One True Love (7 page)

"Humph," grunted Lady Danforth. "I will be quite put out if we came all this way for nothing."

"I am sure the solicitor will be here soon," said Miss Chambers.

"Yes, you are probably right. Shall we tour the grounds?" asked Anne.

The party walked around the gray stone manor house until they found a gate leading to the gardens. Overgrown flower, herb, and vegetable gardens stretched across the walkways. They had to pick their way through the weeds and vines. A lovely gazebo sat in the center of the gardens. Lady Danforth and Mrs. Bloomingburg climbed the short steps to make good use of the benches.

"Well, If we decide to purchase this property we will need to clean up the gardens, however, they are quite ideal," Anne spoke to the group as she followed the two older ladies up the steps. Miss Chambers bent down to study some vegetation.

"The children can help attend the gardens under the guidance of a gardener. This will help keep food costs down and teach skills some might find useful in their future employment," said Miss Chambers.

"The girls could learn to cook and sew as well. I also believe all of the children should learn to read, write, and do their figures. An education could substantially improve their lot in life," stated Mrs. Bloomingburg.

"Yes, we will need teachers and perhaps some of the local ladies could lend a hand at teaching various skills." Anne turned to William who was still contemplating Miss Chambers backside. "What do you think William?"

"Oh...I...yes, of course, whatever you say." He smiled but caught his sister's lifted brow. She knew he was not listening, but at least she did not accuse him of woolgathering in front of the ladies, especially considering where his thoughts had strayed.

"Hullo!" A short, round man with a balding head and spectacles came through the gate shouting and tripping over the vines winding across the path. William took him for the solicitor. The man stopped to remove a handkerchief from his pocket and wipe the sweat off his brow. William could not imagine how the man could sweat in this cool temperature. "My lord, ladies." His bow was awkward at best.

"You must be Mr. Henderson, Lord Dray's solicitor?" asked Anne.

"Yes indeed. I do apologize for my tardiness. I had a devil of a time getting out of London this morning."

Anne made the proper introductions and then everyone headed to the house.

The house was bare, stripped of furniture and wall hangings. The floors were dusty, and spiders made their homes in the corners along the ceiling. They toured the drawing room, kitchens, library, study, and ballroom. The library shelves were empty. They decided the ballroom could be divided into smaller rooms for lessons.

"Perhaps we could ask for donations of books and furniture?" asked Anne.

"We are certainly going to have our work cut out for us, but so far the property appears to be ideal. Why do not you all tour the rest of the house while Lady Anne and I discuss the details with Mr. Henderson?" Lady Danforth lifted her eyebrows as if her question were really more of a command.

"Yes, I agree. Mr. Henderson?" said Lady Anne.

"Of course, Lady Anne and Lady Danforth. I apologize there is not a place to sit," said Mr. Henderson.

"Nonsense. There was a table with benches left in the kitchen. We shall go there. Shall we meet in the entryway in half an hour?" Lady Anne asked.

"I am going to need to rest these old bones. No more stair climbing for me. Lord William, Miss Chambers, I am certain you can tour the rest of the house and give us a report of what you find. I will join Lady Anne and Lady Danforth," said Mrs. Bloomingburg.

William could not be sure if Mrs. Bloomingburg's large girth truly tired her out, or if she did not like being left out of the negotiations. He turned to Miss Chambers and saw the stricken look on her face.

"Miss Chambers, are you alright?" Her face had gone pale.

"I am not certain it is proper for Lord William and I to walk through the house unchaperoned. I am not yet married," said Miss Chambers.

"Psshaw. Lord William is an honorable gentleman and we are all right here. It is not as if he is going to ravish you dear." Lady Danforth's eyes twinkled mischievously.

"Yes, well, I suppose it would be alright."

"Of course it is alright. Do not be a silly nilly. Go on. We expect a full report." Lady Danforth turned towards the kitchens as if the discussion ended. Mr. Henderson and the other ladies followed.

Miss Chambers stared at him with wide eyes. She did not trust him, or perhaps she did not trust herself. He offered his arm. She took it and they began the descent up the stairs. They walked to the far end of the hall and entered the first bedchamber, empty, but surprisingly larger than either of them expected.

"I can see how four children could comfortably live in this room. It is larger than my own bedchamber."

The thought of Miss Chambers' bed did not help matters. He found being alone with her disturbing enough. They walked through the rest of the rooms, speaking only when necessary, until they reached the last room. "Oh my." Miss Chambers lay a hand across her heaving bosom. William gritted his teeth.

This room was furnished with a great mahogany four poster bed, side tables, a grouping of chairs, a wardrobe, and writing desk. The decor was soft and feminine, pink and white striped walls, deep burgundy carpet, and fine white linens on the bed. And it was clean, not a speck of dust or cobweb.

"This room must have belonged to Lord Dray's sister. I wonder why he left the furnishings in this one room and stripped the rest of the house," he said.

"Perhaps he could not bear to change this room. It is rather odd how clean this room is compared to the rest of the house." His gaze strayed from Miss Chambers to the large, imposing bed in the center of the room. She saw where his eyes went and walked over to the window. "The view of the countryside from this window is rather spectacular."

William walked over and stood behind Miss Chambers. He could feel her body heat only a few inches away. The sunshine lifted the lights from her golden hair. He was tempted to dig his hands deep in her hair and breathe in her lemony scent. He closed his eyes to try and gain control over his rising feelings when she suddenly turned around, her breasts a hair's breadth away from touching his chest.

"Oh." A tiny gasp escaped her lips. Her eyes were wide with a mix of wanting and fear.

He did not move. He could not move. They stood this way for several long seconds before his hand left his control and he cupped her face, then ran his thumb across her lips. All reason and sanity left the room as his lips came down on hers.

***

Cassie should have refused to tour the rest of the house alone with Lord William. Surely this could not be proper. She did not trust the man to keep his hands to himself.

Far worse, she did not trust herself to fight off his advances. If she were honest with herself she would admit she wanted him to kiss her, to touch her. No, no, no! She must shake these sinful thoughts from her mind. She turned from the window into a wall of chest, hard, male chest. Her breasts tightened, wanting desperately to brush against something, against him.

She looked into his eyes and saw something dark, something like desire. Did he want to kiss her again? They stood less than an inch apart, staring into each other's eyes, not daring to move, or speak, until finally his hand came up and cradled her face.

Hot. So hot. It was happening again. She wanted to strip her clothes and let the cold bite her bare skin. He ran his thumb across her mouth, the sensation tingled and burned, and she lost all rational thought. She wanted more. She wanted his lips on hers.

And then they were there.

His kiss was not soft and gentle and probing like it was in the woods. This time his mouth came crashing down on hers, possessing, claiming, opening her up and merging their tongues and hearts and souls into one. The intensity of his mouth on hers was more than she could bear. Her legs wobbled and she sagged against him. The contact of her breasts against his chest, even in full clothing sent her whirling into a sensational bliss.

Without a thought she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck and plunged her hands into his soft hair, holding her to him. His arms moved around her and brought her even closer, his hands running the length of her back and cupping her bottom, pulling her against something hard in his lower anatomy. She wondered for a small moment if he carried a pistol on his person. It seemed an odd place to keep it hidden. What if it accidently went off?

He broke the kiss, but not the contact. She gasped for air and moaned as his lips made a trail across her jaw and down her neck. The sensation warmed her between her legs. She felt a wetness there and wondered what it meant -
again.
This was the same sensation she felt when she woke from her dreams. She ached for something, but she could not imagine what.

His hand moved up her hip and side until it found her breast. The warmth of his hand across her breast nearly undid her. She held onto him for dear life less she slip and melt to the floor. He reached inside her dress and touched her bare skin. The shock should have brought her to her senses, but the neediness she felt caused her to press herself into his hand. He flicked his thumb over her delicate tip and she cried out, but he captured her sound with his mouth.

Her body caught on fire as he drew her into a deep well of mysterious sensations. She craved more of his exquisite touches, wanted more, needed more, but then the sounds of voices reached the edges of her mind. He broke his mouth from hers and put her dress back in order. He stepped back. They were both breathing hard, staring at each other as if they saw an apparition.

"I believe we are about to have company." Lord William turned and walked out of the room. She tried to control her breathing before she followed him out.

***

The ride back to Nightingale Hall proved the longest trip of her life. She managed to enter the carriage first and squeeze herself into the far corner. Lady Anne sat next to her, unwittingly sparing her of physical contact with Lord William. She kept her eyes glued to the window. The ladies were chattering like birds in the wind about the property. She contributed little, afraid she would give herself away with her shaky voice. She noticed that Lord William only spoke when spoken to, his voice clipped, his face drawn and his mouth taut.

Cassie fought the tears threatening to pour like a hard rainstorm. She sat in shock of her own actions and reactions. What was the matter with her? What could she have been thinking?

The truth –there was little thinking, only feeling, only want and sensation. She lost herself in Lord William. She wanted his kisses. Cassie physically shuttered away the thought, and tried to bring Mr. Parker's image to her mind. His shadow formed somewhere on the edge, but she could not make the picture complete.

The guilt tore at her heart. The shame ate at her soul. She reminded herself that she loved Mr. Parker. Yes, she loved him and she would marry him.

Would Mr. Parker kiss her like that? Would he touch her? Put his hand on her breast and circle his thumb across her throbbing nipple?

"Are you cold, Miss Chambers?" asked Lady Anne when a shudder ripped through Cassie.

"Yes. It is rather nippy out today." Cassie pulled a blanket around her shoulders despite the heat coursing through her body.

After what felt like hours, the carriage finally stopped in front of the vicarage on the way to Nightingale Hall. Lord William got out of the carriage to hand her down. She turned before exiting and said her goodbyes to the ladies and then she took his hand. His eyes met hers for a fleeting, intense moment as she alighted from the carriage and made her way down the steps. They did not speak, but she felt him, felt his warmth, smelled his scent, and knew his focus was on her as hers was on him. She nodded and walked as quick as she could to the front door without raising suspicion.

The moment she entered the house she felt her skin prickle. Berkley, their butler rushed to take her redingote, hat and gloves. "You have a visitor in drawing room Miss Chambers." A small smile escaped Berkley's usual tight lips.

"Oh. Who is it?" she asked. She did not want to talk to anyone, and could not imagine who it could be. She wanted to go upstairs and lie down. The day's events had worn her down.

"I have been instructed to tell you the visitor is a surprise," said Berkley.