The Muse (9 page)

“And since I trust you, and believe in your character, I know I have found that man.”  She took a deep breath.  “So, I will say the words to you in this way, as I am guessing they will mean more to you like this.  Firstly, Graham, I love you as well.  I love your honesty, your easy manner, your sincerity, your strength, your kindness—the man that you are.  Secondly, in answer to your proposal, I accept your hand in marriage.  I do wish to be your wife, to love and honor you, and to live my life with you.”

Graham leaned forward until their foreheads met and just rested against her for a moment.  Imogene’s words had touched him deeply, but also cleared away his many doubts.

“If I am quiet it is because I am unable to speak for being in awe of you.  You have made me the happiest man, Imogene.”  He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a carved gold ring.
 
“You’ll have another ring when I can get it from Gavandon.”  Slipping it on her finger, he kissed her hand and held it up to his beating heart.  “Can you feel my heart beating?  It’s more like pounding really.”

She nodded.  “I can feel it, your heart…my heart.”

“It
is
yours,” he said.

“I have something for you, a gift, an improper gift, but I do not care.  I must give it before you go away.”  She handed him a small package.

“An improper gift, from you?  How intriguing.”  He accepted and opened the small packet.  Inside a dozen ribbons of various sizes and colours were lined together, mostly dark, all cut to the same one foot length.  He touched one of her long curls.  “I know what this is.  In your sweet way you are telling me not to cut my hair.  You need not worry.  I know you fancy my hair and I would not have cut it short.  I might have to trim it though.  I don’t think I’d like it down my back.  Will that be all right,
chérie,
if I just keep it trimmed to the length it is now?”  He could not hold back the grin that was dying to get out.  He loved teasing her and seeing the blush she would give him when she answered his question.  Knowing and predicting her responses to him was an intense feeling.  He still had so much to learn about her.

“Yes, of course,” Imogene said.  She blushed right on cue and looked down, as if the prospect of him arranging himself personally for her was making her shy.

Her blush also gave him a brutally stiff cock.

Imagining Imogene blushing in his bed, and all of the things they would do together once she was his wife—

“Graham?”  Her soft inquiry dragged him from his wicked thoughts and back into the present.

“Thank you for the ribbons.  I will wear them, and think of you.”  Hell, if that weren’t the truth.  He’d wear her ribbon ties and think of both of them together wearing nothing
but
the ribbons.

“I have a letter for you as well, Graham.  My very first letter to you.  I’ll give it to you now, but you mustn’t open it until you get to London.”  She put the letter into his hands.  “Put it in your pocket and I will know if you cheat,” she warned.

He placed her letter in his waistcoat pocket where he could feel it against his chest.  He wrapped up the ribbons and put them into a pocket of his coat.  Rising from the bench, he offered his hand.  “Walk with me?”

She let him lead her out of the garden and onto the grounds, her hand securely in his.  He needed the touching, and he suspected Imogene did, too, because they were both dreading the parting that would come soon enough.

He made for a large tree that could afford some privacy from the outside world, and figured it would have to do.  The moment they were under the canopy Graham pulled her into his arms, and breathed in the scent of her.  The lavender she used on her hair and the honeysuckle for her skin.  “You smell so good.”  He rested his chin on the top of her head.

“So do you.”

“To hold you like this is heavenly, Imogene.  I wish I didn’t have to let you go.  You’ve made me so happy, but it makes it no easier to leave you now.  I’ll have to take this memory with me so I can bear being parted.”

“You will come for Christmas?”

“Yes,
chérie
, I will come to you at Christmas.”

Graham looked down at her lips and knew what he wanted to do.  He dipped his head and joined their lips.  It was soft and slow, gentle and sweet.  He did not want to push—get all worked up, for it would serve no purpose.  By his best guess, it would be at the very least, four weeks before they could marry.  He would just have to wait for her and console himself that he could bear it because he had the promise of her.  Christmas was only ten days away and now they were engaged, it would be acceptable for him to write her letters and give her gifts.  He consoled himself with that.

Graham lifted his head and could see tears starting in her eyes.  “Did that make you cry?”

“No.  Yes—I am so happy, and so sad that you must go.  Oh, Graham, I am a mess of emotions.  You must think I am foolish.”

He fished out a handkerchief and gave it to her.  He held her against his chest and spoke into her hair, “I think nothing of the sort other than to be a little jealous of you.”

“Why?” she sniffed.

“Because you are a lady and you are allowed to express your emotions.  I, on the other hand, must hold them all in.  I daresay I should like a good cry right about now, as well,” he teased.

“Last night, I had a vivid dream and it was—it was out of the ordinary.”

His heart stuttered but he kept his voice calm. “Tell me about your dream.”

“I was alone looking in on a scene, a party or celebration of sorts.  There were four people, two couples, one of them being my parents.  The other couple, I did not know, but the gentleman looked like an older version of you.  They were toasting something, and they were making merry.  All four of them, looked right at me and raised their glasses.  My mamma spoke, she was the only one of them to do so, and she said, ‘Imogene, we are so happy for you both.’”  Imogene stopped then and pressed her hands to her face.  It took a moment before she continued.  “I bolted up in bed when I woke from that dream, and I felt touched by the netherworld, truly I did.  It was not frightening, but it was genuine.  Am I losing my mind?  What did that dream mean?”

He put his hands on her shoulders firmly.  “You are not losing your mind.  It means just what it should mean.  We were destined to find each other, through fate, or the help of our parents in heaven.  We are meant to be together.  I really, really believe that.  It sounds like a lovely dream to me, and I am glad you shared with me just now.  Remember your dream and hold onto it.”

“I will then.”

Graham understood her completely as he held her under the tree and trailed his fingers over her hair.  For him, dreams such as the one she described happened all the time.  It had been that way for his whole life, the vivid dreaming.

“We must go back, they will be expecting us for luncheon,” she said sorrowfully.

“In a minute we will go.  I’m not ready to give you up yet.  I must kiss you for a while and erase away all traces of your tears.”

She lifted her cheek off his chest and looked up at him, offering her lips so sweetly it was difficult to keep himself in check.  But he managed—just barely.  Graham held onto his woman and kissed her properly for the first time.  He relished the taste of her lips and the scent of her skin so close, the melting softness of her body against his as she allowed him to lead her along.

And he kissed her, and kissed her, over and over again.

THEY returned to Wilton Court at a sedate pace, both wishing to avoid the inevitable.  Graham looked down at her and wanted to pull her back under the tree.  Her lips were so fine and soft.  Right now they were puffy from all the liberties he’d taken while kissing her, but he loved the look of her being claimed by him.  As they walked back, he wondered how in the hell would he survive the next few weeks.  It would be bloody difficult for sure.

“Our engagement will be announced in the papers tomorrow.  I’ll put it in immediately when I get into Town,” he told her.

“So the whole world will know?”

“Yes, indeed.  I want the whole world to know you are promised to me.”

“Will you write to me?”

“Yes, I will write to you.”  He tugged on her hand so they might stop walking for a moment.  Touching his fingers to her lips, he caressed the soft pink skin.  “Where would you like to marry?  Here in Shelburne or Town?  You don’t have to answer now.  Think on it and we will arrange everything when I come at Christmas.  If you should choose London, my townhouse, Brentwood
,
will be at your disposal for as long as you and your family might like to stay in Town.  Of course, I will not be there with you for I will be up north at Gavandon, but there is staff to take care of you if you do decide to stay.  As soon as you choose where you’d like to marry, I can apply for the licence.”

“A special licence?  They cost a fortune.”

“I can well afford it, and you are more than worth the price.”  He touched the tip of her nose.  “I cannot wait too long for you, Imogene.  Now that I have won you, I have no wish to be patient.”  He bent to kiss her again.  “I want you to be my wife as soon as possible.”

“And I do as well.”

The soft reply she gave along with her welcoming lips when he bent to kiss her again utterly thrilled him.  For all her innocence, Imogene showed passion, and he could not wait to explore the depths of where it would lead them together.

SIR Oliver invited Graham into his study to discuss her settlement as soon as they returned from their walk.  Imogene went to her aunt who embraced her and asked, “Now we have a wedding to plan?”

“Yes, Aunt Wilton.  Graham must be invited to Christmas.  You must extend the invitation before he leaves today for Town.”

Aunt Wilton touched Imogene’s face.  “We are so happy for you, my dear.  You are become grown up before my eyes.  Of course he shall be invited for Christmas and his brother, too.”

At luncheon they shared several longing looks, both of them thinking about being separated.  It was so strange an idea really.  Just a month ago she didn’t care about much at all in her life, but everything had changed the moment she’d met Graham. Now she was in love and engaged to be married to a man who said he loved her.  So quickly her priorities had changed.

When it was time, Graham bid his farewell to everyone, and accepted Lady Wilton’s invitation for Christmas when she asked him.

Nine days I must be without him.

Imogene watched him with her family, taking his leave, so politely reserved.  He wasn’t reserved with her though.  She thought about them kissing under the tree and felt her face heat up.  Graham, along with his thorough kisses would be greatly missed.

They were left alone to say their farewells in private.

Imogene stood before him in the drawing room, attempting a brave front.  Graham pulled her close and held her firmly.  “I am trying to memorize your shape, to take in your scent, to remember how you feel against me, for it will have to do for a good while,” he whispered.

Imogene felt tears rising to the surface and remembered his handkerchief.  She pulled it out and blurted, “I do not want to give this back to you.”

Graham pressed his lips to the cloth and kissed it, then pushed it back into her hand and said, “Keep it.”