Midnight Bride (39 page)

He pulled her closer so that she rested partly on him. "Shameless hussy," he said as he kissed her again.

"Elizabeth,
we
must
leave now," her husband of less than a week reminded her. He watched indulgently as she kissed her family good-bye. "Remember you are welcome at Clarendon whenever you wish to come," he told them all

Louisa
Beckworth
smiled up at him. Since Elizabeth had returned home from her brief wedding journey radiant, her cousin had been happy. But when she discovered what Dunstan and Charles had done, she was delirious. Realizing that Louisa needed a home of her own, Charles and Dunstan had reached an agreement. As soon as their lawyers had finished the arrangements, the manor was hers. And if she wished a snug little house in Bath, the rents would provide it. She cried when she had first heard it and tried to convince them it wasn't necessary. "But it is, darling Cousin," Charles had said quietly. "After trailing after us for years, you need some place of your very own." Elizabeth smiled proudly, pleased that her husband was so thoughtful and that her brother had matured so much over the summer.

Had she realized his motivation, she might not have been so proud. After deeding half of the property to Louisa himself, he had agreed to sell the other half to Dunstan for a comfortable sum, large enough to buy his colors if he could manage it without his mother discovering his actions until they were final. Charles watched Dunstan hand Elizabeth into the carriage, waved them on their way, and returned to his lodgings. He and Porter were on their way to London before nightfall.

In Dunstan's carriage there was a comfortable silence for a time. Elizabeth wiped her tears away finally and took her bonnet off. Dunstan drew her down to his shoulder, his hand soothing her much as he would have done a baby. Listening to the steady beat of his heart, Elizabeth drifted off to sleep. In a few minutes Dunstan followed.

When they awoke sometime later, they were still in each other's arms. Dunstan woke first and watched fascinated as Elizabeth breathed steadily, her breasts rising and falling. His arms tightened. She stirred. "Are we there yet, Robert?" she asked sleepily, unwilling to move.

"No. You know I told you that the journey would take longer than a day," he said, his hand tracing the shell-like surface of her ear. "Are you one of those travelers who
needs
reminding?"

"Stop that," she said, turning her head away. Her protests were less than forceful. She pulled his hand down and clasped it, measuring her fingers against his, marveling as she always did at the contrast between them, his so large and hers so small.

"But I enjoy it," he said so close to her ear that she could feel his breath.

"We can't. Robert, you know what happens when you do that," she whispered, her eyes on the flap in front of her. "They can hear everything."

"We will be quiet. Come let me show you," he said softly, turning her in his arms.

When they stopped for luncheon, Dunstan told his coachman, "Arrange for a chamber so Lady Dunstan can refresh herself. We will have a luncheon served there. And you two do not need to hurry." Elizabeth blushed, thankful for the dimness of the coach. On the box the servants exchanged knowing looks.

On the journey the servants grew accustomed to long stops. Only in the early morning hours did they make good time. As they neared the end of their journey, Elizabeth grew quieter. Finally she asked, "Does your grandfather know about our marriage?"

"Yes. I wrote him." Dunstan fell silent. She had been with him as he was writing. He waited for her to continue.

"Is he going to be very angry?"

"With you?
No, my dear, he will take one look at you and welcome you. With me it may be different. During the last few months I have not been his idea of a dutiful grandson." Dunstan laughed ruefully.

"But I do not want him to be angry with you. What happened was as much my fault as yours. More mine, really. Had I listened to you at the beginning . . ."

Dunstan pulled her into his arms. He gave her a shake. "If you keep trying to take all the blame, I will be angry. If I had been more persuasive. . . ." He bent and kissed her, a long, passionate kiss that caused Elizabeth to flame once again for him.

Elizabeth finally pulled away, breathing unsteadily. She sank into her corner of the carriage and took hold of the strap. He reached for her again, but she held him off, her face serious. "Did you tell him about my problem with
names.
"

"No, love.
We will let him find that out for himself." This time he would not be held off. He picked her up and put her on his lap. "Robert," she complained, "I will be all rumpled when I meet your grandfather." Her protests were weakened by the way her arms crept around his neck. Sometime later, she whispered, "I wish you had told him."

"Hmmm?"
He had found the ties of her bodice and was working to undo the knots.

"What will he do when I call him or his friends by the wrong names or fail to recognize them at all?"

"Elizabeth, we will explain as soon as we see him. If your problem was accepted in Brighton, how can he be upset? Now, I would like some cooperation, if you please," he demanded in a mock serious tone. Putting her uneasiness aside, Elizabeth gave him her full attention.

Their luncheon stop having been even longer than usual because Elizabeth had insisted that Miller find her something fresh to wear before the luggage coach left, it was late afternoon when they arrived at Clarendon Hall. Elizabeth, excited and afraid, held on to Dunstan's hand as they rolled up the long road to his home. "The gardens were planned by Capability Brown," he explained. "My grandfather is proud of them. Those and his apple orchards are his greatest interests. The Hall is not large, but it is comfortable. It is built of stone from the
Cotswolds
."

As they rounded a curve, the trees that had been blocking her view disappeared, and there in a lawn of rolling green broken only by formal garden and well-groomed bushes was the Hall, its mellow Cotswold stone glistening in the sunlight. The panes of glass from its many large windows caught the rays of the sun and sparkled.
"Dormer windows.
One of my friends had them in her schoolroom. I was so jealous because she could sit there and look out while all
i
had was a regular window," Elizabeth said, looking up at the roof. "What are those rooms?"

"You will need to ask the housekeeper about that. I spent most of my time away at school or out on the land." As the carriage pulled to a stop, she clutched him frantically. "You will be fine," he assured her lightly.
"Smile."

When she stood before the earl a few minutes later, Elizabeth tried to keep that smile intact. But it was an effort. The earl kept them standing in front of him for several minutes, his eyelids closed as though he were sleeping. Then he tilted his head backward, and Elizabeth saw her husband's eyes in another man's face, slightly faded, it was true, but still recognizable. The earl continued to look at them, taking in each detail of their appearance. Elizabeth was glad she had taken the time to change at luncheon. Her jade green traveling dress made her eyes appear a deep green, and her bonnet she knew framed her face well.

"So this is my new granddaughter," the earl finally said, rising and walking toward them. Elizabeth stared at him for a moment as she realized that the only way he could see clearly was keeping his head at that angle. The earl's face was as devoid of emotion as his voice. "Your name is Elizabeth?" he asked.

"Yes, my lord." Once again Elizabeth sank into a curtsy.

"None of that, girl.
None of that.
Let me see you." She stood still as he walked around her, inspecting her as he would a horse. She looked at Dunstan, a fine white line beside her mouth, but he avoided her glance. His circuit completed, the earl waved them into waiting chairs and took his own again. "My friends inform me that the two of you were involved in some kind of scandal." Elizabeth blushed, certain he knew exactly what everyone had been saying.

"Grandfather, I wrote you about it. Told you how I felt. Both Lord and Lady
Ramsburg
believe we will hear no more about it," Dunstan said firmly.

"Lord
Ramsburg
. Works for the government, I believe." Elizabeth nodded, not willing to trust her voice.

"Good reputation.
Hard worker.
Plays deep, I hear." The earl's tone clearly revealed that he expected no answer. He looked from Dunstan to Elizabeth again, noting their clasped hands partly hidden by Elizabeth's skirts. He stood up. "Must admit, not the one I had wanted for my boy, Elizabeth.
Too old.
Should have married long ago."

Elizabeth flushed angrily and started to speak. Dunstan squeezed her hand to keep her silent. "I met her during her first Season, Grandfather. But you know what the situation was then. Her father would have shown me the door."

"Hmmm. Good man, your father.
Respected him.
Too bad about his early death."

Elizabeth settled back in her chair. She nodded, tears glistening in her eyes.

The old man crossed to the
bellpull
. "Well, suppose we have to make the best of it.
Invited some friends to meet you.
Only a dinner party.
With a bachelor household have no call for balls. Have to change that, I guess."

"You invited some friends tonight, Grandfather?" Dunstan stood up, angry.

"No, for tomorrow."
He turned to the butler, who appeared in the doorway. "Have my grandson and his bride shown to their suite. We keep country hours here, Elizabeth, but I had the meal set back when you arrived later than expected. Say in half an hour." She nodded. "At what time tomorrow do you wish to interview the housekeeper? Be good to have someone to deal with her. Usually see her at eight."

"Eight will be fine, my lord," Elizabeth said as calmly as possible.

"But what am I to call him? And why didn't you explain about my appalling ability with names? Dunstan, I will never remember all of the servants." Before he had shown them to their rooms, the butler had introduced the servants, omitting only the chef and his helpers, who were busy at that time.

"You managed in Brighton. I am certain you will manage as well here," her husband said soothingly.

"But there I had help."

"I will be with you," Dunstan promised.

But the following morning he left for the orchards before she could remind him of the appointment with the housekeeper. When the woman entered the room, Elizabeth tried desperately to remember her name.
Fortunately, her housekeeper, as if sensing her problem, said, "I am Mrs. Finch, my lady.
The earl said you will be giving me orders about the household."