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.Hell would be pleasant in comparison.'On Green Grove, I fear nobody on the face of this earth, Kit.With you at my side, restored to health, I should fear nobody off Green Grove, either.' Her fingers tugged at the bow, and her robe fell apart.She wore nothing underneath.Once he had supposed she might possess the body of an athlete.Once he had done no more than dream.But here was no dream.She possessed the body of an athlete, but of a woman athlete, not a girl; she had been brought to womanhood by a man old enough to be her grandfather, who had done no more than make her bloom, and then left her, in full flower.Waiting to be plucked.When she was ready.When he had the strength.Dawn on Green Grove brought the sun flooding through the open french windows, picking out flashes of light from the crystal drops of the chandelier.Dawn was at once lazy and active, a time for reflection and a moment for testing a growing strength.Kit rolled on his side, and the woman's head slipped from his shoulder.Her brown hair, so rich and so thick, was damp with sweat, and clung to her temples and her back.Her body was concealed beneath the sheets but was there for his hands, a treasure house of magnificent joy compared with which Panama City had been a hovel.He could caress her breasts; they were large, surprisingly so for so young a body, overflowing from his hands, soft and yet firm, with nipples which flared into life at his touch, even while she slept.He could search her waist, and count her ribs, for never was flesh so slenderly fine.He could spread over her thighs, and cup her glorious buttocks, more firm yet than her breasts, or slide round to explore the tropical forest which matted her groin with amazing luxuriance.And beyond, the ultimate paradise sought by man.As yet explored only by his fingers, although she had slept here for four nights.But each day, and each night, had seen an increase of strength, and soon.as her own fingers were now establishing.Her eyes were open, and her breath rushed against his face as she smiled.'I must make haste,' she said.'For I am determined you shall have no entry until we are wed.Am I not a prude?'She laughed, as he would have searched further, and rolled away from him, and out of the bed, to stand for a moment, a glistening drop of marvellous womanhood that quite put the sun-gleaming chandelier to shame, while she listened to the bell tolling, bringing the slaves from their quarters, the overseers from their beds.‘I shall return early this day,' she said.'And meanwhile, the girls will dress you in your best.' She had sent to town for his clothes.He frowned at her.'You mean to marry me today?'Again she laughed, a peal which echoed through the room.'When I marry you, Christopher Hilton, it shall be an occasion not readily forgotten by Antigua.But today I shall declare my purpose.I have invited Papa for lunch, and if you can mount so hard and firm an assault at my gate you can certainly sit yourself for a meal.You are well again, Kit.Today we are betrothed.'He raised himself on his elbow.Certainly this was easy enough.'Philip Warner comes here, today?''I saw no alternative.It is near a week since Spalding will have carried him the news that you are here.And throughout that time he has ignored me.He considers that I am a lonely widow whose bed needs warming, and that I have chosen you to honour a passing fancy.We will surprise him, Kit.' She pulled on her undressing-robe as she went to the door, and there checked.'But you will be polite.You are not yet strong enough to sustain the burden of a duel, nor would I have one between my father and my future husband.Leave the extravagant gestures to me, if you will.I request this especially of you, in case he arrives before I return from aback.''Then why go at all?''Because I am the mistress of Green Grove, darling Kit.I must be seen in the fields at least once in every day, as I must sit in judgement over my slaves at least once in every day, lest they forget that I am here, and that they fear me.' She smiled.'Soon enough the responsibility will be yours, and be sure that I shall welcome the rest.'The door closed, and he was left to wonder at just what the day would bring, although without apprehension.Apprehension was not a practicable emotion when in the dazzling company of Marguerite Templeton.And even wonder was clouded by memory, as he lay on the pillows and beneath the sheets still warm from the contact of her body, and still overhung with her scent.And soon enough there was no time even for that, as the maidservants came to bathe him and help him dress, in his best blue coat, giggling and chattering amongst themselves, and all the while insisting that he make haste, for there were gentlemen waiting to see him.'Already?' he demanded, and discovered he was sweating.But at last they pronounced him fit to be seen in public, and so for the first time he left the bedroom.And entered a world he had not supposed to exist.First of all he found himself on a wide, deep gallery, which circled the upper storey, allowing the stairwell in the centre to descend to the lower floor.Off the gallery opened the doors of at least five bedchambers, all ajar, at the moment, while from the sound of cleaning and beating and rustling which emanated from every doorway he could not doubt that apart from his own four attendants there was an army of maids in each room, engaged upon putting it to rights, even if, so far as he knew, Marguerite and he alone slept in the house.The gallery itself was floored with polished wood, and the walls were lined with paintings, of some quality, he estimated, mostly depicting scenes in and around Antigua [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]