Dancing On Air (27 page)

‘We could stay a little longer,’ Lisette said with a soft smile.

‘Lord, Lisette... I begin to think that you don’t want me for a husband.’

‘There isn’t anything in the world that I want more,’ she said as her lips inched closer to his.

Evander leaned forward and met her mouth with his own. His kiss was demanding but short. The heat within him started to rise and he felt himself hardening in response. With a determination he thought impossible he held her shoulders and gently pushed her away.

‘Vixen! If you wish to marry me, get dressed. We will leave within half an hour.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Lisette’s vision blurred a little as Evander placed the gold and sapphire ring onto her finger. She raised her head and smiled as the love in his eyes reflected back at her. He held her hand and gave it a squeeze. The wintery sun shone through the stained glass window above the altar. It bathed the lovers in a cool light, as if it was giving its blessing.

‘With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship and with all my worldly chattels I thee endow. In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.’

The vicar took one step forward and made the sign of the cross. He was an old man and quite thin. His hair was snow-white and it was a stark contrast against the black of his clothing. To Lisette he appeared to be like a skinny raven who had accidently fallen headfirst into a bank of snow.

‘What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. You are husband and wife and may blessing be upon you both.’

Evander moved in closer, and as his arms encircled her waist, his mouth claimed hers. Her hands wound around the back of his neck as if she was securing Evander into place. As the tip of his tongue slipped across the inside of her bottom lip, her heartbeat quickened. Her thoughts and senses were filled with Evander.

This bright moment was the happiest in her life, and as their kiss deepened she locked away that revelation into her heart. Lisette vowed that in her old age she would bring out this memory. It would be as perfect and shiny as a Christmas bauble and she would remember every aspect of her wedding. From the scent of the burning white candles mixed with the green pine branches that decorated the altar to the crispness of the morning air to how Evander’s eyes smouldered with passion every time he looked at her.

Somewhere in the foggy distance she heard the vicar clear his throat and then once more. Slowly, reluctantly, Evander pulled away from her, but his hand lingered possessively around her waist.

Evander’s eyes locked onto Lisette’s. He didn’t turn his head when he addressed the vicar. ‘You have my thanks.’

‘May the blessing of Heaven be upon you both,’ the old man said. ‘It is unfortunate that your family was unable to come.’

At the mention of his family, Evander did look at Vicar Davis. ‘Yes, I suppose it is. However I am the happiest of men and nothing will dampen my spirits or the love I hold for my wife.’

Lisette thought the word ‘wife’ rolled beautifully off his tongue. It pleased her so much, she almost asked him to say it again.

‘I am honoured that you chose our little church of Temperly Edge in which to marry,, although I am surprised. I thought that you would marry in London or at least at Gainswith Park, as it is common knowledge that your mother and brother favour the estate. No doubt the duke, duchess and your brother, the Marquess of Coltswood, will be waiting to celebrate your marriage at Gainswith Park?’

‘I very much doubt it, as no one knows of our nuptials, which is one of the reason I chose to have the ceremony here. That and I do love the old ruin,’ Evander said as he hugged Lisette a little closer. ‘We stay at Temperly tonight and then we will return to London the following day.’

‘You do not have your family’s blessing for this union? But you led me to believe the contrary. I thought… Well, I thought...,’ Vicar Davis said. The look of alarm was evident on his lined face.

A smile spread across Evander’s face. ‘No, we wished it to be a surprise.’ He took Lisette’s hand in his and then brought it to his lips. ‘Come, my love, let me show you the beauty of Temperly.’

‘I would very much like that,’ Lisette said before inclining her head towards the old man. ‘Thank you, Vicar Davis, for such a beautiful ceremony. I shall remember it always.’

‘Thank you, Miss...I mean Lady Gainswith. But Lord Gainswith, should we not inform your family of your union?’

‘Don’t worry, Vicar. Believe me when I say that they will find out soon enough.’ Evander tugged gently on Lisette’s arm. ‘Come love, we have the day and the night to ourselves. Let’s not waste a moment.’

Lisette was buoyed by happiness. She squeezed his hand. ‘Not a moment, Evander. Show me Temperly.’ Her feet barely touched the cold stone floor of the old chapel as Evander led her out into the wintery sun.

It was madness but Evander desperately wanted her to like Temperly — no, not like — love Temperly as much as he did. He couldn’t explain it, not to Lisette and certainly not to himself. Temperly would never be his, so why was it so important that Lisette see it as more than a crumbling pile of stone?

Last night they had arrived in the dark and he had ushered her into his bedroom, which was located on the very top floor of the tower. This and the floor below were in the best repair and furnished. The rest of Temperly was in various stages of restoration and sparsely decorated. There was a bare minimum of ageing furniture scattered throughout the house. Only one of the top two floors was truly up to accommodating any guests.

Attached to the square stone tower was an annex. It too was made of dull grey stone but had been added when Evander’s grandfather had first inherited the estate. The extension had been added to the back of the building and now housed a large kitchen, bathroom, sitting room and storage.

However, once his grandfather had died, Temperly had almost been forgotten. Evander’s father showed little interest in the estate and Alistair continued this sentiment. The upkeep of Temperly had always lingered on the bottom of Alistair’s list, and money for its repair was only allocated when Evander pushed the matter. A tiny skeleton staff was kept on at the house: Mr & Mrs Butler acted as housekeepers, with the help of their grandson Ned, and old Gaffy the gardener. The truth was that no one from his family ever voluntarily came to Temperly. No one, of course, except him.

The carriage made its way up the winding drive. The garden was overgrown but Evander loved every aspect of it. He held his breath as Temperly came into view.

‘Oh Evander, it looks like something from a fairy tale. I didn’t realise last night just how beautiful Temperly is.’ Lisette leaned closer to the window, her breath frosting the glass.

Evander expelled the breath. ‘I’m glad you like it.’

‘Like is hardly the word I would use. I love it and it is the perfect place to begin our life together. I hope you will show me everything that Temperly has to offer.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘That I want to see it all, from the cellar to the top of the turrets. And I think I shall feel like a princess standing all the way up there,’ Lisette said as she pointed to the battlements.’

‘When I was a child, I would pretend that I was a brave knight who was charged with defending Temperly walls from an evil army.’

‘Did you?’ Lisette turned to him with a gentle smile. ‘Yes, I can almost see it. How could you not have such imaginings and adventures in such a magical place?’

As the carriage came to a stop, Evander reached over and gave her a swift kiss. And in that simple comment, somehow Lisette had just managed to make him love her even more, which was something he thought impossible.

He opened the carriage door and got out. He turned around and with a smile he offered his hand. ‘Come, love. I will show you around.’

‘Thank God you’re back! I was beginning to think that I was going to have to cancel tonight’s performance.’

Lisette looked down the dark corridor, her eyes still adjusting from the bright day outside. ‘Oh, Tinder... Is that you?’

‘Yes, yes of course. Never do that to me again. I swore if you hadn’t turned up today I was going to the police. First Bessie disappears and then you. I swear the fates are against this venture.’

‘I’m sorry that I worried you but I thought my aunt would tell you that all was well and that I planned to be back for tonight’s performance.’

‘No, she didn’t. But wait, isn’t Madame Devoré with you?’

‘No, I had a personal matter that needed urgent attention but my aunt stayed here.’

Tinder Michael’s brow furrowed. ‘But I haven’t seen Marie since just after the last performance. I assumed that you were together, which is why I didn’t inform the constabulary straight away.’

Lisette’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘Oh perhaps she is ill. So no one has checked our apartment?’

‘No of course not, I just assume — Oh God!’

Lisette was already hurrying back out into the alley. She sidestepped Charlie as he approached.

‘I say, Lisette, what’s all this about?’ he called after her.

‘I have to run Charlie, I think Aunt Marie is in trouble,’ she said quickly.

‘Madame Marie was not with Lisette. She fears that she is ill or worse,’ Tinder explained as he hurried past.

‘Wait for me. You can’t go by yourself!’ Charlie called out as he changed direction and ran after her.

But Lisette didn’t wait for either of them. She broke into a run as she made her way through the series of alleyways towards Beggar’s Mews. Her heart raced and she could feel the uneven cobblestones through the soles of her kid boots. Behind her Tinder and Charlie ran to catch up. Tension twisted inside her, winding like a tight spring. She pushed herself to run faster, and ignored the curious glances she received as she swept past. She slowed as she made her way through a tight alley, It was crowded with people and a large stack of half broken wooden crates. Lisette felt her impatience and frustration rise as she wove through the throng of people. There were bare-footed children playing, two washer women walking side by side with a great basket of laundry between them, and several men carrying boxes. All used the alley as a shortcut.

‘Here, where are you off to in such a ‘urry?’ He was a small, wiry man with pockmarked skin and pale eyes that appeared not to miss a trick. His brown jacket was open and there was grease marks splashed down his front. The pungent smell of onions assailed her and made her nose twitch. He purposely stood in Lisette’s path.

‘Out of my way!’ She tried to sidestep the man but he moved and blocked her a second time.

‘Here now, dove, there’s no need to run away. Why not stay here for a bit and let Johnno take care of you?’

‘I have no time for this. Out of my way!’ Lisette dove in the opposite direction to avoid him but he pre-empted her move.

‘You’re a feisty one for one so slim. I like that, I —’

‘Oh for heaven’s sake!’ Lisette summoned her strength and shouldered past the man. ‘Leave me be or answer to them,’ she said as she tossed her head in Tinder and Charlie’s direction.

Johnno turned and saw the murderous expression on Tinder’s face as he raced forward. Taking a gulp of air, he stepped back and held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. ‘I meant nuthin by it, dove.’

But Lisette had already dismissed him from her mind as she resumed her sprint down the alley. Soon she had made it to Beggar’s Mews; her building was ahead but from this distance she couldn’t make out if there was anything amiss. Without pausing she ran as quickly as she could up the old metal staircase, taking two steps at a time. She made it to the landing outside her window and turned the latch. It wasn’t locked. A whisper of fear curled around her spine as she ducked into the apartment.

‘Aunt Marie? Aunt Marie... Are you here?’

Silence seemed to engulf the apartment. Lisette strode quickly through the parlour, glancing around the room. Everything appeared to be in its right place. She could hear Tinder and Charlie hurrying up the staircase as she slipped into her aunt’s bedroom. The room was untouched, the bed still made and, as her eyes sought the dressing table, Lisette could see that her letter she had left her aunt was still where she had left it. Lisette knew that her Aunt had not seen the letter, which meant Marie had never returned home. She crossed the room & plucked her letter up. Folding it quickly, she slipped it into her pocket.