Lord Ilchester's Inheritance (16 page)

After an hour of playing lively tunes Sapphire was ready for a respite but did not have the heart to stop as everyone was having such fun. Then a familiar voice spoke from behind her. ‘You play beautifully, Miss Stanton, but you have more than made up for your inauspicious start to the evening.’ Lord Ilchester reached over her shoulder and carefully closed the piano. ‘Enough, if they wish to dance they must find someone amongst themselves to provide the music.’

He placed his hand gently under her elbow and guided her to her feet. He looked remarkably unflushed for a gentleman who had been skipping around the dance floor for the past hour.

‘Were you not dancing, my lord? I would have thought you in high demand.’

‘The only partner I wish to have was otherwise engaged.’

She wished he would not say things like that, he was putting intolerable pressure on her to accept his offer and she was certain being married to him would be a disaster. He was not a biddable gentleman, he would take charge of them all and leave no decisions to her.

They strolled the length of the saloon, across the drawing room and out into the cool, summer evening. He walked her to the far end of the terrace, away from those who had chosen to sit outside. Although the nightingales no longer sang, there were blackbirds and thrushes filling the air with glorious sound. There could be nowhere as beautiful or pleasant as Canfield Hall; she was sure that although she had feelings for the man standing beside her, they were not strong enough to compensate for what she would lose if she moved away.

Matters would be quite different if Uncle John was no longer with them, but, God willing, that day was a long time in the future and one thing she was sure of, Ilchester would not be prepared to wait for her.

‘Thank you for rescuing me, sir, I would much prefer to be outside than in the saloon playing the pianoforte.’

He appeared to be in no hurry to either release her arm or reply to her remark. He had brought her out here, so why was he ignoring her? There was something she wished to say that would definitely get his attention, but first she must remove herself a distance away.

When she was a few yards from him she thought it safe to say what was on her mind. ‘I know what you and my uncle are about, my lord, you have made it abundantly clear to all the important families in the county that if we are not actually betrothed, the announcement will come in due course.’ She waited for his reaction but he remained motionless, gazing out across the park as if uninterested in her views.

‘I might be prepared to consider marrying, but not now, not whilst my uncle is alive. Unless you are prepared to live here with me then I cannot agree to become your wife in the foreseeable future.’

His reaction was infuriating; he laughed as if at the ramblings of an amusing child. ‘Do you think, my darling girl, that you will escape me quite so easily? I have spoken with Mr Bishop, my mother and sisters, and they are all in agreement – I have made the perfect choice and they cannot wait to see us conjoined.’

This was the outside of enough. How dare he discuss her with his sisters? Whatever her treacherous uncle wished, she would not marry Ilchester, but would remain a spinster until circumstances at Canfield Hall changed. ‘I care not what your family think on the subject, sir, the decision is mine and I shall not change my mind.’ She did not remain to hear his reply but dashed in unseemly haste to join her guests.

Chapter Sixteen

The tea tray was brought in shortly after Sapphire arrived and she performed her duties impeccably. Uncle John had already retired, but he had the excuse of failing health and nobody was upset by his desertion. No one else had offered to play the piano so there had been no further dancing.

Lady Serena came to sit with her on the
chaise longue.
‘I gather you have employed musicians for tomorrow night’s entertainment, Miss Stanton. It was kind of you to forego the pleasure of dancing yourself in order to allow others to dance this evening.’

‘I do not enjoy dancing, I know that is tantamount to sacrilege, but I much prefer to play or listen, than participate.’

‘How quaint! My son did not dance either, and this omission was noted, I can assure you.’ The lady gave an arch smile. ‘Although nothing has been said officially, I am delighted that you will soon be joining us at the Abbey. Do not look so worried, my dear, the girls and I will remove ourselves to the annex so that you might be private with your own family.’

Sapphire’s horrified expression was caused because Lady Serena had a carrying voice and all in the vicinity would have heard her comment. She was torn – should she make the circumstances clear and risk offending Lady Serena, or accept the inevitable?

‘I’m afraid you are a little premature in your assumptions, my lady. Although we do have an understanding, I will not be joining you at the Abbey.’

Instead of being taken aback by this remark, her ladyship nodded and smiled. ‘Of course – how kind of my son to think of us like that. He will come and live here with you at Canfield Hall and thus allow my daughters and I to remain at the Abbey and not be obliged to squeeze into the inferior accommodation of the annex.’

Lady Jamieson wandered over to join them. ‘Did I hear correctly? Are you and Lord Ilchester to announce your betrothal tomorrow at your anniversary party? How exciting – we did wonder why you were arranging such an elaborate event and now we understand.’

The cup and saucer in Sapphire’s hand rattled and she was obliged to put them down. This was an unmitigated disaster and it was all of her own doing. She must find Gideon and explain what had transpired before he was congratulated on his forthcoming nuptials by somebody else.

She politely excused herself and began her search. He wasn’t with the other gentlemen, nor in the saloon with the younger members of the group, and neither was he striding up and down the terrace. Where could he be at this time of night?

She slipped back into the hall and found Robinson on duty. ‘Do you have any idea of the whereabouts of Lord Ilchester?’

‘He has gone to the lake, Miss Stanton. He asked me to leave the side door unbolted so he could return when he wished and not keep anyone up.’

Why on earth would he wish to go there in the middle of the night? Her heeled evening slippers would be quite ruined if she ventured out into the dew-damp grass with them on. She had said goodnight to her guests so they would assume she had retired, however, she had no intention of doing so until she had spoken to Gideon.

She left by the side door and immediately leant against the wall to remove her shoes and stockings. If she draped her skirts over her arm she was certain she could keep them from the damp. She would hate to ruin this gown as it was one of her favourites.

Fortunately the evening was clement and there was no need for her to worry about fetching a wrap from inside. Although the moon was a mere sliver in the sky, there was sufficient illumination for her to pick her way slowly across the grass but she did not see her quarry until she was almost at the water’s edge. He was standing waiting for her. Her heart skipped a beat and she wondered if she had been entirely wise coming down here alone in the dark when he was so determined to persuade her to marry him.

The thought of what persuasion he might employ sent an unaccustomed wave of heat to a most unexpected place and she almost dropped her skirts in surprise.

‘Good evening, my love, you have taken an unconscionable time to reach me. I think a snail might have traversed the distance with more speed than you did.’

‘I could not come any faster as the grass is far lumpier than I expected and I had difficulty holding up my skirt and keeping my balance.’

He stepped forward and glanced down. ‘Devil take it! What possessed you to come over here in bare feet?’

‘I could not wear my slippers as they would have been ruined by the dew.’ She noticed he had changed into his boating clothes and was also without his shoes and socks. ‘What are you doing here and why did you ask Robinson to leave the door open for you? Do you intend to stay out all night?’

He gestured towards the rowing boat pulled up against the jetty. ‘I thought I would try and catch one of the magnificent carp you have swimming in this lake, and fishing is better done at night.’

This was a strange conversation to be having after what had taken place between them earlier that evening. ‘I had no idea there were fish for I have never seen them. Anyway, that’s as may be, my lord, I wish to speak to you about something…’

‘I rather gathered that you did, sweetheart, or you would not have trekked across here to see me. Just a moment, I have the very thing for you.’ He reached into the depths of the boat and removed a large blanket which he promptly enveloped her in. Before she could wriggle free he had swept her up and deposited her on the padded seat at the rear of the boat.

He then stepped nimbly in, folded himself onto the central plank, and took up the oars. It would be fruitless to protest, she was being taken for a ride whether she wished it or not. She settled back, cosy and warm within the folds of the blanket, and closed her eyes enjoying the gentle rocking sensation.

The whisper of the water as it passed the hull and the creak of the oars as they moved were the only sounds in the darkness, then she heard a nightjar calling and the cough of a pheasant in the woods. This would not do – it was all very well for him to abduct her in this way but she had come to tell him of the disaster she had precipitated.

‘I have been speaking to your mama and one thing led to another. Somehow I gave her the erroneous impression we intended to be married and that you were going to move here. She was delighted you were being so considerate to her feelings. Then Lady Jamieson overheard and no doubt the entire party is now expecting us to announce our betrothal tomorrow.’

He stopped rowing and very slowly brought the oars on board. Then he moved with catlike grace to join her on the seat. ‘And how did she get the impression that I intended to abandon the Abbey and make my home at Canfield Hall?’

She had shifted as far as she could on the seat but somehow his thigh was still touching hers – even with the thickness of the blanket and her skirts she was aware it was there. She swallowed, her voice emerged as little more than a whisper. ‘I told Lady Serena I would not be living at the Abbey and she misinterpreted my comment.’

Somehow his arm had insinuated itself around her waist and the restraining folds of the blanket were now around her feet. ‘Do you love me, Sapphire Stanton?’ He breathed the words into her ear and her head spun with excitement.

‘I do, but...’

‘There are no buts, my darling, if Mohammed will not go to the mountain…’

‘I have no idea what you’re talking about – what have mountains and prophets to do with the situation?’

‘If you will not come to the Abbey then I must come to Canfield Hall. If I am honest, I would much prefer to make my home here. The Abbey is ancient and hideously uncomfortable and I have not lived there since I reached my majority.’

If he had sprung wings and flown into the sky she could not have been more surprised. Quite forgetting she was in an unstable rowing boat she jumped to her feet. The next thing she knew she was tumbling backwards and the cold lake water swallowed her.

*

With a despairing cry she toppled over the side and Gideon had no option but to follow. The water was more than two yards deep out here in the middle and dangerously full of weeds. He dived in and swam strongly in the direction he believed she had gone.

Even with his eyes open it was impossible to see and he was forced to grope blindly, praying his fingers would grasp her skirts. His lungs were bursting and still he had not found her. He shot to the surface intending to take a gulp of air and then return.

‘There you are, my lord, I was about to come in search of you for you have been immersed so long.’

He clutched at the side of the rowing boat and stared in disbelief into the face of his beloved who was sitting, admittedly drenched to the skin, quite happily in the boat laughing down at him.

‘I’m tempted to tip you in again, young lady, for giving me such a scare. I thought you drowned.’ She moved to the far side of the boat thus allowing him to roll over the side and join her.

‘I was somewhat startled to fall in, but I am an expert swimmer if you recall, and was in no danger. However, I am suitably appreciative of your efforts on my behalf.’ Her smile melted his anger. ‘I also most humbly apologise for causing the accident. I quite forgot we were afloat.’

Then to his astonishment she stood gracefully, this time keeping her balance, and began to remove her garments. ‘What the devil are you doing? Please, you must not… I cannot…’ He was reduced to mumbling like a lovesick boy.

Instead of being shocked she laughed and her dress and petticoats joined the blanket in the well of the boat. She stood in her chemise, which clung like a second skin to her womanly curves, and dived, with more elegance than he had, into the lake.

Without a second thought he joined her and for a glorious half an hour they frolicked and swam like two children.

‘Shall we push the boat back to shore, my love, and then we must find something with which to dry ourselves.’

When the boat bumped against the jetty he was out of the water before her and then leaned down to hoist her out. Her teeth were chattering, this midnight swim had not been a sensible idea.

‘Could you please pass me the blanket from the boat, I am half-frozen.’

There was another way they could get warm and seeing her with the silvery light outlining her breasts and hips, he knew he was in danger of pre-empting their wedding night.

He turned his back to hide his embarrassment and hastily grabbed the blanket. ‘Here, sweetheart, wrap yourself in that and then go back to the house. It would not do for us to be seen so dishevelled together.’

He ached to take her in his arms and show her just how much he loved her but now was not the time, and the boathouse was certainly not the place.

When she was safely cocooned inside the blanket she came closer and one bare arm slipped out from the folds to rest lightly on his cheek. ‘I love you, Gideon, and will be happy to marry you whenever you wish.’ He reached out to take her in his arms but she skipped away.

‘Then we will announce it tomorrow and be married in September.’ His heart was bursting with happiness. ‘This will give me time to refurbish the Abbey…’

Her laughter carried back to him as she vanished across the grass. ‘There is no need to do that for we have agreed that we will be living here.’

He shot after her and caught her easily. He crushed her against his chest and she turned her face up to receive his kiss. Minutes later he raised his head and looked down at the woman who would be his wife very soon. ‘I don’t give a damn where we live as long as we are together.’

Her smile was radiant. ‘And neither do I, my love, tonight I have learned my true feelings. I will marry you and live wherever you please.’

With a shout of triumph that sent a flock of roosting pigeons clattering into the air in protest he spun her round. ‘That is all I wished to hear. I know we will be happy anywhere as long as we are together.’

THE END