Idly twirling her lacy parasol, Mariah stood in the shade of a hickory tree not far from the entrance of the livery barn. Colin had gone inside to saddle Amy’s pony, and from the significant look he’d given her on his way past, she knew he had no intention of remaining in the child’s company for long.
She glanced around while she waited, noting that the crowd had thinned a bit. Some folks had left for their homes, while many continued to lounge at their picnic spots under the trees. A number of people still browsed the wares of the peddlers, and others loitered in front of a nearby tavern. A few passing men had sent Mariah suggestive grins, but she pretended not to notice as she admired the scenery. There couldn’t have been a more perfect summer day.
Just how long does it take to saddle a little horse? She tapped her foot impatiently in the grass for several seconds, then left the protection of the tree and started toward the open barn doors. In the darkened interior, she saw Colin talking seriously to Amy as the girl sat astride her pony. From his unflinching stance, Mariah could only guess at the instructions he was giving her, since he intended for his sister to go riding on her own without him.
“I promise! I promise!” Pouting her displeasure, Amy rammed her heels into Patches’s sides, and the pony lurched forward into a trot, barely missing Colin’s booted feet as it charged out of the barn and past Mariah. “See you later!” The girl’s joyous shout trailed off as she bounced away, long blond waves whipping behind her.
Watching after her young charge, a sudden uneasiness gnawed at Mariah’s conscience. Amy was, after all, only eight. A very reckless eight. Anything could happen to her.
Colin strode out into the light at last, and he, too, wore a dubious expression as he joined Mariah.
She continued to watch down the road until Amy brought her pony to a halt alongside three other youngsters on ponies; then she glanced up at Colin. “Do you think she’ll be all right?”
He shrugged a shoulder, as if Amy were the least of his concerns. “The squirt’s been riding since she was two. I’m sure she’ll be fine.” Turning his attention from his sister to her, he tucked Mariah’s hand into the crook of his arm.
“I suppose you’re right.” She somehow managed a confident smile, assuring herself that nothing should distract her from her own goal this day.
“The air’s still filled with dust from so many people milling about.” Colin’s voice was low and promising. “Why don’t we leave all the hubbub behind and take a stroll in the woods behind the livery?”
“That sounds most refreshing.” Mariah smiled demurely up at him and allowed him to guide her along the side of the paddocks. But she couldn’t help fighting a giggle at his calling the cacophony of sounds here “hubbub.” Had he ever been to Bristol on market day, he’d know what real noise was.
He continued to lead her away, out of the sight of curious eyes as they meandered toward the seclusion of the trees. “Did you enjoy the race?”
“Oh, yes,” she teased, “particularly when you were willing to risk it just to acknowledge my presence.”
He chuckled. “Not only did I risk the race, it was that mind-stealing beauty of yours that cost me the victory. I now understand how the face of Helen of Troy could sink a thousand ships. I’m sure she had nothin’ on you.”
Truly flattered, it was Mariah’s turn to laugh lightly. “Are we women that dangerous, milord?”
“Indeed you are. I’m afraid I’m in jeopardy of losing not only my heart but my very soul to you.” The mirth in his face vanished as his demeanor turned serious.
Mariah’s heart skipped a beat. “Good sir, please don’t think me so terribly dangerous. All I ask of you is your heart. Your soul I must leave to God.”
He cocked a dark eyebrow as he continued to study her. “Are you quite sure of that? Because you’ve completely bewitched me.”
Reaching up a tentative hand, Mariah palmed his cheek, lightly stubbled with a dark afternoon shadow. “I do believe ’tis quite the other way round.” She tilted her chin and smiled into his compelling brown eyes. “You have been my greatest temptation from the moment I first caught sight of you.”
A chuckle rumbled from deep in his chest. “And you think you didn’t tempt me? As you must have deduced by now, my family had no need of a bond servant, yet I went so far as to part with my father’s good money to purchase you.”
“You did indeed.” She continued to drink in his handsome face. “And that makes you my hero.”
He didn’t respond immediately but let his gaze envelop her as his smile faded and his other hand covered her fingers on his arm. “I want to be more than just a hero to you, my dear Mariah. Much more.” Then, as if suddenly remembering where they were, he turned and checked over his shoulder.
Mariah did the same. She could see no one watching them. In a few more steps they reached the cloister of deep shade beneath boughs and tangled vines. She closed her eyes as a cool breeze ruffled the ferns and shade grasses, brushing gently across her face and neck. It was quiet in the woods, as if they’d entered another world, just the two of them.
Colin drew her to him and lowered his mouth to capture hers.
Stunned at first, she felt a thrill spiral through her being all the way down to her toes. His mouth was so seeking….
After an eternal moment wrapped in his powerful embrace, feeling his heart throbbing along with hers, she regained her senses. Easing out of his arms, she thrust him away and raised trembling hands to ward him off. “Mr. Barclay!” It had not been prudent to let him take her so far from the safety of other people. This definitely was not how their private interlude was supposed to play out.
“I…don’t understand.” Stricken, he just stared at her, uncertainty clouding his face.
Whether his frown signified confusion or anger at her rebuff, Mariah could not tell. She only knew she needed to proceed with care. “Kind sir, if I gave you the impression that I was someone with whom you could dally, I beg your forgiveness most ardently. My feelings for you are honest, sincere…and quite pure.” Spinning on her heel, she straightened the lace ruching on her bodice, hoping to dredge up a convincing tear or two.
“Mariah.” His quiet voice was very near. “Forgive me. It’s just that I…” He released a shuddering breath.
The sigh did it. Her eyes swam. She turned back to him and took his hands in hers, tears trembling on her lashes as she gazed up at him. “I know, Colin. Truly, I do. Pushing away from you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. My whole body is aquiver from your touch. But I cannot help but believe ’twould be best if you do as your mother wanted from the start.”
“What are you saying?”
“You must sell me off. Otherwise, I fear you’ll be the ruin of me. Rose, Lily, my Papa…I could never bring such awful shame to my family. I just couldn’t.”
Gazing deeply into her eyes as his hands tightened around hers, he hiked his chin. “And you shan’t.” With his thumb, he wiped the pearl of moisture that had finally started its journey down her cheek. “No more tears, my love. The very moment my father signs over the southwest section to me as he promised, I’ll announce our intention to marry.” He pulled her close again, ever so gently, and lifted her chin with the edge of his finger. “If that’s agreeable to you, of course.”
“You would marry me? Are you sure? You know I come with no dowry.” She gazed longingly into his eyes, vitally needing this binding commitment from him. “I’m certain that once my father has recouped his losses, he’ll take it upon himself to send me something. I fear ’twould only be money, however, nothing compared to the land your mother expects you to bring to your family when you marry.”
He grunted in disgust. “Mother. She’s much too ambitious for her own good. Your love and your sweetness are all the dowry I shall ever desire, Mariah. I just regret that we must keep our betrothal a secret until January, and that you must continue on under her thumb until then.”
Mariah gave an insignificant shrug. “She isn’t so bad, truly she isn’t. She merely wants the best for her family, as would any mother. I pray I will love my children as deeply as she does hers.”
“Children.” A slow smile spread across his lips. “I suspect you’ll be the most beautiful mother who ever lived, and I hope someday we’ll have daughters who look exactly like you.”
“And sons,” she said lightly, “who look just like you.” In a burst of enthusiasm, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Oh, Colin, dearest Colin, this is the happiest day of my life.”
Unable to contain his own happiness, Colin laughed as he caught Mariah’s luscious form to him and swung her around. He wanted to shout to the world that this beautiful creature had agreed to be his, his forever.
She laughed, too, throwing her head back in joy. “Yes, yes, I’ll marry you.”
“Let’s go tell everyone! I cannot keep this to myself.” Setting her down and tucking her against his side, he started back toward the clearing. Then he slowed and turned to her. “That is what I’d like to do. But we can’t, of course. I know that all too well.” He cupped her soft face in his hands and absorbed its stunning beauty. “January seems an eternity away. It will be difficult to keep my distance from you and act as if nothing has changed between us.”
“I know. We shall have to keep ourselves incredibly busy until then.” She offered him a saucy grin. “Have I told you what a wonderful talent Heather has for music? I do believe she’ll be playing duets with me in no time at all. Would it not be wonderful if she could play at our wedding?” Her violet eyes glowed as she spoke, adding even more to her allure. “Yes, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll spend my lonely hours working with Heather until she has mastered the violin. Have you a favorite piece you’d like me to teach her for the ceremony, perchance?”
Absorbed in her voice, Colin felt it was all the music he would ever need.
“Do you?” She stared up at him questioningly.
He smiled, realizing she expected a response of some sort. “Anything that pleases you will please me.”
Mariah tilted her flirty face up to him, a teasing glint in her eyes. “I shall remind you of that years from now when you’re being obstinate.”
“Years from now. I like the sound of that.” Taking her hand in his, he began walking again, matching his stride to hers as he cast a glance around. “Why can’t it be spring? I would love to pick a huge bouquet of wildflowers for you as a remembrance of this day.”
She reached over with her free hand and gave his elbow a squeeze. “I need no token to remember this lovely day. Not as long as you keep looking at me the way you are right now.”
Colin raised her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to it as he stared longingly at her tender lips.
“But I do think we ought to get back and check on Amy, don’t you?”
Realizing Mariah must have read the desire in his gaze, Colin began walking again. “Quite right. The squirt can get into trouble faster than a pair of barn kittens at milking time.”
Emerging into the slanting afternoon light behind the livery, Mariah opened her parasol against the sun’s bright rays and moved a few respectable steps away from him. “I do hope no one has missed us.”
He scoffed. “I can’t think of anyone who would.”
The words were scarcely out of his mouth when a high, shrill voice called out his name.
Mariah stiffened with fear. “Who could that be? I pray ’tis not your mother.”
“Of course it isn’t.” He’d spoken with more confidence than he actually felt. As he picked up the pace, growing apprehension pricked at him. “They’re visiting the Lawrences, remember? Dickering over the price of the filly.”
When they rounded the front of the barn, Colin spied Heather and Victoria searching the road into Alexandria and waved his arm at them. “We’re over here, girls!”
Both spun around and picked up their skirts as they ran to him.
“Where are Tuck and Edward?” Mariah asked, scanning the area and seeing neither young man.
Panting from the run, Heather flashed a sly grin. “Hiding out, no doubt.”
Colin, however, tensed, his rage rising. “Where are those bounders? They were supposed to stay with you.”
“I’d forget about them if I were you,” Victoria announced, looking from him to Mariah and back. “Mother’s not in high dudgeon over those two. She wants you. Now.”