Page 109 of The Heiress's Daughter
She sighed, leaning against him. “I just wish it was all over, and we could get on with our lives.”
“We could, if that’s what you want.”
She gave him a startled look. “What? Skip the wedding? But we couldn’t. All the arrangements—”
“Not the wedding, the wedding night. We could anticipate it, just the two of us, with nobody else the wiser.”
Her eyes were wide. Color came and went in her cheeks as she considered what he was saying.
“It would put your mind at rest,” he added persuasively. “Set you free to enjoy your wedding day without any worries about the night hanging over you.”
“Could we?” she breathed. “But where? How?”
“Leave it to me.”
“Not the summerhouse.”
“No, somewhere we won’t be disturbed. Leave it to me. I’ll arrange everything.”
“When?”
She was wound up like a spring, he thought. The sooner they came together and her fears were assuaged, the better. Besides, he could hardly wait, himself. “This evening.”
Her eyes widened. “Tonight?”
“Why wait? You don’t have any engagements that can’t be canceled, do you?”
“No,” she almost whispered.
He rose. “Good, then I’ll meet you here at eight o’clock.” He kissed her briefly and left. He knew exactly where andwhen he wanted this momentous event to take place, but there were certain arrangements to be made. He wanted it to be perfect.
Clarissa slipped out of the house just before eight. She was wearing a dark gray velvet cloak with the hood up so as to be as inconspicuous as possible. She’d hardly eaten a thing at dinner—a mixture of nerves and excitement and anticipation—and retired to bed early, saying she thought she had a headache coming on, but a good sleep would fix that.
And then, she’d waited until the coast was clear and crept down the back stairs. Oh, but she hated telling lies, even small ones like this. But it had to be done.
She waited in the rose arbor. It was an odd place to meet, inside a wholly enclosed garden, but she supposed it was better than waiting out on the street for him to collect her—and he could hardly collect her from Lady Scattergood’s. But where was he planning to take her?
The sun hung low in the sky. A few bees buzzed around the roses, heavy with pollen, getting their last feed before returning to their hive. Where did bees live in the city? she wondered. In the country they lived in the skeps farmers and beekeepers made for them, and sometimes she’d seen hives tucked into a hollow tree, or a fresh swarm hanging in a tree, but she’d never seen a skep or a swarm in London. And hollow trees were soon removed.
Oh, where was he?
“Ready?” The deep voice made her start, even though she’d been expecting him at any moment. He wore buckskin breeches and shiny high boots, a dark gray coat and a plain buff waistcoat. They weren’t going anywhere formal then.
Of course not. They were going to…to bed.
“Yes.” She jumped up. His arms went around her and hekissed her and she immediately felt better. “Where are we going?”
“Not far.” He slipped an arm around her and started walking toward the other side of the garden.
“We’re not going out via Izzy and Leo’s house, then?”
“No.”
That was a relief. She loved her sister, but this was private. “You’re being very mysterious.”
He smiled down at her. “Do you trust me?”
“Of course.”
