Seduced Bride-To-Be (7 page)

‘So
here at least my father told the truth’ said Dinah quietly.

It
was so hard to fathom that she, who always believed herself so unattractive to the
other sex, had been able to inspire such an interest in a man. She also
realised that the young lady from Alex’s past was actually herself. It was all
too strange, too overwhelming, too wonderful to be true!

‘Then
I did something I regret. I should have found a way to introduce myself and
court you properly. But I was afraid that you would reject me again. After all,
my face is not a pleasant sight. Instead, I asked your father about you. I said
that I admired your beauty and I wished to be introduced to you. He promptly
asked me and my sister to the ball.’

‘And
that was it?’

‘Yes,
that was it.’

‘So
why all the hassle and the lies he told me about Lord Timsbury’s proposal?’

‘Do
not forget that your father is a calculating businessman. He did not build his
fortune without taking risks. He could clearly see that I was smitten and
assumed that I was also after your money. I did not boast about inheriting from
my uncle, you see. So all he needed to do was to make sure that you would
accept me rather than run a mile from me when you saw my face.’

‘And
he knew that I would obey his wishes. All was going according to the plan,
except that we met before the appointed time. Why did you not tell me the truth
then?’

‘I
intended to, at first. But it was so liberating to be just Captain Alex Legrant
and know that you really wanted me, despite all my scars. I could not believe
my luck! Besides, you seemed to be so ill disposed against Lord Tilbury that I
did not dare tell you that it was me. I just hoped that all would turn out well
when we met at the ball. But then, again, I wanted to prolong our… adventure
and, instead of coming to dine with you yesterday, I lured you into the garden
shed.’

‘It
seems that it was not only me who needed an escape from their usual life. And I
as good as seduced you…’

‘And
what man could resist you? I used to dream about you, but it was all fancy.
When I met you on that road, the real woman, brave, funny, compassionate, I
learned what it is like to get truly hooked. But Dinah, I want you to know that
I would not have let things happen between us, had you not declared that you
were going to marry Lord Tilsbury. Since I was informed that I was accepted
before I even proposed, I simply could not fight against my desire for you.
Lord, I wanted you so much!’

 Suddenly,
Dinah laughed. She felt as if a great weight was lifted from her shoulders and
slowly the incredulous truth started to sink in.

‘Does
it mean that you really intend to marry me?’

‘I
thought it was obvious. Is it not our engagement ball? Besides’ he said, his
face suddenly serious ‘you could be with a child. My child…’

There
was no way of mistaking the look in his eyes when he pulled her gently to him
and kissed her lips.

‘I
love you, Dinah, and I hope you can love me.’

‘But
I do! That’s why I decided yesterday that I cannot marry Lord Timsbury! When
you told me to go back I thought my heart would break for I assumed you did not
really care for me.’

‘Do
not care for you? Darling, when we are married I shall prove to you every day –
and night - how much I love you!’

When
he kissed her again, Dinah could feel stirring of desire and a huge wave of joy
swept over her. This was Alex and they are going to be together for the rest of
their lives!

‘It
will make a nice change to sleep together in bed, I suppose’ he murmured
between kisses.

‘Not
until we are married’ said Dinah sternly as she reluctantly pushed him away.
‘We need to keep some appearances, otherwise what opinion would you have of my
reputation?’

‘Since
I have played such a pleasurable part in destroying it, I shall happily carry
on doing so.’

‘Well,
we might, perhaps, visit old Mr Pool’s garden shed before dinner…’ said Dinah
with a mischievous spark in her eye. ‘But no bed until we are married.’

‘Well,
I shall be more than satisfied with what’s on offer’ said Alex in mock
resignation. ‘But now we better go and talk to your father. He better announce
our engagement before we cause a scandal.’

He
took her arm and they walked slowly towards the bright colourful ballroom, when
Dinah suddenly stopped in her track, her eyes full of mirth:

‘What
is it, my love?’ asked Alex.

‘Well,
you have not asked me yet!’

‘Ask
you what?’

‘To
marry you, what else?’

Alex
laughed and took her face in his hand:

‘Dinah
Benson, will you marry me?’

The
kiss she gave him was all the answer he needed.

Norman
Benson looked fondly at the young couple in the garden. It all turned out much
better than he planned. He knew that Timsbury was a good chap but it was a
comfort to see that Dinah took such an immediate fancy to him.

‘How
long did you know that they were engaged in secret?’ hissed a voice in his left
ear.

Startled,
he turned and faced Lady Hornby.

‘My
lady, I do not know what you are talking about. Tonight they met for the first
time in years.’

‘Don’t
talk nonsense! I will not be fooled! She is wearing late Lady Timsbury’s
emerald hair combs. He must have given them to her as an engagement present.’

Mr
Benson looked sheepish. He was congratulating himself on masterminding the
whole thing so cleverly, while in fact it seemed that fate had taken care of
the better part of it.