Sally James (19 page)

‘Indeed, but how the pompous ass could stand there, bleating about writing to your father for permission to address you, if he loved you, I cannot conceive!’

‘Asses don’t bleat,’ she informed him primly.

‘He did,’ he replied, laughing.

‘But I hadn’t promised you anything! How could you have been so certain when I wasn’t decided myself? What if I had denied it?’

‘I think only part of you stole my horses, while another part wanted to come with me and defy the world. That part of you wanted to stay with me at the dreadful inn too. You’d have accepted me when I discovered you in my bedroom if you hadn’t been so suspicious that I was involved in stealing the jewels in some way. I knew you would not reject me, for I knew you loved me as I love you. When is your father due back in England?’

‘Do you wish to ask his permission to address me?’ she asked, startled.

‘No, but as I would he attended our wedding, we will unfortunately have to delay it until he returns. If he refuses, of course, I’ll have to snatch you away by force.’

Susannah sighed contentedly.

‘Only a few more weeks, my dearest, and you would not have to use force. I’d steal out to you whenever you wished, for I cannot imagine life without you. I was out of my wits not to recognize it when I first saw you!’

‘You hadn’t seen my greys then,’ he remarked flippantly and smothered her protests in a manner most agreeable to them both, so that it was a very long time before, decorously, Miss Grant and Miss Rendlesham arrived unexpectedly on the doorstep of the former’s home to announce they planned to spend the night there, as they had been unaccountably delayed and were far too late, it being already dusk, to set off for London that evening.

Copyright © 1981 by Marina Oliver

Originally published by Hale [UK]  (ISBN 070918834X)

Electronically published in 2010 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.