Scars Upon Her Heart (The Scars of The Heart Series)

by Sorcha MacMurrough

  “Of course, Colonel. Get a good night’s sleep. Things will look different in the morning. You'll see. Love does have its place, but respect and regard are important too. It's hard to see how anyone could not love and admired a woman so rare.”

  "Pearls before swine," Stewart muttered.

  "You are no such thing, Colonel, as you well know. You are not only a valued officer of mine, you are the Duke of Clancar. We can but do our best. Love her, as she loves you, with an open heart, and I promise you, the rest will fall into place."

  "Thank you, my Lord. You're right. I shall see you in the morning, and look forward to the wedding whenever Vevina says she is ready." He bowed and made his way to his empty billet, and dreamed of holding Vevina in his arms once more.

  He almost fainted as the heady sensations of love and longing swirled through him. Wellington was right. It was time to give up the fantasy, for what he had found might not be what he had imagined for himself, but Vevina's passion and love of life and fierce loyalty made her more than a worthy match for any woman he had ever met before, or ever would.

  Now that she had blazed into his life like a comet, leaving not devastation in her wake, but the prospect of peace at last after so many years at war with his family, and himself, he knew even if it was for her best, he simply couldn't give up her saucy, sensual sweetness.

  She was not only a woman worth loving, but worth revelling in as a passionate lover. The fact that she was also intelligent, beautiful, and wealthy, were the icing on an already stunning rich cake, which Stewart was more than eager to partake of again.

  And best of all, far from consuming it all in one bite, he had the chance to savor it, to not only possess it, but enjoy every last morsel too. For she was certainly most delectable, he recalled, summoning up heated memories of the last time they had been alone together.

  It had been a long time ago. Too long. But now they were to be married. Stewart tried to subdue his roiling loins, and admitted at last with a deep sigh, that he really couldn't wait for the wedding after all.

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  But Vevina’s perspective about marrying Stewart had changed as well, and the next morning, still tormented by his admission that he loved another, she rose at dawn and begged Monroe for a chance to speak to Wellington privately.

  When she was shown into his presence, he could see the dark circles under her eyes, and knew she must have overheard at least part of what Stewart had said.

  “My dear Vevina,” he exclaimed robustly, trying to stem the flood of tears which seemed ready to overflow. “Stewart and I had such a lovely chat last night about the arrangements for your wedding. As soon as your brother arrives, it will take place. Sorry about the delay, but I needed him for some urgent tasks at Lisbon.”

  “I wish to release the Colonel from our engagement,” Vevina said firmly, with a lift of her chin. “I cannot allow him to leave Spain when you need an experienced officer of his calibre here.”

  “I have already told you, I can use him equally well in London, if you have no objection to living there instead of Cork for a time.”

  “None at all, but I am aware that the Major is involved with another woman. He may wish to continue his relationship with her now that he is to go home.”

  She was forcing herself to try to be generous, even though she knew her heart would break if she lost him.

  Wellington shook his head. “No, he assures me the lady in question betrayed him, that there can be no future for them. Since you already know of the existence of this lady, I may therefore ask if in spite of this you are willing to marry him, if he is still desirous of marrying you?”

  Vevina sighed. Perhaps she could one day make him happy?

  “I will marry him,” she said at length, “but on one condition only.”

  Wellington’s eyebrows raised. “What might that be, Lady Vevina?”

  “I want you to allow Stewart to stay here in Spain.”

  “But you're with child. You must go home!”

  “I am well enough, and have several long months before my babe comes. Besides, there are excellent doctors in Lisbon, or even Madrid if we are fortunate enough to push through so far by October.”

  “But the discomfort, the danger!”

  “Would you rather I went home by myself and paced up and down my grand but empty town house day and night, waiting for news of my husband?”

  “Lady Vevina, think long and hard about the consequences of your accompanying your husband on this campaign.”

  She leaned forward on the edge of her chair. “I already have, my Lord. He would be devastated to leave Spain now of all times, when the tide seems to be turning in our favor. I couldn’t do that to him, not even for the sake of the baby.

  "And if he stays, then I must stay. If I am to be his wife, then a wife’s place is by her husband’s side. No matter what the circumstances, I would rather be unhappy with him, than worried and unhappy in London without him.”

  “Monroe!” Wellington called. “Monroe, fetch Colonel Fitzgerald here immediately, please.”

  Vevina smoothed her hair hastily, and rose from her chair to adjust her gown, before she heard heavy footsteps on the stairs, and Stewart’s loud knock.

  “Come in!” Wellington called.

  He motioned them both to be seated.

  “We have reached a very delicate stage in these rather complicated wedding negotiations. Lady Vevina has backed me into a corner and surrounded me. There is one pre-condition she insists upon before she will marry you, Colonel, and it is up to you to decide.”

  Stewart frowned. “I have already decided to wed her. I’ve told you.”

  “This affects you both, so I suggest you consider her pre-condition carefully before you assent in an impetuous fashion,” Wellington cautioned.

  “Very well, my Lord, what is Lady Vevina’s proviso?” Stewart demanded almost angrily.

  “That you be allowed to stay in Spain, and that she be allowed to remain with you.”

  Stewart was so astonished he felt winded. He opened his mouth to argue, but no words came out.

  Vevina shook her head, her violet eyes burning into his midnight blue ones with such intensity he knew it was pointless to argue.

  One hundred commonsensical reasons screamed against it, but Stewart knew he would not utter them. He wanted to stay with Wellington, and he knew now that he wanted Vevina by his side more than anything else in the world.

  Stewart smiled, and offered her his hand.”I surrender to the Lady’s wishes, and accept the terms.”

  “Good, then. Now, if that is all, please leave. I don’t want to see either of you before Saturday. Nor do I wish to hear another word of thanks or disagreement. I have a war to run, and you, Colonel, are going to be with me every step of the way.”

  “And me as well, my Lord,” Vevina promised. She curtsied and took the arm Stewrt offered her.

  Once out on the landing together, Stewart bent to kiss her soundly, and whispered, “Thank you.”

  “Please don’t be angry,” she begged softly.

  “How could I be? But it will mean great hardship for you, Vevina,” Stewart warned.

  “I don’t care, so long as we’re all together.”

  Stweart kissed her once again, feeling almost drunk with elation.

  He wrapped his arms around her as he had ached to for so many months. He felt such a sense of rightness about it all, as though they fit perfectly, belonged together. He wanted her to be safe, but the ache in his heart at the prospect of being separated from her had dampened his wholehearted enthusiasm for the marriage, as had his unwillingness to leave Spain.

  Now he could indeed have his delicious cake, and eat it too, he thought with a grin, allowing his body to follow down the path his mind had taken him last night.

  He manuevered her into a dark, shadowy corner, and began to press her against him, cupping her buttocks to leave her in no doubt as to how much he wanted her.

  Vevina rose up
to meet his thundering passion, twisting her lips against his as her own parted to grant him full access to their ruby ripeness.

  "Oh, Viv, I've missed you so. Ached for you…" he panted, tracing kisses down the slender column of her throat.

  "Yes, please, oh, how I've missed you, darling—"

  Their passionate interlude was ended by Monroe, who came up the stairs with messages for Wellington. They broke apart, blushing.

  "I'm sorry, I shouldn't—"

  "I wanted you to."

  "Still, I didn't mean to embarrass—"

  She shook her head. "There's no shame in loving, and being loved. I just don't want to embarrass Monroe. He's becoming a real friend to us all, despite his high position as Wellington's man."

  Just then, Monroe came back out onto the landing, and told Stewart he had to see to the drill that morning.

  Vevina felt disappointed that she still had had no chance to speak to him about their feelings for each other.

  A fire burnt in her belly every time she laid eyes on Stewart, but he had said he loved someone else.

  How could she ever be anything other to Stewart than second best?

  He gave her a perfunctory kiss on the cheek, though his eyes were still full of dark promise, and then she was alone once more, aching for her beloved but knowing duty and honor would always have to come first.

  She didn't disagree, but they could be damned lonely bedfellows compared to the passionate man who had just held her in his arms as though he would never let her go.

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  The day of the wedding dawned bright and clear. Jeanne was up at cock-crow to get Vevina ready in time.

  Vevina had wondered what on earth she could wear that would be suitable, since the few clothes she had kept for herself after the battle of Badajoz were too warm or too sombre.

  Jeanne looked at her hesitantly, then pulled out a long white gown with exquisite little red bows.

  Vevina gasped, putting one hand to her throat in surprise.

  “Please, Miss, I couldn’t bear to see it cut up. Please don’t be angry with me for keeping it back. I had a feeling you might be using it.”

  Vevina was secretly delighted. It had been her favorite gown of all the ones the Olivier sisters had given her. Yet as much as she longed to wear it herself, she offered quietly, “Would you like to wear it? After all it’s your wedding day too.”

  “No, miss, I couldn’t, it’s far too long for me, and in any case, what would you wear? No, even though you’re grown so big with child, it will still fit you as though it was made for you.”

  Vevina smiled and hugged her maid. "I'm not angry. I'm really very touched at your thoughtfulness. It may be vain of me, but every bride wants to look nice on her wedding day.

  To Vevina's surprise, it seemed a real effort to get into it, doing up the many fastenings with Jeanne’s help. She was so accustomed to the freedom of breeches and a shirt, or a simple skirt and blouse.

  But the effort was more than worth it, she decided when she surveyed herself in the mirror Wellington had been kind enough to hunt up for her for her special day.

  The full cut and elegant lacy overskirt minimised the bulge at her front, and Jeanne merely had to undo the small tucks the Olivier girls had taken in in order to accommodate her swelling bosom.

  A knock at the door brought Wilfred, so grubby from his journey he didn’t dare touch her until he had a chance to wash.

  "No, really, Viv, you look so gorgeous, I'll hug you later, I promise. But here—" He offered her a crumpled paper parcel at arm's length. “I got it for you in Lisbon, and a few other things as well when I heard about you giving away your entire wardrobe.”

  Inside was an elegant white lace mantilla.

  Jeanne exclaimed at its beauty and laid it over Vevina’s shining auburn hair.

  “Thank you, Will, for thinking of me. It’s so lovely,” Vevina breathed, holding it in her hand to admire it better.

  “Not half so lovely as you are, even in an army uniform, Viv,” Wilfred said with a grin. I'll see you later. I'm just heading downstairs to Stewart’s room to get washed and changed."

  Vevina was pleased to see that the two most important men in her life had grown to be firm friends. "Off you go, then. I'll see you shortly."

  Wellington knocked at the bride’s door promptly at quarter to eleven, and praised her appearance both wordlessly with his eyes, and verbally as well.

  "You are certainly a sight for these battle-weary eyes, my dear. The Colonel is going to fall in love with you all over again when he sees you."

  Vevina gave a wry smile. "I'd settle for once, sir."

  He took her hand and placed it firmly in the crook of his arm. "Nonsense. He loves you. He's just like most bachelors. Kicking against the spikes thinking he is giving up his freedom, when in fact, marriage gives you far more. In every sense of the word." He winked at her. "Especially for women, in some senses. You'll get to do a great many more things that a single woman would not be permitted. Not that that seems to have stopped you."

  Vevina blushed. "I hope you aren't suggesting—"

  "What? Er, egad, no. I simply meant that you will be able to use your considerable brains and talent as your husband's helpmeet than you ever would have been as a young woman just expected to embroider beautifully. Though to hear Ensign Parks, you are a paragon even in that respect."

  Vevina blushed again. "Oh my, all this praise today. Let's just hope it doesn't go to my head."

  He led her onto the staircase landing, with Jeanne following close behind.

  "You're the most level-headed female I have ever had the privilege to know. So there's no danger there, I'm sure. But there are enough dangers with the French in the area, so come, let's hurry to your wedding before we have yet another endless round of duties to attend to."

  By now they had reached the bottom of the stairs. Jeanne gathered up her long skirts for the dusty walk across the courtyard to where the wedding and banquet were to be held.

  She heard violins playing, and an expectant hum of voices inside the building.

  “Are you ready?” Wellington asked softly, as he took her hand. He gave it a reassuring squeeze before placing it in the crook of his arm.

  Vevina’s mouth went dry, so that she could only nod.

  Then Vevina was gliding down the aisle, and all she could see was the broad back and dark hair of the tall man waiting for her at the altar.

  Vevina quailed with fear. What would his eyes look like when he turned around? She fought back the irrational desire to run. Was she too fearing her loss of freedom, or was it her own reservations about her worthiness and Stewart's love?

  Stewart turned, his mouth fell open, and his eyes, already warm and smiling, seemed to be riveted to her.

  Her heart gave a little lift at his warm expression. Perhaps Wellington was right about the falling in love part…

  Then her cold hand was placed in his. How she ever managed to repeat the words after the Army padre were beyond her. She looked down at the rings Stewart placed on his finger, a wide gold band with engraving all around it, and a superb square cut sapphire.

  As she glanced questioningly up at Stewart, Wellington whispered next to her, “My contribution, from the treasure.”

  The rest of the ceremony went by in a blur of sensation, Stewart's warmth, scent, touch of his hand.

  Suddenly she heard, “You may kiss the bride.”

  Stewart kissed her until her knees shook, and she clung to his shoulders, desperately trying not to be swept away by the tide of passion which threatened to engulf her.

  Then rice was thrown as they walked out with their guests into the spring sunshine into the courtyard where tables and benches had been placed for the wedding feast.

  Once everyone was seated for the breakfast, Vevina, Stewart, Wilfred, Mitchell and Monroe went back to the makeshift chapel for the wedding of Francis and Jeanne.

  Wilfred had kindly consented to be best man,
and Wellington to give the bride away. Jeanne was dressed in a plain brown gown of linen, with a small straw bonnet bedecked with ribbons, and Vevina carried her flowers for her.

  Stewart stood close to her side with one arm loosely around her waist, and when he heard the kiss the bride command once more, he leaned into his wife for another toe curling kiss that left Vevina breathless with longing, and the others in the chapel clearing their thoats.

  They broke off shakily with a blush, and then everyone hugged all around and offered their congratulations.