The Runaway Heiress

by Brenda Hiatt

  She looked back and forth between them, her eyes wide —and every bit as blue as her son's. "You met the day you married? In Scotland? Why, how very romantic! I must hear the whole story —but not until your father arrives. Ah, Lord Rumble, here you are, and Violet, too. Let us go down to dinner at once, so that Grant and Dina can tell us what promises to be a grand tale."

  Lord Rumble gave Dina a polite nod, though his gaze was slightly unfocused, making her wonder whether he'd already forgotten who she was. Violet, however, smiled brightly at her as they went downstairs to the dining room. Dina noticed that she avoided her mother's eye, which must mean the dreaded scold was yet to come.

  "Now, Grant, do tell us how your marriage came about," Lady Rumble said as they took their seats and a footman came forward with the soup. "I simply can't wait another moment to hear it. You caught up with Violet and that rascally Mr. Plunkett before they reached Gretna Green, I presume, but then what happened?"

  Thor dismissed the footman with a glance and picked up his soup spoon before answering. “Actually, with the start they had, Violet and her fortune-hunter were able to reach Scotland on Tuesday evening, while I did not arrive until Wednesday morning."

  "What?" Lady Rumble fairly shrieked, turning to stare at Violet, whose attention was riveted on her bowl of broth. "But your letter said that you had reached her in time."

  "In time to prevent her marrying Plunkett," he said.

  Lady Rumble stared at him incredulously. "But not in time to preserve her reputation, if she spent two nights on the road with the man and then did not marry him."

  "I did not sleep with him, Mother." Finally prompted to speech, Violet spoke defensively. "I insisted on separate rooms at the first inn, and in Gretna, Dina let me share hers."

  "But the world is not to know that. How shall we explain your absence this week past? I have avoided the neighbors, and even most of the servants, while you were gone, for fear I might say more than was wise."

  "We discussed this at some length during our journey," Thor said, "and thought it might be best to claim that it was Dina and I who eloped and that Violet came along to act as chaperone before the wedding."

  "Hmph. Hmph. Well." Lady Rumble continued to glare at her daughter for a long moment, then turned to her husband. "Lord Rumble, what think you? Will that serve, or must we consider our Violet ruined?"

  Lord Rumble looked up mildly from his soup, which was nearly gone by now, the conversation not having affected his appetite in the least. "Ruined? Ruined for what? She looks the same to me as she ever did."

  "Ruined for marriage, of course," Lady Rumble clarified. "Do you think this elopement of hers will have spoiled her chances?"

  "Not if no one knows of it but ourselves," he said so practically that Dina had to hide a smile. "Reputation is all about appearances, is it not?"

  His wife blinked. "Why, ah, yes, I suppose one could say that." She stopped twisting her hands together and managed a small smile. "Thank you, my dear. You always do seem to put things into perspective for me."

  "I consider it one of my primary responsibilities," he replied. Then, suddenly turning an eye that was not vague in the least upon Dina, he added, "But now, I confess to a great deal of curiosity about how our new daughter-in-law came to be in Scotland—alone?—and how Grant came to marry her."

  Haltingly, Dina gave an abbreviated account of how she had believed her father's will required that she marry quickly, how Mr. Tallow had jilted her and how, when Thor had expressed his gratitude for the part she had played with Violet, she had requested that he marry her as a reward of sorts. She glossed over Silas's role in the business, seeing no point in tarnishing her brother in Violet's or her new in-laws' eyes.

  "I see," said Lord Rumble when she concluded, making her wonder whether he had divined everything she had left unsaid. "Grant, you found her request reasonable?" He now pinned his son with his bright gaze.

  Dina, relieved to have the attention shifted from herself, nevertheless felt some trepidation over what Thor might now say. Certainly, he looked uncomfortable in the extreme, and she remembered his lofty declaration that he would not lie to his parents. Would he tell them about her intention of marrying Mr. Plunkett herself?

  "I, ah, well, you know how Mother has been after me to marry," he hedged. "Besides, it seemed the only fair thing to do, especially after the service she had done our family."

  Lord Rumble raised one thin brow and seemed about to ask more questions, but just then the footman returned with the next course and he turned his attention back to his dinner. Thor waited until the servant had left them again to continue.

  "Anyway, as you can see, Mother, ours was not a romantic marriage. Dina did our family a favor and in return I did her one. Therefore, there's no need—"

  "Oh, tut-tut," Lady Rumble interrupted him. "You would never have married her, or you him, my dear," she added to Dina, "if you had not felt a degree of attraction for each other. Why, I scarcely knew your father when we married —an assembly or two, and a dinner, what is that?—and see how well things have turned out for us."

  She turned a fond smile upon her husband, who glanced up from his fish long enough to return it.

  "Besides," Violet put in, no doubt eager to keep the conversation away from herself, "you two do seem to deal very well together. And there was that night you spent together at the Spotted Dog, don't forget." Her wink, Dina thought, was irritatingly like her mother's.

  Embarrassed, she felt moved to protest. "Only because there was no other room available. We did not . . . that is . . ."

  Thor came to her aid. "Nothing happened between us. Mother, Violet, you both must understand that we went into this marriage with no romantic expectations whatsoever. Nor is that like to change."

  Recalling her own turbulent feelings upstairs before dinner, Dina could only hope that he was right. Certainly, she didn't want that to change—did she?

  But Lady Rumble was looking stubborn. "Not with an attitude like that," she said. "Are you telling me that you have not so much as kissed your bride since marrying her?"

  Dina felt the color rush to her face and could only be grateful that Lady Rumble's eyes were directed at her son rather than at herself. Lord Rumble's were still focused on his plate. More than once since their wedding Dina had imagined what it might be like to kiss Thor—to have him kiss her—but she had always been quick to thrust such thoughts away.

  "Of course I have not," Thor replied. Though Dina did not dare to look at him just now, his voice sounded perfectly calm. "Given our circumstances, that would scarcely be appropriate."

  "Appropriate? What nonsense," his mother declared roundly. "Whatever the circumstances that led to the actual wedding, you are married now, so you may as well make the best of it. Besides, there is the succession to consider."

  Dina cringed, wishing she could disappear under the table or, better, from the entire face of the earth. Thor had made it quite clear he had no interest in her in that way, but she would rather not hear him reiterate it before his whole family.

  He did not, however, only saying blandly, "I cannot think this a fit topic for dinner."

  Seemingly undaunted, Lady Rumble snorted. "You young people are so prudish these days. Very well, I will try not to embarrass you further, but in return, you must promise me to at least kiss your bride good night."

  Startled, Dina looked up—to find Thor's questioning gaze upon her. "If Dina will agree, and if we may thereby have your promise to stay out of our private affairs, I am willing," he said, his eyes never leaving hers.

  Though she half expected her face to burst into flame, it felt so hot, Dina managed an embarrassed nod.

  "Wonderful," Lady Rumble declared, beaming back and forth between them. "That will be an excellent start. But no, I promise, I'll not say another word on the subject. Now, do try some of the turbot, for it is one of Cook's specialties."

  The rest of the evening passed in a blur for Thor, so focused was he on the c
onclusion of it, looming ahead. As always, his father was disinclined to linger over port after dinner, instead returning to his studies. Thor, therefore, joined the ladies in the parlor, where his mother finally delivered her obligatory scold to Violet before moving on to the topic of upcoming assemblies in the neighborhood, which, as predicted, Violet was forbidden to attend, as punishment.

  Dina, he noticed, took little part in the conversation, but whether because she was unfamiliar with the neighborhood or because she was similarly preoccupied with the awkward moment to come, he had no idea. If the latter, was she anticipating or dreading it?

  Not that he was certain which one was true for himself.

  Though she held to her promise not to mention their marital relationship again, Lady Rumble declared herself ready to retire at an unusually early hour. "And you must all be tired as well, after so many days on the road," she added, with only the barest trace of a wink.

  "Indeed, I am exhausted," Violet agreed with a sly glance at Thor which he stolidly ignored. "Let's all head up to bed, shall we?"

  As they stood, Dina turned to her hostess. "I must thank you again, my lady, for your extraordinary kindness to me today."

  "Why, it was nothing, my dear," Lady Rumble responded. "If you can make my Grant happy, that will be more than enough thanks for me."

  After that, it did not surprise him that Dina refused to meet his eye as they followed his mother and Violet upstairs. He wondered whether he could consider Lady Rumble's words breach enough of her promise to absolve him of his—but regretfully decided she had not quite crossed that line.

  At the top of the stairs they parted, Violet and Lady Rumble heading down the east wing to their bedchambers while he and Dina headed to the west wing. Determined to defuse at least some of the awkwardness between them, Thor forced himself to speak.

  "I apologize again for my mother's outspokenness, but at least she seems to be trying to restrain herself now."

  Dina, walking quietly at his side, nodded. "Yes, she kept her promise quite well after dinner. Again, though, no apology from you is necessary. Besides, one can hardly blame her for her feelings, however, ah, inappropriate the expression of them may have been, at times."

  "You are more charitable than I," he said, "though perhaps that is because you've not been subjected to her hints and nudges for years, as I have. We can hope that her promise will hold for a few days, at least, and take what relief we can from it."

  They reached the door to Dina's chamber and stopped. "I . . . I suppose we must now fulfill our promise, however," she said so softly that he had to stoop to hear her, particularly as she spoke to his shirtfront rather than to his face.

  "I suppose so. Do you truly not mind?"

  She gave a quick shake of her head, still looking down.

  Thor felt like cursing. Over the past few days, he'd caught himself fantasizing once or twice about kissing Dina, but in those daydreams it had happened naturally, because they both wanted it to happen. This was quite different —and incredibly awkward.

  But he had promised.

  For a long moment he hesitated, then, steeling himself against her effect on him, he placed one finger under her chin to tilt her face up to him. Her green eyes were wide and spoke of a panic that was not precisely fear. He understood, for he felt much the same sort of panic himself.

  Best to get it over, he decided. He lowered his lips to hers, intending the briefest of kisses, the minimum necessary to satisfy the bargain he'd made with his mother. The instant their lips met, however, he felt that jolt of connection he'd felt before at her touch, only far stronger this time.

  Something inside him began to clamor, urging him toward her, demanding more contact, more sensation, more . . . everything. His finger slid from her chin to her jaw, tracing the delicate curve of her face. Even as reason told him it was time to end the kiss, her lips softened beneath his and she seemed to lean into him—or was he the one leaning into her?

  Either way, the heightened contact inflamed his barely-banked desire, compelling him to continue. His arms went around her, seemingly of their own volition, and he gathered her to him, inhaling her fragrance, reveling in her fragile softness.

  He felt her small hands against his chest and braced himself for her push, determined to release her instantly if she resisted, but instead she slipped her arms around his neck, pulling him even closer. Her lips now moved beneath his, inviting him to deepen the kiss he knew he should already have ended.

  His hard-won control evaporated and he accepted the invitation, probing her mouth with his tongue, forging a new bond between them, a white-hot bond of passion. That passion gave voice to a growl, deep in his throat, and was answered by a faint moan from Dina.

  Instantly, he released her. "Did . . . did I hurt you?" he panted, fear lancing through him.

  Her lips were parted, slightly swollen and still incredibly inviting, as she looked up at him in dazed confusion. "Hurt—? Ah, no." Her voice was breathless, seductive.

  He started to reach for her again when reason returned with a brutal crash. What on earth was he doing? Quickly, he took a step backward, toward his own chamber.

  "I'm sorry, Dina. I never meant—that is— Good night." Sketching her a quick bow, absurdly formal under the circumstances, he escaped into his room and closed the door as quickly as he could without slamming it.

  Had he gone mad? Another minute and he had no doubt that he'd have swept her up in his arms and carried her to bed—and very likely have injured her in the process. He only hoped he had stopped short of terrifying her, though he didn't doubt he'd given her a disgust of him, at the very least.

  He'd come perilously close to breaking the promise he'd given her before they wed, and she must surely realize it.

  "Sir?"

  He whirled, to find Spooner regarding him from across the room, only the faintest trace of curiosity showing on his well-trained face.

  "Pack me a trunk," he told his valet on sudden decision. "I leave for Melton-Mowbray at first light."

  Chapter Ten

  Dina waited until Thor had disappeared into his chamber before opening the door to her own. Deeply shaken as she felt by that remarkable kiss, she wasn't about to leave the hallway if there was any chance of an encore.

  After a few moments, however, she realized that would not happen and closed herself into her room with a not-unhappy sigh. Facing Thor tomorrow would be awkward after what had ignited between them just now, but in the meantime she could simply savor this evidence that he was not so indifferent to her as she had believed.

  Oh, she did not harbor any illusions that he was developing a tendre for her, but at least that kiss showed that he found her attractive. Desirable. And that alone was enough to buoy her spirits, given what she'd just discovered about her own feelings.

  For that kiss— that amazing, explosive kiss— had unleashed emotions far beyond her most worrisome imaginings. What she felt for Thor, she now knew, went far beyond mere attraction or even friendship. In fact, if she were not extremely careful, she would soon find herself head-over-ears in love with her husband.

  Not good. But perhaps not quite the disaster she had feared. Turning to her waiting maid with a smile, she allowed herself to be undressed and readied for bed, certain that her dreams would be, if not sweet, then at least a great deal more interesting than usual.

  Whether she was right she never knew, for when she awoke in the morning she was unable to remember any dreams at all, though she felt undeniably cheerful, despite the gloomy weather outside her pink-curtained window. She jumped out of bed for a quick round of calisthenics, then, calling her maid, she bathed and dressed with care before going downstairs for breakfast.

  Not until she approached the dining room did doubts begin to assail her. Would Thor pretend that kiss had never happened? Should she do the same? Surely some awareness between them was inevitable. Would Lady Rumble divine the truth and resume her relentless hinting? Taking a deep breath, she entered the
dining room —to find it empty.

  Glancing around, she saw a tempting array of hot breakfast dishes on the sideboard, along with a stack of plates and serving utensils. Apparently, breakfast in the Rumble household was a come-as-you-please affair. Dina shrugged and helped herself to eggs, stewed tomatoes and a rasher of bacon.

  The moment she seated herself at the long table, a footman appeared. "Would you care for coffee, tea or chocolate, ma'am?" he inquired.

  "Coffee, please." The stimulant might help her to react more quickly and appropriately to whatever mood Thor presented when he appeared.

  She had taken only a bite or two when footsteps heralded the entrance of Lord and Lady Rumble, arm in arm. "Good morning," she greeted them. "I hope you don't mind that I began without you?"

  "Not at all, my dear," Lady Rumble replied. "As you can see, we treat breakfast quite informally. Lord Rumble's schedule is variable, depending upon his studies, and Violet often sleeps till noon, particularly when she has been out the night before."

  They both went to the sideboard to fill plates before moving to the table. Seating herself across from Dina, Lady Rumble regarded her with a concern that Dina didn't understand. "Did . . . did you sleep well, my dear?" she asked.

  "Indeed, yes," Dina replied, trying not to color at the recollection of why she had done so. She almost asked what time Thor was likely to be down, but restrained herself. "My room is most comfortable," she added, instead.

  Lady Rumble smiled, despite the faint crease that remained between her brows. "You are surprisingly cheerful, under the circumstances. That's very brave of you, my dear."

  "Circumstances?" Dina repeated? What did she mean, brave?

  "She means Grant haring off to Melton again," Lord Rumble explained between bites of pastry. "Lady Rumble thought that your presence here would change his habits, though I warned her that might not be the case."

  Dina blinked. Thor was gone? He'd said not a word last night about leaving. Before she could ask when he might return, Lady Rumble spoke again.