Sylvie Sommerfield - Noah's Woman (30 page)

He knew he would carry this memory forever, of the taste of her, of her body under his, of the melded beating of their hearts. It would always be a part of him.

Charity cried out her joyous pleasure as she felt the deep, throbbing pulse of her completion, and knew it was a fulfillment she could feel only with him.

Afterward they lay together drowsy and content. Noah had never imagined that being in love could be so enchanting. He was warm and utterly content, and he did not think he could get any happier than this.

"Noah?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"I've kind of gotten that idea. At least I hope you do, because I love you to distraction."

"It is wonderful, isn't it? I never dreamed I could be this happy. What would I have done if you had not come into my life?"

"Found some other very lucky man and made him the most fortunate man in the world."

"Oh, no!" Charity sat up in bed. "I don't think anyone in the world could have made me feel this way." She looked down into his smiling eyes. "Don't you believe in fate?"

"I suppose. Do you think our meeting was fate?"

Charity was temporarily silenced. No, their meeting had been well planned, and when she got back to London and retrieved the packet, she was going to confess all. For now she was quiet.

"Charity?"

"I . . . I suppose it was."

"I would love to think I was smiled upon by God for some good deed I must have done. My reward was you."

"I am not a reward, Noah," she laughed. "Perhaps when you have been married to me for a while, you will change your mind."

"I doubt it. But . . . after fifty or sixty years, we can discuss the matter."

"Noah?"

"Um-hum," he replied as he drew her back down into his arms. She snuggled against him and rested her head on his chest. She closed her eyes as she felt him stroking her hair.

"Do you want children?"

"Of course, what man doesn't? Does that create a problem?"

"I think maybe I am a little afraid."

"Then we will wait until your fears can be calmed."

"You won't . . .!" She lifted her head to look at him,

then her cheeks pinkened under his pleased laughter.

"Sacrifice my pleasure in making love to you? I couldn't do that if my life depended upon it. There are ways, my love, so don't worry. I wouldn't rush you into something that frightens you."

Charity was silent for a while, then she snuggled closer. "I am a baby, and I will not be so foolish. Women have children every day. I'm sure if you are there, I'll be fine." Noah swallowed his words of surprised pleasure. "I suppose it's because I never knew my own mother, and I have always thought she must be dead or she would have come for me."

"Charity . . . it might be impossible to ever find a trace of your mother . . . or your father."

"I know," she answered quietly.

"Is it not enough that we will have each other and someday children of our own? You can give them all you have missed. I would like to see you find your family, but . . ."

"I know," Charity answered. "I am selfish sometimes. I love you, Noah, and I will be content with the wonderful good fortune I have found. You are all I need. I will have your name, and your family. It is enough, I swear."

"Ah, Charity," Noah said softly, "I would give you the world if you asked. I would give you anything."

The intensity and the truth in his gaze brought tears to Charity's eyes. She reached up to capture his face between her hands and draw him down to her. Her kiss ended all questions. They found each other again and spent the midnight hours sealing their promise.

The next morning Noah wakened to see Charity already preparing their baggage for travel. He lay and watched her for a while, until she became aware of his gaze and turned to smile at him.

"I am afraid I was lacking last night, if you are so determined to be gone this early."

She came to him with laughter in her eyes. "I have taken care of all the small things, so that you and I will have the rest of our time here to spend only on each other."

"How clever. I should have thought of that."

"You can't think of everything, and I rather like the idea that all your concentration is on me."

"My concentration is always on you. Come here, wench," he laughed. She bounced down on the bed beside him. "I don't expect the carriage to be here until this afternoon." He kissed her fiercely.

"Good, then we have most of the day to spend. Noah, it is beautiful outside. Let's go for a walk. I want to put everything about this place in my memory. I don't want to forget a thing."

"And I shan't remember anything about this place but you."

"Come on, let's go."

"All right." Noah pretended reluctance and laughed at her impatience as she drew him after her.

They spent the morning soaking in the beauty of the place and of their just being together. Still, when the carriage arrived, both were reluctant to leave and they promised each other to return soon.

When the carriage drew up in front of Noah's Lon-

don townhouse, they were laughing together and neither noticed the carriage sitting directly across the street from them. Neither saw Charles's cold gaze or knew of his fierce hatred, or the promise of revenge he muttered as his carriage drove away.

Chapter Sixteen

''Charity, you've tried on three gowns and you look fabulous in all of them. For heaven's sake, choose one," Noah was complaining.

"But I cannot go to see the queen if I don't have the right gown," Charity cried. They had been home less than twenty-four hours when Noah had come to tell her they were to go to Windsor Castle. "She will think me ignorant . . . and I don't want her to, even if I am."

Noah laughed and came to her. He took her in his arms and held her firm. "Now, calm yourself. I am sure Queen Victoria will not only remember you, she will think you the charming innocent that you are."

"Innocent," Charity scoffed. "Ignorant is what you mean."

"No, innocent is what I mean, and she will be as enchanted as I am."

"Noah, I don't want to shame you. Whatever shall I talk about?"

"Tell her about your stay at the Round, and what a fine pickpocket you are."

"Noah!" Charity looked at him in distress.

"I am only joking, Charity. For God's sake, you're wonderful and you have nothing to worry about. I shall keep you no matter what the queen says."

"Ohhh."

Noah threw up his hands with a laugh. "No matter what I say, it seems to make matters worse. Perhaps I should send Kat and Elizabeth to help you choose."

"I wish you would. Kat will know exactly what is right."

"We only have a few hours, so you had better choose quickly." He then escaped the room gratefully.

Kathy found Charity almost in tears, sitting on the bed. "Charity, what's wrong?"

"I can find nothing suitable to wear," she moaned. "And I think I'm going to be sick."

"You have plenty to wear. We have bought out almost every shop in London, and you are not going to be sick," Kathy replied firmly. "Now come on, up off that bed and let me see you in that rose-colored gown."

"Of course." Charity brightened. "I had forgotten it, and I've never worn it before. . . . Oh, Kat, why must I do this?"

"Because you are Noah's wife. He must see the queen often, and as his wife you must be beside him.

Charity, it must sometimes look as if these visits are . . . social."

Charity paused and looked closely at Kathy, and for the first time she realized what a help she could be to Noah as his wife. It was just the right thing for Kathy to have said. Kathy noticed her changed demeanor and realized that Charity would walk through hell for Noah. It was the first time she had truly seen how deep Charity's love for him went, and she was pleased.

"I see," Charity replied. She calmed at once. "Kat, would you help with my hair? I want to be at my best."

"Of course."

When Noah returned an hour later, he was totally surprised to find a serene and smiling Charity.

"Noah, I'm ready," she said. "We don't want to be late."

While Charity walked into her dressing room to get her cloak, Noah turned to his sister. "What magic did you do?"

"No magic, I simply told her what you should have told her."

"And what was that?"

"That you needed her."

"She should know that by now," he replied softly.

"Noah" Kathy smiled and put her hand on his arm. "You treat Charity like a beloved child."

"That's not true."

"Isn't it?"

"I love her so much, Kat, sometimes I can't believe it."

"And you would keep her away from anything that might upset her. Stop treating her that way or you will just make her unhappy when she figures out for herself how protective you've been. She wants to be part of you . . . your life . . . all of it. I think you can trust her to seek out the best for you always."

Noah remained quiet, and Kathy kissed his cheek and left him. He remained still and thoughtful. Trust; how he wanted to trust Charity and know she stood beside him. But . . . He inhaled a deep breath and then smiled as Charity reappeared.

"You look absolutely beautiful."

"Thank you. Noah, I'm sorry if I acted like a giddy girl. I was just nervous. But I'm fine now, and I do believe it's time to go."

"Yes, it is." Noah was impressed by her new self-control.

They rode toward Windsor Castle in silence, their thoughts similarly engaged. Both were thinking about trust. It was then that Charity made a decision, and made herself a promise.

When they arrived at Windsor they were told to wait, for the queen had just been given some correspondence that required her attention. They were escorted to the garden where a table had been set for an afternoon lunch.

"The garden is lovely," Charity said.

"Yes, Her Majesty has always been proud of it."

"You have been in her service a long time, Noah?"

"In a way. Actually, I'm in Lord Brandywine's service, but that requires some contact with her, and often some dealings on her behalf."

"And Lord Brandywine, who is he?"

"He is her . . . confidant, advisor, and most of all, her friend."

"And you are his," Charity said softly. Noah meant to question the look he saw in her eyes, but the queen's arrival put an end to that. Charity dropped into a deep curtsy, without any sign of nervousness.

Noah was still thinking about Charity's last words. Did this mean she knew of the assassination plot in the papers she had hidden? He longed for her to come to him and give her trust completely. Then he could tell her.

"Noah," the queen was saying, "I wish to congratulate you on your marriage, and you as well, Lady Morgan. You have captured the handsomest rogue ever to grace this court."

"It is I who have captured the loveliest creature in your realm, Your Majesty," Noah replied smoothly.

"I believe you are the one who is right, Your Majesty." Charity smiled. "Noah is the handsomest man I know. As to being a rogue, I do not know. He seems less a rogue than a champion."

Noah was surprised at Charity's command of this repartee, but he shouldn't have been. She had always been an accomplished actress. He soon realized that Victoria was regarding Charity with a smile.

"Yes, I see him in much the same light. Noah, I'm afraid that before we can sit and enjoy our short time together, Lord Brandywine has asked for a few words with you . . . in private. I have bid him wait in my private office."

"I shall tend to it at once. If you will give me leave to go?"

"By all means, go. Your charming wife and I will discuss you at our leisure." Her laugh was soft and contagious enough to make Charity laugh too.

"I trust you not to tell her too many of my secrets."

"Why, Noah, that is precisely my plan, to tell her all I know of you." She laughed again at Noah's look. "Go and see Charles, there is nothing I could tell this girl that would not make her love you more than she obviously does."

Noah left, and Victoria went to Charity's side. "Come, let us walk for a while. It is not often I get this much time to myself. Not that I do not enjoy my children, but at times they can be a trial."

"You must tell me about your children, Your Majesty . . . and your husband."

Charity saw the queen's eyes light, and knew she had struck just the right chord. It was clear that this queen loved her children, and loved her husband even more.

When Noah stepped into the room, Charles Brandywine was standing by the huge windows that looked down on the garden. Obviously he had seen Noah and Charity arrive, and was waiting for him.

"Noah, I am glad to see you. I received the message you sent. It was a bit puzzling, I must admit."

"Puzzling, yes, I suppose it was. But I am always fearful that someone will intercept our correspondence and foil our plans."

"Come, let me pour you some wine, so you can tell me just what is going on."

"Thank you, no, I want no wine. My message was to relieve your mind."

"Then you've traced the plot to its source?"

"Yes, and my news will astound you."

"I am not astounded by much the human race can contrive."

"Neither am I, but just listen and you might change your mind."

"Noah, I must assume you have decoded the letters."

"Your assumption is right. But you see, there are a number of extenuating circumstances, and I beg your leave to explain some things before we go on."

"If this little intrigue has you so caught up, it must be an interesting story."

"It is. You know that decoding the letters took a long time. I knew our plotters must have had someone trying to get them back in the meanwhile."

"So you hid them well."

"No, I made them obvious."

"Why?"

"To catch whomever came for them."

"And you caught him?"

"I caught her."

"Excellent."

"I not only caught her . . . I married her."

There was a stunned silence as Brandywine studied Noah's face. Then he smiled. "I think we had better sit down. This promises to be a most interesting story."