Page 13 of The Dream of Love
Remi was too hopeful to notice. “Good morning, Mr. Langley. Has my father sent you for me?”
The man looked ashamed. “No, Lady Remi. He told me to bring ye these.” He motioned to the pile of clothes dumped onto the back of his wagon without care. “And he told me to give ye this letter. I’m truly sorry, m’lady.”
Remi’s hands were shaking so badly, Adam reached for the letter on her behalf. “Thank you, I’ll take it.” He then turned to the Sherbourne butler. “Soames, see to bringing Lady Remington’s things upstairs.”
The man nodded. “At once, Vicar.”
Adam kept his arm around Remi as the staff gathered her belongings and marched back into the house with them. He continued to hold her while they remained standing on the front steps watching Mr. Langley drive the wagon out of sight of the manor. Only then did Remi emit a ragged sigh and turn to face him. “Well, at least I’ll have my own gowns now and won’t have to borrow Poppy’s.”
Then her composure completely crumbled. She ran off toward the shaded walk beyond the flower garden, where they had just been talking. It was a spot hidden from view of the house. Adam kept a small distance behind her, wanting to give her time to exhaust her frustration. She finally came to a halt amid a copse of gracefully arched trees and covered her face with her hands.
She was sobbing by the time he reached her side.
He took her in his arms and held her tightly, cradling her as she rested her head against his chest. “We’ll work it out, Remi.”
She tipped her head up to stare at him, although he doubted she could see much beyond her wall of tears. “How? All I wanted to do was make him see the cruelty of his traps. But he thinks as little of me as he does of the animals he snares in those iron claws. And my mother doesn’t think of me at all. Am I that wretched a person, Adam? Why do they hate me so much?”
“They hate each other. You’ve got yourself caught in the crossfire.” And now he’d gotten himself caught in something unexpected, as well. Remi’s body felt splendid pressed against his, quite right and perfect. It was more than the mere physical pleasure of it. Yes, her body was soft and nicely shaped.
But the yearning she stirred in him was like nothing he’d ever experienced before. It was as though the girl had hurled boulders off a catapult straight at the walls he’d built around his heart. She was crushing them, battering them down. Demolishing them.
Making himfeelagain.
Only, he had never felt like this before, not even in the years before he’d defied his father’s wishes and gone off to war. The horrors of war had numbed him and left him empty of sensation in all the years afterward.
Until now.
Mother in heaven.
Remi’s hair felt silky to the touch. He wanted to run his fingers through her unruly curls and run his tongue along the curve of her sweet mouth. As he leaned closer to breathe her in, he caught the scent of lavender on her skin and the scent of honey on her lips.
She would have him out of control if he wasn’t careful.
He ached to crush his mouth to hers in an endless kiss. But he knew he would never have the strength to pull away from her once their lips met. “Come, Remi. Let’s sit by the river and read the letter together. We’ll come up with a plan to bedevil your father.”
She nodded, making no protest as he took her hand in his. Even the touch of her hand felt perfect and sweet, the way her slender fingers trustingly entwined with his. His hand was big enough to swallow hers up as they walked across the meadow toward the river running behind the neighboring Gosling Hall. They’d be alone back there, away from prying eyes and straining ears. No one to hear or see if either of them said or did something foolish that was better left forgotten.
While the sun had dried much of the area, there remained small puddles and muddy patches, especially as they drew closer to the bank of the river. Perhaps it was not one of his brightest ideas, but privacy was more important than comfort at the moment. The wooden bench beside the swiftly flowing waters was still damp from last night’s rain, so he removed his jacket and placed it over the moist planks for Remi to sit on. “But your coat will get wet.”
He smiled. “But your dainty backside won’t.”
She managed a laugh.
“Sit down, Remi. Do you want me to read the letter to myself first?”
“No, let’s read it together. You needn’t protect me, I’m used to this treatment,” she said as he settled beside her. “I thought things might improve as I got older, but I fear it is just getting worse.”
The paper crinkled in Adam’s hands as he unfolded it. “My dear Lady Remington,” he said, reading the letter aloud and wondering at Hartfield’s formality in addressing his own daughter, “I had thought your becoming a young lady would improve your temperament. But I see you remain as spoiled and ungrateful as your mother despite all I have done for you. So, I will not mince words. If you do not apologize to me within a week’s time, I am disowning you–”
Adam broke off and turned to face her. “Remi, I will speak to him. I will make him see reason.”
“Don’t waste your breath on my account. He is intractable. Once his mind is made up, he will not change it. Please, there’s more. Let’s read the rest.”
He sighed heavily and nodded. “Do not think to plead to your mother. I have already written to her threatening to cut off her allowance if she takes you in. Begging her will do you no good, for she will always choose her comfort over yours.”
Adam stared at the letter, wanting to burn the odious thing and beat her father to a bloody pulp. As vicar, it was probably not the wisest course of action, but he had also been a soldier in the Napoleonic Wars. That need to fight and protect was in his blood and in his soul.
When Remi placed her hand over his, he realized it was because he had been trembling with rage and she was attempting to soothe him.Blessed saints!Despite her world falling apart, she still worried about him. He should not have been surprised, for Remi’s heart was soft and tender toward all creatures.
