One True Love (35 page)

She wiped away a tear. "I am hungry."

He laughed. "Hungry? I have never heard such exquisite words. Shakespeare himself could not have written a more perfect line. What would you like, my love? You may have anything your heart desires."

My love
. The words poured over her like warm honey and dribbled all the way down to her wiggling toes. He loved her. She was sure of it, and no longer did she need to hear the words in order to know. She wanted to tell him she loved him. She wanted to declare her love, and to spend the rest of her life showing him how much she meant the words.

But not yet.
Not until she could leave her bed, bathe, change, and look her best. She was certain she would regain her strength soon. As soon as she had something decent to eat. "I would love roast beef and potatoes... and cake. Yes, I would dearly love some cake. I would also like a cup of tea, but not any soup, or at least not broth, but I would not mind some hearty stew."

"I will order a feast, but you must be careful not to overdo it. Dr. Ainsworth said you must slowly introduce food into your diet, or else you will become sick to your stomach."

"Alright then. Stew and cake."

William sent Katie down with the order then came back to sit next to her. Cassie noticed the creased lines in his face along with his disheveled appearance. Had he slept at all? "What day is it? How long have I been in this bed?" She moved to sit up. William helped and gave her plenty of pillows on which to relax.

"It has been four days. Four of the longest days of my life."

"I am sorry you worried over me, but I am fine. I just need to regain my strength, but it looks as if you need sleep. I doubt you have slept a wink since you brought me home. Oh, how did you find me?" The last thing she remembered was lying next to Winnington as he lay dying in the mud. She still ached all over.

"I was on my way to London when Stephen came down the road in his coach. He was coming to visit us, or more precisely, to check up on us. Apparently, Mother was concerned with our quick departure from Town. The missive was false, and the footman was a plant. I believe Winnington was behind it all. He wanted to get me out of the house so he could steal you away."

She nodded her head. "Yes, my thoughts exactly. He was completely irrational. I find it quite disturbing that I nearly married the man. I am such a poor judge of character."

William took Cassie's hands in his. "You could not have known. Winnington acted like a gentleman in the company of others, and only showed his true colors after we were married. Your parents agreed they never would have thought Winnington capable of such acts, and I believe they are as good a judge of character as any."

"My parents?"

"They came right away, and Jocelyn too, and well, the entire Prescott family. We have a house full of guests, my dear."

"Oh, and I must look such a fright." She touched her hair then wiped her hands across her face.

"You are the most lovely creature on God's green earth." He bent down to kiss her, but, before he made it to her lips there was a knock on the door. William lifted his eyes to the ceiling in obvious frustration. "Come."

Katie entered with a loaded tray full of food. Cassie's parents followed, and so did Jocelyn, then Lady Camberley and Anne. They fussed over her, but let her dig into the stew. She savored it as if it were the finest food ever eaten. She finished half the bowl then managed a few bites of cake.

Realizing she was tired, everyone left the room, except her mother, who insisted William get some rest. Cassie agreed and her mother kissed her cheek then hummed a lullaby from her childhood until precious sleep claimed her.

The next morning she awoke stronger and restless. She managed to get down a descent breakfast, then her mother and Katie helped her take a bath, wash her hair, and change into a day dress. All of this took a great deal of effort and left her exhausted, but she refused to stay bed bound. William carried her to the drawing room where she was surrounded by family.

"Cassie dear, it warms my heart to see you up and dressed. We were all so very worried. You gave us quite a scare," said Lady Anne.

Cassie grasped Anne's hands. "I am fine now. The entire ordeal is one I would prefer to forget."

"Yes, of course," said Anne.

"I, for one, cannot believe Mr. Parker, I mean, Lord Winnington, turned out to be such a blackguard. Thank goodness you married Lord William and not that madman. It makes one think twice about marrying a man you hardly know," said Jocelyn.

"I knew Lord Winnington longer than William," said Cassie.

"True enough, but I shall endeavor to know a man well before agreeing to marry," said Jocelyn.

"That sounds like a wise plan. I shall do the same," said Anne.

William appeared at that moment. "I thought you did not want to marry at all. All of my sisters seem quite determined to become lifelong spinsters."

"I never said I did not want to marry, William. I do not want to marry for convenience. I want a love match, and I shall not settle for less." Anne clasped her hands and pursed her lips.

William insisted on carrying Cassie to luncheon. Although she thought it was silly, she secretly enjoyed his attention. She was able to manage a portion of her meal, but must have a looked tired because her family insisted she return to her room to rest.

Once again, William swept her into his arms and carried her to her bedchamber. He helped her out of her gown and into the bed, then he locked the door and undressed. He climbed into the bed and cradled her next to his body. His warmth engulfed her, and she snuggled deeper under the covers to rest her head against his chest.

"Sleep now. You need your rest," he said.

She kissed his chest. "I am tired, but not sleepy."

"Then lay here with me. I just want to hold you."

"William."

"Hmmm."

"I love you."

The only sounds in the room were their heartbeats. He did not have to say the words. She could live without them as long as she lived with his arms wrapped around her.

William rolled her onto her back and came over her. His chocolate eyes shined with love and hope. He palmed her cheek with his hand and bent down to kiss her. She tasted the brandy on his warm lips, then she flicked her tongue across his open mouth and invited more.

He deepened the kiss and touched her tongue with his then explored her whole mouth. Their lips and tongues tangled and danced to a new tune –one of love, trust, and commitment. His lips left her mouth only to begin a trail across her jaw, cheeks, and eyelids.

He lifted away from her and buried his face in her neck. "I want to make love to you, but not until you regain your strength."

He pulled her against him and they both rested. She worried her bottom lip with her teeth, and refused to allow his lack of words to bother her. It was enough he was here holding her. She placed her ear against his heart, and listened to the the slow and steady beat matching her own. William ran a comforting hand along her back. She could stay in the warm and cozy bed snuggled up against her husband forever.

"I am sorry," he said.

Cassie lifted her head and gazed into his sad, worried eyes. "For what?"

"I allowed my own foolish jealousy to override common sense. I accused you of terrible things and treated you horribly. I am ashamed of my actions and my words."

"Oh, William." She reached a hand up to stroke his face.

He held onto her hand. "No, I mean it. By the time I met you I had started to believe that stupid curse. The mirror does not lie, you know. I am not spotted or fat, nor do I have a double jaw, or beady eyes. I thought perhaps I was dull, but truly, I do not think I am."

"You are handsome and witty and charming."

He laughed. "I also have a tendency to make a complete cake of myself. Did you know I proposed marriage to twelve women before I met you, and everyone of them turned me down? I do believe I hold the record."

"I heard, and I am ever so grateful, for if one would have accepted, I would not be lying here with you now." Cassie touched her lips to his. They shared a few tender kisses before she sighed and rested her head against his chest.

"I thought you were in love with Winnington."

"I was in the foolish first blush of love with
Mr. Parker
. I think more than anything that I was in love with the idea of being in love, and married with children. But, he became Lord Winnington, and, with the title came a different man. A man I did not know or even want to know. He was so unlike the man I thought I knew, and terribly frightening. I am so glad I did not marry him."

He kissed the top of her head. "So am I...so am I."

William cradled her in his arms as the one candle in the room flickered out, and the dying embers of the fire became their only light. She would love him forever, even if he did not love her, but, perhaps he would come to love her in time. Hurt hovered over her happiness, for in truth, she hoped he would confess his love, but she would have to make do with what he gave.

She would endeavor to be happy, and perhaps when her child came, he or she would be followed by a house full of children to love. Cassie blinked back moisture that threatened to expose her feelings.

"When I saw you lying in the road, in the mud, pale and broken, I thought you were gone. I thought it was too late to tell you what I feel, but your pulse was strong and steady. Then the long days and nights of waiting for you to awaken, of trying to get your fever down. I have never been so scared in my life."

She said nothing, but kissed his chest and ran her fingers lazily through his dark curls. She only desired to go forward after surviving such an awful ordeal.

"Three small words seems insignificant in comparison to how I feel, but I do not know any other words to express it. I love you, Cassie. I love you with all my heart and soul, and I promise you, I will spend the rest of my life proving it to you."

William tightened his hold and she snuggled deeper against him. He reached down and wiped away her tears and the past.

***

"What do you plan to do for the rest of the Season?" Stephen twirled his brandy in his glass.

"We will stay here. Take the time to get to know each, and wait for her lying in." William poured another glass and joined his brother. The study, his own personal sanctuary was one of his favorite rooms in Rosehill Manor.

An evening light beamed through the windows and danced across the mahogany floors. They sat in deep leather chairs grouped informally into a sitting area. Tonight, a celebratory dinner was arranged in Cassie's honor. Tomorrow, all of their relatives would return to their homes.

"Does that mean you have worked things out between you?"

William lived his life under the false impression marriage was easy. He had exemplarily models to watch as he grew up. His parents never hid their affections for each other, or their children, and certainly not from the
ton
. They broke the rules by attending Society events together, dancing with each other more than once in an evening, and smiling and flirting with each other in public.

Now, he knew better. His parents loved each other, and, when two people love each other, they are bound to experience a wealth of emotions such as anger, jealousy, and fear. Marriage required hard work, trust, and compromise; but most importantly, marriage required openness. He could not hide from his wife. From now on, he would face their troubles and talk to his wife when things bothered him.

"We will spend the rest of our lives working things out together, and I, for one, am glad of it. I made the mistake of not letting Cassie in, of not trusting her, or confiding in her. I know better now."

"I am not sure I understand it, but I am glad to hear it. Shall we join the ladies?"

They walked to the drawing room where his family waited for dinner. Cassie looked healthy and flush in her pink silk dinner gown. Her hair was swept high upon her head and surrounded by curls made of sunshine. Her green eyes sparkled with life. Their eyes met and held long enough for him to experience a charge of desire. William swallowed and privately promised to give his valet a raise for selecting the longer dinner jacket.