Sally James (19 page)

Mary took a deep breath, but it did not dispel the elation in her whole being. She smiled at him tremulously, her eyes shining.

“I - I have not dared to admit it, even to myself! I did not know! I
wanted
to believe that you were what you seemed, but Teresa was so very convincing, I did not know what to believe!”

He drew her firmly into his arms and kissed her, lingeringly, gently, until shyly she responded.

“Foolish one, to believe one jot of her wild imaginings! Well, before you commit yourself irrevocably, I will have to rebut them!”

Ignoring Mary’s protests that she did not believe what Teresa had accused him of, he sat on a chair and pulled her onto his knees, holding her closely within his arms.

“I suppose she told you I had murdered Delaine? In reality he died in a brothel brawl, but Teresa would not allow that to be true of her current idol! Also she holds it against me that I dismissed her old governess. Matty begged me to find someone better able to control Teresa, which I failed to do, incidentally, and I gave her a pension, and a cottage to which she thankfully retired. What else? Oh, the beatings, and the refusal to allow her complete freedom. I collect you have seen her in an hysterical tantrum?”

Mary chuckled, relaxing confidingly in his arms. “Yes, and beaten her myself,
and
felt tempted to lock her in her room with only bread and water,” she confessed.

“As for wanting to marry her, can you really think me so lacking in common sense, not to mention self-preservation?”

Mary shook her head, her eyes full of laughter, and he exclaimed wordlessly, pulling her head down so that he could kiss her again, and this time she returned his kisses more confidently.

“Do you love me, my darling beloved one?” he asked eventually.

“I’d appear an abandoned wretch indeed if I said no in this situation,” she said, laughing, and avoiding his questing lips. “Yes, my dear, I do, though I’ve only just realised it - or admitted it to myself!”

“Then I ought to have done this weeks ago! When will you be my wife?”

She gazed at him, amusement in her glance. “There is just one other accusation,” she said demurely. “I did not
precisely
understand the reference, naturally, but Teresa mentioned something called Haymarket ware. I always thought one bought hay there?”

He grinned, no whit abashed, and kissed her until she was breathless.

“You are a minx, and I’ve a mind to roll you in the hay!” he threatened, then his tone became serious. “You need fear no competition for my favours, for I am utterly and completely yours for ever, my one true love,” he averred.

A long time afterwards a discreet cough and a tap at the door aroused them again to an awareness of their surroundings.

“Dinner is ready, sir, and I’m afraid the other young lady and gentleman have gone off in your curricle. My ostler has only just discovered it, him having been busy, so to speak!”

“I can replace the curricle. I should have been really offended had they been my own cattle! Well, landlord, in that case we had best use their rooms instead. Bring your best wine - we have something to celebrate.”

Shaking his head at the inexplicable behaviour of the Quality, the landlord went gloomily away, and Sir Ingram turned, opening his arms wide for Mary, who had retreated in some confusion to the window when they had been disturbed.

“Would you prefer to follow them to Scotland after all, for our own wedding?” he asked. “I do not mean to be kept waiting for long, I warn you!”

She laughed. “I will not do so, but I am proud and happy to be marrying you, and want our friends to share our joy.”

“Then we had best dine, and be ready to set off early tomorrow. I cannot be content until you are mine.”

He crushed her to him, and this time the landlord, heading a procession of menials bearing the offerings from his kitchen, had to cough several times before he was invited to enter the room and spread out the feast.

Copyright © 1980 by Marina Oliver

Originally published by Hale [UK] (ISBN 0709179391)

Electronically published in 2010 by Belgrave House/Regency Reads

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No portion of this book may be reprinted in whole or in part, by printing, faxing, E-mail, copying electronically or by any other means without permission of the publisher. For more information, contact Belgrave House, 190 Belgrave Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94117-4228

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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.