The Importance of Love (12 page)

Although nearly seventy, she had seemed so young to Luella up until that moment. As she looked at her aunt's grey face and sagging skin, she realised with a shock that she might not be around for ever.

‘And she would hate not to see my wedding.'

That thought troubled Luella a great deal – she knew that it was her aunt's greatest wish to see her walk down the aisle and now she had the opportunity to grant it, should she be brave enough to do so.

‘It would mean telling him everything,' she murmured, as tears sprang into her eyes. ‘But I cannot keep dragging Aunt Edith all over the country and I have come to realise how much I love David.'

The train rattled on through the night lulling her to sleep. As the wheels turned and brought them ever closer to Devon, Luella made a momentous decision.

‘No, I have to tell him about Jean-Marie,' she resolved. ‘And tell him everything.'

Luella remained silent for a good portion of the journey. She was too busy rehearsing in her head what she would say to the Viscount.

‘I wish I was as certain as Aunt Edith that David will understand about my liaison with Jean-Marie Bouillicault,' she thought. ‘Men are so particular about the virtue of women and they expect those of our kind to be of flawless character. Will he think me a bad woman for having loved someone else – and to have run away with him intending to get married?'

Just before they reached Exeter, Luella awakened her aunt and helped her make herself ready for the next stage of their journey.

“Come along, Aunt Edith,” she urged. “I am afraid there will be no more sleep until we reach Torr House.”

“I do hope that Bennett brings some large cushions,” she replied. “The Daimler can be a little uncomfortable – do you remember the journey to Barnstaple?”

“Yes,” answered Luella with a little laugh. She was trying her best to remain cheerful and she did not want her aunt worrying unduly about her.

‘It should be the other way around,' thought Luella. ‘She is an old woman and I should be taking care of her. I forget how old she is because she is so sprightly. It is not right that, because of Frank Connolly, she has been forced to be the strong one.'

Luella was neither delicate of constitution nor weak of mind or body, but the whole business with Jean-Marie Bouillicault and then Frank Connolly had considerably depleted her.

She longed for stability and to be taken care of, and she knew that the Viscount could offer her both.

The train eventually pulled into Exeter station and the guard helped them find a porter to carry their small amount of luggage.

As promised Bennett was waiting for them on the platform.

“Good evening, my Lady and Miss Ridgeway,” he said bowing. “Welcome to Devon again – and, so soon.”

“Yes, I am afraid it was not planned, but nevertheless, here we are,” said the Countess, as brightly as she could, given that she was exhausted.

They trooped out of the station to where the Daimler was waiting for them.

The porter helped with the two suitcases and then Bennett settled his two passengers into their seats and threw blankets over their knees.

The car was open to the elements but, thankfully, it was a fine and warm July night.

The drive to Bideford was long and arduous.

The dawn broke as they reached the westerly outskirts of Exmoor and by the time that Torr House came into view, the sun was rising.

Everywhere was deadly quiet apart from the lowing of cows on the hillside nearby and a distant cockerel crowing.

Luella looked at the house and it seemed unlikely that the Viscount was up yet.

‘I doubt if even the servants are awake,' she mumbled, as the car shook them from side to side, negotiating the rough drive that led to the front entrance.

The Countess groaned as they hit a large pothole and the car flew up in the air, landing with a bone-shaking thud.

When Bennett finally applied the handbrake, both Luella and the Countess breathed a sigh of relief.

‘If I am aching, I cannot imagine how Aunt Edith must feel,' thought Luella, as Bennett helped her out of the Daimler.

They were all dusty and tired. How Bennett appeared so lively was beyond her comprehension.

Luella was shocked to see the Viscount striding out of the front door towards them. His shirt was flapping loose over his trousers and his sleeves were rolled back to just above his elbows.

She could not help but catch a brief glimpse of his bare chest as his shirt blew open.

Blushing, she cast her eyes downwards in order to stop herself from staring, but the sight stirred her in a manner that was both startling and unfamiliar.

“Luella,” called the Viscount running towards her. If he had been able, he would have thrown his arms around her and held her fast, but he could not do so in front of the servants.

“You are safe now. All will be well.”

She looked so fragile and exhausted that he could not prevent himself putting one arm around her delicate shoulders.

Luella felt the warmth of his arm through her linen jacket and almost swooned as she inhaled his masculine odour.

Walking up the front steps, she stumbled slightly and his arm slipped down to her waist while his grip tightened.

“Come, your rooms are ready for you. It is indeed fortunate that the builders have not begun work on the house as yet as they are still constructing the orangery.”

Luella did not reply. She simply looked up into his handsome face and smiled.

It was an effort simply placing one foot in front of the other and she was glad of him to lean on as they mounted the stairs to the river room.

“Maisie will look after your aunt and I will employ a new maid for you at once,” he said. “You are to stay here as long as you wish, that is, if you can stand the noise and dirt of the builders.”

“Right now, I would not care if you hired a military band to play at the foot of the stairs – I do believe I would sleep through it,” replied Luella yawning.

“Then, I shall leave you in peace.”

The Viscount took her hand and kissed it fervently. Luella felt a shiver run through her as the warmth of his lips touched her skin.

“I am so glad you have returned,” he murmured unable to keep the passion from his voice. “Even if the circumstances are less than ideal. You must have been very afraid when Frank Connolly found you, but we shall speak more of this later. I will allow you to rest now.”

“Thank you,” replied Luella, gazing up at him with her wide blue eyes.

The Viscount would have kissed her soft lips right then and there had she not looked so tired and frail.

‘It will have to wait,' he said to himself, as with his head spinning he returned to his room.

*

Luella did not wake until it was almost time for luncheon. At first, when she opened her eyes, she was not certain where she was.

Then she remembered.

‘I am safe and far away from that awful Frank Connolly.'

She recalled her last sighting of him, being propelled down Mount Street by two Policemen and allowed herself to smile.

Getting up and putting on a dressing gown, she rang for Maisie and pulled back the curtains.

She noted with satisfaction that the gardens were beginning to look halfway decent and that one of the gardeners was busy with a rose bush beneath her window.

‘I shall repay the Viscount for his kindness by joining them in the garden,' she resolved. ‘I shall enjoy feeling the earth running through my fingers again.'

Presently Maisie came to her room and helped her wash and dress.

“His Lordship is waiting for you in the dining room,” she said, as she finished dressing Luella's lustrous hair.

“Oh?”

“He is expecting you, miss.”

“He has told you this?”

“Yes, miss.”

Luella felt her heart begin to race. She swallowed hard as she rose from the dressing table.

“Tell him I shall be down at once,” she said in a small voice.

As soon as Maisie had left the room, Luella began to pace up and down.

‘I shall tell him everything, I must,' she repeated over and over again. ‘He is certain to ask me if I have considered his proposal and Aunt Edith will never forgive me if I turn him down again.'

Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she walked slowly downstairs and into the dining room.

The Viscount had changed his clothes and was looking extremely handsome.

“Your aunt sends her apologies,” he began as he seated her at the table. “She has a headache from the long journey.”

As he stood over her, he longed to touch her shining golden hair or caress the white neck that rose up from her lawn gown.

He knew that he must ask her again if she would marry him or he would go mad from the suspense.

“I often forget that Aunt Edith is no longer young,” replied Luella as Cork came into the room and greeted her warmly.

“Welcome back, Miss Ridgeway,” he said as he poured a glass of water for her.

“Everyone is most happy to see you and her Ladyship again.”

Cork brought the luncheon to the table and the Viscount started to discuss the gardens with her. He was far too nervous to broach the subject of marriage so early in the conversation.

Eventually, as the meal drew to a close, he knew he would have to take his courage in both hands and ask the question burning inside him.

Clearing his throat, he said,

“I was wondering if you have had the opportunity to consider my proposal.”

Luella put down her dessertspoon and could not meet his eyes. He noticed that she seemed hesitant to speak and believed the worst.

“I have,” she responded at last in her clear musical voice. “But after what I am about to tell you, you may wish to consider whether or not to withdraw it.”

“
Never
,” he cried, his brown eyes burning. “Why would I do such a thing?”

“Because,” mumbled Luella quietly. “I was once engaged – to another.”

The Viscount's heart was now beating so furiously it made his breathing difficult.

“Is that all?” he spluttered. “It is of no consequence – it does not present any impediment to our becoming engaged.”

“But, I – I am second-hand goods.”

“You mean – ?”

“
No
. My virtue is intact, but the fact is – I ran away with him. We were to be married.”

The Viscount rose from the table and sank down beside her. Taking her hand, he turned her face towards him with a tender gesture and his warm brown eyes sought hers.

“Luella. I say again – it is of no consequence.”

“But this man caused a great scandal in France as he was already married. I was so ashamed I thought I would die. It was reported in the newspapers although I was not named.”

The Viscount swallowed hard. He loved her so much that even if there had been some impropriety, he would not have cared.

As he knelt beside her, all he wanted to do was embrace her and kiss her.

“Luella, it does not matter to me in the least. You are who you are and I love you dearly. This man has made you feel as if you were worthless, has he not?”

“Yes. I believed that no decent man would ever have me.

When I first met Frank Connolly, I admit I was a little flattered by his attentions and so did not spurn him. Of course later he became more persistent and troublesome, but I believed I had brought it upon myself.

“When he said we should marry, I found it impossible to shake him off. He knew of the situation with Jean-Marie and threatened to ruin my family's name should I not comply.”

“He is a bully and a coward! Such men are no better than animals – ”

“But – ” began Luella, but she was silenced by the Viscount wrapping his arms around her and kissing her sweet mouth over and over again.

As they parted the Viscount caressed her cheek and sighed.

“Oh, Luella. I love you so very much. Nothing you can say will put me off marrying you,
so will you
?”

He pulled away from her and knelt before her clasping her hand in his.

“Say
yes
, Luella. Do me the honour of becoming my wife.”

Tears sprang into Luella's eyes as she watched him, kneeling so earnestly before her.

She did not think, but simply said what was in her heart.

“
I will
,” she murmured. “For I love you too.”

“Luella, my darling,” he cried, getting up and pulling her to her feet in a warm and passionate embrace. He could not believe that at last she was in his arms.

As their lips parted, she clung to his chest like a small animal, burrowing there for safety. It made him feel incredibly protective towards her and he knew that, from now on, it was his duty to keep her safe from harm.

“I cannot believe I could be so happy,” he murmured as he cradled her in his arms. “You have made me the happiest man alive.”

“I thought I did not deserve love.”

“Why? Because you had the misfortune to fall in love with a man who did not deserve you?”

“I thought God would punish me for the rest of my days,” muttered Luella as he kissed her hair gently.

His heart swelled as she spoke and he held her even more tightly.

“God does not judge you for falling in love. Rather he punishes those who do not realise the importance of love.”

“But who could fail to understand that?” queried Luella in disbelief.

“I used to believe that love was unimportant,” admitted the Viscount, begging her with his eyes to not think ill of him.

Just then there came a knock on the door.

“That will be Cork,” said the Viscount. “I asked him to leave us alone after serving coffee.”

Luella laughed and it was music to his ears.

“I had wondered where he had gone to. That was very crafty of you.”

“I knew that I had to press you for an answer or die. Now, I should admit Cork and then go and see your aunt. As your father is no longer with us, she will serve as the next best thing.”