‘We must get back,’ she murmured. ‘We will be missed.’
Ralph rolled over and kissed her, then he eased himself up on one elbow.
‘You are very beautiful,’ he murmured.
She felt her whole body blushing under his gaze.
‘So, too, are you.’ She reached up and touched the hard contours of his chest, pushing her fingers through the smattering of crisp black hair. ‘I have never seen a man’s body before, save in paintings or sculpture. I think I would like to stay here and look at it for ever.’
‘I would dearly like to indulge you, my love, but unfortunately you are right, we will be missed. I must get you back to Adversane. But don’t worry.’ He caught her hand and raised it to his lips. ‘There will be plenty of opportunities for us to study each other in future.’
The thought made her shiver with pleasure. She sat up and reached for her clothes.
‘They are so wet it will not be easy to dress,’ she remarked. ‘Will you help me?’
* * *
Putting the cold, wet material onto her body was neither easy nor pleasant, but at last she was dressed and while Ralph threw on his own clothes she tried vainly to tidy her hair. Then it was time to crawl out of their shelter.
The sun was blessedly hot and Lucy shook out the mud-splattered skirts, saying with dismay, ‘I fear this gown is quite ruined. What will everyone think?’
‘That we were caught in a thunderstorm,’ said Ralph. ‘They may of course guess at what occurred while we were sheltering, but if they do they will not think much about it. We are betrothed after all.’ He took her hand. ‘There can be no question of calling off the engagement now, Lucy.’
‘Do you want to marry me, Ralph?’
His smile banished her doubts. He pulled her close and kissed her.
‘Yes, I do. Very much.’
Another kiss set her heart singing. She clung to him for a moment, wondering how it was possible to be so happy.
* * *
With a reluctant sigh, Ralph lifted his head, trying to ignore the temptation of those soft lips and the green eyes that positively smouldered with passion. Not that she was trying to be seductive. He found her very innocence intoxicating. But it was a responsibility, too. He would take care of her.
Better than the care you took of Helene.
The thought was like a hammer blow to his conscience. Was he wrong to marry again? After Helene’s death he had vowed never to do so, but his resolution had wavered and died when Lucy Halbrook swept into Adversane, turning his life upside down. But was she strong enough to stand up to him, or would he see her spirit crushed by his impatience? Dear heaven, he prayed he was not making a mistake!
Some of the pain it caused must have been displayed in his face, for he saw Lucy’s look change to one of concern. Banishing his darker thoughts, he said with a smile, ‘Let us get back before they send out a search party. Are you cold in those wet clothes? Would you like to wear my greatcoat?’
‘Thank you, but, no. I am quite warm now and the sun will dry me a little as we walk.’
‘Come along, then.’
He took her hand and with his greatcoat over his free arm they set off. When they reached the spot where he had come upon her she asked him how he had known where to find her.
‘You left the wicket gate open. I saw it as soon as I looked outside. I would have found you sooner, only I thought you would be hiding somewhere in the house.’ His frantic search of the dark, storm-filled house now seemed like part of another life. ‘I did not think you would be so foolish as to go out of doors.’
‘I wanted to get away from you and everyone. I thought you would be so angry that...that I had stopped you...’
The unease in her voice tore at his heart.
‘Not so much angry as bemused,’ he said, remembering that when she had pushed him away he had hoped—prayed—it had been the storm that had frightened her and not his passion. ‘Then, when I realised you were heading for the moors I was afraid for you. Electrical storms can be very dangerous.’
‘So you came after me.’
‘Yes, although I had not planned to ravish you.’ He squeezed her fingers. ‘Do you regret it?’
She shook her head.
‘Not at all.’ She stopped. ‘Unless you do—Ralph, you will tell me, won’t you, if you decide you do not want to marry me?’
Looking down into her upturned face, he knew how much he wanted to marry her, but should he do so? Could he be a good husband? That little worm of doubt still gnawed at his conscience. He thrust the thought aside and pulled her close, giving in to the temptation to take just one more kiss.
‘That will never happen,’ he said. ‘You are mine now, Lucy Halbrook, and I shall never let you go.’
* * *
Lucy’s heart soared. She accompanied Ralph back through the old ride, her heart singing. However, when they reached the house grounds she found her apprehension growing.
‘Ralph, is there a way we can slip into the house unnoticed? That door in the wall perhaps...’
‘That leads to the kitchen gardens and unfortunately there will be servants everywhere at this time of the day. To creep in like a couple of thieves would give rise to the very worst sort of conjecture. No, my love, we must brave it out.’
My love.
The words gave her courage as he led her towards the main entrance.
Byrne was waiting for them, his countenance even more wooden than usual.
‘I have taken the liberty of sending water up to the rooms, my lord.’
Ralph resisted the temptation to put his hand up to his neck cloth as he saw the butler’s eyes slide up to it, then on to Lucy’s dishevelled appearance. He was relieved when Ariadne came bustling over.
‘Oh, my heavens, I saw you coming across the lawn. Lucy, my dear, your gown—!’
‘We were caught out in the storm,’ Ralph explained. ‘We took shelter at Druids Rock, but not before Miss Halbrook suffered a drenching. Perhaps, Cousin, you would be good enough to take her to her room?’
‘Yes, yes, of course. Come along, my love.’
He said, as he accompanied them across the hall, ‘Did anyone else observe our return?’
‘No, I do not think so. Everyone is in the library or the drawing room. I had gone upstairs to fetch my book and saw you from the staircase landing.’
Lucy put a hand up to her wet hair.
‘I must look quite frightful.’
Her voice shook a little and Ralph wanted to gather her in his arms again, but Ariadne was bustling around her like a mother hen.
‘You will feel much better once we have found you some dry clothes.’ She took Lucy’s arm as they began to mount the stairs, sparing no more than an impatient look for Ralph.
‘There is no need for you to tarry here, Adversane, I will look after Lucy. You should run on to your own room. The sooner you have changed the sooner you can look after your guests.’
*