Page 40 of Twelve Drummers Drumming

“Jemima?” Hugh’s face was a picture—splattered with mud once again, and a dazed expression on his features. “Jemima, is that really you, or have I knocked my head in the fall?”

Jemima snorted with laughter and put a hand to her face as the giggles poured out of her. The rain continued to fall heavily, and she could see now that they were completely alone in the park. There was no one around them for miles, and they pulled themselves up to a sitting position, facing each other.

Hugh’s face tried to stay stern, but he eventually gave way to a smile. “I cannot believe that, of all the people exiting this park, I am the one that you bring to the ground.”

“I do apologize,” Jemima said, her laughter abating but her smile remaining. “Although it does seem to be rather a pattern, don’t you think?”

Hugh nodded wryly. “Too much of a pattern if you ask me. I have a crutch for a reason, you know.”

“I am so glad I found you. I was worried you would have returned home, that you would not wait for me.”

“I did wait for you,” Hugh countered. “And where would I go? I have no home, merely billets I share with three other officers—three men currently rehearsing their drumming as we speak! And,” he said with a hint of steel in his voice, “I think it is ridiculous we are having this conversation whilst sitting on wet grass in the middle of a rain cloud.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” said Jemima. “I suppose we cannot get any wetter than we already are, so we may as well stay put. We shall not receive much shelter from the trees this close to Christmas.”

Hugh’s smile disappeared. A worried look shadowed his face to be replaced with a sad one.

“Miss Fitzroy,” he began, but he was immediately over-ruled.

“Miss Fitzroy?” Jemima said, frowning. “Hugh, I thought…I thought after what we had shared, we were beyond that.”

“We were,” replied Hugh sadly, “yet I must ask that you call me Captain Rotherham from now on, and I shall endeavor to call you Miss Fitzroy. It will be easier that way.”

Jemima could not understand him; it was as though there was a part of the conversation that she had missed. After all their conversations, all their debates, after the kisses she had taken from him, that he had given willingly, after last night on the balcony, when he had given her such pleasure…

“Hugh—Captain Rotherham, I mean,” she said quietly. “I do not understand. Have I…have I done something to offend you?”

It was the only possible explanation she could see for why his gaze would not quite meet hers.

Hugh hastily said, “No!”

“Then you wish to end our friendship for no reason other than the fact that I was late for our meeting!” said Jemima dramatically. It was only when Hugh bit his lip that her heart sank. “I…I was only joking, Hugh—Captain. I do not wish to end our acquaintance at all, and I did not think you did. But I can see in your face…you no longer wish to know me.”

She could not help the pain in her voice, echoing the agony in her heart. After all, she had shared with him, after the innocence she had given him—he could just walk away?

“It is not as simple as that,” bit back Hugh. Jemima blanched at the anger in his voice, causing him to sigh heavily. “Miss Fitzroy, I will be as honest with you as you are always so honest with everyone that is around you, and I beg that you will forgive me the impertinence.”

Jemima nodded. Her hair was soaking wet now, and she could see that his was as well. The jet-black hair clung to his face, his jawline even more distinct with the raindrops falling from it. She had barely noticed that her green cotton dress was sopping wet, hugging her figure as the rain continued to pour down.

Hugh swallowed. “Miss Fitzroy, you are unlike anyone I have ever met. The friendship you have accorded me and the passion I find are…are extraordinary. Nothing compares to them, and the thought of not having you in my acquaintance, let alone my life, is more abhorrent to me than life itself.”

Jemima tried to calm her breathing, but it did not seem possible. All she could do was stare into Hugh’s eyes and try not to drown.

“What are you saying?” she breathed.

“I admit it,” he said helplessly. “I am falling in love with you.”

Jemima’s heart leapt. “Then—”

“No,” he said forcefully, stopping her from speaking. “I have no wish for you to compromise yourself by promising emotions I should not be permitted to feel!”

Swallowing, Jemima repeated quietly, “Should not be permitted to feel?”

Hugh shook his head. “I love you, Jemima Fitzroy, more than any soul on this world. Yet, I cannot marry you.”

Chapter Ten

Jemima sat there,aghast.

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