"Very well, I shall say nothing of the matter. But promise me you will be careful."
"And you."
"I promise." She let out her breath in a shaky sigh. "Not a very lover-like conversation, Romeo."
Clifford laughed tremulously, and ran his fingers through his thick blond hair. "No, I don't suppose so. But then, I might be more inspired romantically were you right here by my side."
"I shall come down, then."
"No. I would love to spend more time with you, but I want our conduct to remain above reproach, at least until we are married. After that I promise to kiss you senseless every time I lay eyes on you."
"Clifford, really! Someone might hear."
"I had my other sin to confess. To speak true, my flesh is weak whenever you're near."
She smiled and blushed. "Well, once we are wed, that will no longer be a sin."
"How relieved I am to hear that," he drawled. "I don't fancy the fires of Hell for all eternity. I'm already in them for not possessing you as I long to."
She giggled, but the word 'possess' had some vaguely disquieting connotations in view of what they had just been discussing regarding the spate of crimes in the area.
A shudder of unease ran through her. She quashed her doubts, however. Clifford has said he was in love with her. Surely he could not be playing a role to get her to marry him just so he could get his hands on her fortune? Not when they had agreed to all the terms of the settlement so amicably.
"What, what is it?" he asked, when he saw her crestfallen expression.
She shrugged. "It's nothing."
"I can see it is something. I'm sorry if I offended you with my blunt assertions. You did ask me to be honest. As I said, there can be such a thing as being too forthright."
She shook her head. "No, no such thing. I want you to tell me the truth, as I will you."
"Then tell me your truth, Vanessa."
She took a deep breath and confessed, "I still have some concerns over your motivation in marrying me, your desire to help me, when we have not seen each other in years. And I admit, the thought of the physical side of marriage fills me with both desire and fear."
He nodded. "Thank you for your candor. I'm not sure this is the time and place to have this conversation, through an open window at the back of the house, where anyone can overhear. If you'll allow me to fetch either Malcolm or Henry and one of the girls, and you bring your cloak, we can walk and talk about this."
She looked down at his earnest expression, and assented. "Very well. I shall be down in a moment."
She took her cloak out of the wardrobe and descended the ornate sweeping staircase which graced the Jeromes' manor house.
Turning to the back of the mansion, she headed for the garden room, lush with ferns and potted palms, and exited through the white wrought iron doors. She stepped out onto the back lawn and waited. Soon Henry and Josephine arrived, and Clifford took Vanessa's hand firmly in his own.
After exchanging pleasantries with the couple, they began to walk down the lane, Henry and Josephine in the lead. Once the other couple were no longer within earshot, Clifford said, "We shall take you fears one at a time. As I have told you, and Malcolm will confirm, we had no idea your brother Gerald would act in so impetuous a manner as to gamble you. I could not allow you to be given away to a man who could not love, respect and appreciate you for your truth worth. Your mind and spirit, and your intelligence and kind heart."
She hugged her arms to herself, elated by the words of praise. But she warned herself that men were certainly glib enough with their tongues when they intended to seduce.
"I fear you are too kind for your own good, my dear. I will confess I do not like Gerald, nor any of his associates. I admit to being appalled that Emma does not seem to find any fault in the Cavendish lad she has become engaged to. Her parents are the best of people, but they are a bit unworldly. I fear that they will be dragged down by any scandal which attaches itself to the family. I am also sorry to say that your two eldest cousins have been less than circumspect, especially Toby."
She nodded miserably, wishing she could defend them. For the first time ever she could see things from Clifford's point of view, and it was not a pretty sight. He would be risking much to ally himself with such a family. Heiress she might be, but what shocking reputations they all had, including herself.
Clifford could see her chagrined expression, and hugged her arm closer to him, allowing himself to enjoy the more intimate contact. "I'm sorry to say that our society does blame others for the faults of their relatives, and you will be judged in this County by the manner in which your menfolk behave, just as the Jeromes will be judged by anything discovered against their future son-in-law, unless Emma comes to her senses and breaks off the engagement.