Part 40 (1/2)

Some considerable time later, when Lucinda again made contact with reality, she discovered herself wrapped in Harry's arms, her back against his chest as he half-sat, propped against the raised head of the day bed She sighed long and lingeringly, the glory dimming yet still glowing within her.

Harry bent over her; she felt his lips at her temple. ”Tell me of your marriage.”

Lucinda's brows half-rose. With one fingertip, she drew whorls in the hair on his forearm.

”To understand, you need to realise that I was orphaned at fourteen. Both my parents had been disowned by their families.”

Using the minimum of words, she explained her past history, one hand moving slowly back and forth along Harry's 'arm, snug about her, all the while.

”So, you see, my marriage was never consummated. Charles and I were close, but he didn't love me in that way.” Harry kept his doubts to himself, rendering silent thanks to Charles Babbacombe for keeping her safe, for loving her enough to leave her untouched. His lips in her hair, the subtle scent of her filling him, Harry made a silent vow to her late husband's shade that, as the recipient of his legacy, he would keep her safe for evermore.

”You'll have to marry me.” He spoke the words as they occurred to him, thinking aloud.

Lucinda blinked. The joy that had filled her faded. After a quiet moment, she asked,

”Have to marry you?”

She felt Harry straighten as he looked down at her. ”You were a virgin. I'm a gentleman. The prescribed outcome of our recent activity is a wedding.”

His words were definite, his accents clipped. Lucinda closed her eyes; she didn't want to believe her ears. The last vestige of lingering afterglow evaporated, the promise of the long, inexpressibly tender moments they had shared vanished.

Lucinda stifled a sigh; her lips firmed into a determined line.

Opening her eyes, she turned in Harry's arms and looked him straight in the eye.

”You want to marry me because I was a virgin--is that correct?”

Harry frowned.

”It's what's expected.”

”But is it what you want?”

”It doesn't matter what I want,” Harry growled, his eyes narrowing.

”The matter, thank heaven, is simple enough. Society has rules--we'll follow them--to the general satisfaction o~ all concerned.”

For a long moment, Lucinda studied him, her thoughts chaotic. It was an offer--of sorts--from the man she wanted.

But it wasn't good enough. She didn't just want him to marry her.

”No.”

Stunned, Harry watched as she scrambled out of his arms and off the day bed She found her chemise and pulled it on.

He sat up.

”What do you mean” --No”?”

”No--I will not marry you.” Lucinda struggled into her petticoats.