Mistress of Elvan Hall (15 page)

“Would that have made any difference?” asked Francis. “Would it suddenly have made you love me when you’re already in love with someone else?”

“Someone? Graham, you mean?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t love Graham.”

She came towards him, knowing that there could only be honesty between them now.

“I love you, Francis. If you really must know, I broke it off with Graham because of you. I loved you long before you asked me to marry you. That’s why ... why I accepted you. I ... I realise that though you don’t care for Caroline and haven’t ever encouraged her, it ... it doesn’t mean that you care for me, though. I ... I thought I had enough love for both of us ... only it didn’t seem to work that way.”

He was staring at her incredulously, then with dawning belief in his eyes as he came to draw her into his arms.

“Anne darling, there’s a lot you’re saying that doesn’t make sense, but I hope I heard right when you say you love me. What a lot of time we
’
ve wasted! Why couldn’t you have said so before? I...”

“You didn’t ask me, and besides, I thought you really did love Caroline. She’s so pretty.”

“But not beautiful, like you. And anyway, why should I marry you, if I loved Caroline?”

“You never said you loved me, though, Francis. I ... I thought you didn’t.”

“I was so afraid of scaring you
off.
I married you quickly after Graham Lord, in case someone else snapped you up. I ... I’m not good at paying court to the ladies, Anne. I only ever fell in love with you, you see.”

Suddenly Anne was laughing helplessly, and Francis, after a moment, joined in.

“I was so jealous of Lord, too,” he told her drawing her close. “I could have killed him when I saw him holding your hand, and when I thought you’d told him about our baby ... before me!”

“He’s a doctor. He didn’t have to be told,” said Anne. “I tried to tell you, Francis, really I did. Only it seemed like buying your love, and I thought you only wanted a mistress for Elvan.”

“I prefer a wife,” said Francis, and this time Anne believed him.