That made Honey raise her eyes to his.
'Married? Oh, but, no, that is impossible! There is no need! I will go away, and they will forget, and in any event no one cares what men do!'
He laughed, and slipped an arm about her waist.
'I should not forget, and I care very much what we both do!' he asserted. 'Honey, my precious little one, I have loved you since the moment I set eyes on you, when I carried you here to my room and realised it was a girl, a most enchanting girl, that I held in my arms. I have wanted to take you into my arms every day and night since then, but you seemed to love Robert, and I could not hurry you!'
Honey was staring at him in amazement.
'But you never said a word! I had no notion! You treated me as though I was a child,' she exclaimed.
He grinned, ruefully.
'I had to appear cold,' he admitted, 'and you will never know how great a strain it was on me. Yet if I had let you once know how deeply I felt for you, I believe you would have been frightened. I had to wait, and my tasks in Holland took me away from you so much! I have cursed this war more than any of the merchants who have been asked to contribute their profits to fight it. But now I am free to come to you, my darling. Will you have me? Can you love me?'
'Robert would not have followed me into the city,' she said suddenly. 'He did not love me, and he was afraid. He only wanted my father's money, and when he knew they were still alive, he did not want me.'
'It is true he was timorous, but he did want you, though not as a wife. Do not blame him too greatly, for many men must want you, you are so beautiful. And many men otherwise brave are greatly afeard of sickness. Do you regret him?'
'No!' she said vehemently. 'I only thought I loved him because he was dashing and handsome, and knew how to pay compliments. I was a fool!'
'But no longer, if you love me. Can you, Honey dear?'
She smiled at him shyly.
'I must be dreaming,' she whispered. 'Oh, Gervase, it seems impossible! You are so far above me. I never dared even to think of it, much less to hope, and I was blinded by Robert. But I still dream! You cannot marry a penniless actress. My father has cast me off, I have nought.'
'Then that is all the better, for I have enough for both, and will delight in buying you new clothes and jewels so that when we present ourselves at Court, you will be the most envied, and the most beloved wife there!'
He bent forward and kissed her, long and deep, and Honey, incredulous, gradually began to hope it was real and not a dream. After an age he released her and rose to his feet to walk across to the chest where he kept his papers.
'You do not answer, my love! Do you disbelieve I have loved you for so long? Here is proof, if you need it!'
He came back, holding out the pendant she had found amongst his papers, and gave it to her.
'I ordered it after I first escorted you back to your home,' he said softly. 'I intended then to contrive to get to know your father, and come to court you in the ordinary way. When you ran away I had to alter my plans. You will find it all recorded here.'
He placed in her hands the book with the poems, that she had already seen, but before she could speak had gathered her into his arms again.
'My dearest, when shall we be married? Shall we find a parson to marry us before we leave London, or shall we go today to my home, and marry in the chapel there? I have the necessary passes to travel. I warn you, I do not think I can wait in patience for much longer!'
Honey raised her face to his, and laughed slightly.
'It shall be as you wish, Gervase! I would like to see your home. Can we really start today? We have had no sleep, and look, it is already light!'
'Then we can travel well today, and be home the sooner! I did all my business with my uncle last night, and he told me my father has gone home, and I long to present you to him.'
Honey's smile vanished.
'Your family!' she exclaimed. 'Will not your father object to your marrying an actress, and a merchant's daughter? I know not which would be considered worse by the Court!'
He laughed, and pulled her up to clasp her firmly in his arms.
'In the first place my family will be so grateful to you for having captured my love, when they had despaired of my ever loving anyone, and giving them an heir, that they will welcome you with open arms, and in the second I brought my father to the King's House when last I was in London, and told him all about you. He could not understand why I delayed, and from what my uncle said tonight has been fretting ever since for fear I had let you slip away from me! You need not fear for your welcome at Dunstone Manor, my sweet, any more than you need doubt my love!'
'It seems more like a play than reality!' she commented.
'It is real enough, my beloved. We need not be player or player's wench any more, for now we are both alive, ourselves, and complete for the first time! But we waste precious minutes that we might be using to be on our way!'
She nodded happily, and they proceeded to waste many more minutes before finally bidding the beaming Mistress Betsy farewell and setting out on their journey.
THE END
###
Marina Oliver has written over 75 novels, all are available as ebooks.
For the latest information please see Marina's web site:
http://www.marina-oliver.net
More novels by Marina set during the Restoration:-
Restoration Affair
Callias is brought to the Restoration Court by her husband John Cobden, who married her for her money, but once there he neglects her.
She is pursued by many amorous gallants, including the King, but has eyes only for Sir Richard Weston.
His betrothal to Anne Laver, arranged by their families, is broken by her jealous cousin.
Fate, in the guise of an angry John, a malicious Anne, and even the intervention of the King, separates them, and Callias faces terrible danger.
*
Lord Hugo's Bride
Hugo, Earl of Winton, needs a wife and an heir if his weak cousin William, with his unpleasant French wife Hortense and the son who might not be her husband's, is not to succeed him.
He decides Philippa Stannerly will be suitable. She is pretty and an heiress. Philippa, in love with Charles, is distraught.
Then her French cousin Sophie du Plessis comes to London and promises to help her. Their mothers were twins and the girls are sufficiently alike to confuse people who do not know them well.
When Hugo sees Sophie on her own he offers her a lift home, intending to pursue his suit in the belief she is Philippa. She maintains the deception, hoping to prove to her uncle that Hugo is not a fit husband for Philippa.
Her behaviour is, however, unlike Philippa's shy response and Hugo is intrigued.
*
Lord Hugo's Wedding
The Earl of Winton was a notorious rake at the Court of Charles II, but falls in love with Sophie when he abducts her in mistake for her cousin Philippa.
They plan their wedding, but Sophie and her parents must go home to France where her grandmother is ill.
Strange happenings follow them and they suspect Hugo's discarded mistress, Kate Trent, and Monsieur de Terville, a probable agent of King Louis XIV, both of whom wish them ill.
*
1Gavotte
While Isabella and her family were with King Charles II in exile she was jilted, and has set her mind against any marriage. Instead, she wants the lovely Clare, her younger sister, to restore the family fortunes with a wealthy husband.
When they visit London for the coronation festivities she decides it is the ideal time for Clare to attract eligible suitors such as Jason Marlowe, but he appears to be destined for their cousin Frances.
Meanwhile men who are far from eligible have to be deterred.
Clare, however, is unwilling to be sacrificed, especially as she has her own ideas of who will be the best husband for her.
This brings Isabella into unexpected danger as she attempts to
save Clare from an improvident move.
***
Player's Wench Page 14