Dizzy Dilemmas

by Mary Beeken

  “You’re right. This is heavenly.”

  “Erica has sofas like these and I happen to know that is why Ross married her! It was for her incredible sofas,” Marcus said.

  “I thought as much!” Dizzy remarked. “When I saw him kissing her not more than an hour ago, I said to myself, ‘There is a man in love with his wife’s sofas!”

  “Kissing her was he? Where?”

  “On the side of her neck. Just here!” Dizzy indicated by rubbing her fingers down her own neck.

  Marcus went very still as he watched her fingers tracing down her slim, elegant neck. He wondered if he leapt really quickly, he would be in time to trail kisses behind her fingers.

  “Then he swapped sides.” She tilted her head the other way and he cursed because he definitely would have had time to reach her sofa if only he had known she was going to taunt him with both sides of her beautiful neck.

  “Actually I meant where were they standing when he was kissing her?” Marcus tried to bring his thoughts under control but the blush that stole up her cheeks when she realised her mistake made his body follow his musings and he had to keep it firmly in check if she were not to know precisely where those musings were taking him.

  Oh I’m sorry! They were in the garden just before Robert came to join us and then they disappeared,” she told him.

  “Then that must be when they came here.” When she looked puzzled, he added. “Ross told me about twenty minutes ago about this secluded room and these wonderful sofas. He said it was a good place for a few quiet, undisturbed moments if I felt the need. He must have been here with Erica.”

  “Then let us hope he does not come looking for you!” she snapped.

  “That is why I locked the door! If he comes you will have time to climb out the window.” he smiled at her.

  “But we are on the first floor!” she pointed out.

  “So? Where is your sense of adventure? Surely in your murder stories people climb out first floor windows. Don’t worry I have already checked and there is a ledge for you to stand on until the danger has passed.”

  “You could go and stand out there!” She bared her teeth in what she hoped resembled a smile but knew that it fell rather short.

  “Hardly. Ross told me abut this room and would suspect something if he turned up and you were here!” he grinned when she snorted.

  “Perhaps you should tell me what you wanted to speak to me about so I can leave through the door and not the window.” Dizzy said then changed her mind. “No wait. I shall go first.

  Are you completely brainless?”

  “No that would be Mustapha!” Marcus got in before she could begin her tirade.

  “Well obviously you have more in common with him than it at first appeared. What happened out there? And in front of Fiona Pearson of all people! According to my sisters she never misses anything. Had we not agreed to ignore each other in public so nobody would link our names?”

  “Actually, we were not going to ignore each other but just acknowledge one another with the briefest of nods. I thought we got that across quite well when we were outside!” he corrected her.

  “Oh yes we really hammered that point home! Nobody would believe we were any more than slightly acquainted. Well I say nobody but perhaps I should really say only a complete imbecile would believe it!” Dizzy glared at him.

  “Now Gherkin, it was not that bad.”

  “Don’t call me that and yes, damn it, it was that bad,” she retorted.

  “Language, my yummy pickle!” Marcus taunted her some more. “We only told them what happened in public view anyway.”

  “You were caressing my arms. That is not something you do to someone you scarcely know, or come to think about it, someone you know well either!”

  “That was the best part of it, darling girl and if you come over here we can carry on!” Glenmore said.

  “Glenmore, this is no time for your tomfoolery,” she spoke sternly, though she was finding it difficult to maintain an angry front when she was melting at the thought of his hands stroking her. “Tell me. How long have you been attending Aunt Tess events?” she asked seemingly changing the topic of conversation.

  “This is my first. Your brother Gideon invited me along yesterday. Why?”

  “It is my first time too. Apparently Grandmamma did not want me to attend even though she was a founding member on some misguided idea that my sisters have not made successful marriages because of it. Yet suddenly Gideon insists my sisters bring me along. Do you not think that odd?” she asked.

  “No, I have rarely been to town what with my army career and then unexpectedly inheriting the Duchy. There really was no opportunity for your brother to invite me along before and as you have just explained there were reasons you were not included.”

  “Perhaps I am just being suspicious but I cannot help feeling that Gideon is up to something and I am very much afraid it is matchmaking,” she muttered but more to herself.

  “Have you finished having your say now?” he enquired and when she nodded he continued. “Good it must be my turn. I have decided that we need to change tactics. I do not think you were entirely honest with me, my little gherkin when you said the matchmaking mamas would be throwing their offspring at me if they thought I was interested in you.”

  “Actually I said if they thought you were after a wife and they would conclude that if they thought you were interested in me,” she corrected him.

  “Regardless, an unmarried Duke attracts marriage minded girls and their parents whether he is looking for a wife or not. Therefore it will make no difference if we ignore, nod, speak or even kiss each other; I will still be hunted by would-be Duchesses. So I have decided that I am going to be seen to pay court to you,” he announced with a beaming smile.

  “Oh no you do not! You cannot change what we agreed without consulting me and there is nothing I want less than you courting me!” she categorically stated.

  “I would be pretending to court you, Gherkin. It makes sense because if we are constant companions at all the functions, balls, soirees and so forth, I will not have to worry about the traps and snares baited by unscrupulous women because the two of us will be able to spot and avoid them,” he explained.

  “You must be completely witless. They will only become more determined and I will probably be caught in the middle when they bring out the heavy artillery. Marriage Glenmore is the only deterrent.”

  “Is that a proposal, Pickle?” he asked.

  “No it is not! Will you please be serious for a minute? I already suspect Gideon of playing at matchmaker so imagine his delight were we to live in each other’s pockets? Before you know it he will have the church booked and the banns read and we will be united till death us do part!” she pointed out.

  “Not until I have proposed and you have accepted and as neither is going to happen then there is nothing to worry about. I suspect Ross and Erica are playing at being matchmakers too but that need not concern us,” he said lightly, placing his hands behind his head and closing his eyes as if he were about to enjoy an afternoon nap.

  “It concerns me. So instead of one person matchmaking, you now calmly inform me there are three people campaigning for a marriage between us. What if they join forces? They could be formidable!” She swung her feet back down to the floor and glared across to where he sat; still very much relaxed. “Why do they want us married anyway?”

  “They believe we are perfect for each other and would make a love match!” he replied nonchalantly. “As their close friend they would like to me to find as much happiness in my marriage as they have in theirs.”

  Dizzy snorted. “I can only surmise that they have bats in their belfry if they think that! Surely you told them of our first encounter and they must have noticed our mutual horror when we inadvertently crossed paths again at the museum. Of course if they witnessed your performance earlier on it could have given them the wrong impression but I am sure if we go back to our original plan and avoid e
ach other as best we can, then all will be well.”

  “No Gherkin my mind is made up; I will play your lovesick swain for the remainder of the season,” he announced.

  Dizzy leapt up and stomped the few paces over to the sofa where Marcus still reclined and with hands on hips, glared at him. “Absolutely not! I refuse to adhere to such a ridiculous scheme that benefits no-one but will vex me no end!” When he just beamed at her she continued. “Glenmore, I mean it.”

  Stretching out his arm, Marcus grabbed hold of the material of her skirts and tugged. So unexpected was it that Dizzy lost balance and toppled onto his lap in a tangle of limbs and fabric. Frantically scrabbling to try and extricate herself whilst inwardly squirming because she was lying indecorously across his lap, only succeeded in tying her more intricately in a froth of skirts and petticoats.

  “Always in romantic fiction, the damsel lands elegantly on the hero’s lap,” Marcus bemoaned.

  A muffled tirade came from somewhere beneath his armpit but unfortunately or perhaps fortunately none of the words were distinguishable which was probably just as well for he was fairly sure some of them were swear words that would make a pirate blush! However there was no point wasting an opportunity to provoke her further.

  “I am sorry Gherkin, I didn’t quite catch that.”

  In response Dizzy ferociously renewed her efforts to disentangle herself and Marcus became the recipient of several blows to his person.

  “Ouch! You have the boniest elbows and knees imaginable, Pickle! Keep still and let me help you.”

  After a final struggle and a frustrated growl Dizzy lay still and allowed him to untangle her skirts and help her into a sitting position. Taking a few deep breaths in an effort to control her temper and the tingly effects his touch was having on her person, Dizzy was forestalled from launching into a scathing tirade by Marcus who without preamble, kissed her gently on the lips before drawing back a little way. Satisfied that he had silenced her and that no protest was forthcoming he leaned in and claimed her lips again, this time more demanding; wanting a response from her and when it came, he deepened the kiss. His hand, the one not pinning her to his chest, came up to cup the back of her head, and held her while he explored her mouth. He nibbled on her lower lip and tugged it gently with his teeth. When he felt her relax he ran his tongue along it and asserted enough pressure to make her open for him. Delving inside he took the kiss to a new level whilst keeping it gentle and sensual so that she would not become unnerved by it and withdraw.

  Dizzy initially held herself rigid, shocked that he was kissing her; shocked too at her own reaction to it and when he began kissing her for the second time, she felt herself succumb. Every ounce of commonsense urged her to end it; to extricate herself from his embrace as quickly as possible but it was overruled by the desire that his touch had ignited. As his tongue and lips caressed hers she responded, kissing him back tentatively at first and then more boldly. It was only when an involuntary groan escaped her did she regain some of her senses but before she could summon the willpower to pull away. Marcus ended the kiss though he still held her.

  “Just as I thought; tart and sweet all at the same time and definitely a delicacy worth savouring,” Marcus murmured, referring back to his comments in the garden earlier.

  “Had you planned to kiss me all along?” Dizzy asked suspiciously.

  “In my defence I did tell you outside that I wanted to taste you Gherkin,” he replied.

  “I don’t believe this!” She shook her head and sighed heavily. “This should not have happened and it must never happen again. In fact, let us agree that it did not happen this time.”

  “Yes it should, yes it must and yes it did!” he responded and when she looked puzzled he reiterated. “Yes it should have happened because I have wanted to kiss you ever since you deliberately tipped drink on me. Yes it must happen again because I will not be able to resist kissing you when the opportunity next arises and yes it did happen because there is no way I am going to pretend it did not.”

  “You were angry and wanted to strangle not kiss me when I inadvertently spilt water on you, there will be no further opportunities to kiss me and I will deny it happened even if you state otherwise,” Dizzy stated emphatically and folded her arms across her chest in a way to convey she meant business. Unfortunately that only resulted in pushing her breasts up so that they strained against the fabric of her fashionably low cut dress and although Marcus knew that as a gentleman he could not take advantage as much as he would have liked to, there was no reason he should not enjoy the view of those perfectly formed orbs as they threatened to break free of their fabric constraints.

  “As I am going to be your most ardent admirer over the next few weeks then there will be plenty of times when I will kiss you including right now, Gherkin,” he told her and tightened his hold but this time Dizzy was prepared and stopped him by placing her hand across his mouth. Unfairly, or so she thought, he then began to nibble on her fingers in the most distracting way. How she was to respond to this however did not become issue as at that moment there was the unmistakable sound of the door handle being rattled as someone tried to gain entry.

  The two occupants of the room froze, hoping that whoever was beyond the door, finding it locked, would just walk away but it was not to be as they heard a voice say. “This door was unlocked not half an hour ago.”

  “Here let me try,” said another voice. “Perhaps it is just stuck.”

  “It opened easily enough before but be my guest,” and there followed some more rattling of the door handle.

  “That’s Ross.” Marcus whispered into Dizzy’s ear. “I told you he was a sneaky devil didn’t I?”

  Dizzy did not bother to respond but as quietly as possible climbed off his lap and crept towards the window.

  “What are you doing?” Marcus was close behind her.

  “Exiting through the window!” she whispered back.

  “I was not serious, when I suggested that earlier!” he grabbed her arm as she clutched her skirts and began to clamber onto the sill.

  “There is no other way and I am not going to be caught alone with you in here,” she told him.

  “They cannot get in the door is locked and they will soon tire and go away,” he assured her but as he finished speaking Trevellyn was heard to say, “I shall just fetch the key from the butler or failing that ask Robert. You wait here, Brockton.”

  “That’s Gideon with him,” Dizzy told Marcus unnecessarily.

  “Up you go then,” he assisted her onto the sill. “For God’s sake hold on tight and stand still. When the coast is clear I will come over to help you in.” When he was sure she had her footing he reluctantly let her go and warned her. “Do not move!”

  Darting back to the sofa, Marcus just had time to snatch up Dizzy’s shoes from the floor where she had left them and to throw himself onto the sofa before the door burst open and in strolled Trevellyn and Brockton accompanied by Robert Prentiss.

  “What on earth...” yawned Marcus giving a very good impression of someone who had been awoken from a deep and pleasant sleep. "Must you make so much noise?”

  “Sleeping were you, old friend?” Trevellyn asked in a tone of voice that stated quite clearly that he didn’t believe it for a second.

  “You yourself recommended this room and these very sofas for a quick nap,” Marcus reminded him.

  “Why did you lock the door?” Gideon asked.

  “To avoid being trapped by some man devouring debutante,” he shuddered. “You know what they are like. One sniff that an unmarried man is snoozing in a room and they are there, crying seduction!”

  “That is unlikely to happen at an Aunt Tess gathering,” Robert informed him.

  “This is the first one I have attended and was not prepared to take the risk. Thank you Brockton for the invite, by the way.”

  “Think nothing of it,” Gideon mumbled as he wondered round the room as if he were looking for something.

&nb
sp; “Have you lost something?” Marcus asked. “Only you seem to be searching for something.”

  “No, not at all. I am just pacing you understand and admiring this charming room,” Gideon answered.

  The three men looked at each other as if perplexed whilst Marcus lay relaxed on the sofa with his hands interlocked behind his head and his ankles crossed, looking as if he had not a care in the world. Inwardly however, he was frantic and berating himself for allowing a girl who could not keep her balance when standing still and was renowned for her clumsiness to stand on a ledge one floor off the ground. He had to get rid of these three meddlesome gentlemen as quickly as possible without arousing their suspicions further.

  Dizzy listened for a moment to the conversation that drifted to her through the partially open window for only a few moments before looking around to take stock of her situation. She was standing on a ledge about fifteen inches wide which meant her feet fit comfortably on it and even gave her room to spare. Along the wall she could see the next window which also happened to be partially open and Dizzy thanking God that the warm day had prompted the servants to throw up the sash, she began to tentatively edge along the wall. Although she was not afraid of heights, she reasoned that she was better not looking down as she was more likely to trip. By brushing her hands along the wall behind her and keeping her eye on her goal; namely the next window, she hoped she could defy her clumsiness and refrain from falling to serious injury if not death.

  “Bitterballens!” she muttered as she stepped on a small, sharp stone. “That will teach me to discard my shoes so casually!”

  The window was within a few feet and Dizzy was beginning to congratulate herself on her achievement when a pigeon flew down to land on the ledge. Who was more startled would be difficult to say but the result was a lot of flapping of wings and arms; the wings in an effort for the bird to take to the skies and the arms in an effort for Dizzy to remain upon the ledge. Within moments, although it seemed much, much longer, the pigeon was flying away and Dizzy found herself sitting as if on a perch. With a sigh of relief she decide it was too risky to attempt to stand and therefore crawled the remaining distance where she clambered none too gracefully through the window and landed unceremoniously in a heap on the floor of what looked to be a study.