Antonia stood amazed, robbed of speech and movement by the shock of his outrageous words. Marcus led the horses over to the barn and began to unbuckle the harness. "Will you come and hold their heads for a moment while I drop the shafts?"
Mutely Antonia complied, wondering if it were he or she who had lost their senses. At length Marcus loosed the animals into a nearby meadow. Taking Antonia by the hand, he led her unresisting into the barn,
It was a small building as barns went, but clean and dry and smelling of hay. The floor was swept clean to the beaten earth and pitchforks were propped against the walls. Only a small pile of hay remained, and that' was incongruously heaped with rugs and pillows.
Even more astounding was the sight of a table and two chairs, the board set with a white cloth and various covered dishes laid out: Marcus ~rossed and struck flint to light the candles which, in their fine candelabra, added the final touch of unreality to the scene.
Antonia put one hand to her brow and pushed back the curls. "Are you run mad? What can you hope to achieve by this?"
Marcus came and untied the ribbons of her bonnet and took it from her head. He undid the buttons of her pelisse and handed her into the nearest chair, then reached for a bottle of wine.
"Here, you must be in sore need of something to eat and drink."
Antonia took a reviving sip of wine and demanded again, "What do you mean to do with me?"
"Why, ruin you, of course." Marcus raised his glass in a toast and drank.
Antonia put down the glass sharply, sending the red liquid splashing on to the white cloth. "Can you be so vindictive, sir? I have thought many things of you over these past months, but not that you would seek revenge for a humiliation last night that was at least as much your fault as mine."
Marcus smiled. His teeth gleamed white, and almost menacing in the shadows. "I can assure you, revenge does not come into it.
Admittedly, I do not relish having to apologise to Lady Jersey, and many mamas have had their opinion of me as a rakehell confirmed. On the other hand, the odds on our marriage have shortened in most of the betting books of the clubs: I am glad I placed my bet when I did..."
"You ... you ... you are no gentleman, sir, to bet on such a thing, to bandy my name..." She was on her feet now, head' rag for the door. If she had to walk to Berkhamsted---whichever direction it lay in---she would do so, whatever the risk.
"Come hack, Antonia. Where do you think you are going? It is nearly dark. I was only teasing--I have never so much as whispered your name in my club or any other. I cannot resist seeing your eyes flash so, it is most piquant. '
Antonia hesitated. Indeed it was dark out there, and the woods were press' rag in on all sides. She ttuned from the door and found he had taken off his jacket, ragged his neck cloth loose and was lounging easily in his chair, his long legs stretched out in front of him. The candlelight glanced gold from his hair and shadowed the dangerous, mocking mouth. But his eyes were warm on her; when he stretched out a hand, she walked uncertainly towards him.
As she reached her chair, he caught her hand and pulled her on to his lap, settling her comfortably in the crook of his arm. Knowing the certain outcome of struggling, Antonia yielded to the temptation to sit quietly.
"You do not really intend to rain me, do you?" she asked, afraid to hear the answer.
"You are mined, anyway, by the very act of being alone with me, here, all night. Come, Antonia, let us be hanged for the sheep, not the lamb." As bespoke he stood up, lifting her easily in his arms and walked slowly to the hay bed. Antonia found herself laid gently on a rag.
Marcus loomed above her. He seemed very large and all the humour had fled from the dark eyes. "Antonia? One word from you and I will take a rug to the far side of this barn and stay there all night. But, as a result of this night you are ruined in the sight of Society. You must marry me, you have no choice,"
She understood him well enough, and believed him. If she told him to, he would take himself off and not trouble her. But she loved him, and if she were never to see him again for the rest of her life, she would at' least have this night.
Wordlessly Antonia held up her arms to him and he sank on to the soft bed beside her, Marcus's fingers ran through her hair, tossing aside pins, fanning out the lustrous curls against the blanket, "You are so beautiful, you take my breath away," he murmured, his voice curiously husky. His finger traced the line of her jaw then moved to map the curve of her full upper lip. ~
Antonia shivered in delicious anticipation, shot through with apprehension. Instinctively her teeth fastened on his tinge~p and she saw his eyes close momentarily. Antonia began to unbutton his shirt and, smoothing the linen aside, ran her palms flat across the planes of his chest. The heat of him shocked her, but even more shocking was the realisation of the power that her touch gave her over him.
Her fingers moved, tugging and smoothing until she could push the shirt from his shoulders. It was silent in the barn except for his ragged breathing. To her surprise, he did not kiss her, seemingly willing to let her set the pace.
Exploring, giving way entirely to instinct, Antonia let her mouth trail kisses down his muscular shoulder before hesitating for only a heart beat as her lips moved across to his chest. They fastened on his nipple and she heard him gasp as her tongue flicked out and over the 'sensitive tip.
Startled by her own temerity and the effect she was having on him, Antonia stopped in confusion, hiding her hot face in his neck. Marcus caressed her neck, then neatly unfastened the row of pearl buttons securing her ~ce at the back. The gauzy muslin seemed to float from her shoulders and she felt her naked breast against his bare chest, cool against the hot, muscular planes.
He rolled her gently over on to her back, deftly freeing the rest of the dress from her limbs, leaving her clad only in her stockings and chemise. He got to his feet and Antonia closed her eyes, hearing the rest of his clothes fall to the bed beside her. r
Antonia ventured to open her eyes again as she felt his weight dip the hay beside her and found herself looking into his intent, serious face.
"Antonia, my darling, are you sure?" For the first time she saw uncertainty ~ in his face.
Apprehension filled her, but was overwhelmed by longing and her love for him. "Yes," she whispered, 'but kiss me. "
He needed no further bidding, his mouth possessing hers, his tongue invading sweetly so that she was scarcely aware at first of his weight upon her. When that other, totally intimate invasion came, she cried out against his mouth, but then she was carried on a tide of sensation with him. The pleasure alarmed her even more than the momentary pain, but she gave herself up to it, trusting him to guide her.
Then came a moment when he became still above her, his body rigid as he groaned deep in his throat and then he cried out, a shout of triumph as she too arched against him, her cry of ecstasy muffled against his hard shoulder.
Marcus pulled her into the curve of his shoulder as he fell back on to the bed and she let him hold her, holding on to him in turn as though she would never let him go. They slept wrapped in each other's arms~ oblivious to the noises of the night.
They awoke at dawn, Antonia blissfully becoming aware of the movement of Marcus's mouth on the swell of her breast.
"Mmm," she murmured, sleepily, rolling over to wrap her arms and legs possessively around his naked body. This time it was she who set the pace, urgent in her need for him, revelling in his strength, his power.
At length he propped himself up on one elbow and gazed down at her flushed face. "And how do you feel this morning, my beauty?" he enquired' softly
"Quite, quite mined," she confessed, praying that he would not say the words that would destroy this dream of happiness. But it was a futile hope.
"And how long are you going to make me wait until we marry?" Marcus asked, getting up and reaching for his shirt.
Antonia was struck silent by seeing him standing there, naked, so close, so real, so very masculine. Then she too rea
ched for her chemise; somehow she felt the need for clothes before she could continue this.
"I am not going to marry you," she said bluntly as she stood, her back to him for Marcus to fasten the buttons of her bodice.
His lips grazed down her nape. "Tease."
"No, I mean it." She stepped away and turned to face him. '1 never said I would marry you. "
"But you have no choice!" He gestured to the rumpled hay bed with its eloquent impression of two bodies.
"I will not marry you. If anyone realises that' we have been here all night, then yes, I am ruined. But I will have to live with that."
"And if you are with child?" he demanded brutally. Antonia felt herself grow pale. The thought had never entered her mind, she had been so swept along by her love for him. Her nails bit into her palms as she regained her self-control: she almost capitulated then, but at no time had he told her that he loved her, needed her, could not live without her and she would not marry him without that declaration of love.
All his words of tenderness were occasioned by their lovemaking; none of them had spoken of a shared future. "If that is the case, I shall raise the child myself, as others have done before me."
Suddenly he was in front of her, hold' rag her by the shoulders, impelling her to meet his gaze. But he was not angry as she had thought. His face was curiously gentle as was his voice when he asked her, "Just why, in the face of all this, will you not be my wife?"
Antonia could not meet his eyes or he would see the way she felt about him. She could not bear for him to pretend to love her out of pity.
"This is not about Claudia, is it?" he demanded. "Nor about your feelings for Jeremy Blake, let alone your ludicrous cousin Hewitt?"
She shook her head mutely, her eyes still averted from his.
"You told me there was nothing I could do or say to make you agree to marry me. Well, I have done all I can, but I have not said all I should."
Antonia did look at him then; something in the tone of his voice was different, more tender even than it had been last night. She held her breath, waiting.
"I have never told you I love you, Antonia, but I do. I love you, heart and soul and body--and for ever. I have never loved another woman, and I never will. So if you do not marry me, I shall never many--for no one could ever take your place."
Antonia gave a little sob and threw herself into his arms, too overcome even to kiss him. All she could do was hold on to him, feeling his heart beat against her cheek, knowing his strength and his love were hers for ever.
"Well?" he murmured into her hair. "Will you marry me?"
"Yes, Marcus, my love, of course I will."
They stood there, holding each other as the rising sun sent a shaft of sunlight spilling across the floor of the barn. At last Antonia freed herself. "We cannot stand here all day, we must have some breakfast and go home. Thank goodness Donna is not expecting me."
As she spoke, she moved to the table and began to sort through the hamper with hands that trembled. "Look, here is bread and ham and a flask of ale. Marcus, how did you manage to contrive all this? And what have you done to my great-aunt's unfortunate coachman? " Somehow the calm domesticity of preparing food with this man convinced her that this was real, and forever.
He moved to her side and began to cut bread. "He is on his way back to London, having hired a hack as his mistress iustmcted him."
Antonia stared at him. "You mean, you and she." that you plotted it and she knew . and permitted it? Last night. " Amonia could not help but blush,
"I had to ask her permission." He laughed at Antonia as he reached for the ham. "When you said there was nothing I could do, I knew I would have to take desperate measures, I could sense Lady Granger approved of -me.. '
"She remembered your grandfather!" Antonia riposted, but she was smiling.
"I went to her direct from Aimack's. She told me to behave like a red-blooded man and all would be well. Then I remembered my sister's advice."
"Anne was in this plot, too?" Now Antonia really was incredulous.
"She told me, when you left for London, that I was arrogant, that I had never felt the need to explain myself or my actions to anyone. I realised I had never told you I loved you, never realised that I needed to. I should have known you would never marry for anything less."
Antonia reached up and kissed him. "And when did you realise you loved me?"
"When I saw you in Pethybridge's office. I knew what it must have cost a gentlewoman to undertake business like that. And despite the reverse you had obviously suffered, you were brave and defiant. Although I was still angry with you about your poachers, yet in that moment all I wanted to do was to protect you."
She stepped into the shelter of his arms. "And now you can," she said softly.
Marcus kissed he~ gently, all the love he had never spoken until now evident in the embrace. Eventually he released her, with a sigh. "I could stay here for ever, but I suppose we should eat and then make our way home."
When they left, he handed her up onto the seat of the carriage next to him. "Come, ride here beside me until we get closer to the village, there will be no one about at this hour to see you."
Antonia linked her arm through his as he gathered up the reins and asked, in a mock-severe tone, "And you can tell me all about Lady Reed."
Marcus looked down into her laughing face and knew he had never been so happy. "Lady who?"
Francesca Shaw - The Unconventional Miss Dane Page 26
