“We would be happy to join you.Anna has two weeks’ leave as a holiday from the Marchmere children, so she can accompany us.”
“Of course.She works for Marchmere, you say?”
“Yes.Do you know the family?”
“I know Lord Marchmere, of course.He is a staunch Tory.”
“She seems to like Lady Marchmere, but she hasn’t mentioned his lordship.”Jane smiled.“The children take after their mother apparently, which is to their great advantage, I’m told.”
He laughed.“Quite probably.He resembles a bulldog and has the tenacity to match.”They walked a little closer to the first portrait, a small painting of a Tudor scoundrel smirking out from a dark background.“Now here is the first Marquess of Dalton.We suspect he made some of his money through piracy and was favored by the queen.”
“Will I see a trend develop as I view the succeeding ancestors?”She waved her arm towards the gallery.“Will they all be smiling rogues in different costumes?”
He laughed.“You have our measure.”He tucked her hand through the crook of his arm and led her around the collection, giving a brief and humorous character sketch of each ancestor.
Half an hour later, the portrait tour was completed.Instead of leading Jane down to the public rooms on the next floor, Jonathan said, “The bedchambers are on this floor also.I will show you your future suite of rooms, and you can tell me whether new paper and drapery should be ordered.”
They approached a door down the nearest corridor, and Jonathan it opened to reveal the most beautiful wallpaper, depicting yellow chrysanthemums intertwined on a delicate blue background.The bed drapes were akin with a smaller pattern of flowers, while the carpet echoed the pale blue.The furniture was similarly light and elegant in design.
“It is quite beautiful,” said Jane.“Did your mother decorate this room?”
Jonathan looked pleased.“Not at all.It has been decorated recently—after I came into the title.”
Jane was curious.“Did you hire a well-known decorator to refurbish your new home?”
“This is the only room which has been refurbished.I felt that if there was to be a new marchioness then she should have a new room, not one dictated by her predecessor.Of course, you may change it in any way you wish.”
Jane was adamant.“Nothing should be altered.It is exquisite.”
Jonathan smiled again.“I am very glad that you are pleased by my choices.”
“You chose the paper, hangings, and furniture?”Jane was surprised.“You had no assistance?”His choices displayed both sure use of color and pattern and insight into her character.
“Not at all.I had a vision of what might please you and chose everything myself.I have no experience to draw upon, so it must have been sheer beginner’s luck to have chosen so well.”
She smiled, possibly her first genuine smile for him.“You are extremely modest.”
“Perhaps I have missed my vocation and should have been an architect.I could have been the next James Nash?”
They had wandered into the room, and Jane released Jonathan’s arm to run her hand down the silken bed curtains.He followed her and ran his hand not down the curtains, as hers had done, but down her back, from shoulder to buttock in one long, tingling sweep, before rising to her waist.“Could you be happy here?”he asked softly.
She looked over her shoulder at him.“Yes.”
His eyes, deep and warm, held her gaze.“I created it for you.Only you.”
Stunned, she whispered, “How did you know what I would like?”
“I didn’t.I guessed.I imagined what you would choose based on your dress, your home, your interests.”
Her mouth formed a silent “Oh.”
His other hand slid around her waist, turning her into his embrace.His lips teased the tender skin of her neck, trailing up to her mouth.He drew her closer still as his mouth found hers.Jonathan gradually eased her backward one step at a time until she leaned against the bedpost.His hard chest pinned her there while the silken curtains slithered around her ankles.
“Jane, Jane.How I want you,” he whispered.
She sighed in response, her own lips seeking to give as well as receive.His hands moved to hold her face as his lips tantalized and demanded a response from her.His fingers slid into her tight bun, causing pins to cascade to the floor around Jane’s feet.Her hair slumped onto her shoulders before tumbling down her back.
“Promise me you will marry me.”There was urgency in his voice.
