A Dangerous Masquerade (32 page)

             
‘Is that your honest feeling?’  Constance bent towards him.  She placed one hand each side of his face, looking deep into his eyes.  ‘I love you so much, my dearest one – but I tried to hide it for I did not wish you to feel trapped.  I love you and want you with me all my life, but I shall not be a clinging vine.  You will still have your freedom should you wish for it.’

             
‘I do not wish to be free of you,’ he said and took her hand, pressing the palm to his lips.  ‘I have found a way to love again, Constance.  For years I merely breathed and existed, living only for my duty and my anger against those who had been my friends.  That has all gone now.  I had begun to forgive before we met but the barrier was still in place until you brought it crashing down.  When I thought I might have lost you I knew I could not bear to face life without you – but I had treated you so ill.  I wasn’t sure we could be happy together.  There was so much in the past…’

             
‘None of which matters to me,’ she said and touched a finger to his lips.  ‘Hush my dearest.  We love each other and that is all that is important.  You must rest now and get better so that we can be married as soon as it is possible to buy the licence.’

             
‘Do you not want a big wedding with your friends in France?’

             
‘No.  All I want is to be your wife.  A quiet wedding will please me, Laurence.  Afterwards, we may travel at our leisure and see my friends – and your family.’

             
‘We must give a ball in London once we are married, but I shall invite my men – those who have stuck with me through thick and thin.  They shall bring their loved ones and we’ll marry quietly at my country estate, with just the people who serve us and care for us – and perhaps my nearest neighbours.  Will that content you?’

             
‘Yes, if it pleases you,’ she replied.  ‘I have no one I wish at my wedding for there is no one who truly cares for me save you.’

             
‘I am certain there are others, but perhaps you do not know it,’ Moraven said and smiled.  ‘Now, I could eat some supper but I will have it here – providing you sit and eat yours with me.’

             
Constance smiled, rose to her feet, saying, ‘I shall arrange for it to be brought to us here, my love – and then, when we have supped, you must promise me you will rest and sleep.’

             
‘Only if you lie beside me.’

             
‘Then I shall,’ she said and walked to the door.  Looking back, she said, ‘I shan’t disappear with the morning light, Laurence.  I fear you must be prepared to put up with me for much longer.’

             
‘A lifetime will not be enough.’

             
Constance laughed softly and went out.  She could still hardly believe that her dreams were to come true despite all that had passed between them.  To be loved as she was loved was all that she could ever ask of life.

When Constance woke the next morning it was to find Moraven bending over her.  She was startled for a moment but then her body suffused in warmth as she recalled that they had spent the night together.  She had taken off her gown and lain down beside him in her petticoats, snuggling into his side as he bid her, his uninjured arm about her.

             
They had talked for a long time, exchanging stories of their childhood and sweet kisses that stirred her blood.  She had felt the impatience in him, the longing and need to make love to her as he had in Paris, but he’d been in pain despite his denials and, after he was persuaded to take a little of the doctor’s medicine slipped into a peaceful sleep.

             
Constance had lain awake for a while longer, listening to the sound of his breathing, inhaling the warm scent of his body and luxuriating in the feel of him by her side.  She’d slept at last because he seemed cool and free of fever, and now as she looked up at him she saw that he was feeling better for the night of rest.

             
‘You are rested?’

             
‘I feel as good as new,’ he replied.  ‘Or almost.  I have been watching you sleep and wanting to wake you so that I could make love to you.’

             
‘Has the pain and the tiredness gone?’

             
‘My arm is sore but it no longer bothers me.’  He bent to kiss her lips slowly, sweetly with a hint of the burning passion beneath.  ‘Do you want to wait for our wedding night, Constance?’

             
‘No…’ she breathed.  ‘I want it to be the way it was between us in Paris…when you found me exciting, a woman of mystery and intrigue.’

             
‘When I look into your eyes I shall always see that woman,’ he murmured huskily, ‘but I also see the woman I know you to be – warm and honest and true.’

             
‘I hope you will not be disappointed as you come to know me better.  The woman in black was not truly me, Laurence.’

             
‘She intrigued me and I wanted her as my mistress.  I want you as my wife, my darling.  I want to wake up like this every morning and find you lying here with me.’

             
‘It is all I could ever desire.’

             
Constance reached up with one white arm, her hand behind his head as she tipped it and then half rose to meet his kiss.  He took her in his arms, kissing her brow, her nose, her lips, her throat, making her arch towards him and mew like a kitten as the desire stirred within her life molten honey.  She wound her limbs about him and all the while his hands caressed while his lips took and gave such exquisite pleasure, his tongue delicately stroking her mouth in a way that made her tingle.

             
‘Oh, Laurence my love,’ she murmured.  ‘I love you so much…so very much.’

             
‘I adore you, my angel.  I think I shall never have enough of you.’

             
She was light and trembling in his arms, dissolving in the heat and pulsing pleasure his touch aroused.  Her stomach clenched with need as his hand sought out her inner citadel and she cried out and clung to him, her nails scoring his shoulder.

             
‘Little hell cat,’ he murmured throatily.  ‘I think my lady in black is not so very far from the surface, Connie my love – and I adore her.  I adore both of you, Connie and Constance for together you are the woman I have searched for all my life.’

             
Constance laughed for as they loved she felt all her reservations and doubts melt away and became the abandoned lover he had enjoyed in Paris.  His passionate and tender loving drew her on and on towards a far shore that seemed bathed in sunshine.  Afterwards, when the shore was reached and they lay entwined in perfect bliss, it seemed that they were cocooned within a private haven where none could reach, content and satiated, in perfect harmony.

             
‘We should get up,’ he said after they had lain in silence for some minutes.  ‘I should like to reach my estate by this evening if possible.  It’s time we set the wedding banns, my love.

             
‘Are you certain you feel well enough to continue?’

             
‘Are you in doubt of the state of my health?’ He gave her an amused look and she shook her head, a smile on her lips.  ‘As I told you yesterday, it was but a flesh wound.  I think I lost too much blood but I am well again.  Up with you, wench, and away to your own chamber while I shave.  We shall breakfast in the parlour downstairs in half an hour.’

*

Constance was ready in the appointed time but when she went down to the parlour she discovered that Moraven was already there.  He had ordered their breakfast, which was just being carried in.  She was in time to hear him give orders to Jim and his groom and smiled at them as they left to carry out his commands.

             
‘I’ve sent word that we’ll be home by this evening,’ he told her as they sat down to a large and satisfying breakfast of coddled eggs, crisp fried bacon, kidneys, rolls and honey and various relishes, which Moraven ate with enjoyment.  ‘What – only rolls and honey, my love?  I think I shall have to teach you to eat properly in the mornings.  We need to keep your strength up.’

             
Her cheeks were pink as she saw the teasing light in his eyes.  ‘It is far too early for me to eat meat, Laurence.  However, I will try a little of the coddled egg if it pleases you.’

             
‘Only if it pleases you,’ he said.  ‘I but meant to tease you, Constance.  I want you to be happy – and to do exactly as you wish.’

             
‘Are you certain?’

             
She cocked her head to one side, giving him a challenging look.  ‘Supposing I spend too much of your money at the seamstress?’

             
‘Going to ruin me with your extravagance, Connie?’

             
‘Connie might.’  Her eyes were bright with laughter.  ‘Of course Constance wouldn’t dream of it.’

             
‘My wicked lady in black,’ he murmured.  ‘It is a dangerous masquerade you play.  Yet I think I shall risk it.  You may have carte blanche, my love.  Buy all you wish for.’

             
She laughed and shook her head.  ‘I think you know Constance would not allow her to go too far – do you not?’

             
‘As long as Constance does not suppress her too far I do not mind for if you do not buy sufficient clothes I shall insist on buying them for you.’

             
‘Are we to entertain a great deal, my lord?’

             
His eyebrows arched and he glanced over his shoulder.  ‘Where is my lord?  I do not know him.  Laurence says that it shall be as you wish, Connie.’

             
‘Then we shall entertain often in town and sufficient to satisfy our friends and neighbours in the country.’

             
‘My neighbours will require that to be often at the start, my love.  They will be curious about the woman who has finally tamed me.’

             
‘Tamed you?’  She smiled, tipping her head to one side.  ‘I do not think the woman lives who could do that – and neither Connie or Constance would wish for it, Laurence.’

             
‘Oh, but I am a changed man and others will know it,’ he murmured.  ‘Will you have coffee or tea, my love?  I ordered both.’

             
‘Coffee I think.  Since we are to invite your neighbours to our wedding perhaps we should give a little dance for them first – so that they know me.’

             
‘I fear your quiet wedding is getting bigger by the moment, Constance.’

             
‘Yes, I feared it might,’ she said and laughed.  ‘I suppose we must expect that your friends will wish to celebrate with you.’

             
‘Yours too, my love.’

             
‘I have no friend and no family that I know of.’

             
‘No?’  Moraven smiled mysteriously.  ‘Well, if that is true I shall have to supply your lack, shall I not?’

             
‘I do not understand you.’

             
‘You will,’ he murmured.  ‘You will, my love.  It may take some time but you will know me soon enough…’

‘I like your home very well,’ Constance said that evening.  ‘I shall wish to explore more of it in the morning but from what I have seen it seems a pleasant family home.’

             
‘This was my father’s house.  I have others, which are perhaps grander, but I prefer to live here, though we shall be obliged to visit the others occasionally so that we do not offend the staff and tenants.  I fear there is always a duty connected with property, my love.  I could of course sell it all if you prefer a quiet life.’

             
‘Are you serious?’

             
‘Yes, for once.  Much of what I own has come to me through bequests from uncles and grandmothers, aunts and great-aunts.  There is another property that may come to me and a title I do not wish for but cannot avoid should it fall to me – though I hope the present heir will live and have children of his own one day.’

             
‘But would you truly sell if I did not wish for such a busy life?’

             
‘I would do anything to please you, Constance.’

             
‘I thank you for the offer, but in this I believe you must do as you wish, Laurence.  A man must order his property as he sees fit, though I should be happy to advise on anything I could, of course.  However, as you said, there is always a duty to your people and your tenants.’