“It is under ten miles from here, but we will not reach it tonight,” Edward said, ushering her into a hastily prepared private parlour. “The innkeeper has a room for you and Betty. I dare say the food is appalling, but it is only for one night.”
“Is there not a room for you?” Tess said, surprised.
“There is, but I cannot stay here. There is a church at the other end of the village, so I shall beg the parson for a bed for the night.”
“If you are thinking of my reputation—”
“Someone has to!”
“—that is all nonsense. Who is to know that we slept under the same roof? Besides, I have Betty to protect my virtue, should I wish to protect it.”
“Should you wish—!Good God, Tess, even now you still have the power to shock me. This is not a time for your wilfulness. I want to be able to look your mother in the eye when I return you to her care.”
“Do not abandon me here!” she cried, suddenly terrified.
His face softened instantly. “Oh, Tess! Of course I will not. I can sleep above the stables — it is a separate building.”
“No! Edward, I need to know that you are nearby… please…please!Stay with me.” Tears trickled down her face. She knew she was pathetic, to plead with him, beg him like a child, but she could not help it.
He took her face in his hands. “Hush, my darling,” he whispered. “I will not leave you, but you must understand that if this is ever discovered, we will be expected to marry. Nothing would please me more, but I know—”
“What?” she said, startled. “Then what was last night all about? You would not even kiss me!”
He groaned. “I dared not! My sweet innocent girl, you do not know your own power over men. There we were, both in our nightgowns and your hair all tumbled about your shoulders…have you any idea what the consequence of a kiss would be, in those circumstances? It would have ended in your bed, and then we would have had no choice at all but to marry. The last thing I want is to force you into something you find so distasteful.”
“But I do not.”
He stared at her, speechless, breathing heavily.
“Edward, I fell in love with Tom Shapman because I could see that he was a real man, capable of more than dancing the cotillion or shooting fat birds. Last night I realised that you are a real man, too.”
“Because I hit Ulric?”
“That, and because I could see your arms.” She giggled suddenly. “That sounds ridiculous, does it not?”
“So you saw me in my nightshirt and you instantly fell in love with me, is that it?” he said, his voice soft.
“I think I have been falling in love with you for a long time,” she said, serious again, resting her hands on his chest. “I thought you were dreadfully stuffy at first, but that is just a mask you wear to fool the world. When you rushed about climbing trees for me, or talked so amusingly about being a highwayman or a pirate, or… oh, Edward, those times when you were so gentle with me… No one had ever treated me that way before, but it was still fixed in my stupid head that you were just another effete nobleman underneath. So I loved you as a friend… a wonderful friend… a kissing friend. But then last night I finally saw you as aman.Do you understand?”
He nodded and drew her into his arms. “I always knew those boxing sessions would come in handy one day. I just never guessed it was the key to winning the heart of the woman I love. Will you marry me, Tess? Please?”
“I will, if you will forgive me for all my insults over these past weeks. Sometimes the words just come out of my mouth with noconscious thought, but I will try very hard not to hurt you with my thoughtless words in the future.”
“Darling girl, there is nothing to forgive. We have traded insults equally, it seems to me, but now that we understand each other, I trust we will both do better.”
“We will.” She smiled at him happily. “And now will you stay with me tonight?”
He kissed her forehead. “We shall eat dinner together, and then we shall retire to our separate rooms and you will have Betty and a locked door to protect your virtue. Now that we are betrothed, I am not to be trusted, my dear one.”
“But you could kiss me, could you not? There is no harm in that, is there?”
His answer was made without a word being spoken.
28: Apricot Tartlets And Tea
It was late the following day before the carriage was mended and they were able to continue the journey to Harfield, but Tess did not mind. She existed in a glow of such happiness that nothing could puncture it, although the bed at the inn was intolerably lumpy, the food was no better than average and the locals thronged the inn to ogle at the stranded baron and his entourage.
She spent the day in the tiny parlour with Edward, pretending to play chess but in reality talking unstoppably about everything and anything, and stealing kisses whenever the opportunity arose. By the middle of the afternoon, however, the coachman was satisfied that they could safely proceed, so into the carriage they went, Betty eyeing them with a knowing smile and even the innkeeper and his daughter, their pockets unusually full of coins, were aware that something had changed since their arrival.
