Anne Barbour (30 page)

He felt as though he had been stripped naked and plunged into an icy stream, all his notions and conceptions ripped from him in one burst of revelation.

After a long moment, he brought his hands up to encircle her shoulders once more. “But don’t you see?” he said brokenly, “I wasn’t in love with you then.”

The stillness of the little bower surrounded them, shutting out the rest of the world as completely as though they stood alone on a remote mountaintop. To Claudia, it seemed as though the silence was filled with the thundering of her heart, and lifting her eyes wonderingly to his, she raised her arms in an involuntary gesture.

“Then,” she said softly and a little breathlessly, “I rest my case.”

For an instant, Jem stared at her uncomprehendingly before his eyes lit with a blazing warmth.

“What do you—Are you saying—?” He spoke huskily, and bent toward her, grasping her uplifted hands in his.

Joy rose suddenly within Claudia, to escape at last in a gasp of delighted laughter. “Why, that I love you, too, of course.”

“Claudia,” he murmured dazedly. His hands tightened on her, and the next moment, he swept her into his embrace. “Claudia,” he said again, pressing kisses against her forehead, temple, and cheeks. “Dear God, I’ve been so wretched and— and I love you so.”

“Jem,” she responded, almost unable to breathe for the intoxicating gladness that surged through her. Words became impossible then, as his mouth came down on hers, warm and tender and urgent.

For some time they remained thus, lost to the present until Claudia emerged from Jem’s embrace, breathless and laughing.

“I think we had better go into the house, before I find my reputation compromised beyond redemption,” she said, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

“Not,” Jem replied, keeping her firmly in his grasp, “until you promise to marry me at the earliest opportunity.”

At this, Claudia sat up very straight. “Oh! I had forgot for a moment.” She continued haltingly. “You must marry for—”

“Advantage? Yes, well that’s perfectly true, but I have been considering. If I can cozen you into marrying me, I shan’t have to pay your wages anymore. With the money I’ll save, I should be able to bring Ravencroft back to solvency in no time.’

“Jem, be serious.” Her face had paled. “All the things you want to do for the estate—”

“Can wait,” Jem interrupted again roughly. “I might restore Ravencroft to rival Blenheim Palace, but what good would it do me if you are not at my side? No, my love ...” He stopped to avail himself of her willing lips once more and did not speak again for many moments. “It may take a little longer, but we will work together to make our home all that we want it to be. It’s already a wonderful place to raise children, after all.”

“That’s true,” she said softly, fingering the top button of Jem’s waistcoat. Silence reigned in the little bower for another extended period of time before the two turned at last to make their way through the kitchen garden, arms entwined about each other’s waists.

“Aunt Gussie will be pleased, but I wonder,” said Claudia, her voice brimming with laughter, “what Thomas will have to say about this?”

“Ah,” replied her beloved. “He will no doubt be somewhat taken aback at first, but when reason prevails—as far as it ever does with him—I rather fancy he will be enormously set up at your socially advantageous marriage. To say nothing of the fact that you will be again under the judicious guidance of a wise male. No more mucking out the stables in man’s garb for you, my girl.”

At the sound of her indrawn breath, Jem turned to her. “Unless, of course,” he said, his eyes serious behind the lightness of his tone, “you have truly found fulfillment and pleasure in this task.”

“Would you allow it, Jem? Truly?” Claudia held her breath waiting for his answer.

“Claudia, my very dearest love,” he said slowly. “It is not for me to allow or not to allow. You are an intelligent woman. You love me and I love you, and our actions will, I hope, be governed by a consideration for each other’s feelings, but in the end, you are responsible for your own actions, as am I, and accountable only to your own standards.”

For an instant, Claudia went weak from the dizzying sense of wonder that swept over her, and with infinite tenderness, she traced his jawline with her fingertip.

“You know, my darling,” she said in a voice so soft he strained to hear it, “I must have done something quite wonderful in the past to have found someone like you.”

“I hate to disillusion you, my love,” he replied with a shaky laugh, “but fellows like me are a ha’penny a hundred. Not,” he added, “that I have any intention of disputing you.”

She laughed again, and turning to face him, she placed her hands on either side of his face and pulled him to her for one more kiss, that was neither urgent nor demanding, but achingly sweet in its warmth. She had been engaged in this pleasurable activity for some moments when she became aware of someone calling her name.

She turned, and still in Jem’s embrace, she observed Rose hurrying back toward them, her face working in agitation. In her arms, she clutched Rumple, who protested vociferously in outrage.

“Claudia!” she fairly shrieked. “What do you think you are doing?”

“I should think that would be perfectly obvious,” Claudia replied calmly. She turned to smile at Jem. “I am kissing Jeremy Standish.”

“I can see that,” retorted Rose, very much out of patience and out of sorts. “What I want to know, is what is the meaning of it?” She sputtered incoherently for a moment. “Have you no regard for the proprieties?” she queried her sister in a tone of horrified outrage.

“You know I have not. Rose. However, you may wish us happy. Lord Glenraven and I are to be married.”

“M-ma—” If anything. Rose became even more agitated. “Married! But what will Thomas say?”

“Oddly enough”—Jem laughed—”we were just discussing your husband’s reaction.”

“And we came to the conclusion,” finished Claudia, “that it does not matter much what Thomas says.”

“But,” she quavered, “he will be furious!” She opened her mouth to say more, but abruptly closed it as her lips began to curve upward. “He will be absolutely livid,” she continued in a unsteady voice. Suddenly, her shoulders quivered, and a small sound escaped her. Rumple slipped to the ground unnoticed, where he stood with Jem and Claudia watching his mistress in some astonishment as she clutched her sides in laughter. At length, she wiped her eyes and moved forward to embrace her sister.

“Indeed,” she said, “I do wish you happy.” Claudia flung her arms out, and the two stood in mute closeness until Rose turned with a smile and a nod to continue on her way. Rumple followed, his plump little body bouncing and his tail awag.

Claudia returned to the encirclement of Jem’s arms.

“Well,” he murmured, pressing a kiss on her hair. “This continues to be a day of surprises. You know,” he continued meditatively, “I rather begin to look forward to this dinner party.”

Claudia tilted her head up to glance at him in some surprise.

“It will be the perfect opportunity to announce our betrothal, don’t you think? I believe”—his face lit with a wicked grin— “I shall prevail upon Rose to keep our little secret until then. I would very much like to see Thomas’s face when he receives the glad news.”

Claudia chuckled. “I should imagine his expression will be somewhat similar to that of Squire Foster. I wonder,” she continued innocently, “how the other neighbors will feel—Sir Wilfred Perrey, for example.”

“Ah yes.” The grin grew wider and more wicked. “He of the beauteous, wealthy daughter. I wonder if I am not making a mistake here.” He fingered his chin thoughtfully.

She leaned back in his arms and favored him with a raised eyebrow. “I should be very careful if I were you, my good man,” she said throatily. “I don’t think you’ll be wanting to trifle with Granny’s curse.” She waggled her fingers suggestively under his nose.

“Ah,” Jem responded, unfazed. “I fancy I shall be much too busy trifling with Granny’s granddaughter to worry about the curse.”

Her ensuing laughter ended in a gasp of delight as Jem silenced his love with one more lingering kiss before leading her into the manor house.

* * * *

To the Black Hills Writers Group, a talented, witty, intelligent and all-around terrific bunch of folks

Copyright © 1994 by Barbara Yirka

Originally published by Signet (ISBN 0451178432)

Electronically published in 2008 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.