An Unsuitable Match (27 page)

As Clarice sat at breakfast several mornings later, she thought about how very well acquainted she'd become with the dark and cold of an English country dawn. Reluctantly leaving David and the warmth of his bed, she stole barefoot back to her room each morning. The chilly dash she made was the price she had to pay to keep their new status as lovers a secret from the servants.

Across the table, David sat reading a letter. Attired in the well-cut clothing of a gentleman, he showed no outward sign of the daring and passionate lover he had been during the night. And in the hour before dawn. Clarice picked up her napkin and tried to stifle a yawn.

‘I am surprised to see you are tired this morning, Clarice,' Lady Alice noted from the other end of the table.

Clarice lifted her head and gave her a smile. A second yawn quickly followed the first.

‘I did not sleep well last night. I am still unaccustomed to sleeping in a different bed,' she replied.

As soon as the words left her lips she felt her ears begin to burn. She stared hard at her plate, not daring to look at Lady Alice or David. Especially David.

David cleared his throat and folded up the letter.

‘How odd that you say you didn't sleep well, my dear, as I failed to rouse you when I knocked on your door last night. I have finished the book you so kindly lent to me and thought to return it,' Lady Alice said.

‘Oh,' she replied.

She looked up and caught Lady Alice smiling knowingly. Clarice picked up a boiled egg and began to tap at the side of it with her spoon. After the exertions of the night and the early morning, she found herself hungry by breakfast.

Positively ravenous.

David Radley gave new meaning to the expression. An hour before dawn he'd woken her with his wicked fingers and lips touching her in places that, until a few days ago, she barely knew she possessed. Places that still throbbed and tingled several hours later.

Clarice stole a glance at her lover, watching as he pursed his lips and blew cool air across the coffee at the top of his cup. Their early-morning lovemaking had been even more magical than the first time earlier that night. And the second and the third. After their first night together, she had known a little of what was to come. Now, having been in David's arms every night since then, she also knew there was a great deal more.

She swallowed and curled her toes up in her slippers.

‘How is your leg this morning, Lady Alice?' David asked.

Clarice let out the breath she had been unconsciously holding.

‘It comes and goes,' Lady Alice replied.

To suit the occasion.

Clarice fixed a look of concern on her face that she knew would fool no-one.

‘I was thinking of a walk in Temple Wood this morning, but if you don't think your knee is quite up to a short hike, would you mind if Clarice accompanied me? It is on the edge of the estate, so she will perfectly safe,' David replied.

An image of a wolf in sheep's clothing suddenly popped into Clarice's head. He wouldn't, would he? Outside in the woods? She had seen enough couples stealing away into rooms at balls and parties to know private assignations took place. How naive had she been to think it was only for the purpose of sharing a kiss.

‘If Clarice is not too tired, I see no harm in a ramble through the woods,' Lady Alice replied.

‘Excellent. I shall make sure Cook gives us a basket; there is a blackberry patch a little way over the hill, and with any luck we shall have fresh blackberries and cream for supper,' David said.

After breakfast, Clarice changed into a sensible pair of walking boots and a warm day gown before venturing out into the yard to look for David.

Finding the yard empty, she buttoned up her coat against the chill of a late summer's morning and went for an exploratory walk. From inside the barn she could hear the voices of men. How very different the accents of the local men were from those of the workers from her father's estate in Norfolk. Then she heard David's clipped
ton
accent rise up and the men fell silent. He said something that she could not quite catch, but which brought forth a round of appreciative cheers from the other men.

She smiled. He certainly had a way with people.

And with his lips.

A tug on her coat startled Clarice and she looked down to see the cause of the disturbance. Standing looking up at her with serious intent was a small girl.

‘Hello, who are you?' Clarice asked.

The girl let go of Clarice's coat.

‘I'm Lady Tunia,' she replied.

She studied Tunia for a moment. ‘Lady Tunia, that's an interesting name. Is your father a lord?'

A patch of red appeared on Tunia's cheeks. ‘No, my pa is the stablemaster. My real name is Petunia, but Mr Radley calls me Lady Tunia.'

‘Does he now? That's very noble of him,' Clarice replied.

‘Are you a real lady? Like one who lives in a palace? Petunia asked, her brow furrowed deep with concern.

Clarice smiled. ‘Well, yes, I am a real lady; my father is an earl, but I don't live in a palace.'

‘Do you love Mr Radley?'

A gush of laughter escaped Clarice's lips. Petunia had come straight to the point of things. She nodded her head. ‘Very much, very much indeed.'

It was thrilling to be able to finally voice her affection for David so openly to a complete stranger. She no longer doubted her path.

‘So are you going to marry him and come and live here at Sharnbrook Grange? I think he would like that,' Tunia replied.

Clarice bent down and, taking hold of Petunia's hand, pulled her close. ‘Well, that depends upon you, Lady Tunia. Mr Radley has asked me to marry him and I would like to say yes, but it would mean you letting him become my special lord from now on.'

Petunia's face dropped in disappointment. ‘I have to give him up?'

‘Well, not entirely; you could still see him when he is in the stables and the yard. And since you are a lady, it would be all right for him to bow to you. But if you want him to be happy, you will have to let me marry him.'

Clarice felt tears coming to her eyes. After all she and David had endured to be together, it was heartbreaking to think of causing the stablemaster's small daughter pain.

Petunia stared down at the ground before letting out a large sigh. ‘Well, I suppose I shall just have to go back to Peter the butcher's boy.'

‘Is he nice?' Clarice ventured.

Petunia raised her head and nodded. She stepped in close and whispered. ‘He gave me a kiss on the cheek last midsummer, but don't tell me ma, she'll skin me.'

‘Thank you. You truly are a lady, to see your way to letting me marry Mr Radley,' Clarice replied. She reached into her coat pocket and withdrew a small cloth bag. ‘Since you have been so generous, I think I should give you a gift in return.'

She handed the bag to Petunia, who reached inside and pulled out two long dark-pink velvet ribbons.

‘Oh!' Petunia gasped. ‘They are so pretty.'

‘They are yours, Lady Tunia,' Clarice said.

She stood and watched as Petunia scampered off with the ribbons held firmly in her hand. Trailing them behind her as she raced home, she quickly sidestepped David as he came out of the stables. The girl gave him a wave of the hand as she dashed past. ‘Mr Radley,' she said.

Clarice laughed at the look of disappointment on David's face as he approached.

‘You didn't think she was going to stop and give you a curtsy, did you? She is a true lady; fashion always comes first,' she said.

‘So you have met Lady Tunia; isn't she a charm?' David murmured in her ear.

‘She is, but it took my best pair of ribbons to convince her to give you up and let me marry you,' Clarice replied, turning to face him. ‘Which is rather fortunate, as I believe after the events of the past few days, I have made it clear that my answer is yes.'

David took hold of her hand and placed a tender kiss on her palm. ‘I shall never tire of hearing you say
yes
to me.'

She saw the wicked glint in his eye and gave him a playful tap on the arm. ‘Beastly man.'

‘Just remember that when I have you all to myself in the woods this morning,' he replied.

In his hand he held a wicker basket, in which was placed a folded blanket. Clarice looked down at the basket, then back to David and made up her mind. She held her hand out and took the basket from him.

‘I was thinking of going into the walking-stick business,' David said, as they walked toward the gateway that led out of the yard.

Clarice looked at him quizzically. ‘Why?'

He chuckled. ‘I saw Lady Alice in the garden a few minutes ago; she was moving freely and at one point even bent down and smelled the flowers. She had left her walking stick leaning against the wall. I tell you, that stick of hers has magical powers. Depending on the social situation it either works so well that she does not require it, or she is suddenly an invalid. She is a canny woman, your grandmother; I think Mr Fox found that out to his detriment.'

Clarice nodded her head. ‘Do you think she knows – I mean about us?'

‘If she suspects anything, she is keeping mum, and I can understand why,' he replied.

Clarice swung the basket gaily in her hand and took a deep breath. Being away from London and all its constraints was truly invigorating. In London, she and David would not have been able to go walking together without at least several servants or a suitable chaperone in tow.

‘Yes, I suppose she is in a difficult position. If she is seen to have completely taken our side, then Papa will be angry with her,' Clarice replied.

‘I think she is playing the game exactly as she wants. To all intents and purposes she is protecting you, but at the same time she is turning a considered blind eye to any developments between us.'

Clarice ceased swinging the basket and paused in her step. David stopped and came back to her side.

‘What is the matter?' he asked.

‘Can you promise my hair and attire will not be in disarray when we return to the house? I gave Petunia the ribbons I was going to put in my hair. And while matters have developed between us and I am delighted beyond words that they have, I think we need to tread carefully from this point onward. If I am to become lady of the manor, I would not like to think that the servants viewed me in a poor light.'

David frowned. He was clearly disappointed. She reached over and gave him a gentle thump on the arm. ‘I thought we were going blackberry-picking!'

He rolled his eyes. ‘Among other things.'

Out of sight of the main farm buildings, he grabbed her and pulled her to him, placing a hard kiss on her lips.

‘I promise you will look immaculate upon our return, but I do intend to make you scream,' he murmured into her ear.

They crossed the fields and entered into the cool silence of the woods.

‘Is this your land?' she asked.

He nodded. ‘Yes, right to the other edge of the trees, about eight hundred yards, and then the River Ouse marks a natural boundary between Sharnbrook and the adjoining estate,' he replied, pride evident in his voice.

He took her by the hand and led Clarice along a narrow path that ran through the wood. The heady scent of the pine trees filled her senses. A few hundred yards further on, he stepped off the path and they made their way to a small sunlit clearing, where they stopped.

‘May I have the basket?' he said.

She handed it over.

He removed the blanket from it, unfolded it and spread it out on the pine-needle-strewn ground.

Her heart began to pound in anticipation. Were they really going to make love here? He kissed her forehead and whispered. ‘There is nothing to be afraid of, Clarice. No-one will disturb us.'

He put a hand into his coat pocket and took out a red silk ribbon. Her brow furrowed. What did he plan to do with the ribbon?

‘Give me your right hand,' he said.

‘Why?'

‘Because until I can secure your father's blessing to our formal union, I want us to be hand-fasted. I know that may seem a little odd, considering how we have spent the past few nights, but it's important.'

She gave him her right hand. ‘You do realise that we are in England and hand-fasting is really only practised in Scotland,' she said, a wry smile upon her lips.

A lifting of one of his black eyebrows made her giggle.

‘Aye, but you may recall that along with my father's English titles, he also holds several Scottish ones. And since he bought this land, I consider it part of his domain.'

David took hold of Clarice's hand and wound the ribbon around both their hands.

‘Are we supposed to say something?' she asked.

‘In olden times a hand-fasted couple agreed to live together for a year and a day. If after that time they decided they did not wish to marry then the hand-fast was over and they went their respective ways. Well, that is what I have been told. Usually the Church of Scotland got hold of them and they were made to wed,' he replied.

‘So?'

He leaned down and placed a tender kiss on her lips. ‘Say with me: forever and a day I pledge myself to you,' he said.

Clarice nodded. Any ceremony from this point on would be a mere formality. She was David's woman, and that was all that mattered.

‘Forever and a day I pledge myself to you,' they said in unison.

‘I love you, David Radley.'

‘I love you, Clarice soon-to-be Radley.'

David unwound the ribbon and placed it back in the basket. Clarice's mouth went dry when she saw him take off his coat and lay it on the blanket.

He came to her and together they slowly removed each other's clothes. When finally they stood naked, facing one another, she came to him.

His kisses began at her forehead. Each one hot and tender against her rapidly cooling skin. When he nibbled playfully on her earlobe she laughed.