Page 84 of The Raven and the Rose
“The days drag for me, too. I miss my son so much.”
“Where is he?” he asked.
She hesitated.
“Trust me!” he begged.
“He is with my mother at Castlemaine.”
“I shall take you to visit him,” he declared.
“Oh, no! Really?” she asked breathlessly.
“What is there to stop us?” he asked.
“Nothing!” she cried joyfully. “Oh, Line, thank you for coming.”
“Tell them to ready your carriage.” He grinned.
“Let’s ride!” she suggested, suddenly bursting with energy.
Kate served them a light repast, then helped Roseanna into a fetching black velvet riding dress and frilled white silk shirt. Line was concerned when he saw Zeus, but his fears were put to rest as he watched her mount and ride from the stables. “Wait until you see the horses at Castlemaine! My father breeds the finest horses in England.”
Joanna was at her best when entertaining. She had a knack for creating intimacy without sacrificing formal traditions. Line marveled at Neville’s stable and listened attentively while the older man went into detail about Roseanna’s natural ability when it came to horse breeding. He watched Roseanna with her child and knew these two should not be parted.
They decided to stay overnight. When it was time to retire, Roseanna showed him to a guest chamber. He pulled her inside and took her into his arms. His lips came down on hers, leaving her in no doubt that he hotly desired her.
“Roseanna, I’m in love with you,” he murmured against her hair.
She put her fingers to his lips to stop his words, then slipped quietly from the room.
Joanna was in her bedchamber before Roseanna was, admiration gleaming in her eyes. “By God, you wasted no time! Are you prepared to give him what he is after?”
“Yes! I’ll become his mistress if that’s what it takes to protect my son from that pig Clarence.”
“I’d better leave before he seeks your chamber,” teased Joanna. “Sleep well, darling.”
Line did not come, although Roseanna had half expected that he would. In the morning she said her goodbyes reluctantly, not relinquishing her son until the last possible moment.
Line was unusually silent on the return ride to Ravenspur. Roseanna knew that when they got back and were private, he would make his move. As they neared home, the snowflakes turned to rain; then a sudden downpour forced them to dash from the stables to the house before they became drenched. They ran inside laughing; then as she shook the raindrops from her fur cape, he enfolded her in his arms and said, “Marry me, Roseanna.”
She was stunned. This wasn’t what she had intended at all! “Oh, Line, whatever have I done?” she whispered.
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t marry you; I can’t marry anyone. I’ve only just lost my husband. I loved him so deeply, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to love anyone else.” She knew with certainty that Roger had been the grand passion of her life and that none would ever take his place. She was perfectly willing to become Line’s mistress, but to become his wife was out of the question.
His eyes were like silver ice. “Then tell me, why did you come to me? What was all this about?” he demanded quietly.
“I needed your help, your protection, and in exchange I thought I would—” She stopped, embarrassed.
“Give me your body?” he shouted. “Roseanna, I don’t want just your body, I want you. God’s feet, since I became Earl of Lincoln, women lie down for me before I’ve even glanced in their direction. I don’t want you for a casual tumble! I want you for my wife.”
“Why?” she asked, trying to follow his reasoning.
“For a hundred reasons. You have an air of fine breeding about you that tells me you would make a magnificent countess. I enjoy being with you; I enjoy your vitality, your intelligence. I want you to give me a son like the one you gave Ravenspur. And yes, I want every other man to be sea green with envy because you belong to me! Roseanna, marriage is the only honorable estate.”
He is so young, he is still idealistic,she thought sadly. “Forgive me, Line. I didn’t mean to hurt you,” she said softly. “I care for you a great deal, but my heart is encased in ice at the moment.”
