He was whispering his adoration in her ears as though they were alone in the world — and, in truth, they did seem to be. There was not another soul on the sandy beach. The nearest people were the fishermen casting their nets far out at sea, as the sails glistened in the morning light.
“I love you, I love every bit of you. When you are strong again, I shall show you how much! Oh, my darling Sonia, my lovely girl, I have missed you so much. Tell me, tell me you are willing to be my wife for ever, and I shall be in paradise!”
She could not resist his ardent pleas. She put her arms shyly about his neck, although somewhat encumbered by the heavy cloak, and said, “Oh, Alastair, I have loved you so long! I do love you, but I did not dare to hope —”
“How long have you loved me?” he said, against her throat.
“Oh, years,” she said dreamily.
“No, seriously, when —”
“When we met,” she whispered. “I thought you were — like a prince! Someone in a story, someone I would never meet again — and when you danced with me, I thought we were alone in the room, it was so beautiful —”
“Oh, my love, I adore you.”
They whispered, and kissed, and kissed again until Sonia shivered in the cool breeze from the sea. He started up.
“But I must get you back to the cottage! You are not yet strong,” he said solicitously, lifting her very carefully to her feet. Her cheeks bloomed with colour, her grey eyes were luminous as he smiled down at her. But she was so thin! The dark shadows under her eyes caught at his heart.
He put her carefully into the shelter of his arm, with his body between her and the wind from the sea. They walked slowly along the beach towards the cliff path.
“The cottage is very small,” he said. “I shall find a room at an inn nearby, and come daily to see you. Then, when you are quite strong again, I shall take you to Fairley. Mrs Pendennis will coddle you, and make sure you take no chances with yourself and the child. Oh — and Edwina sends her love. They will come down later in the summer.”
“Did they — miss me?” asked Sonia wistfully, as he half-lifted her up the cliff path. His strong arm about her, his arrogant voice softening as he spoke to her. Was she in a dream?
“Miss you? They weep until I am half mad,” he said. “And Lady Barnstable scolds me every time we meet. She is mighty fond of you, you know. And Henrietta — what a telling-off she gave me! Said my temper was as bad as yours,” and he gave a rollicking laugh she had not heard for months.
“And how is dear Maurice?”
“In and out of love, like a butterfly. One day he might be so fortunate as to find someone like you, my darling,” said Alastair. “Then he will be truly caught!”
“Caught!” she protested, in more normal tones. “Really, Alastair! How can you speak about it like that?”
He laughed back at her, his blue eyes shining, and bent to kiss the words from her lips. “Am I not caught?” he whispered. “Caught in a silken web of love and desire? I cannot think of any woman but you — no one else can appeal to me. I want no one but you. Life was so grey and dull without you. I went often to your Uncle Meyer, we had long talks. I know much about you now, Sonia! He told me about your childhood, your youth. It was the one solace I had while you were gone.”
“You spoke — often with Uncle?” She was in a daze. She could not believe it. That Alastair had returned to her, that he loved her, that he had talked long with her uncle, and enjoyed their conversations…
“Yes, and I have a feeling I would also like your cousin Jacob once we stop threatening to knock each other down!” said Alastair sunnily. “He is a very smart man. Did you know I gave two speeches in the House this spring? Yes, I did, and both were well-received! The Lords pounded the benches, and someone shouted approval.”
“Oh, Alastair, how splendid!” She beamed up at him happily. His arm was close and warm about her, and she did not feel the coldness off the sea. They strolled slowly along the cobbled road to the lane, and then up along the grassy verge to the rose-vined stone house. He was telling her eagerly, the words spilling from him, all he had done and thought that winter — his talks with her uncle, his ideas about politics and the Regent’s doings, as though he had stored up everything to tell her.
“Have you been reading the gazettes? Someone wants to bring Wellington home, but I think it would be a vast mistake. I think he will have the Frenchies on the run, and we must support him with all we have. What do you think? We cannot let Buonaparte have his way with us. He will conquer all Europe, then turn on us, won’t he? It is in our interest to support the Portuguese and the poor Spanish devils —”
He went on and on, as they entered the cottage. Rosa Bartel had a fire blazing in her little stone fireplace in the front parlour. They settled down before it while she brought luncheon to them on trays.
Sonia did not feel weary at all. She was so close to Alastair she could reach out and touch him. She could not be done with gazing at him, as he munched hungrily on the sliced roast beef and the fresh homemade bread of wheat grain, and drank the homely wine.
He looked weary, but at peace, his eyes sparkling, his smile flashing at her. He was making plans. They would go to Fairley soon. They would remain there for the summer.
“When will the child come?” he asked her tenderly, turning to her and taking her hand.
“About the first of September,” she said simply.
“Then we shall stay at Fairley for a time after that. I think if Edwina wants to marry her Ralph, she must do so alone, or come to Fairley for it. Eh? How about that? I think she will come to Fairley, for she will wish you to be present, if you are strong enough. He is a nice chap — we can talk for hours without fussing, though he knows his own mind, I’ll tell you! We must find someone splendid like him for Henrietta, a good fellow. She is a fine girl, and growing up. Seems more sober and sensible than she did,” and he went on and on, her hand clasped securely in his big hand, his thumb caressing her palm.
She was happily settled before the fire, watching the blaze as the wood crackled and flared up. His hand was holding hers, he was making happy plans for their future together. She felt at peace, really at peace, for the first time since their marriage.
He loved her! She could scarcely believe it. Her prince in shining armour loved and adored her. He said so bluntly, looking at her as though he could make love to her right then and there.
Sonia felt as though she could lean against his strength for ever, that he would be tender and adoring, watching out for her always. After all the turmoil, the quarrelling, the pride, and the anguish of their marriage, they were at peace, and one in their desires.
“I wonder how soon we may go to Fairley,” she said dreamily.
“As soon as you can travel safely,” he said, leaning to kiss her cheek. He drew her head to his shoulder. They sat on and gazed into the fire. “You will be stronger soon,” he told her firmly — and she took that as an order — one she would be happy to obey! She wanted to be strong and well, ready for the child when it came. Ready for the demands of her position as his wife, ready to love and give and help him all she could.
“My dove, my dear,” he whispered, and turned her face up to his. His lips came down on hers, so carefully, so tenderly, that she could have wept with happiness. But there was no more need for tears or sorrows. They were together again, and for always.
***
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organisations, places and events, other than those clearly in the public domain, are either the product of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously.
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eBook ISBN: 978-1-80055-202-9
Star Sapphire: Love and wild adventure in Regency England Page 26