‘I have one more confession to make to you.’ The words came slowly, for he was lost in the touch of her fingertips. ‘I learnt to fish when I was ten.’
Her hand, which had been making small stroking motions, stopped.
‘But you said …’
‘I told you a lie, Mary. I hope it is the only one I ever do. You see, I saw it as a way to be close to you when you were happy and—’
‘You were so clumsy.’
‘It was really difficult, but I had to need those lessons, and you know, I was so focused on you, making a mess of it became easier the closer I was to you. Forgi—’
‘I love you. I love you oh so much. I …’ The words tumbled from her lips, but were curtailed by his pressing his own to them. He kissed her with a thoroughness and enthusiasm that more than made up for his paucity of osculatory experience, and Miss Lound found it entirely satisfactory.371
‘I have been wanting to do that again since Christmas Eve,’ he murmured, a little breathlessly, ‘and for weeks before that, too.’
‘You have?’
‘Yes. That night at the Roxtons’ ball, just before you became dizzy, it was so very nearly overpowering I almost kissed you in the middle of the dance floor, you were so beautiful.’
‘I … I thought you were disappointed in me, being so “dictatorial” and …’
‘No, I simply could not trust myself with you in my arms, even in just a dance hold.’
‘It does show I got something right, then. I always thought I showed to advantage in that gown.’
‘You show to advantage even in your fishing garb.’ He grinned, and there was an appreciative sparkle in his eyes.
‘You are besotted, sir.’ She put both arms about his neck. ‘Would you k—’
‘Mary!’ Lady Damerham exclaimed, more in surprise than shock, for although she was fully in the expectation of her daughter marrying Sir Rowland, the actual sight of her in a man’s arms was unimaginable. The couple pulled a little apart, not without some reluctance, and turned to see Lady Damerham and her son upon the stair, her ladyship bearing a small valise. Damerham looked the more appalled.
‘Damn it, I should call you out for this, seducing my sister. Unhand her this instant.’372
If he expected Sir Rowland to be outraged at the suggestion, he was in for a shock, for Sir Rowland kept his arm firmly about Mary’s waist and let out a crack of laughter.
‘If you think anyone could seduce your sister you cannot know her very well at all.’
‘Stop being melodramatic, Edmund. I have not been seduced. Indeed, if anything, I appear to have “seduced” Sir Rowland,’ declared Mary, tartly.
‘And highly enjoyable it has been,’ murmured Sir Rowland, quite prepared to cast fuel upon the flames of Damerham’s wrath.
‘I am so glad you think so, sir,’ replied Mary, glancing up at him, her expression softening again for a moment.
‘That I should hear my sister, a Lound of Tapley End, admitting to behaviour such as only a—’
‘Be careful what you say, Damerham,’ interjected Sir Rowland, swiftly. ‘I will not have—’
‘You dare, Edmund, stand there and spout “a Lound of Tapley End” at me when it has been you who has disgraced the name and brought us to ruin so that we are no longer of “Tapley End” at all?’ Mary ignored her love and was focused upon her brother. ‘That is rich. You did not think so much of this house or our name when you sold it to Lord Cradley, did you?’ Her voice rose with her ire.
‘I have brought you some dry clothes,’ announced Lady Damerham, rather desperately, as though this373might halt the spat between her children. She was ignored by both.
‘Who is being melodramatic now?’ Damerham threw back at Mary, and pointed his finger at Sir Rowland. ‘You have set your cap at him for this house, and he has fallen for it.’ Damerham curled his lip in a theatrical sneer at Sir Rowland. ‘She’s a hard piece and will rule the roost if you let her. All she wants is the house and the blasted lake, and …’
Mary felt Sir Rowland tense, and turned a little in his hold to place her hand over his heart in a gesture of restraint, but he took it and carried it to his lips.
‘What I want, what I need, so much more even than this house, is you,’ she whispered. ‘You must know …’
‘I know, my love, I know.’
