by Jane Jackson
She stood back and gestured for him to enter. ‘How could I not,’ she said softly, ‘if I am to understand?’ She sat down and, setting his hat on the table, he took the other chair, his knee only inches from hers.
He cleared his throat. ‘I have so much to tell you. But first, let me say how deeply and sincerely sorry I am for not telling you my situation before. When I first came to Porthinnis I did not consider it anyone else’s business. Nor was it relevant to the project. But then I met you. I never expected – wasn’t prepared—’ He shook his head, took a deep breath and continued. ‘The arrival in the village of Mrs Kerrow and her elder daughter will have led you to believe that I am married. I was, but that is no longer the case.’
Jenefer felt her eyes widen and she flinched as her heart gave a sudden painful kick. A tiny green shoot of hope broke through the dark despair that had filled her soul, and she realized that her brave determination to put this – him – behind her and move forward with her life, had been a desperate pretence with no more substance than mist. ‘Not married? But, I don’t understand.’ She watched him reach inside dark-green frock coat and withdraw a folded document.
‘This is a decree of nullity. I applied for it back in June, as soon as I discovered the deception that Mrs Kerrow and her daughter had perpetrated. I have been waiting for it ever since.’ His gaze met hers. ‘With increasing impatience and anxiety. When I left here after learning of Barton’s failure, I did indeed go to Truro. But after conducting my business there, I rode on to Bodmin to appear before the Archdeaconry Court. Unfortunately I was not told the outcome of the hearing. Every day I looked for the post. Then we had the gale and I had to return to Truro to see Ralph Daniell. When I reached home I found the decree had arrived. But also waiting for me was a scrawled note from Tom Lawry bidding me to The Standard immediately. The rest you know.’
‘So your marriage is dissolved?’
He offered her the document and, when she shook her head, tossed it onto the table. ‘In the eyes of the church I have never been married.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
He recounted his promise to Samson, his shame at having been duped, and his fear that once she knew he was married she might want nothing more to do with him. ‘You see, until I received the decree I had no proof of a story that to many would sound unbelievable. Yet I knew I could no longer keep silent. I could not bear to see you suffer in the belief that I did not care for you.’ As he spoke he reached for her hand. Her fingers twined with his and his touch infused her with strength and deep joy.
‘I have never loved,’ he said simply. ‘Then I met you. You changed my life. I hate having caused you pain. But the prospect of losing you was too terrifying to contemplate. Even so, I knew I had to tell you the truth. Then on each occasion I tried, we were interrupted.’ He stood, and she rose with him.
‘Oh’ She realized, and smiled up at him. ‘Yes, I remember. It was never the right time.’
‘It is now.’ He slid his hands down her arms then rested them on her hips. Hers lifted as naturally as breathing to his shoulders. ‘I never imagined feeling what I feel for you. You fill my heart. I love you, now and always.’
His image blurred as tears of joy welled up and spilled down her cheeks. Blinking them away, Jenefer laughed. ‘Oh, Charles. You have taken the words from my mouth. I love you so very much.’
He lowered his head and touched his lips to hers in a tender kiss of homage and commitment. Her eyelids fluttered down and her heart opened like a flower. She welcomed him in and knew he would never leave. She slipped her arms around his neck and her fingers curled in his thick hair. ‘More,’ she whispered against his mouth.
His arms tightened around her moulding her body to his, and passion leapt between them, a glorious white-hot flame that fused soul with soul. What his mouth demanded she gave, glorying in his strength. All she offered he took, and when eventually they parted, both breathless, her legs were trembling and his heart pounded against her breast. It moved her that he should be as deeply affected as she was.
‘Jenefer?’ he murmured hoarsely. ‘Will you do me the very great honour of becoming my wife?’
Radiantly happy, she looked up into his beloved face. Relief had softened the lines of strain, and in his tired eyes she saw a hunger that elicited an answering tug deep within her. ‘I will, for I should like that above all things. When?’
‘If I get a special licence, within the week.’
‘I must wait that long?’
The laugh that erupted from his throat warmed her. Drawing her close he kissed her again. But as desire leapt between them he placed his hands on her shoulders and eased her away, his gaze burning into hers. ‘I want – but I will not. It must be right for us.’ He raked his hair with an unsteady hand. ‘God grant me patience.’
She touched his mouth then her own with her fingertips. ‘I love you.’ She could still feel him, taste him. He loved her. ‘Perhaps you will pour us both a little brandy, and tell me what Mr Daniell said?’
‘It was as I feared.’ Charles gently swirled the cognac in his glass. He had pulled his chair closer so their knees touched. ‘He will not increase the loan or the repayment period. However, Mr Casvellan called on me to reiterate his interest in becoming a shareholder.’
Jenefer sipped and the spirit added its own warmth to the glow inside her. ‘That is excellent news. You haven’t forgotten I promised you a loan?’
He raised his glass in salute, and her heart turned over at his smile. ‘I haven’t forgotten.’
‘What do you think about me approaching Mr Lukis, the Guernsey merchant? He might well be interested. You could invite the villagers to become shareholders. Now they have regular wages coming in, they might like the idea of investing. It would give them a sense of ownership. They would be working for themselves as well as the company. We could arrange with Tom Lawry to have a meeting in the long room at The Standard. I’ll tell Hannah, and you announce it to the men before they begin work— What?’
He regarded her without speaking; his head tilted slightly, a smile lifting the corners of his mouth. ‘One, how did I manage without you? Two, I am beginning to realize what a formidable asset you will be to my business. And three, when should we hold this meeting?’
A flush of pleasure tightened her skin. ‘The sooner the better. Say the day after tomorrow?’ Her fingers tightened on her glass. ‘Charles, you have always done a great deal of travelling.’
He nodded. ‘True. But much has changed these past months. My priority is to complete the harbour expansion and increase the through flow of cargo. I have not yet decided if my future includes any connection with K&P. That is something for you and I to discuss. Meanwhile, know this: my heart and my home are here in Porthinnis.’ He drained his glass and stood up. ‘I hate to leave you.’
‘I hate that you must, but it won’t be for long.’
He picked up his hat and paused at the door. ‘When we are married, will you be happy to live with me at Kegwyn? We could look for somewhere else if you prefer.’
Reaching up, Jenefer kissed his cheek. ‘I would live with you in a cave. But I shall be very happy at Kegwyn.’
‘You won’t mind leaving here?’
She looked round. ‘I have been happy here, and blessed with the kindest of neighbours. But my life and my future lie with you.’
‘Sleep well, my love.’ Leaning down he kissed her, a sweet, cherishing kiss. ‘Until tomorrow morning.’
‘Goodnight, Charles.’ She listened to his receding footsteps, then closed the door and gently pushed the bolt across. Tomorrow: the first day of the rest of their lives.
By the Same Author
A Place of Birds
The Iron Road
Eye of the Wind
Tide of Fortune
Dangerous Waters
The Chain Garden
Devil’s Prize
Copyright
© Jane Jackson 2011
First published
in Great Britain 2011
This edition 2012
ISBN 978 0 7198 0657 5 (epub)
ISBN 978 0 7198 0658 2 (mobi)
ISBN 978 0 7198 0659 9 (pdf)
ISBN 978 0 7090 9308 4 (print)
Robert Hale Limited
Clerkenwell House
Clerkenwell Green
London EC1R 0HT
www.halebooks.com
The right of Jane Jackson to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
