Julia, pleading her recent illness, had declined, and was sitting on a stool watching Sir Carey partnering the buxom Mrs Harris while her son Jed bashfully led Caroline down the line as it became their turn.
The local squires and their wives had been invited to dinner, and Julia had arranged for another buffet to be set up in the dining room. The servants had been working non-stop for several days to prepare all the food, and she wanted them to be free to enjoy their own festivities, not have to wait at table.
The informality seemed appreciated by her guests. By now she knew most of them, she and Sir Carey had dined with them, or they had come to her dinner party before she went to London. A few had also been in London, and they had met at balls and assemblies there.
‘A wonderful day,’ one of the older men said to her. ‘Carey’s a lucky young devil to have captured you, my dear.’
Eventually they took their leave, and Julia forbade the servants from clearing up that evening.
‘It’s late, and you must be longing for your beds,’ she told them firmly.
They bade her a good night and dispersed. Sir Carey was locking the doors and windows, and Julia said a brief goodnight to him and went wearily upstairs. She was tired, but she knew she would not sleep.
She was sitting by her window watching the last of the sunset when the door of her room opened. Thinking it was Molly she did not turn round. ‘I told you all to go to bed,’ she said. ‘I can do for myself tonight.’
‘But I’d rather help you.’
She swung round to see Sir Carey standing in the doorway carrying a bottle of champagne and two glasses. He came into the room and set them down on a small table near the bed. He had removed his coat and waistcoat, and she could see his rippling muscles under the shirt and pantaloons.
‘I … what do you mean?’ she asked, breathless.
He came across and pulled her to her feet. ‘Thank you for the best birthday of my life,’ he said, and took her in his arms, bending to capture her lips with his own. ‘Julia,’ he said, as they broke apart, ‘I want you to release me from my promise.’
‘What promise?’
‘That I would not expect a proper marriage. But I have grown to love you dearly, and from what you said when you were delirious, I think you could come to love me too.’
Julia thought back and blushed. She was recalling her dream that she had told him she loved him. ‘It was a dream!’ she exclaimed.
He laughed. ‘You may have thought so, but I did not imagine it. You did not know what you were saying, but I know it was the truth. Julia, could you love me?’
She nodded, unable to speak. This was a dream come true. With a satisfied sigh he drew her into his arms again, and kissed her long and deeply. As they broke apart he pulled the pins out of her hair and let it ripple over his hands. She was wearing a simple muslin gown, fastened with strings round the neck. He pulled the strings free, and slid the gown down over her body. Swiftly he divested himself of his clothes and before Julia knew it she was lying in his arms. He caressed her gently, murmuring how much he wanted her, kissing her until she was desperate for more, and when she thought she could bear it no longer he entered her, and it was the most exquisite sensation she had ever known.
Hours later, it seemed to Julia, he sat up and reached for the champagne. Quickly he released the cork and poured the bubbling wine into the glasses. He handed one to her, and took the other, raising it in salute.
‘To Julia, my dearest love, and the best birthday present I have ever had.’
She sighed with pleasure. ‘I think it may already be the day after your birthday, Carey.’
‘We will stop the clocks. But now, sweetheart, we can pretend it’s a birthday every day. In case I didn’t say, I love you dearly. I was so fortunate to find you on that Bavarian road. It was an odd marriage, but the best one I could ever have made.’
‘For me too,’ she whispered, and he set down the glasses and reached for her.
‘We’ll start the clocks again in – oh, a year’s time?’ he suggested, and she laughed, and went to him.
By the Same Author
Non-fiction by Marina Oliver
Writing Historical Fiction
Writing Romantic Fiction
The Beginner’s Guide to Writing a Novel
Starting to Write by Marina and Deborah Oliver
A Century Of Achievement
History of Queen Mary’s High School, Walsall
Castles and Corvedale
Local guide to accompany new circular walk
Fiction by Marina Oliver
A Civil Conflict
Campaign for a Bride
Cavalier Courtship
Charms of a Witch
Courtesan of the Saints
Gavotte
Highland Destiny
Highwayman’s Hazard
Lord Hugo’s Wedding
Lord Hugo’s Bride
Masquerade for the King
Player’s Wench
Rebel Heart
Restoration Affair
Runaway Hill
Sibylla & The Privateer
Strife Beyond Tamar
The Maple Leaf Trail
The Baron’s Bride
The Cobweb Cage
At the Earl’s Command
Courting Lord Dorney
The Glowing Hours
The Golden Road
Veiled Destiny
A Cut Above The Rest
As Sally James
A Clandestine Affair
Fortune at Stake
Heir to Rowanlea
Lord Fordington’s Offer
Mask of Fortune
Miranda of the Island
Otherwise Engaged
Petronella’s Waterloo
The Golden Gypsy
As Bridget Thorn
A Question of Love
Fires in the Forest
Hospital Heart breaker
Island Quest
Theft of Love
As Vesta Hathaway
Honor and Passion
Cupid’s Shot
As Livvy West
Royal Courtship
Her Captive Cavalier
As Donna Hunt
Forbidden Love
As Laura Hart
Manhattan Magic
Copyright
© Marina Oliver 2008
First published in Great Britain 2008
This edition 2012
ISBN 978 0 7198 0537 0 (epub)
ISBN 978 0 7198 0538 7 (mobi)
ISBN 978 0 7198 0539 4 (pdf)
ISBN 978 0 7090 8548 5 (print)
Robert Hale Limited
Clerkenwell House
Clerkenwell Green
London EC1R 0HT
www.halebooks.com
The right of Marina Oliver to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988