A smile dimpled her cheeks. "You need only look at my figure to disabuse you of that notion."
"You are as thin as a rail, as well you know. Unless of course you have laced your corsets too tightly," he teased.
"Really Clifford, such a subject," Claire protested.
"Especially since he has picked me up into his arms, and knows full well I don't wear any such thing," Vanessa replied with a twinkle in her eye.
"Yes, delightful discovery, that. Nothing worse than standing up with a girl at a dance who creaks like an old rusty hinge and puffs like a grampus."
They all laughed at his witticism.
Vanessa proceeded to devour her breakfast enthusiastically while he entertained her with poems and the entries for the next few days in the farmer's almanac.
"I would offer you more, but the doctor told me to limit your portions for the time being, until your stomach becomes accustomed to having solid food in it once more. But you can have a bath again today, and change into some of your own things which the Bransons were kind enough to fetch for you."
"Thank you so much. I've put you all to so much trouble."
"Not at all, my dear," Claire sought to reassure her.
They chatted away to her as she ate, regaling her with news of her neighbors and the forthcoming entertainments she could look forward to, such as Michaelmas and the harvest festival. She made short work of the food and drink, licking her fingers free of butter like a small child.
Clifford smiled indulgently at her, and felt completely captivated by her beauty and charm.
When Vanessa finished her breakfast, Clifford swept her up into his arms and carried her down to the bathing chamber, where a steaming tub awaited her. He had also asked Claire to fetch some luxurious perfumed soap, and soft towels from his own home. Vanessa reveled in the unaccustomed luxuries, which she felt sure had been Clifford's doing, not the doctor's.
She was greatly refreshed by her ablutions, and comforted to put on her own clothes for the first time. She donned a loose flowing burgundy day gown with tiny cream flowers which set off her ivory complexion and bright eyes to perfection. They could not take their eyes off each other. They could almost have been a couple, she thought to herself, looking at their matching ensembles.
Clifford's assiduous attentions made her feel as though she were glowing from within. Vanessa reminded herself that it was in his best interests to make her feel romantically inclined toward him. On the other hand, he also knew she was not in a position to bargain. Her name would indeed be bandied about all over the district if they did not wed.
Many men in his position would have threatened to sue her brother for breach of promise as well. It showed some sign of sincerity on his part that he had not done so when she had been more than candid about her objections to the marriage. She was indeed beginning to think that she could have ended up far worse off than she was at present.
One could often tell a great deal about a person by the company they kept. The fact that he had no fewer than three respectable young women willing to assist him with nursing her testified to Clifford's character more than anything she could have been told about him by the neighbors. The discourse and demeanor of all the men and women, and the doctor, were not in any way objectionable. She tried hard enough to find fault, any sign of something strange or less than moral about any of them.
She tried in vain. Vanessa found herself comparing her own brother and his associates very unfavorably with her new set of acquaintances. True, Clifford had played cards for her, but Malcolm confirmed in every particular his friend's story regarding the gambling of her hand in marriage by Gerald. She had no reason to suspect the son of the local magistrate of anything less than plain dealing.
Vanessa also learned that on the whole Clifford shared his friend Thomas' opinion of gambling.
"It takes advantage of the misfortunes of others, and is not money fairly earned. We are all warned against the deadly sin of sloth. Therefore gambling is sinful," Clifford argued cogently.
"And do you often attend the balls hereabouts?"
"No, indeed," Henry denied. "Clifford takes his responsiblities to the estate most seriously."
"The only reason he went at all was because our very good friend the Duke of Ellesmere was supposed to be staying with him for several days," Malcolm said. "When he saw Clifford sit down at the card table he was so shocked he left."
"I hope you will be able to mend fences with him soon," Josephine said quietly.
Clifford shrugged. "I have sent he and Jonathan a letter at Oxford. I think he will be able to forgive me."