Advent Calendar 23rd December.
by Lara Temple.
Part 2.
Marcus. She had
always insisted on calling him Marcus, no matter how often her mother corrected
her. It had annoyed him as well. Now it was a direct assault on his equilibrium
so he went about setting the boundaries.
‘Good evening Miss
Alton.’
She smiled,
pressing her mouth into a prim line and sinking into a curtsy.
‘Good evening,
your grace. Now, what on earth are you doing at the Giant?’
He sighed at the
futility of scolding Genna Alton into behavior becoming of a gently bred young
woman. If her mother hadn’t succeeded despite very impressive efforts, he was
unlikely to have any noticeable effect
‘I was on my way
to Nethercote but my horse had enough. So I stopped. From your presence here I
gather I am closer than I realized?’
She nodded.
‘Nethercote is
just two miles due west but in the dark you could have missed the turning. Mr
Bidds could organize a gig, if you still wish to go. Are they expecting you?’
‘No. I wasn’t
certain I was heading this way until I was halfway to Dorset. I only meant to
ride to Richmond Park but somehow…’
Her eyes widened
and again he saw compassion and, peculiarly, approbation. As if such an absurd
act made absolute sense.
‘Well, in that
case I don’t suggest you descend upon old Mr and Mrs Farraday after dark. It
would likely give them a seizure to have the new master show up close on
midnight. But as far as I know The Giant, despite its name, has no
accommodation. Where is Bidds putting you up?’
‘I have a choice
between a pallet in the still room or the stable…’
‘The stable! Most
assuredly not! You could stay the night at Hope House. We are rather full but
if there are no beds I can double with Mrs Greeley. Then you could have my
bedroom ’
My bedroom. The
thought of Genna Alton’s bedroom sent another spurt of frantically unwelcome
fire through his already shocked body. The absurdity of feeling everything and
more he had wondered if he would feel on seeing her sister, but for this very
unpredictable young woman didn’t lessen the sensations by one iota, just
layered embarrassment on agony.
‘Thank you, Miss
Alton, but I wouldn’t dream of evicting you from…Actually, why are you staying
at this…Hope House?’
‘I work there.
Mama has sold the house in the village after Lottie came out of mourning and
they leased a house in town but I chose not to join them so I live at the House
and help Mrs Greeley. She is in General Greeley’s widow and in charge of this
Hope House, and in charge of me as well, for that matter as she is my godmother
and it is thanks to her Mama has agreed to allow me not to come to London.
Given what happened in London last week I think the least I can do to alleviate
Alton shame is offer you a bed.’
He wished she
would stop mentioning her bed. Once he had a decent night’s sleep these strange
reactions would likely disappear. Exhaustion could do strange things to a man,
he knew all too well.
‘You are not
responsible for your sister’s behavior.’
‘I know, but I
still want to push her into a mill pond for being such a silly fool. After
Mama’s ludicrous letter I almost decided to go to London and box her ears. I
know it probably doesn’t comfort you in the least but I still think you’ve had
a narrow escape. Even since Talgarth died she’s convinced herself she should
have waited for you rather than wed him, especially when it became known you
were a war hero and doubly so when she heard you inherited the Nethercote title
and fortune sooner than expected when the duke fell under a carriage. I’m
awfully sorry she broke your heart again but I should warn you that Mama is
hard at work convincing her to concoct a pretty apology.’
He smiled. It was
the orchard all over again.
‘I have every
faith it will be convincing. However, you can save her the bother and tell her
I had no intention of offering for Charlotte even before her reaction to this
horror’ – he indicated his scarred cheek and neck – ‘ I daresay you want your
pound of flesh by having me admit you were right seven years ago?’
Her eyes widened
and to his shock she reached out and touched her fingers to the ridged flesh
alongside his neck.
‘It’s not a
horror, Marcus, so pray do not be foolish. Does it still hurt?’
He shook his head,
battling another spear of unadulterated lust. This was becoming embarrassing.
He ought to send her on her way and put an end to this peculiar and utterly
misplaced intimacy. He opened his mouth to wish her good night and something
else entirely came out.
‘Sometimes it
burns. A little.’
She nodded.
‘Dr. Ames at the
House has some knowledge of scarring. I don’t mean to minimize your case, but
there are a few men there with much more extensive scars and wounds. My sister
is an even greater fool than I thought. What on earth was Mama on about? I
think you look better like this. You were far too handsome for your own good
before. The devil to charlotte’s angel as Mama liked to say. She only wished
your eyes were blue instead of grey, she felt that was a better aesthetic with
Charlotte’s cornflower eyes.’
He tried to frown
and failed.
‘I see you still
say precisely what you think, Genna Alton.’
‘It saves time.
Were you really not planning to offer for Lottie? She was convinced you would.’
‘Good lord, based
on what?’
‘You wrote to
her.’
‘I felt ignoring
her completely would be construed as sour grapes. She wrote me a dozen letters
to which I responded, eventually, with three lines saying I was sorry for her
loss.’
‘I think she
construed that as being you were sorry for your loss.’
He burst out
laughing, rubbing at the protesting skin along his jaw.
‘Since you are
being so direct, you will oblige me by making it absolutely clear to her, and
to your mother, that I have no intention whatsoever of making any offer for
your sister, no matter how much she succeeds in masking her disgust. I have no
doubt she will find a perfectly suitable replacement quite quickly. No doubt
she already has other prospects in mind; I doubt someone as savvy as she placed
all her eggs in such a frayed basket.’
Her eyes sank from
his, the first sign of evasion since she looked up from her reading and twisted
his world on its axis. Without thinking he covered her clasped hands. They were
chilly and he tucked them closer between his.
‘You always
worried too much about matters that weren’t in your control…’
Her long lashes
rose for a brief moment and then dipped again but not quickly enough to hide
the shine of tears. It shocked him far more than her sister’s public display of
disgust.
‘Genna…’ his voice
was hoarse and her lashes rose again, showing a blaze of fury.
‘Sometimes I hate
Lottie! How dare she… I could… She doesn’t deserve you!’
‘Don’t be so hard
on her, she is what she is. To be fair, I don’t think anyone deserves me at the
moment.’
She snatched her
hand from his and he stopped himself for reaching for them again. .
‘Because of that
scar?’ She scoffed. ‘Are you really so vain you think it diminishes you?’
‘I don’t think
it’s an improvement but no, not because of that. War leaves much more potent
scars than the visible ones. I was very lucky, luckier than most, but I’m too…
weary to be interested in anything society has to offer. All I want is to reach
Nethercote, hopefully find all is in order as my steward assures me, and do
nothing but read and ride for a year. At least.’
She brushed the
damp from under her eyes and tugged a handkerchief out of an oversized
reticule.
‘That is a lovely
dream but the moment the county hears you are in residence you will be
besieged. So you had best be prepared.’
‘I’m rather
hopeful the tales of my deformity will discourage that kind of attention.’
She rolled her
eyes.
‘No one but my
fool of a sister is likely to regard your scars against all your other assets.’
‘Ah, you think it
balances out against a dukedom and a fortune?’
‘Are you searching
for compliments, your grace?’
‘And if I am? Will
you oblige?’
‘Very well. Aside
from falling in love with my sister, I always thought you were quite the most
intelligent man I ever met. Will that do? Oh, my goodness, you’re blushing!’
She burst into
laughter and what was left of his unfettered heart took a leap into her net,
thumping with pleasure. He smiled back.
'You are quite
right that conceiving a tendre for your sister was one of my less
intelligent moves. Luckily she saved me from my own foolishness.'
Genna's laughter
faded, her eyes searching his face.
‘I thought
Mama was exaggerating.’ She said slowly. ‘You weren’t so overcome with yearning
you accosted Lottie in the park, did you?’
‘I beg your
pardon?’
‘I should be
begging yours on behalf of my horrid family. Mama wrote that you were so
impatient to see Lottie you accosted her in the park.’
‘Good God, your
mother and sister were born under the same delusional star. I didn’t even know
she would be in the park. I was there riding with a friend of mine and I
certainly had no intention of calling on her. When I saw her the only emotion I
felt was annoyance that I would have to be polite. Then she squawked and
fainted.’
He wanted to spare
Genna her sister’s foolish words, but he had underestimated London gossip.
‘My friend Alvie
was there and said Lottie did more than squawk. What she said was horrible. It
is hardly a surprise she is being shunned at the moment and I think that is why
she is so mortified. Mama wrote that she wondered if it were best to come home
for a few weeks until it all blows over. And so Lottie can apologize to you in
person.’ She smiled a little at his grimace, but there was the same wariness
he'd seen before, a kind of stillness like before a dawn attack.
‘Are you still in
love with her, Marcus?’
'God, no.' She
blinked at his abrupt answer and he tried to temper it. ‘I must be a very
fickle fellow because I have to admit my sentiments didn’t survive a year of
separation. That lecture of yours in the orchard annoyed the h…well, annoyed
me, but you were quite right to warn me.’
Her lashes dropped
again and a stain of color bloomed across her cheeks, making his fingers itch
to touch that spreading heat, he removed his hands from the table and
temptation.
‘You remember
that.’
I remember quite a
bit about you. How strange.
But I don’t
remember this. This is new. Utterly new and utterly terrible and wonderful all
at once.
There was
something in this family what was very bad for his health. And heart.
‘I remember. You
managed to be both infuriating and adorable. You haven’t changed.’
The blush
escalated and she stood.
‘I should go now.
I still think you should come to the House. You will be more comfortable.’
In your bed? I
won’t sleep a wink.
‘I will see you
there and return.’
‘No, do not
bother, I know my way.’
‘Even if you are
mad enough to walk around alone and in the dark on a country lane, do you
honestly think I could go to sleep not knowing if you arrived safely?’
‘Jem, the
innkeeper’s son, usually sees me there.’
‘Well, I shall see
you safe this time. And don’t argue!’
She closed her
mouth.
‘Very well, your
grace.’
He smiled. ‘See
how easy that was?’
The wind had
dropped but the air was still and cold. Candlelight flickered from some of the
windows of the big house and he had to admit it looked more inviting than the
squat inn down the lane.
She turned by the
door, the hood of her cape falling back as she looked up at him, her hand
outstretched.
‘Sleep here
tonight.’
His body heard
what it wanted to hear, beating back the cold and the emptiness. Oh, God, he
had gone well and truly mad. How on earth could he be convinced that this girl,
this woman, was everything he wanted – the axis of a world he was searching
for, the one person who answered the inner voice he hardly even knew existed.
His body shoved
away all sensible considerations and took her hand.
‘I think I am more
likely to fall asleep on a floor than in your bed, Genna. My imagination is
already running riot at the thought.’
Even in the dark
he saw the return of her blush, her eyes widening. He cursed his wayward mouth.
She might be distressingly honest but now he had scared her off before he had
even begun to draw her to him. Fool.
‘Go inside, Genna.
Tomorrow after I reach Nethercote and make myself presentable I will come see
this place. Perhaps I can be useful.’
She didn’t move.
Her hand remained in his and he did not let go as he ought. He brushed her
cheek with his other hand and she breathed in.
‘We forgot our
gloves at the inn. I didn’t even notice.’
‘Neither did I, I
didn’t notice much else but you from the moment I you started reading.’
‘Marcus…’
‘I’m sorry, I
didn’t mean to embarrass you. Go inside.’
She still didn’t
move.
‘Genna, if you
don’t go inside, I might do something thoroughly unforgivable.’
‘I can’t imagine
anything more unforgivable than making me go inside after saying something like
that.’
Her hand turned in
his and without thinking his fingers laced through hers, drawing her to him,
his laugh turned into a groan as his mouth brushed hers. Her lips were as soft
and fragrant as a jasmine bloom but the slash of heat coursing through him at
the contact was hotter than any Spanish summer, searing him from inside.
Her lips parted on
a gasp, as if she felt the same shock of heat and near pain at the contact. He
wanted to surge forward, take everything he could from the moment before it
ended, but this was Genna and she mattered more than anything ever had. That
one certainty held him still. His words a breath against the shiver of her lips.
‘Tell me you want
this or tell me to step back. Whatever you wish, Genna. I’m yours to command.’
Her hands curled
into the lapels of his coat, flattened, and he readied himself to be pushed
away. He would not ruin this because of lust, no matter how intense. There was
so much more at stake, more than he could have believed possible just hours
ago. But they just slid up, over his shoulders, touching his neck – the healthy
and the scarred with equal gentleness – before slipping into his hair with a
whispering touch that set his nerve ends into a shuddering dance. Then she rose
on tiptoes, touching her mouth to his, each word a caress of fire and light.
‘How can that be
when I am already yours, Marcus?’
‘Genna…’
When they finally
came apart her breath was shallow and broken and she buried her head against
his shoulder. He cupped her head, caressing her back, trying to calm both of
them from the pitch of desire set loose.
‘Marcus. What are
we doing?’ She murmured against him.
‘I don’t know what
you are doing but I think…No, I know I am falling in love.’
‘You cannot be.’
‘Well, I’ve never
done it before so I’m not quite certain. It feels very definite though. I never
knew it could happen like this, in a day. In an hour. Less. It is ridiculous
but it is true.’
She was breathing
as unevenly as he was, but she moved away a little, her hands pressed against
his chest. If it was meant to keep him at bay, it was failing, it felt like she
was drawing him to her though he kept himself still.
‘It is ridiculous.
You couldn’t possibly…You never even liked me. Is this because of Lottie, to
make her sorry?’
‘Would you forget
about your sister? This has nothing to do with her, or only as much as she is
the reason we met. As for not liking you…You infuriated me back then but I
always I enjoyed arguing with you which says a great deal. Today…I saw you and
everything I knew about you and everything that has changed in me fell into
place. I cannot explain it but I know this isn’t a whim. I’ve been on the brink
of death too often not to know when something momentous is happening. This is
love. Whether you might someday come to care for me or not, I love you, Genna.’
Her hand clutched
at his coat.
‘Marcus. Oh, God.
I think Bidds put something in your ale. Or maybe it was the smoke. Or the
story. This cannot be happening.’
He untangled her
hands from his coat, his chest constricting in pain. Perhaps she was right, he
had gone mad and this wasn’t…No, he had gone mad, but this was true… He knew
her. Genna. He couldn’t turn away from that truth. He was in love. And a fool
to pour out his heart like the greenest of green youths. He tried to speak
lightly.
‘I should have
kept quiet and wooed you properly. I’m sorry if I frightened you...’
‘Only because I so
want it to be true. Perhaps I should go inside. Tomorrow you will wake and
wonder what on earth made you say such nonsense. I shan’t remind you.’
‘But you want it
to be true?’
‘Please go, Marcus.’
‘In a moment. Look
at me.’
‘I’m too scared.’
‘Do you want it to
be true? Answer me, Genna.’
She tugged her
hands from his and covered her face.
‘I did seven years
ago. I never meant to feel like this again. I don’t want this. It hurt too
much…’
‘You…seven years
ago? You were just a child.’
‘I turned eighteen
while you were courting Lottie. I was only child enough not to realize how much
I cared until she broke your heart and mine broke for you, but I was also
happier than I had felt since I met you. I am simply awful and now you are
making me simply awful again to be so happy that you say you don’t want
Lottie.’
He wrapped his
arms around her, trying to subdue the avaricious clamoring of his body as her
warm curves pressed against him. There was no way he could disguise his
arousal. He hadn’t been this hard and desperate since… another ‘since’ eluded
him.
‘By that token I
should feel awful that you feel awful but I don’t, Genna darling. I’m sorry I
hurt you then, but I will do everything in my power to make you happy now. If
you will let me.’
‘If… Oh, Marcus.
Just seeing you makes me deliriously happy; all this is likely to cause me to
expire. When I looked up and saw you sitting there, I… Oh, this cannot be
happening.’
‘Well, it is. It
has. I won’t let you regret it.’
‘I am no proper
duchess, Marcus.’
‘I hope not. I
much prefer an improper duchess. You will make a perfectly improper duchess. My
duchess. But now I must leave so I can gather forces to lay my own siege for
one very prickly but adorable woman. And you need forces if you are to face the
reality of these scars in the light of day..’
She smiled, her
fingers moving lightly over his face, her palm resting on the puckered rise of
his scar.
‘I think I shall
manage just fine. And It isn’t a siege if the door is open, is it? Are you
certain you won’t stay?’
Every instinct was
goading him to do just that, but he made it to the door, the cold night air
swirling in around them.
Tomorrow would be
Christmas Day, he realized. The first day in a new life he had never even
dreamed of contemplating.
Hello ladies! Wow, your advent stories are so lovely 😊 what a unique idea!
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays xx
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Grazie Mille Aisha! :)
DeleteBuon Natale!
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