The Widowed Countess (20 page)

“And?” Adele urged her, a look of amusement crossing her face. “Do tell, Lady Norwick!”

Clarinda blushed, her face reddening so quickly, Adele put a hand to her bosom as if she was prepared to be shocked. “He called me ‘my lady’ a few times. David never did that in bed! But the most amazing thing was afterwards, when he pulled me against his body and held me. It was like he was really
here
, Adele. Telling me he loved me and whispering my name like it was a ... like it was a
prayer
.” With this last word, her eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Adele! I miss him terribly!” she managed to get out before a sob wracked her body.

Adele cocked her head to one side and reached out to grasp Clarinda’s hand again. “Clare,” she said in a soothing tone. “Pull yourself together
right now
. The traveling coach is already in the drive. You need to ring for your maid and get dressed and head to Sussex.
Now
,” she encouraged her friend. “And if you find yourself missing David, then simply set your gaze on Daniel,” she said with a wave of her other hand. “He is the spitting image of David, after all.”

Clarinda stared at Adele for a very long time. “He is,” she agreed with a nod, not about to remind Adele how at odds she was with the younger brother. She sighed, a sob interrupting her breath. She reached over and grabbed the bell pull. “Thank you, Adele,” she said, wiping a tear from her cheek. “I’ll call on you when I return. It seems Norwick House is to be my home for some time. According to David’s will, I am supposed to live here as long as I wish no matter who becomes the next Earl of Norwick,” she explained, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. What could David have been thinking when he added that tidbit into his will?

“Well, at least you won’t be stuck in some dowager cottage on the southern coast of England,” Adele countered with a giggle, one eyebrow cocked suggestively. She moved to the door and opened it, giving Clarinda one last nod of farewell.

“There is that,” Clarinda responded with a nod, wondering how Dorothea managed to live her days near Bognor. Perhaps there was enough Society present during the summer months to stave off boredom, but what did the woman do with herself during the winter months? A fleeting thought of men like Lord Wallingham made her reconsider the question. “Thank you,” she added with an uneasy nod, realizing just then that Adele must have overheard part of her conversation with David. “Adele,” she called out, hoping the countess was still within earshot. When Adele reappeared with an expectant look on her face, Clarinda said, “I will miss you, too.” She moved a hand over her belly. “But I find talking to the babies helps,” she whispered. The look of relief on Adele’s face made her wonder if the woman had been worrying for her sanity.

“Are you truly going to name the boy ‘Wally’?” Adele asked then, her brows furrowing in concern. “I just ask because ... well,
Wallace
just doesn’t seem a suitable name for your son.”

Clarinda blinked, just then realizing Adele really
had
overheard her talking to David. “I was merely trying out names when you arrived,” she said with a wave of her hand. “I assure you, I will not name David’s son ‘Wallace’.”

Adele gave a sigh of relief. “Alright. But please don’t even think to name him
Milton
, for my husband’s ego doesn’t need any more reinforcement,” she said with a wicked grin. “No matter what you intend to name him, keep him well fed,” the countess ordered with a wink. And then she was gone.

Daniel took a deep breath, the solidity of the dressing room door at his back the only thing anchoring him at that moment. He’d woken much later than he intended, sunlight already peeking around the edges of the drapes in Clarinda’s room. Leaving Clarinda’s bed was one of the hardest things he had ever done in his life. He’d wanted to continue holding her against his body, he wanted to kiss her awake and make love to her slowly, gentling her to the idea of him as her lover. But he’d heard the coach pull into the drive out front and realized they needed to get on the road to Norwick Park. So he’d left her bed, pulled on his robe, and, halfway to the connecting door, remembered to unlock the bedchamber door.
Thank the gods he had!
For he heard Clarinda’s voice, speaking as if someone else was in the room. He could only hear most of her side of the conversation, though, and he wondered as to the identity of her early morning caller. That is, until she’d said, “Your mother will keep us entertained with stories of her last house party, and we’ll make her tell us all about Lord Wallingham.”

She could only be referring to his mother, the Dowager Countess of Norwick. And the only other child of Dorothea Fitzwilliam was David.
So, was David’s ghost visiting Clarinda, too?
Talking to her? Comforting her or guiding her or ...
haunting her?
Daniel hadn’t even had a chance to think on this revelation when he heard the knock on her bedchamber door.

Lady Torrington’s arrival was as unexpected as it was an opportunity for Daniel to learn more about Clarinda and what she thought of the night before. She spoke of it as if it was all a dream!
And, damn it! She thought I was David!
Although he’d listened closely and heard her as she described the differences between David and the man that had shared her bed. He caught the sound of longing in her voice, as if she wanted the night to happen again. And apparently she had favored the way he had held her against his body as they slept, and the way he’d said her name. He could do that all again. Every night. They would reach Norwick Park in time for dinner. He would see to it she was assigned to the room adjoining his. And once he was sure the household was asleep, he would join her in her bed and repeat what he had done last night.

At some point, Clarinda would have to realize it was
he
who made love to her and not David – or his ghost. And when she did, Daniel could only hope she wouldn’t hate him for it.

Chapter 20

A Trip to Sussex

After her maid helped her dress in record time and had her hair pinned up in a simple bun, Clarinda hurried down to the breakfast parlor. She was surprised when she found Dorothea nearly finished with her breakfast but no sign of Daniel. Her mother-in-law explained that Daniel’s valet had been there to request that a plate be taken up to his master’s bedchamber. Clarinda wondered what might induce the future earl to forgo eating in the breakfast parlor and instead eat in his room. A vision of the painting above his bed came to mind, and she blushed before dismissing the idea of Daniel eating breakfast while gazing at her scantily clad likeness.

“Was that the Countess of Torrington I saw leaving your room this morning?” Dorothea wondered as she added cream to her tea. Although the question was innocent enough, there seemed a hint of mischief in the tone of her voice.

Clarinda regarded the plate of ham and toast that a footman had just placed in front of her. “Yes. Adele wanted to say a farewell, I suppose,” she responded, remembering the countess’ comments. Had that been the real reason for the woman’s visit, though? Her behavior had been somewhat unusual, but her reticence in expressing her concerns was completely out of character for a woman who was always quite honest with Clarinda. And there had been a mention of her decision to have more children beyond the babe she carried. What was the countess thinking? And then the older woman had the gall to suggest Clarinda should accept Daniel’s suit should he offer for her hand! Adele had mentioned it the night before, too, as if she thought Clarinda should remarry as soon as possible, despite her mourning period having barely begun! And for Adele to recommend Daniel seemed rather odd given Adele had only met the man at the funeral the day before. “She’s expecting a babe about the same time as this one is due,” Clarinda added, realizing the news was no longer secret – the Earl of Torrington had announced his wife’s pregnancy shortly after the funeral and guaranteed most of London knew when he told those in attendance at White’s later that night.

“Poor woman,” Dorothea replied with a shake of her head. “I do not think I could have survived being with child at that age,” she added in an effort to make herself understood when Clarinda’s eyebrow arched up. “Which is why I insisted Daniel’s father bring French letters with him when he came to my room. Since I’d already provided him with an heir and a spare, I wasn’t about to breed again.”

The blush that suffused Clarinda’s face gave away her embarrassment immediately. How could her mother-in-law talk about prophylactics over breakfast? Or at all? Clarinda was saved from further reproductive discussion when the butler entered the breakfast parlor and announced the traveling coach was loaded and ready to depart. She excused herself and hurried upstairs to pull on her pelisse and bonnet and to retrieve her reticule. As she turned to leave the room, she was suddenly face to face with ...
David?
Before she could utter a greeting, his hands were on her shoulders and his lips were covering hers. The scents of sandalwood and amber surrounded her as the soft kiss deepened. Oh, how she would miss this! Before she could even finish the thought, though, he ended the kiss and pressed his forehead to hers. “Courage,” he said and then disappeared through the door to the dressing room.

It was half past ten before the dowager countess, the countess, and the future Earl of Norwick stepped into the traveling coach and began the trip to Sussex. Given the way Dorothea arranged her carriage gown across the width of the seat, Clarinda opted to take the opposite seat. She quickly scooted to one end of it as Daniel stepped in, realizing it was Dorothea’s intention that she and Daniel sit together. At least she wouldn’t have to face him during the long trip. She was afraid that by seeing him for an extended period of time, she would be reminded of what happened in her bedchamber the night before, when she dreamed that David had made slow, languorous love to her and then held her as she slept. Just thinking of it made her blush, and she rather Daniel not wonder why her color was so high.

As the Countess of Torrington had predicted the night before, Dorothea Norwick did offer enough one-sided conversation so that it was unnecessary for Clarinda to say much during the trip. Before the coach had made it past Chiswick on its way south, Clarinda’s eyes grew heavy and her head fell to one side. The familiar scent of amber and sandalwood surrounded her, reminding her of David’s delicious kiss. Soon, she was sound asleep.

Daniel regarded his mother as a mischievous grin spread over her face. She’d just completed a tale of how Lady Margaret and Lady Annabeth, both older spinsters and daughters of earls, had entertained the house party contingent with their brilliant acting abilities during the production of  “A Midsummer’s Night Dream”. Now Dorothea was quiet as her head cocked to one side.

“Given the stories you’ve been sharing, I rather doubt you find this the least bit scandalous,” Daniel commented dryly. His mother was apparently finding his seating arrangement with Clarinda a source of amusement. The side of Clarinda’s head had come to rest against Daniel’s shoulder. In an effort to ensure she stayed nestled in the squabs and didn’t topple forward, he had angled his body a bit in her direction, one hand resting on his thigh just in case the coach should shift or stop suddenly and he would need to prevent her from pitching forward. For a moment, he rather wished it would just so he could capture her body in his arms and pull her more securely against his own.

His entire body still thrummed with the memory of what he and Clarinda had done in her bed only hours ago. He wanted to be doing it now, wanted to be sliding the palms of his hands over the silken skin of her breasts and belly and bottom, down the length of her legs and back up along the tender skin of her inner thighs. He wanted to bury himself inside her, pleasure her until she cried out and then take his own blessed release in a shower of bright stars and heavenly sensations. The mere thought of it had his manhood straining against the fall of his breeches. If not for his cape coat, the evidence of his arousal would be apparent to his mother, who continued to regard him with that mischievous grin.

“I think it’s rather sweet. And chivalrous of you,” Dorothea responded quietly. She straightened and let out an audible sigh. “I do hope you two marry soon,” she added, her tone suggesting it wasn’t a desire as much as a directive to her son. “A small, private ceremony would suffice.”

Daniel arched an eyebrow, stunned at his mother’s comment. “Indeed?” he replied, not sure what else to say.

Dorothea lifted one shoulder in a quick shrug. “You still love her. Don’t you?” The last part was said in a suddenly doubtful voice that could barely be heard over the noise of the horses and spinning wheels.

Streaks of red appeared on Daniel’s cheekbones. “I hardly think that matters,” he countered, not meaning to sound as defensive as he did with his response. His mother’s quelling glance had him heaving a sigh. “Oh, if you must know, I do ... I feel affection for her. I have since the first time I danced with her,” he admitted, his chin coming up defiantly. He wasn’t about to admit to his mother that he loved Clarinda – that she had been the only woman for whom he had ever felt affection for as long as he’d lived.

“She needs a husband, Daniel. She cannot have this baby as a widow ...”

“Society expects her to,” Daniel interrupted, his voice a bit louder than he intended. Clarinda, apparently briefly awakened from her nap, readjusted her position against Daniel so that her head nestled into the small of his shoulder. Stunned when she settled back to sleep so quickly, Daniel carefully wrapped his arm around her back and slowly settled his hand on the side of her hip. When he dared a glance in his mother’s direction, he found her face alight with a brilliant smile. “For propriety’s sake, she really should wait and have the child before marrying again,” he added sotto voce.

Dorothea waved a gloved hand in a dismissive gesture. “Society will have forgotten all about David once you two are wed,” she argued. “And speaking of my eldest, just where
is
he?” she asked suddenly.

Daniel resisted the urge to say something like, “In hell,” and instead said, “The dray with his coffin left for Norwick Park yesterday after the funeral. I expect he’s next to a rather deep hole in the cemetery there.”

Suddenly somber, Dorothea nodded and turned her attention to the window, apparently to take in the passing scenery. When she didn’t offer any other conversation, Daniel stifled a yawn. His eyelids grew heavy. His chin soon brushed against the top of Clarinda’s head. At some point, she’d had the foresight to remove her hat so it’s short brim and tall crown wouldn’t get crushed as she slept. When he inhaled, the scent of apple blossoms filled his nostrils.
Had she planned to fall asleep against his arm?
Daniel wondered, hoping she had. Before he could think more on the subject, he was asleep.

Dorothea Norwick pulled her gaze from the window and regarded her son and daughter-in-law with a shake of her head. Pulling her black kid glove from her left hand, she studied the new gold and sapphire ring at the base of her fourth finger.

What had Lord Wallingham been thinking to ask for her hand? And in the middle of the night, no less, when he had seen to her pleasure a second time and seemed quite sated and settled for the night?

The proposal had been most unexpected, and yet more welcome than Dorothea could admit even to herself. Had he been sincere in his assertion that he was finally ready to settle down and marry? That he had seen first-hand what marriage had done for a man like Grandby and wanted that life for himself?

When Dorothea countered with a question about his lack of an heir, he shrugged and said his eldest nephew would do quite well in the role.

And what of fidelity? How could she expect a man with his reputation for bedding widows to give up his frequent and apparently very satisfying assignations? He already had, he claimed, swearing he had bedded no other woman but her since their meeting.

So, she had accepted his offer of marriage with the caveat that he had to repeat the proposal when they were both fully clothed and in their right minds. It was a coward’s reaction, she knew, and she would be the first to admit it. But she also knew she would give Wally the same answer if he asked her again. And he had, the following morning when he met her in the breakfast parlor and slid the gold and sapphire ring on her finger.

She smiled as she studied the gemstone. There was something to be said for having a person to converse with during dinner, a companion for long walks along the sea, an escort for the occasional soirée and a warm body close by at night.

The man was not perfect, but he would do.

Now, as Dorothea regarded her son and daughter-in-law and thought of their concern for propriety and
Society
over their concern for their own lives and well-being, over the welfare of her grandchild, she couldn’t help but feel a bit incensed. She heaved a sigh. “Stubborn children,” she whispered, finally closing her own eyes to take a nap.