He went over to her and wrapped her into his arms. “I’m sorry. I won’t say anything else about ghosts. I promise.” He kissed her. “I’m going to part the curtains and let some more light into the room.”
“It’s my fault I frighten so easily,” she replied as he drew the curtains apart. “I read too many scary stories when I was younger.”
Surprised she’d volunteered information about her past, he turned to her in interest. “Did you?”
She nodded. “There was so little to do that I read everything I could find. My father was partial to books with ghosts and other fiendish creatures in them.”
“And what about your mother? What did she read?”
“Books on etiquette. It was always about etiquette with her.”
Damara’s voice drifted off, and she shivered, once more bringing her arms around herself.
He went back to her and drew her into his arms. “Those stories in your father’s books were just stories. Let’s take your mind off of them.” He led her over to one of the sculptures on a mantle. “Can you guess what that is?”
Though he asked the question, he knew she wouldn’t be able to tell what it was. The thing was more like a distorted mass of lumps than anything else.
“Um, is it a donkey?” she ventured.
“No. It’s my grandfather.”
“What? Your grandfather?” She studied the sculpture.
“It’s supposed to be his face. My grandmother was so proud of making the thing that he put it in this room.”
“Really? Even though it doesn’t resemble a human face?”
He nodded. “He didn’t have the heart to tell her it was awful.”
“That was sweet of him.”
“Yes, but even he had his limits. You’ll notice he didn’t set it in the west side of the manor where people actually go.”
She smiled and shrugged. “Well, it was still sweet.”
“I suppose. He could have thrown it out.”
“Since they’re no longer alive, do you plan to throw it out?”
“No. As ghastly as that thing is, it proves they loved each other.”
“I don’t think it’s ghastly. I think it’s lovely,” she said. “It’s a wonderful testament to their marriage.”
“It is.”
“What about your parents? Did they have a love match, too?”
He led her over to the portraits of his mother and his father. “That’s them. I’d like to say they did, but the truth is, they could barely tolerate each other. They were together enough to have me and my sister, and after that, they lived in separate places. The only reason they had my sister was because they were hoping for another son. You know what they say: an heir and a spare. But the arguing got to be so bad they didn’t try for another child.”
“I’m sorry, Anthony.”
He turned his gaze to her, and noting the concern in her expression, he kissed her. “Don’t be. I barely knew them. Oh, they came by to this estate to visit me and Celia from time to time, but I never really knew who they were. They put on a façade around us.” He took her over to the portraits of his grandparents. “These are my grandparents, and they were the ones who raised me and my sister. My father was given to mistresses, and my mother had her share of lovers as well. Both sought alcohol to cope because they were never happy. I think that’s why they died young. My grandparents lived until three years ago. My grandfather outlived my grandmother by only one month. The doctor says he died of a broken heart because he couldn’t live without her.”
“It’s no wonder he wanted to keep the sculpture she made,” Damara said, a wistful tone in her voice.
“The sculpture wasn’t the only thing he kept.” He took her over to a painting. “My grandmother also did some painting, and this was her best work.”
She studied the oddly shaped children at play while a dog chased them in a green field.
“She was better at painting the dog than she was at painting me and my sister,” he said, “but that was done when I was eight.”
“It’s adorable.”
“That’s what my grandfather thought, and it was why he hung it up in here. That was painted on one of the days we all had a picnic. My grandparents spent a lot of time together. Even when my grandmother’s health took a turn for the worse, he wanted to be by her side.” He turned his gaze to Damara. “I want what they had. Until I met you, I didn’t realize how important the right lady is for a gentleman. When I met you, I was ready to marry someone I didn’t care about just because her family was hurting financially.”
“You were betrothed to someone else?”
“Yes, but it wasn’t a marriage I wanted. I agreed to it because I felt like I had no choice. I imagine that’s why my father married my mother, and look at how that marriage turned out.” He cupped her face in his hands. “I want better than that. I want you.”
She smiled and put her hands over his. “You have me.”
“You have no idea how grateful I am for that.”
He brought his mouth to hers and kissed her. With her, he had something his grandparents had, and he’d never take it for granted.
Chapter Nine
Once winter settled in, there wasn’t much to do outside, but that didn’t mean Damara ever grew bored. There was too much to do to get bored. Whether she and Anthony were playing games like cards or chess, playing the piano, or taking a stroll, there always seemed to be something to do. She was enjoying her time so much that she hardly noticed the passage of time.
On one particularly cold day, they sat in front of the fire in the den. She sat on his lap, a blanket wrapped around them.
“Are you sure you don’t want to play a game of cards or chess?” she asked.
“No. I just want to sit here with you.” He squeezed her waist. “I like watching the fire. When I was a child, I used to pick out images in the flames. For instance,” he paused, “right now, I can make out the face of a horse.” He kissed her cheek. “What do you see?”
She hadn’t played this particular game before, but the idea intrigued her. Turning her attention to the flames, she studied them for a long moment until something came to her. “I see a bird flapping its wings.”
“Your image moves.”
“Is that wrong?”
“No. I think it’s splendid. I just never thought of seeing a moving image when I played this game in the past.”
“Maybe that’s because you’re not using your imagination as much as you should be,” she teased.
“You’re probably right,” he mused and gave her another kiss.
“How often do you play this particular game?”
He thought over her question for a moment then said, “Actually, I do it every time I’m in front of a fire. I started playing the game when I was a child. When it was too cold to go outside, I’d grow bored. So to entertain myself, I used to pick out images in the flames. Over the years, it became a habit. I do it without even thinking about it.”
“Do you like it more than the other games you play, such as cards and chess?”
“Well, it’s certainly a lot more fun with you on my lap. I can’t hold you while playing cards or chess.”
“Of course, you could.”
With a nod, he consented, “All right, I could while we play chess, but I couldn’t while we play cards unless you want me to see what’s in your hand.”
“Couldn’t you hold me and not peak at the cards?”
“You underestimate the power of temptation.”
She feigned shock. “Why, Anthony, I had no idea you were capable of cheating.”
“I am if the situation is too good to pass up.”
“Did you ever cheat at any of the games you’ve played in the past?”
“A few, but only when I was younger.”
Laughing, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You have to tell me what other mischievous things you’ve done.”
“Since you insist, I will, but I’ll only tell you.
If you pass on the information to anyone else, I’ll deny it.”
“I won’t tell anyone.”
“All right.” He paused then grinned. “One time when I was playing chess with Corin, he left the room. I put one of his pieces in a vulnerable position on the board so I could win the game.”
“You didn’t!”
“I did. I thought he’d notice what I’d done and stop me, but he was oblivious to it.”
“Have you ever told him?”
“I didn’t. And that’s why I’ll deny it if you ever say anything to him about it.”
“You plan to introduce me to him?”
He nodded. “He’s one of my friends. We’ve known each other since we attended school. His full name is Corin St. George, and he’s the Earl of Durrant. He’ll be one of the first people you’ll meet when we’re in London.”
“If he’s a friend of yours, then I have no doubt we’ll get along.”
“You will.” He kissed her. “I expect you’ll get along with everyone. You’re very pleasant to be around.”
Pleased by his compliment, she thanked him.
“I just thought of another time when I cheated at a game, and this is a technique you should know in case anyone does it to you,” he said.
“What did you do?”
“When we were children, I’d play cards with my sister. Celia used to sit by the window, and if the day was overcast, I could see her cards in its reflection.”
“You could?”
“Yes, so make sure you watch where you sit while playing a game.”
“Hmm…” She thought of the drawing room where they often played cards and relaxed when she realized she hadn’t been sitting by a window any of those times. “As long as I’m not by a window, then I’m all right?”
“I promise it.”
“Have you cheated at any of the games we played?”
“No. I’ve been good, but it’s important you don’t sit on my lap while we play cards or sit by a window. You need to keep me honest.”
She chuckled. “You are so much fun. I’m glad I met you before you married that lady you were betrothed to.”
“I’m glad we met before then, too.” He rubbed her back and smiled at her. “I just realized we’ve spent all this time talking about me. Why don’t you tell me something about yourself? I already know your father read scary stories and your mother read books on etiquette, but I don’t know anything else.”
“There’s not much to tell.” And the less said, the better. Besides, she didn’t want to drag up the past. She’d rather think about the present. “My life didn’t truly begin until I met you.” With a smile, she cupped the side of his face with her hand and kissed him. “I’ve never been happier.”
“I’ve never been happier, either.”
“Sometimes I wish this winter would never end. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could stop time so that we could be in this time and place forever?”
“Yes, it would be.”
She gave him another kiss and then turned her attention back to the fire in front of them. “I think I see a lady twirling around in an orange gown.”
“Orange?”
“Well, it is the color of the flames.”
He chuckled. “Of course. Tell me, will you pick the color orange when you buy your own dresses?”
“I hadn’t thought about it.”
“As much as I like the way you look in my sister’s dresses, I don’t want the gentlemen in London getting such a good view of your breasts. You will need something that isn’t so tight along the bust line.”
She grinned, finding it especially pleasing that he wanted to be the only one who got to see so much of her. He’d even made it a point to have her wear a shawl around the staff when the dress was a little too revealing. She couldn’t blame him, really. There were a couple of dresses and gowns his sister had that were probably meant to accentuate her smaller breast size.
She often chose these types of dresses and gowns because she knew it’d tempt him to try something of an intimate nature with her when they weren’t in bed. As soon as they were alone, she’d take the shawl off and see how long it’d take before he started touching her. And, naturally, the touching led to kissing, and this led to other things.
Had her mother known about her attempts to seduce him, she wouldn’t be pleased at all. But her mother wasn’t here, so she was at liberty to do whatever she wanted. It was a freeing experience. For the first time in her life, she was figuring out who she was.
“Do you like me?” she asked Anthony.
He shot her a disarming smile and rubbed her back. “Can’t you tell?”
“Well, I know you enjoy making love to me.”
“Yes. That’s one of my favorite activities.”
“But what about the other things we do? Do I hold your interest at other times?”
“My love, you hold my interest at all times.”
Her smile widening, she leaned forward and kissed him, and this time she didn’t stop until he started making love to her.
***
Anthony rolled off of Damara then drew her into his arms, out of breath from just making love to her. He didn’t know how it was possible, but lovemaking only got better every time they came together. And it seemed the same was true for her.
He’d meant what he told her that day in front of the fire. He’d stay here for the rest of his life if he could. But he couldn’t. He made money while in London. It was where he had his business dinners and engaged with gentlemen at White’s. So, whether he liked it or not, he had to leave, and now that the Season was quickly approaching, he’d better head back to London today.
“I wish we didn’t have to go,” Damara whispered.
Rubbing her back, he kissed the top of her head. “You must have read my mind. I was just thinking the same thing. I can’t believe winter’s already over.”
“Me neither.”
“At least in London we can finally get you your own wardrobe. You won’t have to keep borrowing my sister’s things.”
“I didn’t mind. Besides, she has excellent taste in fashion. All of her things are pretty.”
He supposed since she was a lady, she was more sensitive to things like that. His sister, however, wouldn’t be so inclined to agree. She considered most of her things outdated and boring. But it was nice to know Damara appreciated them. They’d certainly cost enough.
“You are such an unusual lady,” he said. “You never voice a complaint about anything.”
“Are ladies supposed to complain?”
“From what I know of them, they are. But my dealings with ladies are limited to my sister and her friends. It’s possible they are the ones who are unusual.”
She propped herself up on her elbow and peered down at him, her blonde tresses falling over her shoulder and to his chest. “If I am unusual, you don’t mind it, do you?”
“Whether you’re unusual or not, I don’t care. You’re absolutely wonderful, and I love you.”
He hadn’t said he loved her before. The words tumbled out without him thinking them through, but he realized they were the truth. He did love her.
“I love you, too,” she replied, her face lighting up.
In that case, he was glad he’d voiced the sentiment rather than keeping his thoughts to himself.
The next couple of days were bound to be tiring, but he suspected they would go quickly since Damara would be with him. He’d hardly noticed the passage of time the entire winter. The months had flown right by.
They’d gone so fast, in fact, that he hadn’t given much thought to how he was going to explain his marriage to Celia. His sister wasn’t going to be happy. He could already see the familiar pout that told him she was disappointed.
He released his breath. He was just going to have to come out and tell Celia the truth. Loretta was going to have to marry someone else. Surely, she’d find someone more suitable for her. Being married to Damara had proved what he’d already known
all along: he could never have been happy with Loretta. And honestly, he didn’t think Loretta would have been happy with him years from now. They would have tolerated each other at the most. But what kind of marriage would that have been? Not one worth being in, that was for sure. He could only hope his sister and Loretta would understand.
In the meantime, he should probably warn Damara that he’d need to talk alone with his sister before he introduced them. He shifted so that he was facing her, taking a moment to tuck a few golden strands behind her ear.
“Remember what I said about my betrothal to another lady?” he asked.
“All you told me was that you felt forced into the arrangement.”
“Yes.”
He debated whether or not he should tell her about how convincing his sister could be, but then he decided against it. He’d rather not have her think he was weak. Gentlemen, after all, were supposed to be the ones to dictate things, not their sisters.
“You have no idea how relieved I am that I married you instead,” he continued. “The lady I was supposed to marry is a good friend of my sister’s. When we get to London, I’d like to have a few minutes to explain our marriage to Celia before I introduce you to her.”
“I understand. You wish to prepare her. That’s fine with me. When you’re ready, you can introduce us.”
“Thank you.”
She smiled and kissed him. “You have nothing to worry about. I’m sure everything will be fine. She’s your sister. I get along splendidly with you. I have no doubt the same will be true with her.”
He hoped she was right. Oh, how he hoped. But he decided to keep this thought to himself. They’d get to London soon enough, and he’d find out how Celia would react then.
Chapter Ten
Almost a week later, the carriage pulled up to Anthony’s townhouse, and he thought over the speech he’d prepared for his sister. Each time he rehearsed it in his head, he made minor modifications to it, but overall, it stayed the same.
The Viscount's Runaway Bride (Marriage by Bargain Book 1) Page 7