Courting Lord Dorney (31 page)

Lord Dorney looked at her for a long moment. ‘Bella, why did you follow us?’

‘Sir Daniel told me Lambert had taken guns from the house. A rifle, and a fowling piece. You wouldn’t know, so I came to try and warn you.’

He smiled. ‘Somehow I suspect that is typical of you. Instead of sitting and wringing your hands you have to take action, don’t you?’

‘Anyone would, who cared!’

He changed the subject. ‘Dan’s feeling better, then?’

‘Sore, and his head aches, but he was coherent. He told me Lambert had been to the house. He might still have been there when Sir Daniel called, and guessed we’d followed him.’

‘You could have been shot at, even captured like Mary was.’

‘I had to try and warn you, or you’d have been the one shot!’

‘Bella,’ he said, and paused. ‘I want to apologize. I’ve been pig-headed, too influenced by my brother’s experience.’

‘His wife, you mean?’ she asked softly.

‘Yes. I thought all heiresses would be like Selina. You’ve heard about her, I suppose?’

‘A little,’ she admitted.

‘She had to change Dorney Court, which I’d loved as a boy. It was my home, and I thought nowhere else could be as perfect. Robert loved it too, but he couldn’t gainsay her. She made it very plain it was her money. She didn’t love him, only his title. Even that couldn’t keep her faithful. Within a year of the marriage she was openly living with another man.’

‘How could she!’ The pain in his voice was not just for his childhood home. It was clear to Bella that he as well as his brother had felt betrayed and disillusioned by Selina. Tentatively she reached out her hand and laid it on his. He turned it to grasp her fingers in his..

He shrugged. ‘He was weak, my brother. Like my father, who gambled away much of his inheritance. But Robert couldn’t bear the shame of it, so he called the fellow out. He wasn’t a good shot, but he was beyond reason. He felt humiliated.’

‘I heard he killed the man.’

‘So you’ve heard some of the gossip?’

‘In Bath. But that has nothing to do with you.’

He shrugged. ‘Robert was fortunate. He killed the man, but he maintained it was a freak shot. Certain malicious gossips who had predicted a different outcome tried to lay the blame on me, as I’m a much better shot. I think it was Selina who started the rumours. But soon she was with another lover. Robert, meanwhile, could not live with what he’d done. I think he hoped either to be killed or to wound the man.’

Bella squeezed his hand. ‘And he killed himself? I’m so very sorry. It must have been so dreadful for you.’

He looked down at her. ‘Do you know all my family’s history?’

She shook her head. ‘People love gossip. And because it was you, I wanted to hear. Not because I was gloating, but I needed to know all about you.’

‘I found him, hanging in the stables.’ He sighed, remembering.

‘Oh, you poor man! How dreadful!’

‘It’s in the past. But it made me wary of all women for a long time. Bella, my dearest, I tried to forget you, but I couldn’t. I was determined not to marry, after Robert’s disaster. Especially I hated the idea of marrying a rich woman. That time in Bath, I forgot all my resolutions.’

‘And then Salway revealed that I’d been lying,’ she said, the bitterness against him still strong. He’d caused so much unhappiness.

‘Yes. Oh, I was an insufferable prig! I understand now - I think I did at the time, but wouldn’t admit it - your reasons. Do I have any chance? Could we start again?’

Bella stared at him, wondering whether she was dreaming. ‘You mean - what do you mean?’

‘If I offered for you now, would you at least consider it?’ he asked.

She was speechless. This was something she’d longed for, but since that time in Bath had begun to think would never happen.

‘Bella? Did I give you such a disgust of me you can’t even consider it? I will wait for your decision.’

‘Oh, no! I’m not disgusted!’ she said hurriedly. ‘There’s no need to consider! That is, yes, I’ll consider it, but do I have to? Can’t I just say yes please?’

For a moment he stared at her, then, smiling, pulled her towards him, and she went into his arms. She raised her face and he covered it with kisses, delightful, feathery kisses which grew more and more intense. Then he captured her mouth and Bella felt as though she was floating on air. When, breathless, they broke apart, she could scarcely believe that it had happened.

‘Why? I mean, I’m not pretty, and I’m fat. There are hundreds of girls better looking than me.’

He laughed, a trifle unsteadily. ‘Are you trying to deter me?’

‘No! Of course not, but you could have anyone.’

‘You’re beautiful to me, and you are not fat - just a delicious armful. Why should I want a beanstalk whose bones would stick into me when I held her close?’

Bella giggled. ‘You can’t accuse me of that.’

‘I think I fell in love with you when you challenged Lambert at that inn. No other girl would have had the courage. Then, in Bath, you were so outspoken against what you saw as injustice, whether it was a dog or a child, even children you’d never seen.’

Bella kissed him. ‘Rags will enjoy it at Dorney Court’ she said provocatively, and he laughed. ‘You refused to take him before.’

‘You’ll have to come with him. But Bella, why me? I’ve been so difficult, I must have hurt you so much.’

She frowned. ‘I don’t know. There are men more handsome than you - ‘

‘That puts me in my place!’

Bella tapped his arm. ‘Don’t be a fop! I just knew, when I first saw you. I’d never felt like that before, for any man. I could scarcely believe it when you began to pay me attentions.’

Once more he drew her into his arms.

A long time later they began to talk. Bella told him all about her plans for housing orphans, and he told her more about the depredations his sister-in-law had caused at Dorney Court.

‘I have begun to put it in order, and it will be ready for you. When can we be married? I’ll have to come and see your father. And Bella, you are not going to spend your money on me or my house.’

She smiled and kissed him. ‘It would be my house too. Can I not spend just a little? I want to help. But I promise you most of my money will be spent on my orphans, and on persuading other people to help support them.’

Some time later, as they sat, arms entwined, talking and making plans, they felt the boat give a slight lurch. They sprang to their feet and looked over the side. Bella began to laugh helplessly.

‘Oh, no! The tide has gone out, and we’re marooned! I wonder if we can walk across the sand?’

They heard a shout from the shore, and saw Alexander riding towards them, leading two horses. He dismounted, tied the horses up, and came cautiously down to the bank. As soon as he stepped onto the sand he sank up to his knees, and staggered hastily backwards.

‘Didn’t you see the tide was going out?’ he called.

‘I don’t know what we could have done about it if we had,’ Lord Dorney replied, laughing. ‘If King Canute couldn’t control the sea, what hope would we have had? In any event, we were too preoccupied.’

Alexander frowned. ‘You’ll have to wait until the tide turns, which will be hours yet.’

‘We have food,’ Lord Dorney said. ‘We’ll just have to find ways to keep ourselves occupied.’

Belle giggled. ‘You’d best go back to the inn, and come back for us when you can launch the rowing boat. We’ll have to wait.’

Alexander looked disapproving. ‘It’s getting dark. You’ll have to spend the night here. But don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone. Your reputation will be saved, Bella. No one knows you are here, and none of us will give the game away.’

‘You mean I might be compromised and Richard will have to marry me?’ Bella asked, trying to keep the laughter out of her voice.

‘Yes. Richard? You don’t mean - ?’

‘You can wish us well, dear boy. Before Bella has been compromised.’

‘Oh, that’s famous! Well, I’ll leave you now, and come back in the morning, when the tide’s turned.’

He waved and rode back towards the village. Lord Dorney took Bella into his arms. ‘I warn you, my dearest love, that I shall be impatient, I don’t want to waste another day before I marry you.’

‘Nor I,’ she said softly. ‘It’s my dream come true.’

Copyright © 2007 by Marina Oliver

Originally published by Robert Hale [UK] (ISBN 978-0709084228)

Electronically published in 2012 by Belgrave House/Regency Reads

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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.