‘Look, I know that none of it seems to make sense to you, but, please, let me tell you my part of the story. I think I have the right to ask for that.’
Dinah nodded grimly and sat on a little stone bench. Although she still felt anger bubbling inside her, a part of her wanted to be convinced that Alex did not intend to mislead her.
‘Tell me all’ she whispered.
‘I will, starting from the very first time I saw you all those years ago. You were standing alone in the crowded ballroom, so fragile, so beautiful and somehow so different from all the laughing, flirting girls. I noticed you and was intrigued by you. I approached your aunt and then went to talk to you and to ask you to dance. But you refused me. You did not even look at me!’
‘I thought you did it out of pity and felt so humiliated…’
‘I know it now but did not see it like that at the time. I was used to girls throwing themselves at me or rather, having their mothers push them in hope to catch me. For I was a catch! Still would be, was it not for my face and the rumours that my father’s gambling left me penniless. I saw you on few other occasions but I do not think that you noticed me.’
‘I did not take much notice of anyone then. I hated every minute of my season. All those people who felt so superior to me! Despite all my aunt’s efforts I knew they would never accept me. I suppose in my eyes you were just one of them. I did not give you a chance…’
‘No’ he smiled. ‘But it doesn’t matter now. Soon you went back to the country and I joined the army, as I had intended anyway. I did not think of you much, but sometimes, in the midst of battles and bloodshed I dreamt about you, as if you were my guardian angel. I know it sounds mad, but I suppose that a soldier needs something beautiful and pure to cling to, something that would let him forget the horrors around him.’
His face, hidden in the shadows took a pained look that Dinah saw when he talked about the war in the Old Mill. On impulse, she reached for his hand and kissed it.
He smiled at her and stroked her cheek.
‘After my accident I came back home. I would have done so anyway, for my father was dying. Soon I inherited his title and his estate, with all the mess he left it in. But despite the rumours, the situation was not hopeless. I started doing business with your father and the challenge of restoring something of the Timsbury’s grandeur proved to be a great distraction. When my great uncle died and left me his fortune, I knew I would be able to realise my ambition and see my estate prospering again. Then, of course, I was nagged by my dear cousin to get married. I was idly thinking about it and started to look around London’s parlours, ballrooms and theatres, but none of the charming young ladies I could find there interested me in the least. Until I saw you riding in a park one morning, not a girl but a full grown woman, a hundred times more beautiful than I remembered. All my old fascination with you came back.’
‘So here at least my father told the truth’ said Dinah quietly.
It was so hard to fathom that she, who always believed herself so unattractive to the other sex, had been able to inspire such an interest in a man. She also realised that the young lady from Alex’s past was actually herself. It was all too strange, too overwhelming, too wonderful to be true!
‘Then I did something I regret. I should have found a way to introduce myself and court you properly. But I was afraid that you would reject me again. After all, my face is not a pleasant sight. Instead, I asked your father about you. I said that I admired your beauty and I wished to be introduced to you. He promptly asked me and my sister to the ball.’
‘And that was it?’
‘Yes, that was it.’
‘So why all the hassle and the lies he told me about Lord Timsbury’s proposal?’
‘Do not forget that your father is a calculating businessman. He did not build his fortune without taking risks. He could clearly see that I was smitten and assumed that I was also after your money. I did not boast about inheriting from my uncle, you see. So all he needed to do was to make sure that you would accept me rather than run a mile from me when you saw my face.’
‘And he knew that I would obey his wishes. All was going according to the plan, except that we met before the appointed time. Why did you not tell me the truth then?’
‘I intended to, at first. But it was so liberating to be just Captain Alex Legrant and know that you really wanted me, despite all my scars. I could not believe my luck! Besides, you seemed to be so ill disposed against Lord Tilbury that I did not dare tell you that it was me. I just hoped that all would turn out well when we met at the ball. But then, again, I wanted to prolong our… adventure and, instead of coming to dine with you yesterday, I lured you into the garden shed.’
‘It seems that it was not only me who needed an escape from their usual life. And I as good as seduced you…’
‘And what man could resist you? I used to dream about you, but it was all fancy. When I met you on that road, the real woman, brave, funny, compassionate, I learned what it is like to get truly hooked. But Dinah, I want you to know that I would not have let things happen between us, had you not declared that you were going to marry Lord Tilsbury. Since I was informed that I was accepted before I even proposed, I simply could not fight against my desire for you. Lord, I wanted you so much!’
Suddenly, Dinah laughed. She felt as if a great weight was lifted from her shoulders and slowly the incredulous truth started to sink in.
‘Does it mean that you really intend to marry me?’
‘I thought it was obvious. Is it not our engagement ball? Besides’ he said, his face suddenly serious ‘you could be with a child. My child…’
There was no way of mistaking the look in his eyes when he pulled her gently to him and kissed her lips.
‘I love you, Dinah, and I hope you can love me.’
‘But I do! That’s why I decided yesterday that I cannot marry Lord Timsbury! When you told me to go back I thought my heart would break for I assumed you did not really care for me.’
‘Do not care for you? Darling, when we are married I shall prove to you every day – and night - how much I love you!’
When he kissed her again, Dinah could feel stirring of desire and a huge wave of joy swept over her. This was Alex and they are going to be together for the rest of their lives!
‘It will make a nice change to sleep together in bed, I suppose’ he murmured between kisses.
‘Not until we are married’ said Dinah sternly as she reluctantly pushed him away. ‘We need to keep some appearances, otherwise what opinion would you have of my reputation?’
‘Since I have played such a pleasurable part in destroying it, I shall happily carry on doing so.’
‘Well, we might, perhaps, visit old Mr Pool’s garden shed before dinner…’ said Dinah with a mischievous spark in her eye. ‘But no bed until we are married.’
‘Well, I shall be more than satisfied with what’s on offer’ said Alex in mock resignation. ‘But now we better go and talk to your father. He better announce our engagement before we cause a scandal.’
He took her arm and they walked slowly towards the bright colourful ballroom, when Dinah suddenly stopped in her track, her eyes full of mirth:
‘What is it, my love?’ asked Alex.
‘Well, you have not asked me yet!’
‘Ask you what?’
‘To marry you, what else?’
Alex laughed and took her face in his hand:
‘Dinah Benson, will you marry me?’
The kiss she gave him was all the answer he needed.
Norman Benson looked fondly at the young couple in the garden. It all turned out much better than he planned. He knew that Timsbury was a good chap but it was a comfort to see that Dinah took such an immediate fancy to him.
‘How long did you know that they were engaged in secret?’ hissed a voice in his left ear.
Startled, he turned and faced Lady Hornby.
‘My lady, I do not know what you are talking
about. Tonight they met for the first time in years.’
‘Don’t talk nonsense! I will not be fooled! She is wearing late Lady Timsbury’s emerald hair combs. He must have given them to her as an engagement present.’
Mr Benson looked sheepish. He was congratulating himself on masterminding the whole thing so cleverly, while in fact it seemed that fate had taken care of the better part of it.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
Seduced Bride-To-Be Page 5