CHAPTER SIXTEEN

C HAPTER S IXTEEN

“O h.” Oriana had been looking at Belgium lace. She glanced at the vendor. “Please keep these for me. I will return shortly.”

The woman frowned. “Miss, I’ll need you to pay for them.”

“Yes, of course.” She gave the vendor several coins. “This should be sufficient until I return.”

“Thank ye, miss.”

Oriana took Stanwood’s arm. “Let us hurry. I do not want to miss it.”

When they arrived a crowd was starting to form a semicircle in front of the inn. She was never going to be able to see anything.

“Excuse me, please,” Stanwood said to a man in front of them.

“Yer lordship.” The man doffed his hat. “Glad to see ye here. We heard ye were playing matchmaker.”

To her surprise, the other people glanced back and parted for them to move to the front. Two other couples were standing near Sally Scully and Will Hammersmith.

Will turned to Miss Scully and, taking both her hands in his, he knelt. “I never thought to meet a woman who is so beautiful and clever and funny and who would change my life for the better. I love you, Sally Scully. Will you be my wife?”

“Will, I love you too.” She pulled him up to stand with her. “I never thought I’d find a man who would accept me as I am. Not being able to cook and all. Of course I’ll marry you.”

Laughter came from the crowd, and someone shouted, “You got to kiss her now.”

Both of them blushed as they kissed each other lightly on the lips.

People clapped, and as they wandered off, the next couple took their place. A soft breath brushed Oriana’s ear, causing pleasurable shivers. “Do you want to watch the others?”

“No, thank you. He did such a good job of proposing I do not want to be disappointed. I suppose the first of the banns will be read on Sunday.”

“Both here and in Liliford.”

“I hope they know that.” Stanwood was right. Even though Hammersmith seemed to spend most of his time in Liliford, he did not live in the village.

Stanwood pointed with his chin toward a gentleman approaching the couple. “That’s the rector, Mr. Thomas of St. Mary’s. He’ll tell them.”

Oriana supposed he must be used to this sort of event. “I should go back to the lace.”

“Never let it be said that I stood in the way of a lady looking at lace.” Stanwood chuckled. “Or anything else for that matter.”

“That’s Sally settled.” Oriana had been about to respond to Stanwood when she heard Mrs. Evermore’s distinctive voice. “I don’t believe she will be the only wedding we’ll see before summer’s out.”

At first Oriana wondered who the lady could be thinking of; then she glanced at Stanwood. It was them. Had word of the embrace they had shared got around?

“Come.” He tugged gently on her arm. “Your lace awaits.”

“Did you hear her?” They must do something to quash the rumors.

“I did.” His tone was the most serious she had ever heard from him. “You know what I want, but I will not allow you to be rushed into anything, or be forced to make a decision you do not wish to make. If anyone asks, we will simply say that no decision has been made.”

“Of course. That is the appropriate response.” His words clanged in her brain. Stanwood would protect her from everyone, including himself. Oriana could not believe he cared so much for her. Nor, she now knew, would she ever meet another gentleman who was more honorable or kind. And he wanted her ! Did he love her? She had never thought about it, but she wanted to be loved. How would she find out? She could not very well ask him.

“Oriana, are you all right?” Stanwood gazed down at her in concern.

“I will be.” She stared into his warm blue eyes. “You used my name.”

“I apologize.” He flushed. “I have been thinking about you by your name. I will not do it again.”

“No. It is fine.” It was more than fine. Her name sounded different when he said it. “I like that you used it.” Still, she must set some boundaries. “Yet only between ourselves.”

“In that case will you call me Charlie?” He grinned. “But not in public.”

“Of course.” Her cheeks heated. Charlie. It suited him.

Charlie turned her toward the booth. “Let’s get your lace.”

He really was the most singular of gentlemen.

They continued to stroll around the market. After she purchased the lace they went on to the fabric vendor, where she found the most beautiful turquoise-colored silk. “I have never seen it before.”

“You don’t know if she selected this color silk. Ergo, you should probably purchase it.” His eyes crinkled. “I think you will find something you like in her shop as well.”

“You are right. I would not want to miss being able to buy this silk.”

As he had at all the stalls, he had her purchases sent to the inn. They were on their way to join her aunt and his family for luncheon when Green Two ran up to her. “Miss, ye need to come. The stream by Mr. Davies is flooding and the cows are in a panic.”

“I must go.” What was the best way to get there? Oriana did not have her own curricle. Perhaps her groom could take her.

“I’ll go with you.” He turned to the groom. “We’ll have the carriage readied.”

Oriana looked at the groom. “If you see any of the other tenants or Mr. Davies, tell them what has happened and that we will need their help.”

“Yes, miss.” Green Two ran off through the crowd.

Charlie kept a firm grip on Oriana’s hand as he wove them through the market to the inn. A short time later he had told the innkeeper to tell his family what had happened and commandeered his older sister’s curricle, and they were headed toward the Davies farm.

One of the elderly neighbors was there to direct them to the problem. Somehow the stream had been blocked. A calf was stuck in the mud, crying. The cows seemed to be trying to find a way to rescue to the poor thing. Charlie tossed his hat in the carriage, shrugged out of his jacket, then headed toward the calf, the elderly neighbor hobbling after him.

Oriana gathered her skirts. “Wait for me.”

“See if you can find exactly what’s blocking the stream,” he called over his shoulder. “I’ll be there to help unblock it as soon as I get this little one out and move the cows.”

“Good idea.” Oriana trotted downstream a short way until she saw a pile of trees that had been cut and put in the water. “I’ll wager anything Ognon did this.”

Fortunately the trees were more saplings than grown, and she was able to remove them without too much trouble. She was almost done when a mud-covered Charlie joined her. His boots were ruined, as were his shirt, vest, and breeches. “Your valet is not going to be happy.”

“He has become more sanguine of late. When we were in Town he ordered several pairs of boots and other pieces of clothing.” His eyes roved over her. “I’d say that your maid will be even more unhappy. Do you have another pair of half boots?”

“Not that will go with this gown.” Oriana looked down and started to laugh. Her gown was only in slightly better condition than his garments. “So much for having to have boots for the gown. We need to finish this.”

He waded into the stream. “It was actually a good idea they were using smaller trees. They blocked it more efficiently than larger ones would.”

She really was not in a mood to appreciate the way the damage was done. “I am just happy they are easier to remove.”

“Miss, me lord.” Mr. Davies arrived. “I don’t know how I’m going to thank you for doing all the work.”

She brushed off her hands. Unsurprisingly, her gloves were ruined too. “You can finish it up.”

“How is the calf?” Charlie asked Mr. Davies.

“Do’in well as far as I can see. I’m more worried about his mother going off her milk. My sons are moving them closer to the house.”

Oriana had no idea how long it would take for the field to dry. As if Charlie knew what she was thinking, he said, “It will take a few days. The land is low-lying. I wonder when it was done.”

“It could have been last night or early this morning.” Mr. Davies shrugged. “We milk them and let them go. They know the way. Who found it?”

“I have no idea.” She exchanged glances with Charlie. “One of my grooms fetched us at the market and told us about it.”

“Could be old Mr. or Mrs. Detton,” Mr. Davies said. “They weren’t go’in to the market. They woulda been able to hear the calf.”

“Mrs. Detton was here when we arrived. I should talk with them. Perhaps they heard the ones who did this.” She touched Charlie’s arm. “I will go over there now.”

“I’ll come with you. Davies and his sons can take care of the rest of this.”

The man doffed his hat. “Thank ye again.”

Charlie and Oriana hurried back to the carriage, and he put his jacket on the seat to protect it from his muddy breeches. She directed him to the Detton cottage and the door opened when they reached the wooden gate surrounding the house.

“Been expecting someone,” Mr. Detton, an older man probably in his late sixties, said.

Oriana brushed her skirts for all the good it would do. “I assume you raised the alarm. Thank you for doing that.”

“Neighbors helping neighbors.” He cracked a smile that was surprisingly full of teeth. “Looks like you got there first.”

“We did.” Oriana chuckled. “I’d like to know if you heard anything either last night or early this morning.”

“Thought it was some of the young people.” He rubbed his nose and nodded. “We’re not too far from the road. It were about midnight or just after, I’d say. Heard a sound like chopping.”

“Do you often hear chopping?” Charlie asked.

“It’s near the solstice. Ye can hear all sorts of things.”

That was true. Some people still adhered to old customs. Oriana was not quite sure what the customs were, but she had heard about them. “Thank you. If you do hear anything else, please send word.”

“I will, miss. You two better get cleaned up.”

“Thank you. We are going to do that now.” Ever since she had arrived five years ago, the Dettons had treated her like one of their children.

She and Charlie returned to the curricle. When he lifted her in, spikes of heat shot through her. This was getting far worse.

“There’s one thing I don’t understand.” Charlie started the carriage. “Who did he tell?”

“I’ll ask Green Two. But it was most likely his eldest daughter. She and her husband work the land. They would have attended the market.”

“No sons?” Charlie asked.

“No.” She shook her head. “Aunt Prue suggested she marry one of the younger sons of another tenant, and she did.”

“More matchmaking.” He turned the carriage onto a lane leading to the house. “Do you think Ognon did this as well?”

“He must be responsible. I cannot think of anyone else who could hope to benefit. No one has asked to buy the estate.” Then Oriana remembered that he did not know about the rumor her cousin had started. “He has been telling people that he and I are betrothed.”

Charlie’s hands tightened on the reins, and the leader reacted. “I wish I had the right to do something about him.”

It suddenly occurred to Oriana that she did not have to do everything alone. She had simply never thought she would meet a gentleman like Charlie Stanwood. Was this the time to tell him she would allow him to court her? There probably would not be a better one. “You do. I agree to your courtship.”

He pulled the horses to a stop, drew her into his arms, and his lips touched hers. She pressed her lips to his. He stripped off his muddy gloves and placed his hands on her cheeks, then slanted his mouth over hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into him. Her breasts pressed against his hard chest and felt more sensitive, heavier. Then he ran his tongue over the seam of her mouth, and she was not sure what she should do.

“Open for me.” His voice was a low growl.

The revulsion of her cousin attempting to kiss her made her pull back. “I do not know if I can.”

“Try it.” Charlie’s hot gaze searched her face. “If you don’t like it, we’ll stop.”

Oriana kissed him, and when he pressed again with his tongue she opened her mouth. He tasted like mint and tea. When his tongue swept inside her mouth she touched her tongue to his. This was what kissing was supposed to be like. Not slobbering and disgusting. She started to wend her fingers through his hair and remembered she still wore her gloves. “My gloves; they’re dirty.”

He smiled against her cheek. “I don’t think a little more dirt will harm me.”

“You are probably right.” Grinning, she leaned back and looked at him. “I wish I had clothing to offer you.”

“If I know my sisters, by the time we arrive at Rose Hill my valet will be there with clean kit. It wouldn’t surprise me if my sisters and your aunt are there as well.”

He softly caressed her jaw with his thumb. “Kiss me.”

She pressed her lips to his, opened her mouth at the same time he did, then sank into the kiss. She could easily spend all day doing this.

“Oriana, I love you.”

She thought she loved him as well. “How do you know?”

“How do I put this into words?” He leaned back a bit, and she missed his heat. “I was drawn to you because of your strength and intelligence. Then I discovered your kindness to others.”

“Not always to you.” She felt badly about that now.

“No, but there were valid reasons for you not to trust gentlemen. From the first I wanted you physically. I have a compulsion of needing to protect you even if you don’t want me to. But most telling was that I want to wake up with you every day. I want you in my life forever. I want you to have our children. I’ve never felt this way about any other lady.”

Oriana gazed up at him. “I feel the same way, but I did not know what it was. I love you too. Yesterday I knew that I wanted to be with you always.”

Charlie took her hands. “Will you be my helpmate, my lover, and the mother of our children? Will you join your life with mine?”

She blinked away the tears of happiness that sprung to her eyes. “Yes. With all my heart.”

He wrapped his arms around her and bent his head. Their lips touched and—

“Miss, there’s a bunch of people at the house,” one of the Greens shouted.

Oriana sighed. “It is time for us to go back.” She gazed up at him. “Would you mind if we keep our betrothal to ourselves for just a little while?”

“Not if you wish it. I suppose I should ask if there is anyone with whom I must discuss permission to wed you. I refuse to speak to your cousin even if he is the head of your family.”

“I would absolutely forbid you to discuss our marriage with him. He has been a thorn in my side since he became the viscount. You need only to discuss it with me.”

“Miss!”

“Go back and tell everyone we will be there shortly.”

“Even though we are not telling anyone, I still think we should begin working out the details.” Charlie’s forehead wrinkled. “You will need to select at least one person, preferably two, as trustee for the trust in which your property will be placed.”

“That is something to which I will have to give some thought.” Oriana had almost forgotten about the settlement agreements, and the fact that she would keep all of her property.

“I’d offer my brother-in-law Worthington, but he is part of my family. It should either be someone on your mother’s side or someone who is independent.”

“What do you think of Mr. Taunton?” He was the only gentleman she trusted other than Charlie.

“I think he might be a good choice.” He started the carriage forward. “The real question is what do you think of him? Do you have faith in his abilities to manage a trust?”

“I will make an appointment to discuss it with him.” Oriana glanced at Charlie’s strong lean countenance. “We can tell both the Tauntons. She is the one who encouraged me to consider you.”

He grinned. “So that’s what was going on in the fabric store.”

“Yes. She was displaying to me what a good husband you would make.”

“Hmm. What if I had picked the other red color?”

“That would mean that you liked me no matter what I wore. It was more impressive that you gave it some thought.”

“I aim to please.” His arms tightened around her.

Oriana was happier than she had ever been in her life. She still was a little suspect of marriage, but Charlie would ease the way.