A Heart for the Taking (48 page)

Glumly Hugh said, “I am glad ’tis so soon. At least I will have only a few more days to be scorned by Ellen.”

Chance chuckled and clapped the younger man on the shoulder. “Who knows, she might have a change of heart when she hears that you are leaving.”

Hugh snorted and shook his head. “She is far more likely to volunteer to help pack my belongings and speed me on my way.”

Of the two of them, Chance’s assessment proved the more accurate, although it wasn’t until the next day that Ellen learned of Hugh’s planned departure. She had been in the kitchen with Martha, learning how to make a tomato marmalade, which Martha had explained was excellent for seasoning gravies and such, when Hugh had come to deliver a message from Jed to his wife.

He stopped abruptly when he saw Ellen. After sending him a disdainful glance, Ellen turned back with renewed vigor to her task of pounding the cloves for the marmalade. Hugh could not take his eyes off her slim form; one of Martha’s large aprons was tied snugly around her narrow waist, making her look at once very adult and yet absurdly young. Her features were fiercely intent as she ignored him and worked with the spices. Hugh had no doubt that she was imagining it was his head she was pounding with the stone pestle, and his heart ached.

Martha greeted him with a warm smile. “Good morrow to you, young Hugh. I hear that you are going to come with us, at least part of the way, when we leave for Richmond on Wednesday.”

With an effort Hugh dragged his gaze from Ellen’s enchanting form and, forcing a smile, said quietly, “Yes, I am. ’Tis time I returned to Fairview.”

Ellen stiffened at his words, her eyes flying to his. A stricken expression on her pretty face, she cried, “You are leaving?”

Hugh met her gaze squarely. Levelly he said, “On Wednesday. There is no reason for me to remain here—and
I do have other duties. I have been away from Fairview for far too long. ’Tis time I returned.”

The pestle dropped nervelessly from her hand, and she took a step toward him. “Oh . . . but,” she began helplessly, hardly aware of Martha’s highly interested presence. “But you
cannot.
”

Hugh looked very haughty. “Indeed? And why not?” His voice grew hard. “Why should I stay? I repeat, there is no reason for me to remain—is there?”

A sparkle of tears shimmered in Ellen’s fine blue eyes and she very nearly stamped her foot in vexation. He was such a dolt! How
could
he think of leaving her when she absolutely adored him? She knew she had treated him rather shabbily lately, but he had deserved it for believing Jonathan’s lies about her. Besides, she thought indignantly, he was not supposed to have accepted her rebuffs so lightly; he was
sup
posed
to have cajoled and wooed his way into her good graces once more. If he cared at all for her, how could he so tamely accept her rejection? How could he
leave
her?

Looking at his forbidding, tight-lipped features, Ellen realized miserably that she had badly misjudged him. He was not, it dauntingly occurred to her, one of her many lighthearted London beaus who were well versed in playing a flirtatious game and happily brought to heel by her charmingly coquettish manner. It was suddenly clear to her that she had played the game a trifle too long and that she had brought this disaster on herself. It was not, she thought frantically, supposed to be this way!

“Well?” Hugh demanded coldly when Ellen remained silent. “Can you give me one reason why I should stay?”

Her eyes fixed firmly on his dusty boots, she slowly nodded her fair head. Her heart thumping madly in her breast, almost inaudibly she said, “I—I—I am here.”

Martha, deciding that this fascinating scene would play out much more satisfactorily without observation, murmured something about hearing Jed calling her and swiftly departed. Neither of the two principals was aware of
Martha’s tactful disappearance. They were aware of nothing but each other.

Ellen’s hands were pressed nervously together in front of her, her head still downbent as she stood in front of Hugh, and it was all Hugh could do to prevent himself from sweeping her into his arms. Her quiet words had filled him with a wild exultation, and his heart began to race. His eyes boring into her blond head, he asked carefully, “And should that make a difference to me?”

Already mortified that through her own capricious actions she had found herself in this position, and just a little angry that he seemed to be so thickheaded, Ellen snapped her head up and cried out, “If you love me as I love you, it should make all the difference in the world.” Appalled at what she had just revealed, but unable to help herself, she stamped her foot and said fiercely, “You great lout! I love you. How can you go off and leave me?”

Hugh let out a whoop and, eyes gleaming with laughter, swept Ellen’s small form into his arms. “I do not know that I could, but I was certainly going to try. You have,” he said in loving accents, “treated me most shamefully, minx.”

Ellen’s arms had instinctively gone around his neck, and throwing whatever maidenly restraint she still possessed to the winds, eager to make amends, she admitted huskily, “I know. I am a wicked,
wicked
creature. I would deserve it if you hated me.”

Smiling idiotically down at her, Hugh murmured, “Hate you? Sweetheart, I adore you.”

“Do you truly?” Ellen stammered delightedly, stars beginning to peep into her blue eyes.

“Truly,” Hugh said firmly the instant before his mouth closed over hers.

Lost in the sweetest dream imaginable, Ellen tightened her arms around him and gave herself up to the sheer bliss of finally being where she belonged—in Hugh’s strong arms. When Hugh eventually lifted his head some minutes later, they were both breathing heavily and there was a glitter in his eyes that made her suddenly shy. Toying with the
point of his shirt collar, Ellen asked softly, “And what do we do now?”

Gently lifting her chin, his eyes full of tenderness as they roamed over her flushed features, he said, “And now we tell the world that you have agreed to become my bride and that I am taking you back to Fairview with me on Wednesday. We shall marry at Christmas.”

Her eyes got very big. “R-r-really?”

Hugh smiled. “R-r-really,” he mimicked tenderly the moment before his warm mouth found hers again. It was several delirious minutes later that a discreet cough brought them floating dreamily back to reality.

Hugh looked over his shoulder to meet Chance’s amused gaze. “I take it,” Chance murmured, “that congratulations are in order? Or am I to be forced to defend Ellen’s honor?”

Ellen blushed rosily and buried her head in Hugh’s chest, feeling his arms tighten instinctively around her. “Congratulations,” Hugh said happily, a huge, almost dazed smile breaking across his handsome face. “Ellen has just agreed to become my bride.”

Dinner that evening was most festive. After all the signs of the meal had been cleared, Chance stood and, raising his glass of claret, glanced from Ellen to Hugh. “A toast to the engaged pair,” he said. “May you enjoy many happy years together.” His gaze traveled to the other end of the table where Fancy sat, and staring intently at her, he added softly, “May you find the joy in your own marriage that I have found in mine.”

Fancy felt a rush of warmth through her entire body. He had not said that he loved her, but if the passion they had shared last night and the look in his eyes was anything to go by, he must care deeply for her. He
must.
She could not bear it if he did not.

After they had all adjourned to the front parlor, the conversation was given over entirely to the plans of the newly engaged pair. There was some discussion about whether Hugh should return to Fairview and inform his parents of his decision to marry before presenting Ellen to them or if, as he
and Ellen wanted, he should leave on Wednesday for Fairview, taking Ellen with him.

Her expression troubled, Fancy murmured, “I cannot like Ellen traveling alone with you, even if she is your betrothed. Nor, I might add, do I believe it proper for you to just thrust her into the bosom of your family in such a hurly-burly fashion. It is all so unseemly.” She flushed slightly. “After the way Chance and I were so hastily married, I should like Ellen’s engagement and marriage to be more conventional. Surely you should tell your parents first.”

Hugh and Chance exchanged a look. Grinning, Hugh said, “I
have
informed them. This afternoon, Chance very kindly sent a servant on one of his fastest horses to Fairview with a letter from me explaining all to my parents.” He smiled reassuringly at Fancy. “The news that I am to marry your sister will not come as any surprise to them. My parents are well aware that my affections have been fixed upon Ellen for some time.”

Fancy sent her husband a look. “I wish,” she said wryly, “that you had discussed this with me before doing anything. After all, I
am
Ellen’s guardian.”

Her eyes glowing joyfully, Ellen crossed the room from where she had been seated by Hugh and, her blue silk skirts billowing out around her, sank gracefully onto her knees in front of her sister. “Oh, Fancy,” she said fondly, “do not be so stuffy. Since the moment we landed here, we have been doing the most unconventional things imaginable. This is not London. No one will think it odd that Hugh and I travel to Fairview together.” She smiled winningly up at Fancy. “We want to be married from Fairview, and Hugh wants me to stay with his family until the wedding at Christmas. Tell me, best and most beloved sister, that you are happy for me and that I have your blessing.”

Brushing back a lock of fair hair from Ellen’s brow, Fancy said ruefully, “You know that I can deny you nothing. If this is what you want . . .?”

“Oh, ’tis,” Ellen breathed rapturously, her hands grasping
Fancy’s where they had lain in her lap. “More than anything I have ever wanted in my life.”

Hugh had approached them and now stood in front of Fancy, one hand lying possessively on Ellen’s shoulder. “I will always take care of her,” he said simply. “No harm shall come to her.”

Fancy gave a laugh. “Oh, very well. I cannot withstand both of you. Do as you wish. With my blessing.”

Fancy still had some misgivings. She was very conscious of the whiff of scandal that had surrounded her own wedding, and she wanted none of that for Ellen. She said honestly, “Ellen, I know I have given you my blessing, but darling, will you not consider waiting here while Hugh sees his parents and arranges a proper escort for you to his home? I cannot like just the two of you haring off like a pair of Gypsies.”

“I think you are repining over the formalities too much, Duchess,” Chance murmured. “Fairview is not above a hard day’s ride from here. And while I am certain that Ellen could travel that distance without mishap, Hugh has already planned for them to spend the night at Walker Ridge, where they will be most adequately chaperoned by Sam and Letty. The next day they will ride on to Fairview.” A mocking gleam lit his blue eyes as he added, “What are you afraid of, that he will ravish her in the woods?”

Fancy felt her cheeks pinken and she could have boxed her husband’s ears. But before she could think of a suitable reply, help came from an unexpected quarter. Annie Clemmons had been, as was her wont, sitting quietly near the fireplace, knitting placidly. Diffidently she entered the conversation by saying, “Mistress Fancy, I could go with them, if that would set your mind at ease.” When Fancy turned and stared at her uncertainly, she added, “I do not believe that it was ever the intention for me to remain with you forever. You have been most kind to me, but I feel a perfect fraud. You have no need of me any longer, if you ever did. I think ’tis time for me to return to Walker Ridge.”

Astonishing all of them, Annie had fitted easily into the
small family circle at Devil’s Own; she had proven herself a pleasant companion with a gentle, encouraging way about her, and she was always cheerfully ready to help with whatever task was necessary. During the weeks they had been together at Devil’s Own, Fancy had grown fond of her and looked upon her much like a distant member of the family. And while it was true that, with Martha having a firm rein on the mundane daily chores, Annie hadn’t been technically needed, she had somehow made herself a welcome addition to the household. Even Chance remarked once to Fancy that he had been mistaken in her character. To her surprise, Fancy discovered that she would be sorry to see her go. The house would seem very quiet without Ellen and Hugh and with Annie gone, too.

“Are you certain?” Fancy asked gently. “We would be very happy for you to remain with us.”

“You have been
most
kind to me,” Annie said, her eyes on her knitting. “Kinder than you know. You have made me part of your family and treated me with great consideration and respect, and I thank you for it. But I should return.” Her eyes lifted, and staring thoughtfully at Chance, she added, “There is a pressing matter that I must see to.” A strained smile crossed her worn features. “I cannot tell you what these weeks here at Devil’s Own have meant to me, and no matter what happens in the future, I shall always remember this time with great fondness. But it is best that I go.”

The matter was settled and the conversation became more general. But that evening as Fancy slipped into bed beside her husband, she asked, “What can Annie’s ‘pressing matter’ be?”

Chance, his thoughts more on getting his wife out of her demure cotton gown and feasting on all the sweet flesh he knew lay under it, murmured, “There probably is not any such matter at all. She has shown herself to be a kind soul, and I suspect she simply wants to go home.”

His hands were already sliding Fancy’s gown upward, his skin warm against hers, and as she felt the first flicker of desire stir within her, Annie and her pressing matters vanished
from her mind. Last night had been like nothing she had ever experienced, and she shivered with anticipation as her gown was thrown on the floor and Chance’s mouth caught hers, one of his hands fondling and stroking her breasts. Tonight proved to be just as thrilling, his explicitly carnal lovemaking taking her once again to that scarlet heaven they shared together.