy, a great success and since she was there to chaperone them the two couples were able to sing and laugh and talk well into the night.

* * *

Celia awoke later than usual the following morning to the sounds of stirrings in the courtyard and became wide awake when Nellie entered the room with the news that Uncle Worth and her cousins had arrived late the night before.

“Late?” Celia brushed the vestiges of sleep from her eyes. “How late, Nellie?”

“Nathan says at midnight, and they’re asleep now. Most probably Miss Caroline and Miss Sylvia will not be up for many hours. They get up late even after a regular night’s sleep.”

“And Uncle Worth, is he still asleep?”

“Yes. Mr. Liddell came by to say good-bye to Miss Bella and when I told him she was still asleep he wrote her a quick letter for me to give her. In any case, he said he had already said good-bye to her last night but that he thought he would stop by just on the chance she might still be up.”

“What time is it, Nellie?”

“It’s half past ten, Miss.”

“So Late! We did stay up until late last night, with the excuse that Mrs. Bundy was with us.”

“Mrs. Bundy left early this morning. Her carriage came by for her. She said to tell you that she had many things to do at home, packing and the like. She was in high spirits, Miss Celia.”

“I’m glad. She’s a dear lady.”

“I brought you some tea, Miss. I thought I might let Miss Bella sleep some more, seeing as how she’s been ill of late.”

“Yes. We’ll let her sleep for as long as she likes. After my tea I’m going to go out to the little wood again.”

Celia did not venture farther than the little wood for she was anxious to talk to her uncle and wanted to be at hand when he was up.

She was returning from the wood and walking across the garden two hours later when she saw Nellie running toward her.

“Miss, oh Miss! Mr. Delaney and Miss Caroline are desiring of your company. They have finished breakfast and sent me to fetch you.”

“Is Bella up yet?”

“No, Miss.”

Celia remembered that Robert was to call that morning and braced herself for the meeting with Caroline and her uncle. What the urgency meant she had no idea but although she had no wish to see Caroline, now or ever, she did feel warm anticipation at the meeting with her uncle for she had missed him during her absence.

“They’re waiting for you in the library, Miss Celia.”

Celia knocked at the library door and Worth opened it and with an exclamation of delight embraced Celia with the same affection he had always shown her. Above his shoulder Celia saw Caroline. She had her back to them.

“Dearest Uncle,” said Celia as they separated, “there is much to talk about.” But as she looked into her uncle’s eyes she saw a troubled embarrassed look.

“Perhaps…” he began, turning to his daughter, who walked back from the window,

“…this talk might wait for a later time—”

“No, papa, it cannot wait.” Caroline said through clenched teeth.

“I’m sure the same can be said later as now,” countered her father. “I’m certain Celia has much to tell me about her stay with the Epsons and—”

“It will be done at once. Now.” Caroline’s face was now chalk white with suppressed rage.

“What should be done at once?” asked Celia.

Worth looked flustered as he ran a hand over his face.

“Caroline feels, Celia, that certain things have happened while I was away that need to be discussed without delay, though I swear I don’t see the need for such haste.”

“I’m interested to hear what Caroline has to say, Uncle Worth, just as much as she appears to want to say it.”

With her arms crossed Caroline looked to her father to begin. However, Worth did not, and managed only to look extremely ill-at-ease. He avoided Caroline’s eyes. Caroline shook her head and said:

“The reason we have called you here is because we can no longer continue to have your family disgrace us—”

“Caroline—” Worth interrupted.

“Let me speak, Papa. This talk is long overdue.”

“Pray continue,” said Celia.

“Your sister has disgraced us by dragging the family name through an elopement—”

“Which
you
planned, in detail, Caroline,” Celia interrupted.