Tallie's Knight Part 13

"It was dreadfully loud." She glanced around the room again and added, her eyes br.i.m.m.i.n.g with mischief, "It seems she cannot bear to be silent--even in sleep!"

Despite his bad mood, Magnus found himself smiling back at her.

"So, too, did my companions."

"Oh, then you understand. I do so dislike the sound. And it goes on and on, doesn't it? Until you feel as though you wish to smother the person who is doing it." She took another forkful of kipper and chewed it meditatively, regarding him with a speculative expression.

"Do you?-- I mean ... no."

"Do I what?" said Magnus.

She blushed.

"I have forgot what I was going to say. Er, do you think the wind will be in the right quarter today, my lor-Magnus? For the packet to depart, I mean. It is beautifully sunny, at any rate. If we cannot depart today, do you think we might walk up to the Western Heights? I have heard that the view is most spectacular and the walk very invigorating."

Magnus frowned. What had she been about to ask him? Something that caused her to blush. Had she been going to ask him whether he snored?

He opened his mouth to rea.s.sure her. then shut it, disconcerted. He had no idea whether he snored or not.

Certainly no one had ever told him he did--but then he rarely slept with the women he'd been involved with. Pleasured them, yes, and gained his own pleasure. But he generally departed their beds after the event and returned to his own. He was fastidious in that.

Perhaps he did snore. Would his bride wish to smother him in his sleep? It was a most unsettling notion. Magnus finished his breakfast in silence.

After breakfast he accompanied Tallie in an exploration of the town and the waterfront, which, to his surprise, she seemed to find fascinating, despite the smells. They climbed the Western Heights, where his wife waxed rapturous about the view. And that, as far as Lord d'Arenville was concerned, was the sum total of entertainment to be found in the dreary little town of Dover.

But the more time he spent in his wife's company the more his thwarted desire grew. She was such a contrast to the bored, world-weary women he knew. She seemed to find unselfconscious pleasure in the smallest things, and he could not help but wonder if she would react with equal delight to the pleasures he planned to introduce her to--as soon as he found the privacy in which to do so. In the meantime, the mere sight of her pressing a sh.e.l.l to her ear to listen to the sea, or clambering over a stile, or running down a hill shrieking with glee was enough to have him almost moan aloud. He attempted to control his response to her, but the very impossibility of it unsettled him and made him, on reflection, furious.

He had never expected to desire his wife. He felt it was both unseemly and foolish for a man to do so. He had seen other men in thrall to the charms of their wives--his father, for one--and Magnus had observed that it gave the wife an unwholesome influence over their husband. No woman had ever possessed the slightest control over Magnus, and nothing was going to change that. No, this unaccountable penchant he had for his wife was merely a whim of the moment, a result of a recent lack of female companions.h.i.+p. It would pa.s.s as soon as the marriage was consummated--if it ever was!

d.a.m.n it! He had never been so desirous of coupling with a woman and so utterly unable to find an opportunity to do so. With any other woman he would have dealt with the matter by hiring a room at some low tavern, or, if the worst came to the worst, there had always been the coach. But Tallie was both a virgin and his wife. He owed it to her to carry out the deed in an atmosphere of respectability, at least.

Lord d'Arenville prayed for wind.

The Channel remained smooth and still.

Her husband might have been acting like a bear with a sore head, but Tallie did not repine. He was clearly a difficult man to please, but she had known that from the start. In fact, marriage to Lord d'Arenville was turning out vastly better than she had expected.

Despite his general air of bad temper, she had discovered several unexpected aspects of his character which she found rather endearing--unexpected flashes of kindness, for instance, like stopping the coach so she could look at the sea. She had half expected him to laugh at her ignorance--but he hadn't. And he'd made no demur about escorting her along the waterfront--a place she had seen perfectly well he disliked, wrinkling his long, patrician nose as he steered her around a puddle of fish guts or a basket of live crabs.

Yes, Tallie thought, it felt wonderful to be strolling about the town on the arm of such a handsome gentleman--it was still almost impossible to believe such a magnificent-looking man was actually her husband. The feeling of warmth that glowed within her as she laid her hand on his arm, the occasional b.u.mping of their bodies as they walked--it was most agreeable. And when he smiled, as he had once or twice, and those long, harsh lines down his cheeks deepened, and his sea- grey eyes gleamed, she would look at him and feel her breath catch in her throat. She could not help but enjoy all sorts of little things he did. Like the way he placed himself protectively between her and the roadway as they walked. And helped her over stiles as if she were some sort of fragile, helpless creature, which heaven knew she wasn't, but still. it was nice to be thought so, at times. And even nicer to reflect that perhaps he didn't think of her as st.u.r.dy any more. Of course, it was probably only good manners. No doubt he would do exactly the same for Mrs. Entwhistle--if she ever stopped talking, that was. He had beautiful manners--when he chose to employ them.

Tallie sighed. There were times when she felt as though she and her new husband could come to some understanding, when she felt that she could find some degree of happiness with him after all. But then, for no reason she could see, he would suddenly turn back into The Icicle, and any attempt of hers to thaw him out only seemed to make him snappish as a wolf.

Then Tallie would recall she was not a beloved bride on her honeymoon, but an inconvenient necessity who was putting him to a great deal of trouble instead of quietly retiring to d'Arenville Hall to bear his heirs. Well, she would go into rural seclusion--eventually--but she had made up her mind to enjoy every moment of her bride trip, and enjoy it she would!

So, she told herself, rallying, Dover was a fascinating place, and she had much better things to do than fret herself to flinders over her husband's disposition. There was nothing she could do about that, after all. She was foolish to wish for anything more--she was nothing but a brood mare to him-he had said as much to her cousin, that night in the library. And, though he'd had enough of exploring the town, she had not.

Each morning Tallie slipped away from the s.h.i.+p Inn to visit the waterfront, secure in her husband's belief that she was with Mrs. Entwhistle. He himself could not bear the woman's inane chatter without coldly excusing himself after a few moments, and so Tallie used his ill-concealed antipathy to her own advantage.

She was intensely curious about every aspect of marine life. She marvelled at the way gnarled and twisted fishermen's hands could knot fine and delicate nets. She learned to identify brigantines, sloops and schooners, and was most excited to have the Revenue cutters pointed out to her. The fishermen filled her head with thrilling tales of smugglers, s.h.i.+pwrecks and storms.

One morning a friendly seaman even offered to row her out and show her over one of the s.h.i.+ps. Delighted, Tallie accepted, and was deeply impressed to discover the ingenious manner in which its interior was fitted out. The seaman was rowing her back to sh.o.r.e when she noticed the irate figure of her husband awaiting her. His arms were folded, his legs braced, and his head was thrown back in a manner which told her he was not pleased.

When their little boat reached the sh.o.r.e, he hauled her grimly ash.o.r.e.

"What the deuce do you think you are doing, madam?" he said as he escorted her away from the waterfront in such a rush that she would have slipped on the wet cobblestones had he not been clasping her arm so tightly.

"Exploring that big s.h.i.+p out there," she panted.

"It was really most interest--' " How dare you leave the inn unescorted? " he raged in an undertone, propelling her onwards at a great rate.

"Have you no idea of how to behave? No idea of the sort of villains and ruffians who frequent places of this sort?"

Villains and ruffians indeed, thought Tallie crossly. As if she did not know very well how to tell whether a person was trustworthy or not. And, since he was so obviously bored by her fascination with things nautical, what alternative did she have but to go by herself?

She was now a married woman, after all, and had much more licence than an unwed girl to go where she pleased. It was just that he had these stuffy ideas about her behaving more 'suitably', more like a countess.

Well, it was not possible to go from being an unwanted poor relation to feeling like a countess in a few days. Particularly when he kept reminding her of her unsuitability!

"Oh, pooh!" she retorted.

"They are most of them very nice." She smiled and waved at an old woman who sat smoking a pipe outside a tavern, knowing it would annoy her husband.

"h.e.l.lo, Nell!"

The woman took the pipe out of her mouth and raised it in a salute, baring blackened stumps in a wide grin.

"Ar, Miz Tallie."

Magnus swore and lengthened his stride, forcing Tallie to hop and skip to keep up with him. He stormed up the stairs of the s.h.i.+p Inn and flung open the door to Tallie's chamber.

"Oh, there you are, my dears--' began Mrs. Entwhistle.Magnus bowed, slammed the door, and strode off along the corridor andup the next flight of stairs to his own room, dragging Tallie with him.He threw open the door to his own room and was about to usher Tallie inwhen he halted abruptly, swearing. Tallie peered around her husband's body. A halfdozen young sprigs of fas.h.i.+on were sprawled about, smoking, drinking and playing cards.

"Come in, d'Arenville, of chap," called one young fellow, flushed with

drink.

"An' bring that pretty li'l filly with you."

Magnus seemed to harden with icy rage.

"You refer, sir, to my wife!"

he said in a soft, savage tone. It quite quelled the young gentlemen,

Tallie thought. He pushed her away from the door and shut it. Towing her behind him, Magnus stalked downstairs and coldly summoned the landlord.

"Kindly direct me to a private room immediately--one in which I can speak to my wife without interruption."

"Regrettably," said the landlord, 'not a one is to be had, my lord.

People are even sleeping in the public rooms tonight. "

The reply fanned Magnus's temper to flames.

"Then summon my carriage!"

he snapped.

The carriage was duly brought round, and no sooner were they seated and the driver directed to "Drive, d.a.m.n it!" than Magnus began a tirade which blistered Tallie's ears.

He began with her iniquity in sneaking out of the inn behind his back and her perfidy in using a garrulous b.l.o.o.d.y cit as a smokescreen! He condemned her lack of decorum in venturing out alone and unescorted in such a filthy little town. He was scathing about her foolhardiness in entering into conversations with the most unsuitable people--villainous cut-throats, verminous old women dressed in rags, smoking G.o.d knows what in evil-smelling pipes!

Tallie sat, her hands folded submissively in her lap, listening with downcast eyes to all he had to say.

'and as for the utter folly of venturing aboard a strange s.h.i.+p in the company of. of some tattooed ruffian with gold rings in his ears--why, anything may have befallen you! You could have been kidnapped--or worse. A villain like that would slit your throat as soon as look at you! "

Tallie looked up at this.

"Oh, no, my lord. Jack may look a little rough, but truly he is a decent fellow under all those tattoos. His wife in Jamaica gave him the earring--' Magnus rolled his eyes and ground his teeth.

"He could have stolen you away on that boat--' " s.h.i.+p. A boat is much small--' "Will you listen to me, you foolish chit?" Magnus slammed his fist onto the leather squabs.

"He could have drugged you, stolen you away and sold you as a white slave in some foreign port!"

Tallie stared at him. She had heard of white slaves, of course. The girls had talked of such things after dark in the dormitory. But she had been in no such danger. Everyone on the waterfront had known where she had gone.

"But how could he, my lord?" -she began.

"Quite easi--' " For there is no wind to enable the s.h.i.+p to sail away," she finished.

"That is why we are not yet in France. Have you forgot?"

Magnus glared at her, stumped for a response.

The coach rattled onwards. Tallie glanced out of the window. They were well out of town by now, green hedges and trees whipping past in a blur. It was remarkable how accustomed she had become to the speed of coach travel. For a girl who'd never been anywhere, she was fast becoming a seasoned traveller.

She looked back at her husband. He was staring out of the window, a black frown on his face. He obviously still hadn't got over his crotchets. She sighed. One would expect such a handsome man to have a more agreeable temperament, but the least little thing seemed to set him off. Still, anyone who had been reared in Miss Fisher's Seminary for the Daughters of Gentlemen knew all about bad tempers. She sighed again.

The sound made Magnus turn to look at her. She c.o.c.ked her head and smiled enquiringly at him.

It was the smile that did it, Magnus told himself later. Quite obviously she still had no idea of the imprudence of her actions, of the danger she'd been in. Her countenance showed not the slightest sign of contrition. His temper, held rigidly in check, burst its bounds again.

"And what if that d.a.m.ned filthy ruffian had decided to ravish you out there on that boat?" he snarled.

"What then, eh? You could have done nothing'. Nothing to save yourself! Did you think of that, madam, eh?

No, I am very sure you did not. You did not think of anything at all, did you? "

"Oh, he would have done nothing of the sort," retorted Tallie crossly.

"And if he had--' she glared at him defiantly '--I know very well how to deal with such matters."

"What?"

"Well--' she began, but her words froze in her throat as Magnus launched himself at her, lunging across the carriage to grab her arms.

In seconds he had her hands pinioned behind her back and she was thrust back along the wide seat of the coach, legs flailing, his muscular body pressed heavily on top of hers. She stared up at him, struggling, her eyes wide with surprise.

"What if he'd had you like this?" Magnus growled.

"Your body vulnerable under his. Accessible to his every desire." He pressed himself against her, his eyes devouring her face.

Tallie felt something hard pressing into her stomach. She tried to wriggle away. Her husband's face loomed dark and angry over hers, his flinty grey eyes boring into her. She could feel his breath warm on her skin. Ignoring her struggles with ease, he gathered both her wrists into one hand, leaving the other free.

"And what if he had wanted to do this to you? What would you have done then, eh?" His hand moved slowly over her breast, stroking and squeezing.

Tallie gasped in amazement. What on earth was he doing? To take such liberties with her person. She knew about men taking liberties with a girl's person from Miss Fisher--she had just never known what exactly 'liberties' were. And she knew very well what the correct response for a genteel young lady was in this situation--she just wasn't sure she wanted to make it--just yet.

These liberties felt remarkably pleasant, and she didn't want to stop him. yet.

The big warm hand exploring her breast caused all sorts of wondrous s.h.i.+very responses in her body. Particularly when he touched her. like that. Ohhh! Like ripples in a pond, the feelings started from her chest and s.h.i.+mmered deliciously outward. And downward. She lay there, entranced, staring up at her husband's dark visage, lost in the sensations his caresses were producing.

"And what if he'd done this?" muttered her husband thickly, and pressed his mouth hard over hers.

Tallie closed her eyes. Her husband's mouth crushed hers for a moment,then softened. His lips explored hers slowly, gently, and she gaveherself up to the sensations. His mouth was so tender and warm as itmoved cares singly over hers. And he wasn't merely pressing his lipsagainst hers; he seemed to be nibbling and sucking and. licking. Shes.h.i.+vered pleasurably and pressed closer to him.

Even his body pressing so heavily on top of hers felt interestingly.Gracious! His tongue was pus.h.i.+ng between her lips! Running alongbetween her teeth and her lips. very peculiar. yet. utterly.thrilling. Sensation vibrated through her body from his, and she felther body softening and melting with the pleasure of it. and yet an oddsort of tension seemed to be rising within her.

His tongue plunged again into her mouth, sweeping in slow, sensual arcs, stroking the roof of her mouth, curling around her own tongue.