Page 35 of Lady Mariel’s Scandalous Love

“Of course she understands! Do not be even more foolish, Mariel – accept the inevitable, and be glad that Longwood has the decency to offer for you, under the circumstances.”

Mariel ignored them, and turned to meet Dash’s eyes. Their deep amber gaze held nothing but care – she could see no sign of duplicity in his expression.

“Dash… I… are you sure? I would not wish to trap you into a marriage that you did not desire, just because I wanted to work on a book in Russian, in memory of grandmother. I… I do not find the idea inherently objectionable, and I… do care for you, too. But… are you sure?”

There was a flash of something in his expression, there and then gone – was it relief? She was not sure. Again, her mother jumped in.

“I think that we can take that rather inelegantly phrased response as being an acceptance. If neither of them violently object, then we need not argue or coerce – we can get on with planning the wedding, as well as everything else required to mitigate this scandal, before it gets even bigger.”

The Duke gave a firm nod. When he spoke, there was no trace of mockery in his tone, although Mariel felt as if there should have been.

“Good. Now that part is dealt with, you are right – planning is critical, my wife should arrive tomorrow, for that reason. Lady Mariel, welcome to my family. I am sure that you, and my son, will be very happy together – you seem well suited to each other.”

Mariel and Dash sat there, rather shocked by the speed with which things had happened. Across the room, she met Selina’s eyes, from where Selina had settled, out of the parents’ sight. Selina gave her a wry smile and a small shrug. This was not how either of them had ever visualised Mariel becoming betrothed!

At least, Mariel thought, as the parents planned their lives away in front of them, she loved Dash, even if he did not know that yet. She simply had to pray that whatever care he held for her would grow to love.

~~~~~

The following day, Mariel and Dash managed to work on the final pages of the Russian book. His mother had arrived that morning, having been urgently summoned by his father, even before Mariel’s parents arrived. Their greetings were somewhat strained, and Dash was glad to escape her scrutiny.

Neither set of parents approved of them continuing to work on the translation, but they simply reminded them that, now they were betrothed, it really did not matter. It was a relief to do something that felt so ordinary to them, to shut the office door, with Selina sitting on the couch, as usual, and pretend that their parents were not just a few rooms away.

But they had not had a chance to be truly private, to talk about their feelings… or anything. That evening, there was to be a dinner, and Alex would attend as well, officially to celebrate the betrothal. They would all stay at Longwood Peak overnight.

A notice had been sent to the papers, to appear in the same newssheet which had run the scurrilous letters, as part of their plan to minimise the scandal.

Somehow, writing the last word of the translation into the journal seemed anticlimactic, given everything else which had happened. Nonetheless, Mariel and Dash were both pleased that it was done.

He took her hand, and lifted it, placing a lingering kiss upon it.

Then he spoke, very quietly.

“Thank you, Mariel. When we began this, I never expected… but here we are. After dinner, once our parents have retired for the night, I intend to take the book, with your translation, and lock them away in the East Wing, with the other remaining items, now that most things have gone to London. Will you… will you meet me there? In the room where we…?”

“Yes. Oh yes. Wait for me, just inside the main door to the wing – so that we can lock it….”

Her heart thundered in her breast, and heat ran through her body – had he reminded her of that room, of what they had done, because he intended to do something like that again? She very much hoped so. Her breathing was uneven, and an ache had begun between her legs, just at the thought of it.

“I will.” He pressed another kiss to her hand, then released her and rose. “We should all prepare for dinner. We can celebrate the completed translation… later.”

~~~~~

Dinner was interminable, with both sets of parents expecting them to behave as if the manner of their betrothal was not at all unusual but, finally, it was over and, as he had expected, his mother suggested that the ladies all retire early and, once the men had indulged in a brandy, both his father and the Earl had also retired. Dash sat with Alex for a short while, waiting, allowing enough time to pass for silence to fill the house.

“I’ll go up now, and see you tomorrow. I hope that, in the end, you will be happy?”

“I think I will… if Mariel is.”

“You’ll find your way to it, I’m quite sure. Good night.”

Alex left the room, and Dash waited a little longer, then set his glass aside and rose. The small office seemed strange by the light of his candle, as he collected the original Russian book, and the stack of journals containing Mariel’s translation.

He turned the key in the lock of the East Wing main door, and went quietly inside, then set the books down on a side table, and waited, hoping that Mariel would not be long. As he did, he opened the first book of her translation, and began to read. It read well – she had done a wonderful job. Soon, his mind was aflame with imagining doing the things described in the book, with Mariel. He wanted to kiss her, to touch her, to have her, fully. The memory of her passionate kisses, added to the arousing nature of what he was reading, left him breathing fast, and his cock hard and aching.

A soft sound came to him, and he closed the book, waiting. Moments later, Mariel slipped through the door. He stepped forward, and locked it behind her. When he turned back from doing so, she stood mere inches from him. Neither spoke - they simply went into each other’s arms, their lips meeting with hunger, passion, and desire. He knew, then, that he need not fear her being unhappy, for it was obvious that her desire was as great as his – could he hope that she might move from desire and care, to love? He did not know, but for now, desire and care would have to be enough.

Minutes passed, as their tongues tangled with each other, their bodies pressed together, and hands explored the contours of bodies.

When they drew apart a little, breathing hard, he cupped her cheek in his hand.

“Come, let us go upstairs, and put these books where they belong…”

She turned her face into his hand, and pressed a soft kiss to his palm.

“Yes… and then…”

“Yes.”