My Dearest Friend (Books We Love Regency Romance) (15 page)

She smiled in response, “Have I not already said that I will?”

“
Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?” she repeated stupidly as if not fully comprehending his meaning and searching his face for the answer.

“Forgive me, my love,” he said, dropping her hands and gently holding her to him. “I must have the certainty that you are mine.”

“
But I am yours,” she smiled up at him raising her hand to his cheek. “Have I not already promised to be your wife?”

He smiled, attempting at levity, but all the while not daring to hope. “You may have noticed, my dear, that I am not a patient man. I need that certainty or I cannot answer for the consequences.”

Jane blushed and chuckled softly. “Then, sir, if that is the case, I must marry you, for I would not wish to be the cause of your irritation and incur your wrath. It would not do that I should be seen to thwart my new husband.”

“Imp,” he grinned, playfully pinching her chin between thumb and forefinger before fixing her in such a crushing embrace that she feared her breath would stop. Eventually they drew apart and placing his arm about her waist he pressed her to his side to rest her head against his shoulder. “When I deserted you a few days ago it was to seek out the British Ambassador so that I may obtain a special marriage license. I dared not confess my intent to you lest I was unable to complete the task and all would have be
en for naught. I have today, received news that an English Devine visits Elvas and I have dispatched Proctor to engage his services. Once we are married, my love, you will have the protection of my name and possessions, I will then be assured of your future, come what may.”

“I care not for name and possessions, Robert, and that you know.”

“No, but the world does, and believe me, you will find it brings its own advantages.”

“I have managed thus far, sir.”

“You have never been in this position before, and I must have you safe, be sure that you are secure.”

She thought for a moment and frowning, turned to study his features. “Is that the only reason you wish to marry in such haste?”

“Of course not, you silly goose,” he chuckled, eyes alight with amusement. “And I think there is no need to tell you my reasons, for you know them well enough. I will not pander to your vanity, you know already how to lead me a merry dance and I will not provide ammunition with which to provoke me still further on our wedding night. Indeed, if it is proof of my reasons that you require, I am not averse to reminding you.” The light of amusement died in his eyes to be replaced by a very different look and taking her into his embrace, he kissed her so thoroughly that she was left in no doubt whatsoever as to his reasons.

“We must tell Harry,” she said when they finally drew apart and she sat with her head resting on his shoulder. It was not safe to stay in such close proximity when he looked at her so and she knew she could deny him nothing, thinking it safer that they should return to the ordinary. “He will be prodigiously pleased. Already he becomes attached to you and you have been good for him.”

“And he for me, as I’m sure you have perceived,” he replied, following her lead. “If you so wish, he could live with us at Stovely. There is no need for him to live on his own. In fact, he should not. He will benefit from remaining within the family circle until his health improves and then decisions can be made on his future. He can have his own apartments so that he can retain his privacy and independence, he may have the ordering of his life and no one will intrude upon his company unless he wishes it.”

She turned loving eyes to his face, “My dear friend, you have thought everything out very thoroughly, have you not? What we would do without you I shudder to think, we will remain forever in your debt.”

“That you will not, my dear,” he said, carrying her hand to his lips and pressing a caress into her palm. “There is no debt involved. I have my heart’s desire so my motives are entirely selfish, I do assure you.”

“
That’s one thing you can never be accused of, Robert, my stoic friend, you have a generous nature although you won’t lay claim to it.”

A teasing light appeared in his eyes.
“That is not what you thought when we set out on this journey.”

“
Sir, you are unkind to remind me of my actions,” she cried feigning aloofness, as she rose and skipped away from his would-be embrace. Then as she gained the door, she relented and smiling held her hand out to him. “Come, now we must go to Harry. I am impatient to tell him our news.”

Chuckling, the duke followed in her wake. “I see I must be on my guard, ’twould seem I am about to marry a changeling and will need have my wits about me. Therefore lead on, my love.”

Chapter
Nine

 
Arriving at the allotted hour of noon the cleric stood just within Harry’s door. The sun shone through the casement, filling the small chamber with its bright light as if sanctioning the occasion, adding its approval to that of all who gathered there. The room seemed full to overflowing with everyone waiting in happy anticipation for the bride and groom, all eager for the nuptials to begin. Harry had insisted that he should be part of it all and not lie abed. With the aid of Hills and Eaves he had donned his dress uniform and been placed in a large winged chair brought from the parlor for his comfort. The effort had cost him dearly, but he was determined to be involved in the ceremony, no one admitting as to how his uniform hung on his once robust frame. In his breast pocket reposed the signet ring from the duke’s little finger that was to be used as the wedding band.

Hannah held Sophie in her arms at the side of his chair and it was seen that he took pleasure in their company and even cradled the babe for a few moments before relinquishing her once more to her nurse.
Proctor, Hills and Eaves stood at a respectful distance by the window, all waited in readiness for the bride and groom.

***

On the landing below, the duke stood impatiently awaiting his bride, eager now to attend the ceremony. Consulting his pocket watch, he wondered what could be keeping her and after a few more moment’s hesitation tapped lightly on the door. Slowly the door opened and Jane stood on the threshold, her features quite downcast.

“
What is this?” he demanded tilting her chin so that he could examine her up-turned face.

“’Tis nothing,” she whispered trying to avert her gaze.

Immediately a knot of apprehension formed in his stomach, stilling his breath. “Then tell me what is this nothing that affects you so, I would know its origins.”

“Robert, I would wish better for you. We are so few and I don’t even have bride clothes to bring to our wedding.”

The duke gave a bark of relieved laughter. “Is that all? Thank goodness, I had thought it worse. I had visions of losing my bride.” His eyes softened and he drew her to him, his lips brushing hers before saying softly against her cheek, “My precious girl, you look delightful in your sprigged muslin. What need do we have of trappings? What difference will it make to our joy?” Releasing her, he drew her hand through his arm and led her along the corridor.

“What a ninny you are, my love,” he chided gently as they mounted the stairs. “Fine clothes will not make us happy. As for guests, are not all those we hold dear awaiting us in the room above?
I promise you, we will think fondly of this day in years to come, along with all the other memories we will share.”

She chuckled, peeping mischievously up at him, her worries forgotten. “I thought you had forbidden me to recount those memories.”

“Just so, my dear,” he replied, grinning as they stood outside Harry’s door. He bowed and took her fingers reverently to his lips. “I assure you, there are many more to come, this is just the beginning. Our beginning!”

***

When all was quiet and still within the inn, the happy couple retired to their bedchamber for the night. The ceremony had taken its toll on Harry’s resources and he had been forced to return to his bed the instant the cleric had left. As the day progressed it was feared that he was tu
rning feverish but thankfully now appeared much more settled and the newlyweds were finally allowed the opportunity to be private.

Putting aside the lamp he carried, Robert took his wife into his arms.
“A strange wedding day this has proved to be, sweetheart,” he said, smiling wryly in the half-light.

Jane gave a low chuckle. “Nonetheless, it will be one that we will remember with a great fondness for many years to come.”

He gently kissed her brow and she sensed an uncertainty about him and raised enquiring eyes to his face.

“Will you allow me to love you?” he asked in quiet tones, an unfathomable look in his eyes.

She was perplexed at his hesitancy but teased, “That is a strange question for a new husband to ask his bride.”

“
One nevertheless that I feel I must ask. It came to me that I have hurried you into this marriage. I scarce gave you time to consider it, but I needed to be sure of you, to have you safe. I could not bear the uncertainty.”

Jane cradled his cheek with her hand.
“There was no uncertainty, my love. No matter what length of time you allowed, the answer would have been the same. I am perfectly content and would not have wished it otherwise.”

“
Are you sure, sweetheart?” He held her slightly away from him, knowing he could not endure it if she did not reply in the affirmative. “I expect nothing from you that you don’t freely give. If you desire more time, then I will abide by your choice. I force you to nothing.”

She smiled gently up at him.
“I’m not made of glass, my Robert, and your touch will not break me. You have my complete trust.”

The teasing light remained in her eyes; she did not wish to see him so solemn. “Indeed, sir, if it is not your intention to love me, then I will think you an indifferent husband who means merely to toy with my affections!”

He caught her roughly to him; his eyes alight with love and amusement. “Imp. You must not encourage me for I am all eagerness to prove my lack of indifference.”

He became serious once more and bowing his head, he kissed her, his lips tracing the contours of her face before finally taking possession of her mouth. As before, he let down her glorious hair, feeling its silk-like softness against his fingers and knowing now there would be no boundaries to observe, his pulse quickened. His arms tightened as his passion increased. Feeling the reaction he evoked he lifted her and carried her to the bed.

Their lovemaking was long and languorous. Robert proved a sensitive and generous lover and delighted in Jane’s responses to his tender lovemaking. Aware of her naivety in the art of love, he tempered his own desires and treated his new bride with a great gentleness.

Later, much, much later, when they lay replete and the darkness of the room enveloped them in its velvet depths, the Duchess of Lear lay with her head pillowed on her husband
’s shoulder.

“
Are you awake, my love?” he whispered, to which she turned and raised up her face to receive his caress.

“
So, now you truly are my wife,” he spoke in deepened tones against her lips. “Now you are mine, entirely mine. Always. Does that thought terrify you?”

“Not at all, my Robert,” she whispered in return.

He smiled in the darkness. “It is as well, for you must know that you have married a jealous and exacting man who will needs, have you by him forever.”

“As I have told you, you don’t intimidate me, sir,” she chuckled. “I am not so easily daunted.”

“For that I am grateful,” he said, renewing his embrace, and a tender oblivion existed once more.

***

A few days after the wedding Jane had just relinquished Sophie into Hannah’s care and
was preparing to join her husband for breakfast when she saw the doctor leaving the inn with a thunderous look on his usually amiable countenance. Perplexed she turned from the parlor door and went quickly up the stairs.

She met Eaves on the point of leaving his master
’s bedchamber and as he closed the door, pulled him to one side in the corridor. “Is there a problem?” she asked, keeping her voice low.

“
The major is somewhat restless this morning,” Eaves stated, not wishing to comment on the doctor’s visit.

“
What has occurred to unsettle him?” she persisted, wishing to get to the nub of the matter.

Eaves drew
himself up. “I believe, when the major made mention of returning to England, the doctor advised caution, your grace. He does not recommend that the major should undertake the journey until he is sure there will be no relapse.”

“I take it then that my brother does not agree with him?”

“No, your grace.”

Jane placed her hand on the door handle. “Then he must be persuaded.”