Page 22 of The Forbidden Love of an Officer
You have made your decision and by doing so, made me look a fool. Do not expect a welcome back. You are no longer permitted here.
The Duke of Pembroke
His words hurt. He had not even signed it ‘your father’.
They had been brought up by her mother to call him Papa; he had not once used the childish name himself. Father, he would concede, but he never said it with any emotion.
‘What does it say?’
Ellen looked at Paul. ‘That he wishes nothing more to do with me. I think it would have been the same even if Mr Wareham had arrived before we wed.’
‘Then why send him?’
‘Perhaps just to look as though he tried to stop me; for appearances’ sake…’ She shrugged. She had never understood her father. She would have to be much wiser to fathom his depths.
Paul smiled. ‘Put him from your mind. You have no need to worry over him now.’
She was not worrying over him but she was concerned about her sisters and her mother.
Paul lifted her hand to his lips. The warmth of his breath seeped through her glove. Then he turned her hand and kissed her wrist above it. Sensation skimmed up her arm. ‘Do not fret about your sisters either. They have time to mature, and I am certain your eldest, Penny, is tough enough to fight her own battles. She did not seem demurring when I met her.’
Ellen smiled, although moisture filled her eyes. Then she laughed, just a sudden sharp sound. ‘No, she is not demure, she will stand against him if he tries to force her hand, and she will use my disobedience as her example.’
‘And the others will learn from her…’
‘Yes.’
Paul had such an aura of confidence; it filled the air around him.
‘Very well then. No more sulking.’
Her smile lifted. ‘No.’
‘And no more tears,’ he added, wiping one away from the corner of her eye with his thumb.
Her next laugh was a little choked, and then foolishly she burst into tears. But she was happy too; they were part happy tears. He pulled her close and held her, as the carriage rolled on.
Another hour or more passed before they reached Carlisle and the snowy frost bound mud roads turned to cobble. The noise about the carriage changed as it rolled through the streets, and the strike of the horses’ hooves, tack and carriage wheels bounced back from brick houses.
When they turned into an inn, Paul pulled away from her and gave her a smile. It burned with compassion. ‘I know you’ve left a lot behind, Ellen, but now is the time to begin our new life.’
‘I know.’ She was his wife and she was about to become his wife in full. A pleasant ache clasped low in her stomach. She took a breath and her breasts pressed against her bodice.
The carriage halted and all outside was noise. Within, her nerves rioted in anticipation of her wedding night.
‘Come.’ He opened the carriage door, then climbed out and lifted his hand, as he had done so many times during their journey to the border.
She stepped out, her head spinning with emotions.
‘Do you wish to eat in a parlour or in the room we hire for the night?’
‘In the room.’ She was not hungry. Her stomach had tied in knots.
‘Well, then, we had better claim one.’
They walked across the courtyard that had been cleared of snow. The ostler was already helping to free the horses from the traces.
Paul asked for a room for Captain and Mrs Harding and ordered a meal of gammon pie for them both.
