Lady Hartley's Inheritance
Page 24
“Clarissa, he left town two days after you did.”
“What? No, he couldn’t have done.”
“I can assure you that he did.”
Clarissa was stunned. Stunned and furious to discover that once again she’d been taken in by a plausible story. Eversham had called upon her three days after her return, and they’d ridden her estate together. He spoke to her of farming and other country matters of mutual interest, and she had enjoyed his congenial, non-demanding company. At first. But then he’d called again the following day, and they’d taken tea together. Somehow he managed to stay to dinner as well. When she thought about it now, Clarissa wasn’t sure how that had come about but realised it had been a mistake because yesterday afternoon he’d called once more and proposed to her. She’d known before he finished speaking that she would reject him. But when he patronised her, implying that the hard work she so enjoyed wasn’t a suitable occupation for a lady, that she couldn’t be expected to understand its complexities, it had been all she could do to remain civil in her rejection of his suit.
Before she could respond to Luc, they were interrupted yet again by Agnes informing her mistress, with a tight lipped look of disapproval, that Lord Eversham had come to call.
“Receive him, Clarissa,” Luc said, slipping into the adjoining room and leaving the door slightly ajar.
Eversham strode into the room, a confident look of superiority on his face.
“My dear.” He bowed over Clarissa’s hand and kissed it. “I’ve just heard the frightful news about your wall. I trust that no sheep were lost.”
“Thank you, my lord, no. We managed to save them all.”
“You did? Excellent!” He paused to feign horror. “But surely, my dear, you didn’t attempt to rescue them yourself? My God, when I think of the danger you put yourself in. Surely your men didn’t allow it?”
“I am mistress here, Lord Eversham. My men take their orders from me.”
“Yes, of course, but all this upset just goes to prove how right I’ve been all along in my advice to you. Farming is no occupation for a lady. That precipice is so dangerous I…”
“Excuse me, my lord, but how did you know that a precipice was involved?”
He looked momentarily nonplussed. “Well, my dear, because you said so.”
“No, sir, I did not.”
“Well then, I must have assumed it to be the case for I know the stretch in question slightly. Did we not ride that way together the other day?”
“No.”
“Then one of your men must have told one of mine.” He looked relieved to have thought of it. “Yes, that must be it.”
“Or perhaps, when you ordered your men to break down that particular stretch of wall?” Luc said, strolling into the room.
“You!” All of the colour left Eversham’s face.
“As you see.”
“What…I mean, Lady Hartley, surely you left London because you wanted to distance yourself from…” His voice dwindled away beneath Luc’s basilisk glare and Clarissa’s continuing silence.
Luc moved to stand beside Clarissa. “You were saying, Eversham?”
“Well, I…I mean, I just called to commiserate with Lady Hartley. I didn’t know you had a visitor, my dear, and so I’ll take my leave for now.”
“Just one thing, Eversham,” Luc said in a glacial tone. “If anything, anything at all, goes amiss with Lady Hartley’s land, or her livestock, in the future I shall know you are responsible, and you will have me to answer to. Are we perfectly clear on that?”
“You dare to threaten me, sir?”
“Indeed I do.”
“Well really, really, I…” He backed out of the room, still blustering wildly.
Clarissa and Luc watched him go in momentary silence, before their eyes locked and they burst into spontaneous laughter.
“Thank you, Luc. You appear to have rescued me yet again.”
“My pleasure.” He moved toward the door and locked it.
“What are you doing?”
“Well, it appears impossible for us to have a conversation without interruption.”
“Yes, but — ”
“And I’m tired of interruptions,” he said, taking a pace toward her. “I was about to tell you why I wish to marry you, Clarissa. Was that not what you wished to know?”
“Yes, but it’s no longer of concern.”
“Because you’ve decided to marry me anyway?” He smiled warily.
“Certainly not!” Really, the conceit of the man.
“Then perhaps I had better explain my reasons. I want to marry you because you’re different from the ladies I invariably meet. You are intelligent, entertaining, lively, beautiful and,” he hesitated and offered her that heart rending smile of his, the one that robbed her of the ability to think lucidly, “as well as wanting you to mother my children, I want to marry you because I can’t imagine being separated from you ever again. You can’t imagine the torture I went through when I received my mother’s note informing me of your departure. And Eversham’s. In short, Clarissa, I love you and can’t live without you. Will you consent to be my wife?”
Clarissa looked at him through tear filled eyes, willing her resolve not to break down now.
“Not unless you can convince me there will be no other lady in your life except for me. I know it is customary for gentleman such as yourself to take mistresses, but Luc, I should warn you that you wouldn’t find me at all accommodating in that regard. I would not be willing to tolerate any form of duplicity, no matter how discreet.”
“You have no cause for concern on that score.”
“I’m not so sure about that. It’s my understanding that these things happen as a matter of course.”
“I’ve sown all of my wild oats, my love, and am ready to settle down with just you. You have my word on that.”
Clarissa regarded him in silence for a long time. His gaze didn’t once waiver, and she felt herself floundering somewhere in the depths of his piercing black eyes, now so full of entreaty, so sincere. Just for a moment Clarissa feared for her sanity. Could this Adonis standing before her really be offering her his all? It hardly seemed credible and yet it was apparently true. She would be mad to refuse him, but how could she be sure that he’d keep his word?
Sighing, frustrated by her weakness, bubbling over with a happiness that refused to be suppressed, Clarissa lifted her eyes to his and smiled. She would not decline his proposal, she knew that now. She wanted him with every fibre of her being and no longer had the strength or willpower to pretend otherwise. Whatever problems lay ahead, they would somehow resolve them together. Her heart soared and threatened to overflow, too small suddenly to contain all the feelings of elation and surging happiness that were laying siege to it.
“If I ever find out that you have taken a mistress, Luc,” she said, attempting to sound severe but unable to stop a tiny smile tugging at her lips, “then I won’t be held responsible for my actions. You would do well to heed my warning in that regard, my lord.”
A glimmer of hope took up residence in Luc’s eyes. “Can I take it that you are saying yes?”
“Yes, Luc, I would very much like to marry you, please.”
About the Author
I’m a Brit, now dividing my time between Andorra and Florida. I write historical and contemporary romance and a series of marine crime novels. I love all animals and when not writing I enjoy reading other people’s books, walking miles with my dog, savouring decent wine and generally making the most out of life.
www.wendysoliman.com
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