Passion Becomes Her

by Shirlee Busbee

She flashed him a shy look and half laughing, half crying, she said huskily, “Yes. Yes, I will.”

  Asher gave a great shout and dragged her from her chair onto his lap. Raining kisses across her flushed features, he murmured, “I will make you happy—I swear it!”

  Except for the drone of the bees in the background and the soft murmurings between lovers, it was quiet in the gazebo for a very long time.

  “But where will we live?” Juliana asked when their minds turned to practical things.

  With Juliana settled comfortably in his lap, her head resting against his shoulder, he said, “It doesn’t matter, but I think that since Fox Hollow is the larger of the two houses that it might be the better place.” She looked up at him and he added hastily, “But I shall leave that choice up to you.”

  She smiled at him. “You are probably right.”

  “And don’t forget,” he added reluctantly, “that eventually I will inherit Burnham and we will live there one day—hopefully that date will be far in the future.”

  Juliana nodded somberly.

  They discussed the mundane matter of the mingling of their staffs, both agreeing that it shouldn’t be a problem. Brow raised, she questioned him, “And you truly will not mind Mrs. Rivers living with us?”

  “Provided she is not constantly underfoot,” he said with a frankly carnal grin, “and I am able to make love to my beautiful wife whenever I want, I will have no objections to her presence.”

  A flutter went through Juliana at the idea of the two of them locked in passionate lovemaking in Asher’s bed. She glanced around the gazebo and a faint smile curved her lips. Or anywhere else he wanted to make love to her…

  Asher cupped her breasts and bent down and nipped her ear. “How soon can we marry?”

  She felt him stirring beneath her and her own body responded, heat and desire simmering deep in her belly. She wiggled in his lap, reveling in the sensation of rubbing against that growing hardness under her bottom.

  “Stop that!” Asher said in a strangled tone.

  Juliana smiled mysteriously. Rubbing her bottom suggestively against him, she asked, “Why?”

  “Because if you don’t,” he growled, “I am afraid that I shall have to show you how much more ungentlemanly I can behave.”

  It was an intriguing possibility, but aware that a servant or anyone could come across them at any time and not willing to risk discovery a second time, Juliana stood up and shook out her skirts. “Do you think your grandmother will be pleased?”

  He nodded. “Delighted. In fact, I suspect that she will think that it was all her doing.” He looked over at Juliana, his head cocked to one side. “Shall we tell her?”

  “Today?”

  “Why not? We can ride over together and tell her the news and then ride to Kirkwood and tell your father.”

  “Who won’t be so very surprised, will he?” she asked with a challenging gleam in her eyes.

  He grinned. “No, not very.” Without the least trace of regret on his face, he said, “You know that I already asked him for your hand, don’t you?”

  “I suspected as much.” She shook a finger at him. “And it was very underhanded of you.”

  He rose to his feet. “But necessary—I intended to marry you and wasn’t about to let you hide behind your father.”

  “As if I would,” she said, incensed.

  “So how soon can we marry?” he asked again, pulling her into his arms and kissing her nose. “I have a special license in my pocket.”

  She leaned back in his arms. “Were you so certain of me?”

  He shook his head. “No. Determined. And once I had the answer I wanted, I had no intention of waiting weeks or even months to claim you as my wife.” He dragged her close and, nibbling on her ear, muttered, “Besides, I would like my heir to be born in wedlock and if we delay our marriage, since I seem unable to keep my hands off you, I can almost guarantee that he wouldn’t be.”

  Juliana gasped. Not once had she contemplated children. And I should have, she realized, astonished. While she and her first husband had never had children, it didn’t mean that the same would hold true with Asher. Why, I could be pregnant right now, she thought giddily. Asher’s child could be growing within her womb right this very minute!

  Honesty compelled her to say, “I could be, uh, barren…. I never conceived with my first husband.”

  “It doesn’t matter—if we remain childless, between us we have several siblings who can be named as heirs.” He kissed her deeply. “In the meantime, I shall take great pleasure in working very hard to cut them out of any inheritance they might expect in the future. So when shall we marry?”

  Events were happening too fast for Juliana. She had barely accepted that she was to marry Asher and now he wanted a date set for the wedding? It was too soon, she thought distractedly. She had so many demands on her time and none of them had anything to do with her getting married anytime soon. The house party at Kirkwood sprang to her mind and the looming announcement of Thalia’s engagement to Lord Caswell and the planning of the grand wedding that engagement would entail. It occurred to her that if she and Asher tarried too long that their own marriage plans could be pushed back for months. By rights, Thalia’s betrothal and wedding, delayed only because of Ormsby, should come first, but if I am pregnant…Juliana bit her lip. She loved Asher and wanted to marry him and being pregnant would only add to her joy. There was no real reason for them to delay becoming man and wife as soon as possible, except…She sighed. The last thing she wanted to do was steal Thalia’s thunder. Announcing her own engagement prior to Thalia’s wasn’t what she would have liked and certainly a sudden marriage was going to cause even more of a flurry of talk and gossip…. But if she and Asher waited until Thalia’s engagement to Lord Caswell was made public, it was likely that their own wedding would be delayed. Asher’s special license suddenly became very appealing.

  Why should they wait? With the special license, she thought, half giddy, they could be married within days. Before the house party. Before Thalia’s engagement. Before Thalia’s wedding to Caswell. If she and Asher married soon, Juliana mused, hopefully the firestorm over their sudden marriage would be eclipsed by the announcement of Thalia’s engagement. Her marriage to Asher might be a nine-day’s wonder, but the moment Thalia and Caswell’s betrothal was announced no one would pay them any heed—everyone’s attention would be on Thalia and Caswell—as it should be.

  “Let us tell the family first that we intend to marry and then we shall see about setting a date,” she temporized.

  He pulled her into his arms. His lips brushing against hers, he said huskily, “Very well, but, Juliana, be warned—I’ll not wait long.”

  Mrs. Manley and Mr. Kirkwood were ecstatic when Asher and Juliana came to call and told them of their engagement. Only Thalia was shocked by the news her sister was to marry Mr. Cordell, but, a sweet smile curving her mouth, she had embraced her sister and exclaimed, “Oh, Juliana, how wonderful for you! Papa and I had so hoped that you would marry again.” She beamed at Asher. “And to think it is to the grandson of Papa’s friend, Mrs. Manley. I do, indeed, wish you both very happy.” A puzzled expression crossed her lovely features. Looking from first Asher and then to Juliana, she said, “It is rather sudden though, isn’t it? I don’t recall there ever being any hint, any sign of…of a growing attachment between you.”

  Her cheeks slightly flushed, Juliana said hastily, “Asher and I have always had great affection for each other and during your illness and his visits here with his grandmother, we discovered that our feelings were deeper than we realized.”

  Thalia’s face cleared. “Oh, that explains it.” She smiled impishly. “It is a good thing, is it not, that I came down with measles? Otherwise you might never have discovered your true feelings for each other.”

  With Mr. Kirkwood and Mrs. Manley’s encouragement, an engagement party was hastily arranged for that evening at Rosevale. As Juliana hurried about the house seeing tha
t all was in readiness, she was reminded of that last dreadful dinner party she had overseen at Kirkwood. How full of anxiety she had been. How fearful of what the night might bring.

  How very different this gathering would be, she thought joyfully. It might be hastily arranged, and many of the same guests would be attending. But Mrs. Rivers, who was beside herself with excitement, once her fears of her place in the new household had been eased, and Thalia, released at last from the sick room, would be in attendance tonight, along with the addition of Asher’s stepfather and brother. A small blot crossed her horizon. And, she thought grimly, Ormsby would be nowhere in sight. This party, she reminded herself, was being held at Rosevale and it was her servants, with the help of some of the staff from Fox Hollow, who were scurrying about seeing that all was in readiness.

  To Juliana’s relief, Mrs. Lawrence and Mrs. Hannum, after sizing up each other, had amicably divided the chores between them. With Mrs. Lawrence, assisted by Sarah Penny and Mrs. Hannum’s granddaughter, Nancy Liggett, bustling about in the kitchen, Mrs. Hannum and her daughter, Margaret, were overseeing some of the Kirkwood servants who had been pressed into service to see that the house was in readiness for tonight’s dinner. Hannum appointed himself butler at Rosevale for the evening and was cheerfully terrorizing Juliana’s footman, Webster, into seeing that the crystal gleamed and the china glowed.

  If the Birrel family and the Denning men thought it strange to receive such a sudden and unexpected invitation to dine at Mrs. Greeley’s this evening, it was not apparent when they arrived. Mrs. Manley had come early as had Mr. Kirkwood and Thalia. Thalia was still a trifle pale, but she was a breathtaking vision in a cream muslin gown with an overskirt of glittering blue gauze.

  Dinner was a lighthearted affair. The food was superb; the service exemplary, although speculative glances followed Hannum and Webster as they moved about the long, linen-covered table serving the guests. More than once Juliana saw one of the guests look from her to Asher and then eye Hannum and Webster.

  At the end of the meal, when Mr. Kirkwood finally rose from the table and announced the engagement, no one was very surprised. Several toasts were drunk to Asher and Juliana’s health, and eventually leaving the gentlemen to their port and wine, Juliana ushered the other ladies into the green and cream sitting room.

  As she fended off excited questions from the ladies, Juliana wondered if Asher was running the same gauntlet with the gentlemen. He was.

  “Well, you’re a sly one, I must say,” murmured the colonel as he sipped his port. “You’ve breathed not a word that you were thinking of marriage, much less that you had already decided upon the lady you wished to marry.”

  Asher shrugged, his long fingers idly turning the snifter of brandy before him. “You forget that Juliana and I have known each other from childhood.” And taking a leaf from Juliana’s book, he said, “It wasn’t until Thalia was taken ill and we spent some time together that we realized our, er, deepest feelings.”

  John looked at him, an unholy gleam of amusement glittering in his eyes. “Wait until Robert and the girls learn of this! Martha and Elizabeth will be over the moon and tax you unmercifully for every detail of your courtship. And Robert! Oh, how he will crow that you are now firmly under the cat’s paw.”

  Mr. Birrel chuckled. “Having siblings can be a blessing, but there are times one wishes they were not quite so interested in one’s private affairs.” He raised his glass in another toast. “But you are to be congratulated. Mrs. Greeley is a most worthy young woman and I wish you happy. Let us drink to your long and happy life together.”

  Mr. Kirkwood beamed. “I have cherished the wish that Juliana would marry again and I had hoped that it would be someone who would not take her far away from me. I could not be more pleased with the match than if I had arranged it myself.”

  “So when do you plan to wed?” asked the colonel, his gaze on his port.

  Asher saw no point in prevaricating. “While in London I procured a special license. If I have my way, we’ll be married before the week is out.”

  “That soon?” exclaimed Mr. Kirkwood, startled.

  “I would remind you that at the end of next week,” Asher said, “your home will be inundated with guests for the house party and sometime during that event, it is most likely that Thalia’s engagement to Caswell will be announced. The last thing that Juliana and I wish to do is take away from the occasion by announcing our engagement at the same time. It should be Thalia’s moment and she shouldn’t have to share it with Juliana.”

  “Well, yes, I see your point, but surely you realize that your sudden marriage will, no doubt, cause the very thing you wish to avoid,” protested Mr. Kirkwood.

  Asher shook his head. “Juliana and I have discussed it and we feel that if we are already married when the guests begin to arrive, while it will be exciting fodder for the moment, the instant Thalia’s engagement is made public, no one will pay Juliana and I any heed. Everyone will be much more interested in Thalia and Caswell—Juliana and I will simply be a passing diversion.”

  Mr. Kirkwood looked thoughtful. “Yes. Yes. Your argument is a valid one. But to marry so suddenly…Won’t Juliana want to plan a big wedding? Women seem to love all the pomp and fripperies associated with their marriage.”

  Asher grinned. “Which is one of the reasons I’m in favor of our marriage taking place as soon as possible. Juliana has been married before and she has told me that she has no desire for a huge, gala affair. She’s indicated that whenever we marry, she’d prefer that it be a simple affair, perhaps held here at Rosevale with only our family in attendance. If I had my way, we’d marry tonight.”

  The others looked astounded.

  “Tonight?” croaked Mr. Kirkwood, nearly choking on his wine.

  Asher smiled. “If I had my way. Juliana prefers to wait until Sunday.”

  “Sunday? But what about Martha and Elizabeth?” asked John with a frown. “Of course, Robert can’t be here, he’s God knows where on the continent with Wellesley. But do you think there is enough time for either one of the girls to receive the news of your impending nuptials and arrive here in time to see you married on Sunday?”

  Asher tossed off the last of his brandy. “I sent letters to both of them this afternoon and gave my servants directions to ride through the night. By my calculations they should both receive the news tomorrow morning.” He grinned. “And if they truly wish to see me married, my sisters will arrive at Apple Hill sometime Saturday afternoon.”

  John laughed. “Oh, they’ll be here! It would take an act of God to prevent them seeing you step into the parson’s mousetrap.”

  From across the table the colonel regarded Asher pensively. “This is a major step you’re taking, my boy. A wife usually means children….” An odd expression in his eyes, he said almost to himself, “This time next year you could be the proud father of a son, an heir….” He took a long swallow of his port. “Heirs tend to make a man look at things differently. One thinks more of the future and what one will leave behind for one’s children.”

  Asher kept his face blank, but inwardly the razor edge of the old rage sliced through his belly. The fate of his own children had never troubled Denning in the past, Asher thought bitterly, so why was the old devil concerned about his heirs?

  By the time the gentlemen joined the ladies, Juliana had imparted the same information that Asher had given the men; she and Asher were planning on being married on Sunday at Rosevale. Naturally, there were exclamations of surprise and amazement, though not, she noticed, from Mrs. Manley, but when she explained the house party and the public announcement of Thalia’s engagement, Mrs. Birrel nodded her head.

  “Perhaps that would be for the best,” she agreed. Smiling at Thalia, she said, “You are very fortunate in your sister—there are not many sisters, even ones that have been married before, who would be willing to give up a big wedding in order for their younger sister to be the cynosure of all eyes.”

  “Oh, I
know,” Thalia said fervently, thoughts of Juliana’s miraculous recovery of those never-to-be-sufficiently-regretted letters flitting across her mind. “I am the most fortunate of females to have such a loving sister.”

  By the time the guests left that evening, all had been settled. Vicar Birrel would marry Juliana and Asher on Sunday afternoon at Rosevale.

  Asher’s two younger sisters, Martha Beckley and Lady Elizabeth Claxton, accompanied by their indulgent husbands, arrived as Asher had assumed they would—breathless, excited and scolding—late on Saturday afternoon. Both young women—Martha, twenty-one, and Elizabeth, just turned twenty in February—having known Juliana since they were children, were thrilled with his choice of a bride. He and Juliana had been invited to a gala family dinner that evening at Apple Hill, but it was only as he, Juliana and Mrs. Manley prepared to leave that his sisters managed a stolen moment alone with him to express their approval. While his grandmother and Juliana were deep in conversation with the colonel and John as they all strolled toward Asher’s waiting carriage for the trip home, his sisters, one on either side of him, drew him apart from the others.

  “Do you know,” confided Martha, her striking green eyes so like her mother’s alight with pleasure, “that Liza and I always thought that it would be the most romantic thing in the world if your choice should fall upon dear Juliana?”

  “Yes,” murmured blue-eyed Elizabeth from his other side, “we so hoped that you would chose someone nice and we could not think of anyone nicer than Juliana.”

  He grinned—something he seemed to do frequently these past few days. “So I take it that you both approve of my choice?”

  Martha laughed and pinched his arm. “As if you would care whether we did or not.”

  “Indeed,” said Elizabeth with a giggle, “I can just imagine the expression on your face if either one of us dared to say a word against your intended bride.” She reached up and kissed Asher’s cheek. “Oh, Asher, I do so hope you will be happy.” Passionately, she added, “You are the best brother in the world and you deserve to be happy.” When he glanced at her quizzically, she said, “If not for you, I know I would not be married to my beloved Claxton.”