Two Hearts
Page 21
“Where is Robin?” Grace asked as she smoothed her new riding habit. It was silver gray and the droplets of dew hung on it like pearls on a ball gown.
“Taking his mother home.”
“It’s the oddest thing. I cannot find Maria. Not only that, the dressing room is in chaos. I guess she must have started packing our things, since Gavin’s father has written he has found my girls a country estate. But really, it’s not like her to leave such a mess.”
“Perhaps she had a secret assignation.” Brand smiled in that smug way she loved, the corners of his mouth dented in amusement, his lips firm and seductive.
“Don’t be silly. I think when we marry she will take over the care of your mother. They enjoy arguing almost as much as we do.”
“Yes and they have been plotting already.”
Grace realized they were not heading for the park but were bearing north. “What do you mean?”
“A runaway wedding for us. At St. Marylebone Church. We are to meet them there at eight o’clock and then away to the West,” he said with a theatrical gesture.
Grace laughed at him. “Brand, be serious. I cannot be married in my riding habit. We cannot just ride away.”
“Why not?”
Brand’s excitement was making Sable restless and the black colt tossed his head as if for emphasis.
“My estate is no more than two days easy ride. We shall rest often so that your aged horse will have no reason to complain. Think of all the opportunities for dalliance for us along the way.”
In her mind Grace saw the picture he was painting for her but her practical side kept withdrawing from it. “But what if I am needed at the theater? What if you are needed there?”
“Joshua has taken things in hand. Since we have a manager, we should let him manage.”
Grace felt her last shred of control slipping through her fingers. “But we are not married.”
“We will be within the hour,” he promised.
Brand patted his coat pocket and she heard a document, presumably the license, crackle. “Remember this?” he asked as he then withdrew something from his watch pocket.
“It’s the little deuce of hearts. You saved it.”
“I was ever a sentimental fool. Why did you choose that one to tear up?”
“Because of the play, of course. I did not know then that it was your play.”
“I didn’t know then that I loved you. So much has happened since that night. We have learned to trust each other.”
She smiled. “So I should trust that you have thought of everything.”
“Perhaps not everything. I am a man, after all and inherently prone to error. I did this only to please you. Can you think of any other rubs to throw in our path?” he asked with a challenging tilt to his head.
The sun streamed through the fog then and caught the dew on his hat and her clothes with diamond splinters of light. Grace felt as though she were in a magic spell and she could either make it come true or break it all to bits.
“Without witnesses?” she asked meekly, feeling the corners of her mouth turn up.
“We shall have Mother and Maria. They will follow along behind us in the comfort of my traveling carriage with our luggage. Who else would you wish?”
She realized that Brand had been to a great deal of trouble planning this adventure. All she had to do was give up control to him, trust him and all would be well. “Not one person more.”
* * * * *
Brand watched Grace in her frothy French negligee, the one he had only imagined until now. Her burnished hair cascaded down her back, glittering red in the candlelight. There was still wine left from their late supper. The innkeeper had gone out of his way to please them. Grace slid across the satin sheets Maria had thought to pack and reached for Brand. “So I have you at last. This union is a thing I thought never to see with all the rubs cast in our way.”
He took her hand. “Not the least of which was your mistrust of me and my reluctance to push toward marriage too quickly for fear of scaring you off. I know why I was disillusioned but what gave you such a dislike for men?”
“Right after father died, when we were still in mourning, Wallace invited me home. One of his friends was staying there and paid his unwelcome attentions to me. When I put him in his place, he said Wallace and he had already decided on the marriage, that I had nothing to say in the matter. I carried the argument into my brother’s study and he confirmed the tale. He saw no reason why he shouldn’t hand me and my fortune over to his best friend without discussing it with me. What possible objection could I have?”
“My poor Grace.” Brand watched her sad ironic smile and knew she trembled on the edge of tears. “And you said nothing tragic had ever happened to you. I assume you set him straight.”
“In no uncertain terms. I had always known he was careless and laughed it off. But what he did hurt me, as though I could not think for myself, or my happiness didn’t matter as much as his friend’s good will.” She leaned on the pillow next to him and gazed into his eyes.
“And he has not improved in all these years. No wonder your father left you so well protected.”
“But Wallace’s gaffe ruined me for marriage and up until I met you no man ever changed my general opinion of men. We were each ruined for love by our past experiences with the opposite sex.”
Brand ran his knuckles along her cheek. “So that when we did find each other we could not recognize the virtues that would unite us.”
“No, we simply could not believe in love anymore. It took us by surprise like a drenching rain shower that leaves you shivering with delight.” She ran one coy finger around the rim of his ear, sending quivers along his body.
Brand laughed. “I am likened to a cold drenching? When I have been feeling nothing but heat and inflamed passion?”
“Love takes us each differently, like a house on fire or a flood tide. Let us not question the means but accept the meeting of minds.” Her breath was so close it tickled the hairs on his neck.
“We are like-minded souls,” he said, returning her intense gaze. We agree on all the important matters like marriage and children and agree on none of the unimportant ones.”
“Such as,” she breathed in his ear as she leaned over him, crushing the script he was holding against him.
“Grace, how can I read this play with you breathing on me like that?”
“This is our wedding night. You should postpone reading until tomorrow.” She tugged the script out from between them and gained possession of it. “The Family Way. Is it a good play?”
He pulled her to him and ran his fingers through her hair. “Yes, now that we have created William Marlowe, I don’t intend to give him up. Young Lake’s work is well enough. If I help him touch it up a little we’ll do his first play for the beginning of the season and my new one second.”
“Yes, your play about war. You told me the gist of it but how does it end?”
“Don’t worry. It’s not a tragedy. Gavin convinced me some good does come of everything. It does not end like a play but like our lives, two hearts go on and on through good times and bad, resting against each other at the weary places and above all, loving each other.” He kissed her finally and thought of nothing but her for the rest of the night.
About the Author
Barbara Miller teaches in the Writing Popular Fiction program at Seton Hill University. She has published mysteries, young adult novels, and historical romances, including one nominated for a Rita. She lives on a farm with her husband and a pack of unruly dogs.
Barbara welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Barbara Miller
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Two Hearts
ISBN 9781419915222
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Two Hearts Copyright © 2008 Barbara Miller
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Electronic book Publication April 2008
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