Whisper To Me of Love (56 page)
Read Whisper To Me of Love Online
Authors: Shirlee Busbee
Even now, over a fortnight since they had been buried, Morgana could not bring herself to look in the direction of the still bare earth that marked their graves. She had not mourned their deaths; to her shame, she had experienced again the same fierce satisfaction that had flooded through her when she had stared down at the body of the one-eyed man. They had deserved to die!
Sighing, she deliberately dragged her thoughts away from that fruitless direction and plucked a blade of grass. Such a lot had happened these past weeks. The hurried, immediate removal to St. Audries Hall. The funeral. Ben's release from Newgate. The departure of Ben, Jack, and Zachary for America on the very day of Ben's release.
It had been decided that Jack and Ben would stay with Zachary at his plantation near Baton Rouge until Royce and she joined them in the fall, when they would make further plans about their future.... But what about
my
future? she nearly wailed aloud. Everyone else was more than satisfied with the way things had turned outâher brothers were safely in America, hovering on the threshold of a new life; Julian was the Earl of St. Audries, his home and fortune secure; and Royce ...
my
future? she nearly wailed aloud. Everyone else was more than satisfied with the way things had turned outâher brothers were safely in America, hovering on the threshold of a new life; Julian was the Earl of St. Audries, his home and fortune secure; and Royce ...
What
was
Royce thinking and feeling these days? she wondered miserably. She knew she was partially to blame for the chasm between them, her suspicion of his motives making her stiff and wary around him. But he, too, had changed over these past weeksâgone was the teasing, arrogant lover, the man who had captured her heart, and in his place, there was this unfailingly polite creature who quietly anticipated her wishes and silently watched her every move. With the lover, she might have been able to voice the fears in her heart, but this ... this
stranger
that Royce had become made it impossible for her to reveal the uncertainties that racked her.
was
Royce thinking and feeling these days? she wondered miserably. She knew she was partially to blame for the chasm between them, her suspicion of his motives making her stiff and wary around him. But he, too, had changed over these past weeksâgone was the teasing, arrogant lover, the man who had captured her heart, and in his place, there was this unfailingly polite creature who quietly anticipated her wishes and silently watched her every move. With the lover, she might have been able to voice the fears in her heart, but this ... this
stranger
that Royce had become made it impossible for her to reveal the uncertainties that racked her.
Reluctantly she admitted that he didn't act like a man who had married to gain wealthânot by so much as a look had he indicated that her total rejection of her rightful place and fortune had bothered him. If anything, she thought almost angrily, he had seemed inordinately pleased by her decision, and certainly no one could have asked for a kinder, more considerate husband than Royce. Look at all he had done for her and Ben and Jack. He had showered her with gifts and had risked his life to save her from the one-eyed man. It had even been his suggestion that they delay their departure from England rather than sailing with the others, so that she could become better acquainted with Julian.
Guilt smote her, and the terrible suspicion that she had misjudged him, which had occurred uncomfortably to her more than once these past weeks, suddenly flitted through her mind. She moved uneasily. Could he have really meant all those sweet words that he had poured into her ear? But if he had meant them, why was he acting so aloof? she asked herself despairingly. A blush stained her cheeks. He hadn't even visited her bed. Was that the act of a man in love?
As if her thoughts had conjured him up, she spied Royce's tall form walking toward her, and her heart raced in her chest. He looked heartbreakingly handsome as he came nearer, the breeze attractively riffling the tawny hair, his elegant coat and breeches revealing the splendid body they clothed. He carried a rolled-up piece of paper in his hand, and walking up to her, he said lightly, “I've been looking for you and I thought that I might find you here. May I join you?”
Almost shyly she nodded, and he promptly joined her on the ground, lounging negligently at her feet, one hand propping up his head as he lay on his side. There was a curious expression in the golden eyes, and as he stared at her, Morgana became increasingly nervous. Rushing into speech, she stammered, “D-D-Did you want t-t-to see me about anything s-s-special?”
He regarded her for a long, tension-mounting moment and then said quietly, “As a matter of fact, yes. Julian and I have worked out a settlement for you that we both believe is fair.”
“A-A-A settlem-m-ment?” she asked stupidly. “What do you mean?”
Royce smiled wryly. “Your brother is a very honorable young manâhis conscience has been bedeviling him and he has been having difficulty simply accepting your generous renunciation.” He sent her a level look and continued carefully, “I've explained to him that I am a very rich man and that you will never want for anything, but that did not seem to satisfy him, and after some discussion, we compromised.”
Her eyes locked painfully on his face, in a small voice she asked, “What sort of compromise?”
Silently he handed her the paper he had brought with him. He gave her a moment to unroll it, and then in that same careful tone he said, “A woman should have some sort of independence from her husbandâespecially in a case like ours.” At her confused expression, he added dryly, “I am very richâand since you have given away what is rightfully yours ... you have nothing.” Something flickered in the golden eyes, and his voice hardened. “I would not like to think that you suffer my presence because the alternative is being penniless and forced to go back to your old way of life.... To prevent that, Julian and I have decided that he shall settle a sum of money on youâmoney that you will be able to call your own, money that would enable you to live apart from me if that is your desire.”
Astonishment held her motionlessâshe might have doubts about his motives, but she loved him passionately, and the notion of leaving him, of not being able to see him every day, had never occurred to her.
She loved him!
She would never leave him ... but perhaps he wanted her to leave him? Dazedly her gaze dropped to the paper he had handed her and she quickly scanned it. Her face white, she lifted her head, and looking miserably at him, she stammered, “T-T-Ten th-th-thousand pounds a year! It is too much! I cannot accept it!”
She loved him!
She would never leave him ... but perhaps he wanted her to leave him? Dazedly her gaze dropped to the paper he had handed her and she quickly scanned it. Her face white, she lifted her head, and looking miserably at him, she stammered, “T-T-Ten th-th-thousand pounds a year! It is too much! I cannot accept it!”
Royce's mouth tightened. “Don't be a little fool! Compared to the whole of your mother's fortune, what Julian is giving you is a paltry sum! Take it!”
A bitter laugh shook her, any lingering hope that she had misjudged him shattered. A gust of anger swept through her, and throwing the paper in his face, she leaped to her feet. “Is that why you married me?” she demanded half-hysterically, half-furiously. “To get your hands on my mother's money?”
The expression on his face frightened her, and as he surged upright, instinctively she took a step backward. His hands caught her shoulders and he shook her impatiently. “You little fool!” he snarled. “Is that why you have been acting as skittish as a cat with kittens lately? Because you think I
knew?
And married you with my eye on Hester's fortune?” Almost with revulsion, he thrust her away from him. Keeping his hands tightly clenched at his sides, as if he did not trust himself not to do her a violence, he swore vehemently. “Good God! How wrong could I have been?” Shooting her a glance filled with dislike, he snapped, “And to think that I have been handling you with kid gloves because I didn't want to rush you into making decisions that weren't really what you wanted!” Advancing menacingly on her, the glitter in the golden eyes making her tremble, he snarled softly, “Well, the hell with
that!”
knew?
And married you with my eye on Hester's fortune?” Almost with revulsion, he thrust her away from him. Keeping his hands tightly clenched at his sides, as if he did not trust himself not to do her a violence, he swore vehemently. “Good God! How wrong could I have been?” Shooting her a glance filled with dislike, he snapped, “And to think that I have been handling you with kid gloves because I didn't want to rush you into making decisions that weren't really what you wanted!” Advancing menacingly on her, the glitter in the golden eyes making her tremble, he snarled softly, “Well, the hell with
that!”
Jerking her into his arms, he kissed her ravenously, like a man with a great hunger to assuage, and it was only when he felt her arms steal around his neck and her lips part for him that his mouth gentled. Clasping her to him, he rained half-tender, half-violent kisses on her mouth and throat, muttering fiercely, “You aggravating little baggage! How
dare
you think me a fortune hunter! I'm in love with you, you silly wench! I've been in love with you since that morning I came downstairs and found you gambling in the kitchen with Zachary and his friends.” Tearing his caressing mouth from the base of her throat, he pushed her away slightly and shook her soundly.
“I love you!
And it was because I love you that I married you!” He kissed her again, almost savagely, and added thickly, “I know I rushed you into marriage and I've been trying these past weeks to give you time to think things through ... to let you decide, now that you know your past, what you want to do. But I'm sorry, sweetheart, I'm afraid that as far as you are concerned, all my noble intentions have vanishedâI love you too much to ever let you go!” His expression softened at the stunned look in her eyes. “Didn't you ever guess? Do you think that a man in my position acts as I did if he is not under some powerful compulsion?” His gaze darkened. “I have never been so fearful as I was when I realized that the one-eyed man had youâMorgana, I thought I would die of terror until I held you in my arms again!” He shook her again. “You
must
believe me!”
dare
you think me a fortune hunter! I'm in love with you, you silly wench! I've been in love with you since that morning I came downstairs and found you gambling in the kitchen with Zachary and his friends.” Tearing his caressing mouth from the base of her throat, he pushed her away slightly and shook her soundly.
“I love you!
And it was because I love you that I married you!” He kissed her again, almost savagely, and added thickly, “I know I rushed you into marriage and I've been trying these past weeks to give you time to think things through ... to let you decide, now that you know your past, what you want to do. But I'm sorry, sweetheart, I'm afraid that as far as you are concerned, all my noble intentions have vanishedâI love you too much to ever let you go!” His expression softened at the stunned look in her eyes. “Didn't you ever guess? Do you think that a man in my position acts as I did if he is not under some powerful compulsion?” His gaze darkened. “I have never been so fearful as I was when I realized that the one-eyed man had youâMorgana, I thought I would die of terror until I held you in my arms again!” He shook her again. “You
must
believe me!”
It was the culmination of every sweet dream, and her heart beating with thick, painful strokes, she stared at him almost fearfully, hardly daring to think that he could truly love her. Steadily he returned her stare, the warm glints in those topaz eyes telling her the most wondrous things imaginable. Bitter remorse fought with wild ecstasy as she gazed up at those beloved features, and suddenly she
did
believe! Oh, dear God, she had wronged him frightfully! But he
loved
her!
did
believe! Oh, dear God, she had wronged him frightfully! But he
loved
her!
Trying to excuse herself, she wailed helplessly, “But you could have married anyone! Yet you chose meâa penniless thief with no pretensions to family or fortuneâand when it came out that I was really the Lady Morgana Devlin, what else could I think?”
Catching her up in a violent embrace, he kissed her passionately, and Morgana responded ardently, her slender frame straining against him. Blissful moments later, he put her from him and said huskily, “You could have thought the truthâthat I took one look at the sweetest little face I have ever seen and fell violently in love with you!”
“Oh, Royce!” she breathed ecstatically, a dazzling smile on her lovely face. “I love you, too!”
“And I should hope so!” he retorted with brutal candor, a mocking light in the dancing golden eyes. “After all that I have gone through to get you! You have cost me a fortune! Loving me until the day I die is the least that I shall expect from you!”
“Oh, I will! I will!” she cried earnestly, and happily kissed his chin and jaw. “Till then and beyond!”
Her black curly head resting under his chin, their arms around each other, they stood there together for a long time, speaking the words that all lovers yearn to hear and cherish forever. It wasn't until they were gathering up her things, preparing to walk back to the house, that Julian's settlement came up again.
“Did you really mean what you said about wanting me to have this? So I will be independent of you?” she asked uncertainly.
He sent her a look. “Not too independent, I trust!” he teased gently. Tipping her face upward, he dropped a kiss on her nose and then said more seriously, “Julian is a young man with a great deal of pride. He very nearly lost everything that he had believed was his, and it is only through your generosity that he was able to retain it. There is nothing that you cannot ask of him that he will not do, but for
his
sake, take this moneyâit may mean little to you, but to him, it is of paramount importance.”
his
sake, take this moneyâit may mean little to you, but to him, it is of paramount importance.”
An arrested expression on her features, she slowly nodded. “I hadn't thought of it that way.”
Arm in arm, instinctively they strolled over to her parents' grave, the slowly fading sunlight gilding the weeping angels who stood with their wings outstretched over the graves. Reverently Morgana traced in the cool marble the dates of Andrew's and Hester's deaths. A tear trembled on her lashes. “They had such a short time together... .”
“But they had love, my dear, as we do,” Royce said gently. Watching her face intently, he asked quietly, “Will you mind leaving all this? America is very different. We have no titles there.”
Her eyes shimmering beneath their veil of tears, she shook her head. “I only want to be your wife,” she replied simply, which earned her a very satisfying kiss from her husband. Honesty, however, compelled her to add, “If I had grown up here as Julian did, I might feel a pang at leaving, but St. Audries Hall, beautiful as it is, has no meaning to me.” She glanced down at her mother's Bible, which she carried in her hand. “This ... this means everything to meâit was hers, and I will cherish it forever!”
An odd look in his eyes, Royce asked quietly, “And the letter? What do you intend to do with it?”
She searched his face intently. Very slowly she asked, “Are you quite, quite certain that you are happy with the way things are? That you are not sorry that I did not claim Hester's fortune?”
“Quite certain!” Royce growled, and dragged her into his arms to kiss her nearly witless. When at last he raised his lips from her love-swollen mouth, he muttered fiercely, “You are all the fortune I will ever want!”
A blinding happiness transformed her face, and stepping a little away from him, she handed him the Bible and extracted her mother's letter. Holding it between her hands, she said mournfully, “I would like to keep itânext to her Bible, it is the only thing of hers that I haveâbut as long as it exists, there is the danger that someday the truth would come out ... and Julian and whatever family he may have would be devastated by itâperhaps not in our lifetime, but who knows what the future may hold?”
Gently Royce said, “I'd hoped that you would feel that way, but I didn't want to ask it of you.”
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