He had been standing by the tree for what seemed like an eternity. It had been an eternity. Eight long years was an eternity, especially when he thought he would never see her again. She was late. Only by a few minutes, but nonetheless, she was late. He was hoping to spend more time with her today. Every moment they had had together thus far had been stolen away by duties, responsibilities, various activities, and his grandmother.
Everything had been planned down to the last detail. Once again, Dante would have never been able to get everything ready without Mrs. Weston and Miss Albryght’s assistance. Dante paced around the columns on the portico. Patience was quickly becoming his Achilles heel. How long did it take for Miss Albryght to fetch Anastasia?
The pantheon was one of his favorite places on the estate and he could not wait to share it with Anna. The last time he tried to achieve this goal, it had ended in tragedy that he only overcame a few days ago when the woman he loved, donned in a green and blue mask, waltzed with him.
When would she arrive? His short nails scraped across the stone column with impatient angst. A disarming thought entered his mind. What if his grandmother had discovered his plans? No, he mustn’t focus on the negative; that was all in the past now.
The sun shining through the branches momentarily blinded him. He closed his eyes, the light penetrating through his lids illuminating precious images from a long time ago of an auburn-haired beauty twirling in the early morning sunlight after a glorious night of declaring their love. He remembered each and every promise he had whispered that wondrous night. This was his chance to keep those promises.
Dante opened his eyes just as his Anna crested the hill with Miss Albryght loitering behind. He wanted to run out to Anna, take her in his arms and make love to her on the lush green grass. Blast. He needed to control his urges. The last thing either of them needed was to have his grandmother discover their clandestine affair. All would be revealed soon enough, but he wanted to cherish this moment before he informed his grandmother of his choice in bride. Dante knew with certainty that his grandmother would throw a tantrum, but it was his life and he was going to start living it the way he saw fit.
Anna rushed into his arms and kissed him soundly on the lips. When she sighed, he took the opportunity to deepen the kiss. Their tongues tangled in a dance of seduction. Dante pulled her closer, wanting to feel every inch of her body against his.
A gust of wind whipped around them, bringing him back to his senses. They were outside where anyone might happen upon them. With great reluctance, he pulled back. Her lips were swollen, stained in a delicious shade of pink. Desire had deepened her jade eyes. He burned that impression of her into his mind. Later, in the quiet of his studio he would paint her just as she was now.
“Come, I have a surprise for you.” He guided her to a secret entrance, hidden behind one of the wide columns. He pushed the heavy door open a couple of feet. “Follow me,” he said, grasping her hand, pulling her through the dark passageway.
* * *
“I will follow you anywhere.” Just don’t leave me again. The unspoken words hovered in the air threatening to destroy the moment.
“I want you right beside me where I can see you, love you, embrace you.” His words squashed any lingering fears.
As they passed through the dark corridor, she shrugged her shoulders with a shiver.
“Are you cold?” Dante said.
“A l-little,” Anastasia replied with a chatter.
He stepped in and cupped her cheek. “Let me warm you.” His words were uttered in a deep, seductive husk. Dante brushed a soft kiss across her lips. His tongue flicked her upper lip, begging her to open. She acquiesced with a sigh, giving him permission to plunder and take what had always been his.
The kiss slowed, and then softened to mere nibbles that were just as delectable. “At this rate, you will never see your surprise.” His breath was jagged against her skin. He stroked his hand down the length of her arm. She shivered again, but not from the coolness of the space. She was still trying to regain her senses after that kiss they shared. Wrapping his other arm about her waist, he guided her further into the space.
Anastasia knew she needed to tell Dante exactly why her father had sent her away, but she did not want to ruin the moment. She had waited so long to be back in his arms. This time when the butterflies rose and fluttered, she did not wish them away. Instead she wanted to satisfy their urging.
Dante guided her several feet in the dim space before he stopped in front of a closed door. He leaned in and whispered into her ear, “Close your eyes.”
Anastasia obeyed his request. She felt his breath on her eyelids, felt his lips brush along her cheek. “Oh, that feels…”
“It is just the beginning.”
Anastasia did not want the moment to end. She felt him step away and then heard the door creak open. The fresh scent of lavender rushed her senses. “What are you…?”
“You will see in a moment. Just keep your eyes closed.”
She could not keep from smiling. Anastasia did not know what he was about, but it warmed her insides to know that he had not changed in all these years. He remained caring and considerate, and still so charming.
She heard him shuffle about before he came beside her. Her body instinctively shifted toward him, wanting, desiring his closeness.
His hands caressed her shoulders. “Open your eyes, my lady,” he whispered.
“Oh my,” she said on a sigh.
Clearstory windows illuminated the crisp white marble space. A dozen marble statues lined the perimeter. The center aisle was strewn with lavender sprigs, creating a fragrant purple blanket. As Anastasia stepped further into the aromatic space, her body relaxed.
“What is all this? And…lavender.” The words caught in her throat. “Oh, Dante…,” she breathed out with a sigh.
Holding a single red rose, Dante came up beside her. “Do you not remember?” He trailed the red fragrant flower from her forehead down to her jaw. The sweet scent tickled her nose. She couldn’t suppress the giggle that rose from a place she thought had died.
“How could I forget?” Her heartbeat quickened with the remembrance of their first time together. He had laid a blanket of flowers in the cottage. She turned into him, nuzzled against his chest. She heard his heartbeat in time with her own. Anastasia was lost to the sensations that he stirred. It was as if not a moment had passed.
Dante’s hands roamed her backside, edging down and then settling on her hips as he kneeled down before her. He looked up at her. “I never want to be parted from you again. Marry me, my lady.”
Anastasia was speechless. She had dreamt of a moment like this, with him, but there was still something she needed to tell him.
“Dante, I…” Tears started to stream down her face.
He stood and gathered her into his embrace. “Shh, my love. You don’t have to answer.” His words were laced with pain, but also understanding.
Anastasia did not want him to think that she did not want to marry him. “I do want to marry you, b—”
“You do?” The words were riddled with uncertainty. Oh lord, she did not want to hurt him. Perhaps now wasn’t the time to discuss such tribulations.
“It is one of my fondest desires.”
No sooner had the words exited her mouth than Dante’s lips found hers. The kiss was slow, sensual. She could not let this go any further without telling him everything. But before she could gather her senses, Dante pulled back.
“I have something for you.”
“You have already…” Dante reached into his pocket and pulled out the treasured necklace. “My mother’s necklace,” she murmured. Sadness and joy surged through her body. She would never know the mother who had given Anastasia life only to lose her own, but the joy in having a small piece of something her mother loved had been a soothing balm to a child in mourning. “You had it all this time?”
“It never left my person.” Dante took the necklace from her. “Turn around.” He brought his hands over her head. The cool gold chain rested against her warm flesh. “There,” he said as he clasped the necklace.
Anastasia reached for the cameo. “Oh, Dante,” the tears started anew. She was truly far too emotional to speak at this moment. “Thank you, this means…the world to me.”
“You mean the world to me.” Dante showered her with kisses. “I want to announce our engagement tonight.”
“Tonight?” She saw the look of hurt scour his face and quickly added, “It is not that I don’t want to marry you. It just seems rather sudden.”
“I wanted to marry you eight years ago. Somehow I don’t think this is sudden,” Dante teased as he kissed the tip of her nose.
She had missed their playful banter. “I suppose it’s not,” she acquiesced and then offered her lips to him.
Dante obliged, trailing kisses along her cheek.
“There is another reason, a less romantic one,” he uttered on a heavy sigh.
Anastasia searched his eyes. Fine lines framed the perimeter. The weight and responsibility of being an earl had already begun to wear on him. She hoped that she could bring some of the joy back into his life.
“My grandmother is intent on ruining my aunt and cousin. If I do not announce my choice of bride this evening she will carry out her threat. Although my aunt is not concerned with what gossip my grandmother might stir, I am. Aunt Ursula and my cousin do not deserve my grandmother’s wrath.”
“Why do you let her dictate your life?” Dante was a strong man, capable of so much, except where his grandmother was concerned.
“After you,” Dante sucked in a deep breath. She felt him struggle with the words. “I did not care about anything. My grandmother has a knack for dictating to the family, especially the men of my family. Perhaps I learned to acquiesce by example. Regardless, I never felt the need to stand up to her schemes until now. I will marry you, protect my aunt and cousin, and not let my grandmother disrupt our happiness.” He kissed her lips, sealing his vow.
She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed him. “I think it is a wonderful plan.”
There was still one unpleasantness looming that Anastasia must tell him. They could not build a future without him knowing the whole truth of what happened.
Anastasia was trying to muster the courage to tell him but the feel of his lips on her neck was most distracting. And his hand, oh lord, how she missed the feel of his hand on her body. A tingling that started where his lips touched her skin travelled all the way down to her toes. She leaned into him. His hand roamed down her body, cupping her bottom. She gasped with that movement, but did not push him away. Anastasia did not want the moment to end.
Dante moved his hand to her waist while the other took her hand in his and began to waltz. She rested her head against his chest. The sound of his rapid beating heart set the rhythm for their dance. They waltzed through the marble gallery, circling Greek goddesses and Roman putti.
“My Anna, how I’ve missed you.” He brushed a kiss across her cheek. “I have always loved you.”
Anastasia raised her head, and when her eyes met his, she knew that there was no place she would rather be than in his arms. As he twirled her around a winged goddess, she reached up and kissed his lips. She may have initiated the kiss, but it quickly turned into a mutual dance of desire.
Dante guided her past a reclining Venus, twirling her through the space. Anastasia had never been so happy, but there was a dark shadow waiting to extinguish that happiness. There was something that she had to confess before they could marry.
Anastasia took in a deep breath to steady her nerves. She needed to tell him everything…right now. “There is something I need to tell you.”
“Anastasia, it’s time,” Isabel voice ricocheted against the marble walls.
She had finally mustered the courage to tell him and just like that, the opportunity was gone.
* * *
Having Anna so near was truly inspirational. Dante could not wait to enter his studio and begin the new painting that his imagination conjured while dancing with her just a short time ago. If it weren’t meant to be a surprise, he would have insisted that Anna joined him at the cottage. But then again, he wasn’t sure that he would have been able to focus on painting.
Dante left the pantheon and traversed the long way about. It felt good to walk in the warm afternoon sun. He picked up several small rocks and threw them one by one across the water, watching as they skipped along the surface before dropping into the clear depths. For the first time in a long time, he was content with life. He continued on his journey. By the time he reached the cottage, the inspiration that had begun at the pantheon had grown, the image secure in his mind.
Without wasting time, he prepared the canvas and paints, and set to work on what would be his wedding present to his Anna. Images of a distant cottage came to mind. The pathway lined with all her favorite flowers perfectly in bloom. He remembered when she had told him that she had wanted to live in that cottage one day. It was the first day they met, the day he fell in love with her. They would never live in that cottage, but he hoped that this painting would make up for that.
Several hours had passed before Dante realized that he best put down his paints and retreat to the main house. The final ball was this evening. Glancing at the image taking shape on the canvas, he was pleased with his work for the day.
* * *
Dante walked with determination toward his grandmother’s private sitting room. This was the moment he had been dreading all day, but it had to be done. He knocked on the door and waited to be admitted. Dabney came to the door and without word, stepped aside to allow Dante entrance.
“Grandmother, I’ve come to inform you of my decision.” He tried to keep his voice firm, in control.
His grandmother sat poised in her favorite chair, waiting for him to speak.
The eloquent speech he had prepared to convince his grandmother that this was his life, his choice, vanished beneath unsteady nerves. “Miss Anastasia Quintin.” He said her name with conviction.
Her features were impossible to read and rarely seemed to change. She took in a slow, steady breath before a shallow smile crossed her face. “If she will have you, then I suppose I cannot object.”
For reasons he could not explain, his grandmother’s words had not set well with him. But before he could question her, she dismissed him. “I must finish preparing for this evening.” She stood from her chair, crossed the room and disappeared into her chamber, leaving a confused Dante wondering what she was up to now.