Page 119 of Enslaved
“How would you like a tub before the fire as they bathed in Elizabethan times?”
Within minutes the chamber was filled with bustling servants who dragged in a large porcelain tub, followed by buckets of steaming water. Mr. Burke and Nora arrived, one to see to his master’s toilet, one to look after her. The Earl of Bath said politely but firmly, “We would like to be alone for a while.”
Diana pulled off the smock and canvas shoes and slipped into the scented water. Mark bent down, bundled up the discarded things, and opened the chamber door. “Burn these,” he ordered the first servant he saw.
“Whatever will I wear?” Diana worried.
“Does it matter?”
“Of course it matters; I’m getting married. Even if it is only for three weeks,” she added wistfully.
Mark drew close, his black eyes caressing her with love. “You can wear this,” he said, fastening the half-coin about her neck.
“Did it cost you the earth?”
“Hardly anything. I told the woman I had one and didn’t need another.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out her earrings. “And you can wear these. I’ve carried them about with me the whole time.” The only reason he wanted her to wear the earrings was so that he could watch her take them off when they went to bed.
She looked up at him, knowing he surrounded her with his love. “You sent Nora away, so you’ll have to help me.”
When she was done, Mark wrapped her in a Turkish towel and lifted her from the water. He knew if he sat down and drew her into his lap, they would never get dressed. “How would it be if I went to your chamber and chose something from your wardrobe?”
Diana smiled a secret smile. When he was Marcus, he had chosen her clothes. She remembered how shocked she had been at the loin dress. She nodded her assent and opened the towel so that the fire warmed her flesh. How delicious it felt to be free to do whatever she wished.
Mark came back with the jade velvet. “This holds special memories for me, and this,” he said, holding out the scarlet corset. He helped her to dress. When he fastened the gown, he saw how much weight she had lost. Starting tomorrow he would insist she get lots of food and exercise. He didn’t like to see her looking so pale and fragile. He wanted her glowing and brazen, able to give as good as she got. He wanted her to be able to hold her own against him, both in bed and out of it.
She tried not to stare as he shaved and changed his linen, but she was greedy for the sight of him. His dark face was so strongly masculine, he looked rugged even in formal dress clothes. He looked up and saw her watching him. Did he dare to hope she felt possessive of him?
“I have no ring,” he suddenly realized.
“What would a sworn bachelor be doing with a wedding ring?” she teased.
He twisted his favorite ring on his finger, an emerald cut in intaglio. “We’ll use this one. Mr. Burke and Nora are coming with us as witnesses.” At last, when he was fully dressed, he dared to touch her. He cupped her face with his hands, lifted her mouth to his, and cherished her lips. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”
Diana nodded. “Very sure.” She didn’t want him for three weeks, she wanted him for eternity, but even if they only had this one night, she felt more blessed than any other woman in the world. Fate had allowed her the gift of falling in love with this man twice over.
It was after midnight when the small party gathered in the parlor of a Bath justice of the peace. The civil ceremony was short, the most important part being the signatures on the marriage license rather than the words spoken.
On the carriage ride back to the hall, the earl explained to the servants that the marriage almost certainly would be annulled by Diana’s guardians, but in less than three weeks she would turn eighteen and come into her inheritance. When they arrived home, Mr. Burke and Nora discreetly disappeared within.
At the front entrance, Mark swept her up in his arms. “We have to obey all the rules,” he said as he carried her across the threshold.
“This is a Roman custom. The groom lifts the bride over the threshold to avoid an ill-omened stumble. Then you present me with a cup of water and a glowing fire brand to show that I am entitled to the protection of your family gods.”
Once more they climbed the gracefully curved staircase together. When they entered the master bedchamber, they saw that Mr. Burke and Nora had set out wine and sweetcakes for them. Mark helped her off with her cloak, then removed his coat, vest, and intricately tied neck cloth.
“I have a gift I think will delight you.” He brought the lead tablet inscribed with their names and placed it in her hands.
“Oh, Mark, Marcus, you found the proof!”
“It was down by the river beneath the copper beeches, where we once made love.”
“You remember!” Her face was so radiant with joy, he felt a lump in his throat. He quickly moved to the cabinet and poured them wine.
“Let me propose a toast to Diana, Countess of Bath.”
“Good Heavens, am I a countess? It sounds so formal and stodgy! I have a much better toast.” She slipped out of her gown, tossed it aside, and flung herself backward on the bed in her scarlet corset. Then she flung her legs in the air and kicked them wildly. “I propose a toast to freedom!” she cried joyously.
Mark was delighted with her abandon. He had been half expecting tears, fears, and bad dreams, and was prepared to soothe them all away. The need to protect her rose up strongly in him. He had no intention of making sexual demands on her tonight. “Drink your wine and let me tuck you into bed. It will be daylight in less than four hours.”
