Captives' Charade (44 page)

“Of course I understand. And I respect and fear your parents enough to want to avoid flaunting our tryst. However,” he concluded, cocking his head toward the pillared entrance to the estate, “I believe we’ve missed our chance for secrecy.”

Sure enough, Sarah’s head turned to see the Duke and Duchess coming down the steps, with Juliana smugly bringing up the rear. Sarah groaned in embarrassment, but Stewart pulled her along, a wide smile settling on his relaxed face. The muchprayed-for chasm in the earth did not open, and with a look of consternation, Sarah steeled herself to face their outrage. Thus she was quite taken aback by what followed.

“I have gone over the document and Jeremiah’s letter, Stewart,” The Duke announced as the two parties came within earshot of each other, “and I find everything quite in order.” Sarah blinked curiously. Her whole family was looking quite pleased. No trace of disapproval clouded a person’s eyes. Juliana was positively gloating. Sarah stared at all of them, speechless.

“Then you won’t mind if I take Lady Sarah to our room,” Stewart was saying. “We are both in need of tidying up.” With a casual air, he pulled a piece of dry grass from Sarah’s hair. Shocked by his audacity, she blushed bright red as she yanked her hair from his indolent touch.

“Not at all,” Weston replied benignly. “I believe your things have been moved by now. I hope you and my daughter will be most comfortable,” he winked.

“What?” Sarah suddenly found her voice, appalled by what she was hearing. “What is going on here? Will someone please tell me?” Glancing from one beaming expression to another, her eyes finally rested murderously on Stewart, who was smiling, too, obviously making light of her confusion. “Well?” she demanded, shooting warning sparks from icy blue eyes.

“A thousand pardons, madam,” he smiled teasingly, ignoring her chagrin. “One would think I would have found a moment today to tell you what this is all about. But I admit I was much too preoccupied. I am sure you understand,” he offered, turning his glittering smile on the Duchess of Weston, who actually giggled.

Her embarrassment turning to anger at their private joke, Sarah stamped her booted foot on the cobblestones. “Stewart Chamberlain, I promise certain harm if you do not tell me what this is all about!”

With an e ffort, Stewart sobered his features by a scant degree, unwilling to risk heightening Sarah’s frustration. “My beloved Sarah,” he told her, grasping her reluctant hands in his own. “I was about a very strange mission when I came to England this time. My first objective was to convince you of my love and my intention that we live as husband and wife for the rest of our lives. Fortunately I have a very persuasive nature – or it would have severely imperiled the outcome of my second objective.”

“To tell your father I had drawn on the Special License he obtained from the Archbishop before we departed for America last year. And to request your parents’ blessing for our marriage, which, coincidentally is one year long this month.”

Sarah stood frozen, shocked by the dual revelations that pounded her like churning waves attacking a beach. “We are married?” she inquired of Stewart, and turning to her father added, “And you arranged it?”

The Duke spoke before Stewart could respond. “Sarah, I knew the situation between you and Stewart was liable to ‘warm’ if given the chance, and, as I was complicit in giving you two that opportunity, I ordered Mr. Chamberlain to carry the Special License in the event that it should be needed. You are my daughter and you were not to be trifled with. Stewart made a promise to treat you with care and respect – and he has kept it.

“But as I have learned, the license enabled Jeremiah and Stewart to save you from harm of the direst kind. Stewart could not have acted more rationally or bravely than to marry you over your own stubborn objections.” The Duke glanced at Stewart, then returned his gaze to Sarah. “He saved your life, and your mother and I can think of no better way to show our love to you -- and our gratitude to him -- than to welcome him into our family as your husband and our son.”

Sarah’s mind was an absolute jumble. So many revelations. She clung to the only thing she remembered, addressing Stewart. “Jeremiah told me you had destroyed the license when our charade was over.”

Stewart shook his head. “No, Sarah. He told you he had given it to me to take care of. I never destroyed it. On the contrary, I’ve kept it with me ever since it was placed in my care. And this morning, I presented it to your father, to ensure him that we had taken up the contract, and have since been true to it. Though I did explain to him that you and I had some ‘matters’ to work out before we could begin celebrating our announcement.”

Sarah’s hands flew to her mouth. A torrent of thoughts whipped through her mind as she looked from one face to another. Finally her eyes came to rest on Stewart’s countenance, and she could see that he was holding his breath. As confounding as it was to learn these secrets, she had indeed turned a corner today. No longer would she shrewishly doubt the intentions or the love of her family. And certainly no longer would she punish Stewart with her churlishness. By sometimes circuitous and arrogant means, he had always done what was right by her. He deserved her love and trust – right this moment, and forever.

With a sudden joyous shout, she was in his arms, showering his whisker-roughened face with exuberant kisses, exalting in the feel of his body shedding its tenseness as she demonstrated her happiness in a most convincing manner. Finally, after he had captured her fleeting lips in an enthusiastic kiss, holding her completely off the ground, he set her away to look deeply into her tear-filled eyes. Oblivious to their audience, Stewart spoke, his voice fraught with emotion. “Thank God you’re not angry with me, though I would not blame you.”

“Angry?” Sarah cried incredulously. “Stewart, I love you! I have dreamed of being your wife almost as long as we have been – married! Ever since ....” she stopped suddenly and Stewart smiled at their shared memories.

“Excuse me,” the Duke’s baritone interrupted and the couple turned abruptly, breaking their entrancing stare. “Son, do you mind if I kiss the bride ... or whatever word one would use to describe her,” he chuckled, opening his arms.

“Happy,” she rejoiced, rushing into her father’s arms. “Deliriously happy.” The Duchess and Lady Juliana joined in to echo the Duke’s approval as they all hugged Sarah and Stewart, their good wishes mingling in a cheerful tumult of sound.

“Thank you, Julie,” Sarah said with heartfelt gratitude as she embraced her sister for the second time. Walking a few steps ahead of the others on their way back inside, the two shared a private moment. “If it were not for you, I think I would have been the sorriest fool.”

“You needn’t thank me,” Juliana insisted. “That man saved you from yourself. I only helped move matters along a bit faster.”

“Believeme,Ihadmyownreasonsforseeing this through. Now Jack and I can be married without worrying about how awkward it might have been for you.”

Juliana beamed smugly. “If you had taken a moment to join the living these past months, you would have known the prospects were imminent.”

Sarah hugged her sister again. “Julie, I am so happy for you! Where’s Jack? I am sure he must be beside himself. He has loved you forever.”

“Your anniversary celebration,” Juliana grinned mischievously. “Thanks to your long absence today, Mother and I were able to organize a small gathering for this evening. If you and Stewart are not too exhausted,” she teased, “you might want to attend.”

Wrappedinawarmcocoonoflimbsandsoft covers, the lovers spoke in hushed tones as a fire flickered quietly in the hearth. “The evening was lovely,” Sarah sighed, “but nothing can compare to this.” Light, teasing fingertips played across the angular planes of the face above her as she reveled in the feel of their perfectly complementary forms. “’Tis a dream come true to have you here, in my bed.”

“It pleasures me to know that I was in your thoughts,” Stewart crooned, his warm lips sliding tender kisses along her cheekbone.

“From the very beginning. At first I would lie here wondering what it would be like to have your arms around me ... and then, I was tortured by memories of just how wonderful it was ....” A cry of sheer pleasure escaped her swollen lips as he pressed his hips into the softness of her own. “Promise me, Stewart, that we shall never again be separated. I could not bear it, especially now, knowing that you love me too.”

“’Tis done, my beauty,” he whispered, nuzzling the pulsing cord of her neck. “We’ve been apart for longer than I could stand. If I must travel, I shall enjoy sharing my quarters with one who delights me so.” To prove his words, his head lowered to capture a peaking nipple, his lips and tongue weaving a fiery magic within her creamy breast. “But it is my aim to confine ourselves to visits here and our homes in Massachusetts. I have circled the world in my restlessness for something to make my life worthwhile. And it was only in your arms that I ever found abiding contentment.” Stewart raised his head, his eyes piercing her with the reflected glow of the fire. “I want to make a home for you. I want to give you more children; healthy, beautiful babies ....” His voice faded into a sigh.

“Yes,” Sarah responded. “Yes, Stewart. We shall have children. Please don’t let Mary Catherine’s death discourage you. Though I do not know why, it was meant to be. But I know we will be blessed. And soon,” she teased to lighten his mood, “if perseverance is any measure of success.”

Fondly he gazed upon her delicate but remarkably strong beauty, his heart nearly bursting with admiration for the strength of her character. She was truly a diamond of the first water. “You have suffered so much and have borne it with a courage that would put men to shame. But still you are to me as fragile as a flower ... and as lovely. It is why I could never put you out of my thoughts. Forever you will intrigue me, I know.”

His pliant fingers were beginning to explore the slenderness of her waist and the roundness of her hips. “I must have studied that Special License a hundred times, each time meaning to toss it into the nearest blaze. But I could not do it, anymore than I could imagine never seeing you again. I wanted to be bound to you for the rest of my life, even though I could not admit it aloud.”

A questions suddenly entered Sarah’s mind. “When we were at the farm .... Why did you go to the trouble of insisting that we get a preacher when you knew we were already legally married?”

Stewart grinned sheepishly, but the hesitancy was not matched by his touch upon her, which was sure and inviting. “I thought to ignore the license, seeing no point in using my claim and risking your indignation when marriage was to your advantage as well as my own. But then,” he continued, his voice low with remembered pain, “I had no character to put an end to the foolishness and bare the truth when it would have served us both ....”

A soothing noise escaped Sarah’s lips as she cupped his grim face with her hands. “You are yet too hard on yourself, my love. Had you told me of our marriage then, it would not have altered my course. I would not have consented without your heart’s promise of love, and that was the very thing you were struggling against even then. We would have burned the contract together that day, I fear, and so would not be here like this tonight.” Her last words were expressed with a purring seductiveness that was echoed by her body’s questing movements against his own.

The blatancy of her desire pushed all dark thoughts from Stewart’s mind as he raised himself to answer her siren call, his tongue making deep, symbolic forays into the welcoming moistness of her mouth.

Words lost their importance as Stewart and Sarah took each other to the stunning brink of fulfillment with their love play, their bodies undulating to the passionate waltz of desire. As one, they gave and received, their declarations of love and need spilling in rasping cries, until their bodies transcended conscious movements, drawing them unaided to the summit of rapture.

Stewart’s triumphant gasp Sarah’s joyous weeping as this moment suspended them in timeless wonder. And as they softly, sweetly tumbled into the starbright aftermath of their passion, the once-immured mingled with most perfect lovers shared the glory of captivity within each others’ arms for now – and forever.