by Janet Woods
‘I’m sure he won’t be pleased at being kept waiting for this issue to be settled between us. You’re not being fair to him, Sarry. Magnus is a good, honest man.’
‘Is he, indeed? Perfection must belong in the eye of the beholder I should imagine. You’ve been friends for such a long time that you’ve created your own mutual admiration society.’
He took her hands in his. ‘Believe me, Sarette, Magnus holds your welfare dear to his heart, as we all do.’
She slid her hands from his and looked him straight in the eye. ‘Does Magnus want us to wed?’
Gerald’s glance skittered away, then came back to her. ‘He wants what’s best for you.’
‘Then to do him justice, I shall take some time to decide what that best is.’ She rose at the same time as he did, smiled, and said formally. ‘Thank you for your proposal, Gerald. I’ll let you know my answer in due course.’
He hesitated, clearly piqued. ‘Is that what I’m to tell them, that you haven’t made your mind up?’
‘That’s it.’
‘How long are you going to keep me hanging on a thread?’
‘I’ve already told you that you’ll get my answer in March.’ Colour touched her cheeks. She must remember that this was an intelligent man she was dealing with. ‘Is that what you think I’m doing, keeping you on the thread?’
Amusement came into his eyes. ‘All right, Sarry. I’ll indulge you by playing your little game, but I don’t know whether it will wash with Magnus.’
‘Hah! to Magnus. It’s nothing to do with him.’
A step brought him closer, his eyes were sharp against hers. ‘It’s everything to do with him, since you’re in his charge. We have always had the same taste in women and are rivals in love.’
‘Is that what you both call your womanizing . . . love?’
She bit down on her bottom lip when Gerald’s gaze narrowed in on her. She’d nearly confessed that she knew about the bet. It had been too ambitious of her to take on these men and play them at their own game. What had she been thinking of?
However, she knew he’d misread her when he said, ‘Mind you don’t get your fingers burned trying to play each of us off against the other?’
‘You’re full of conceit,’ she said angrily.
‘I prefer to call it pride. You might have fooled John Kern with such tactics, since he was an old man. But you won’t fool Magnus for long.’
‘John Kern? Fooled him? I think you’re fooling yourself, Gerald, if that’s what you think. John Kern may have had a chequered past, but he was all heart. He rescued me when I was thirsty and hungry and ready to give up. In doing so he rescued himself, for he thought he had nothing left to live for. I would have given my life to save his.’
Gerald sounded slightly ashamed when he said, ‘What else am I supposed I think? Most people think you were after John Kern, and when you heard he was dead you set your sights on Magnus.’
‘And you said nobody who knew me would believe such a thing. Obviously you didn’t include yourself in that.’ Sadly, she asked him, ‘Have you been listening to gossip, Gerald? Funny, but I really thought you were above that.’
‘I am . . . don’t know why I said it. I’m jealous, and despite that, my proposal still stands. Once you’re married nobody will dare criticize you.’
‘Ah, so you want to save me from the gossips. I was thinking, Gerald, perhaps I should sue these people who are slandering me. Should I retain you for the task now I have the resources to pay for them?’
‘I do have some dignity. I wouldn’t take the case.’
‘Would it be a conflict of interest, perhaps?’ she asked gently, for she was certain that his sister Olivia, and the obnoxious Jessica were behind the gossip.
He didn’t answer.
‘Perhaps I should ask Magnus then.’
‘He wouldn’t take it either, and he’d crucify you for suggesting such a thing.’
‘Are you certain about that?’
He stared hard at her, then said slowly, ‘Magnus is too sure of himself where you’re concerned. Has he . . . made certain advances to you?’
She wondered, would a kiss or two be classified as certain advances?
‘Touched you perhaps?’
Her blush became a furnace. This had become a no-holds-barred conversation, and she didn’t like it. ‘Gerald, stop this. It’s upsetting.’
But he was relentless. ‘Taken you to bed . . . Ouch!’ he said when her palm flattened against his cheek.
The door swung open and the dogs came in. They picked up the tension in the room. Boots came between them and leaned against her skirt, his head pressed to the side of her knee and his hackles raised. Patch sniffed at Gerald’s legs and gave a short, rattling growl that revealed a row of sharp teeth.
Gerald took a step backwards, his abused cheek burning bright, his eyes filled with his own shame. ‘I think I deserved that.’
Magnus entered. He was wearing black trousers and a frock coat over a double-breasted ruby waistcoat. His cravat was fixed by a matching ruby tie pin. His imposing presence brought with it its own tension, and even though he looked quite relaxed he dominated the room.
Gazing from one to the other his mouth twisted in a wry smile when his glance settled on Gerald’s flaming cheek. ‘Oh dear, have we had a falling out?’ he said, irony saturating the deep chuckle he gave.
The dogs deserted her for him, making ingratiating little noises and wagging tails. One strong hand came down to fondle their thrusting muzzles and Sarette felt a response in herself when he caressed Boots’s floppy ears.
‘I’ve come for Sarette,’ he said and gave her a slow, beautiful smile that melted her insides as well as lifted her spirits.
She reminded herself that she was still as furious with him as she was with Gerald.
‘Mrs Carradine and her daughters are about to arrive, I saw their carriage coming along the road and thought you might like to be introduced, then show them where they’re to sleep tonight. Gerald, if you’ve finished your business here, your father is waiting for you in my study. I’ll join you there in a little while.’
Gerald gazed from one to the other, then gave a sardonic little bow and left.
Sarette was detained by Magnus’s hand loosely circling her wrist. ‘You look upset, Sarry, girl.’
‘Do I?’
‘You know damned well that you do. The tips of your ears turn red when you’re angry.’
She touched one ear lobe with her fingers, managing a smile when she felt their heat. ‘You notice too much.’
‘Talk to me without throwing barbs. It will ease the tension in the atmosphere if you do.’
She gazed up into the dark turbulence of his eyes. ‘Don’t you want to know what passed between Gerald and myself?’
‘I know what passed between you. He stepped over the mark and you slapped him. I daresay he deserved it.’
‘Specifically?’
‘That’s between you and Gerald.’
She wished he cared enough to want to know what had happened. The edge had gone from her anger and she felt a little soiled. ‘We argued.’
‘And Gerald was relentless in his attack, and he wounded you.’
‘How did you know?’
‘I know Gerald’s style of questioning.’ He took her chin between finger and thumb, turned her face to the light and gazed reflectively at her. ‘You’re lovely, and I’m glad you turned him down.’ His mouth came down on hers in a tender caress that turned her blood into bright, shining beads of quicksilver that pulsed through her veins.
She should push him away before it went any further, but he brought her hand up against his heart before pulling her closer, so she fitted snugly into his firm body. Love surged through her like warm honey and heated into sizzling lust. She felt herself grown-up with a vengeance. At this moment she knew exactly what she wanted. She wanted this man to love her. She wanted to be his woman. His everything. And for the rest of her life.
&nbs
p; There came the sound of a carriage, and he pulled apart from her, then gazed ruefully at her. ‘Are you not going to slap me too?’
When her heart was hopping like a kangaroo that had taken fright, and her mouth was feeling bereft by the loss of his, and her body . . .? But better to not think of the exquisite fusion of feelings inside her, of the hungry need to take it, shape it and feed it.
She touched against his face with her finger tip instead, and her voice was husky when she whispered, ‘I’m still angry with you.’
‘I don’t want us to be at odds, anger is too destructive.’ He kissed her again, his mouth taking all so she was weak and trembling and breathless – and had been made aware that she was his for the taking, any time he decided he would.
The doorbell suddenly clamoured. Branston coughed discreetly as he padded past the open drawing room door, letting them know that guests had arrived. The house staff were bound to gossip amongst themselves. What would they think of her behaviour?
There came the sound of female voices before Magnus released her. They gazed at each other for a moment, then he touched her nose and gave a small huff of laughter. He left her standing there, quivering like a newly hatched dragonfly stretching its wings to the sun. Mr John had forgotten to tell her about the devastating effects on the body of being in love.
‘Mrs Carradine, Alice, Emily and Jane, how lovely to see you all again.’
As if she hadn’t been folded in his embrace just a minute or so ago, she straightened her skirt, patted her hair in case it had suddenly lost its style.
‘You haven’t met Miss Maitland yet, have you. I’ll see if I can find her.’
Sarette pulled a smile to her face and abandoned the drawing room for the hall, certain she was surrounded by a shining glow. She touched her mouth and felt it tingle, as if there was a star twinkling there.
There was a small company of chattering females in the hall; around them lingering the smoky winter chill of the day. ‘I’m here, Magnus. How do you do, Mrs Carradine. I’ve heard so much about you all.’ As if she was the lady of the house come to greet them. She saw Magnus grin and raise an eyebrow.
She took the Carradine family up to the room that used to belong to John Kern’s wife. Mrs Carradine would share it with her two youngest daughters, while Alice used the second bed in her own room.
‘I hope you won’t mind, Alice. Mr Kern has invited such a lot of people to stay that I was hard put to find room for everyone. It was his suggestion that you might like to share my room, since you’d all be rather uncomfortable crowded into the other room.’
‘I’m sure I’ll be comfortable, and it was kind of you to put yourself out. Mr Kern is well liked and respected by us all.’
Alice Carradine had fine eyes and skin, and had a soft, gentle way of speaking. Sarette liked her. She touched her mouth where Magnus had kissed her with her finger tip and a pulse throbbed. ‘I’ve made some room in the wardrobe. We shall have to make do without a maid because the servant who usually helps me will be needed for other duties, but we have a bathroom we can all share.’
‘We have only brought one dress apiece for best. That is all we have. My mother does her best but my father . . .’ Alice drew in a heavy breath. ‘My mother’s income is limited.’
‘If you wish, you may all borrow one of mine. Mr John Kern made sure I was fitted out. But Magnus Kern didn’t like me in the gowns with bustles, and he insisted on having his own way. He said that the gowns Mrs Lawrence had chosen for me were much too fussy. There is one in blue and another in pink, which would suit your sisters if they would care to wear them. And there is a gown of apricot taffeta that is very pretty. Magnus said it doesn’t suit my hair.’
‘Your hair is a lovely colour. It has just a faint glow of chestnut in it. Miss Maitland . . . Sarette?’ Alice burst out, ‘I hope you will excuse me when I say that I expected you to be much younger.’
‘Ah yes . . . Magnus thought I was going to be a child, you see, and he got quite a shock when it turned out that I wasn’t . . . now, I’m sure he can’t wait to get rid of me . . . forgot to tell you that I prattle when I’m nervous, and it was probably an awful insult to offer you a gown to wear, but I shall never wear them all, and nobody has seen me in them so the company wouldn’t know. They are going to dreadful waste even though they are quite beautiful, and the moths will probably eat them before too long . . . oh dear, you look quite taken aback. Have I said something wrong? I often do.’
Alice Carradine recovered quickly and kissed her on both cheeks. ‘Not at all. It’s generous of you to offer us a gown. Be sure we will be pleased to take advantage of you. My sisters have always felt disadvantaged in company, and will be delighted to have something fresh to wear. So will I.’
Having experienced that feeling quite often herself, Sarette was happy to throw open the doors to her extensive wardrobe and be generous with her good fortune. ‘Wear anything you like.’
She began to pull clothes out on to the bed until Alice placed a hand on her arm. ‘If you pull everything out we’ll have to spend time hanging it all up again. Allow me to choose gowns for my sisters to wear. Perhaps the pink and blue ones you mentioned in the first instance. They’ll be happy with my choice.’
Sarette pulled in a deep breath. She had never had a female friend, and liked Alice. ‘I’m so pleased you’re here. It will be such fun to have you to talk to. There are gloves and accessories in those drawers.’
She thought of Olivia and her friend, Jessica Fenwick, and her heart sank. She hoped they hadn’t been invited. She had quite enough to cope with.
There came a knock at the door and Verna appeared. ‘Cook’s having a fit in the kitchen.’
That was the last thing she needed. ‘Oh, dear. What about?’
‘She said a pie has gone missing and she’s blaming it on the temporary staff. She said she’s not going to do anything else until the culprit owns up. Can you come, Miss?’
‘Excuse me, Alice. Perhaps you could take charge of your family.’
She followed the housekeeper downstairs to the kitchen, where the atmosphere was frosty despite the heat coming from the the fat black stove, and the temporary servants were all lined up. Cook had her arms folded over her chest and a determined expression on her face.’
‘What is it Mrs Mayberry? Can I help?’
‘Somebody’s eaten my pie. Her gaze roved fiercely over the servants. ‘This here’s the mistress of the house. Own up, you lot.’
Mistress of the house? Was that how they regarded her? How odd.
Boots came from the basket in the corner, his tongue lashing over his snout. Patch followed and they went into their usual routine. Her hand came away sticky when she fondled them. She gazed down at Boots. ‘I think these are the culprits, Mrs Mayberry.’
‘Well I never . . . those damned varmints, anyone would think they never got fed. I’ll have to make another pie. What have you done with the plate, you bad dogs? I wouldn’t put it past the pair of you to have eaten that as well.’
The dogs looked suitably chastened. ‘Cook pressed her lips together and said sharply, ‘What are you waiting for? You can get on with your work now that’s cleared up.’
‘I’m so sorry, cook. I’ll take the dogs out from under your feet. Can I do anything to help? Peel vegetables perhaps.’
‘Bless you no, Miss. That’s what we pay the temporary staff for. You go off and enjoy yourself.’
Enjoy herself. Hah! She seemed to have been given the task of hostess, something she was ill-equipped to deal with.
The dogs followed her out and she took them to Magnus’s study and knocked at the door.
‘Come in?’
She stuck her head round the door while the dogs competed with each other to squeeze through the gap to get to Magnus first. ‘Would you take the dogs please, Magnus? They’re causing trouble in the kitchen, stealing food. The cook is about to cut their tails off.’
‘I’ll take them out for a walk. Coming Ger
ald? Ignatious?’
‘I’ll stay by the fire,’ Ignatious said. ‘Sarette, have you time to talk to an old man for a moment or two?’
‘Of course. Only you’re not as old as you think. You danced my feet off at the ball.’
‘Stop trying to flatter me, my dear. You know very well we sat it out.’ He sounded so offhand that her heart sank. She supposed he was about to tell her off about the way she’d treated Gerald. Well, let him. It was really none of his business.
Gerald walked past her with a wary expression on his face. Magnus winked at her and she blushed.
When the door had closed behind them, she said, ‘I suppose you’re going to chastise me for my behaviour, Mr Grimble.’
‘When a man proposes marriage he does her great honour. I would have thought Gerald deserved more than a slap on the face.’
‘With respect, sir, you were not present. A slap on the face was exactly what Gerald deserved. And he would be the first to admit it if you’d asked him.’
His head slanted to one side. ‘I did ask, and his answer concurred with yours. Would you care to elaborate?’
‘I’m afraid not. Far from it that I should be the cause of trouble between friends or family. Gerald knows exactly why I slapped him.’
‘I see. Will you be accepting his proposal in due course?’
‘As I told Gerald, he will have his answer in March.’
‘Am I to take it that, at this moment, you consider Gerald not good enough to be a husband to you?’
‘I assure you, Mr Grimble. It has nothing to do with Gerald’s suitability, or otherwise.’
‘Then?’ he prompted.
She was tempted to talk to Ignatious about the wager because he had always – well, almost always – been scrupulously honest with her.
‘I’m sorry Mr Grimble. This is a private matter between your son and myself. You should allow perhaps that Gerald is not a child.’
‘But sometimes he can be childish.’ Ignatious spread his hands. ‘I want to see him settled and happy.’
‘Then I will tell you that it will probably not be with me. I know Gerald is your son, and I’m grateful to him for saving my life. I like him a lot when he is not pursuing me. I have no intention of telling him yet, but I doubt if his feelings will be hurt. He doesn’t love me, you know. And I do not love him in that sort of way.’