Page 27 (1/2)
Lillian, as feeding the baby, replied in a sardonic tone "Mother, if Daisy e the fact that the Bowmans are from common stock, and Grandmother--Lord love her--was a dockside oman This preoccupation with nobility is a bit excessive, isn’t it? Let’s put it to rest and try to be happy for Daisy"
Indignation caused Mercedes to puff out her cheeks te her narrow face to resemble a set of inflated fireplace bellows "You don’t like Mr Swift any more than I do," she retorted
"No," Lillian said frankly "But much as I hate to admit it, that puts us in a minority Swift is liked by everyone in the northern he Westcliff and his friends, erating--"
"--children, aniher order of plants," Lillian finished sardonically "If root vegetables could talk, I’ve no doubt they would say they like hi by the ith a book, looked up with a sudden grin "His charm doesn’t extend to poultry," she said "He has a probleeese" Her s, Lillian I expected you to make a fuss about the betrothal"
Her older sister let out a rueful sigh "I’ve reconciled myself to the fact that it would be easier to push a pea with my nose from here to London than to try and stand in the way of this e Besides, you will be far more accessible in Bristol than you would have been with Lord Llandrindon in Thurso"
The mention of Llandrindon nearly caused Mercedes to weep "He said there were lovely walks in Thurso," she saidhistory I would have so loved to learn about the Vikings"
Lillian snorted "Since when have you been interested in warlike pagans with silly-looking headgear?"
Daisy looked up froain?"
Mercedes leveled a glare at theracefully I will endeavor to find some small consolation in the fact that at least this ti" She had never quite forgiven Lillian and Marcus for having eloped to Gretna Green, thereby depriving her of the grand festivities she had always drealy at Daisy "I don’t envy you, dear"
"It won’t be pleasant," Daisy warned Matthew later that day, as they sat at the grassy edge of a e "The cerened to make the world take notice of the Bowmans"
"Just the Bowmans?" he asked "Aren’t I supposed to be featured in the cerenificant part of it," she said cheerfully
She had meant to amuse Matthew, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes He stared across the millpond with a distant expression
The stone waterbeen abandoned in favor of a more productivestepped gable roof and half-tihcast charm that was enhanced by the rustic scenery
While Matthew cast a baited hook into the pond with an expert flick of his wrist, Daisy dangled her bare feet into the water Every now and then the wriggle of her toes would invite adventurous minnows to dart forward
She studied Matthehile he appeared to brood on so and distinctive, with a straight, sturdy nose, sharply defined lips, a severely perfect jaw She took pleasure in the sight of his dishevelment, the shirt dampened in patches, the trousers scattered with dry leaves, the thick hair ru duality about Matthew that Daisy had never encountered in another ressive, sharp-eyed, buttoned-up businessures with ease
At other ti lover who shed his cynicised her in playful debates about which ancient culture had the best etable had been (Although Daisy was convinced it was green peas, Matthew hadconversations about subjects like history and progressive politics For a round, he had a surprising awareness of reform issues Usually in their relentless cliot about those who had been left on the bottoht it spoke well of Matthew’s character that he had a genuine concern for those less fortunate than hiun to lay out tentative plans for the future…they would have to find a house in Bristol that was large enough for entertaining Matthew insisted it would have a view of the sea, and a library rooh wall around the house so he could ravish her in the garden without being seen
Mistress of her own house…Daisy had never been able to envision it before But the idea of arranging things exactly as she wanted, establishing a ho to sound very inviting
Their co to be desired, however For all the thoughts Mattheilling to share with Daisy, there werewith hih all kinds of interesting scenery, only to run directly into a stone wall
When Daisy pressed Matthew to discuss his past, heup near the Charles River Information about his fa to discuss whichcere to be completely unrepresented
One would think Matthew hadn’t existed before he started to work for her father at the age of twenty Daisy longed to break through the stubborn barrier of secrets It was e of an elusive discovery Their relationship see always in the process of beco her thoughts back to the present, Daisy decided to regain Matthew’s attention "Of course," she said casually, "we don’t have to have a wedding ceree-by-purchase Give my father a cow, and we’ll be done with it Or perhaps we’ll do a handfasting ritual Of course, there’s always the ancient Greek practice in which I would cut off all my hair as a sacrifice and dedicate it to Arte--"
Suddenly Daisy found herself flat on her back, the sky partially blocked by Matthew’s dark forhter at the suddenness hich he had thrown aside his fishing rod and pounced on her His blue eyes gleae or the handfasting," he said "But I draw the line at ht of hirass, the scents of earth and herbs all around them "What about the ritual bath?" she asked
"That you can do In fact…" His long fingers reached for the buttons at the front of her dress "…I think you should practice I’ll help you"
Daisy squirown open "This is not a sacred spring, this is a sli at her efforts to evade hiown to her waist In defiance of propriety, and as a concession to the unseasonable warone without a corset She pushed hard at Matthew’s rock-solid chest, and he rolled easily, taking her with hi She found herself sprawled on his chest while her chemise was pulled inexorably over her head
"Matthew--" she protested, her voicethe chemise completely, Matthew tossed it aside His hands hooked beneath her arled as helplessly as a kitten His breath quickened as he stared at her pale, rosy-tipped breasts
"Putas she was displayed before his avid gaze Although she had lain with him twice, she was still too innocent to be cavalier abouther further over him until his ed to say, "that’s not what I…oh…"
He suckled her brsts in turn, using his teeth and tongue, playing, soothing After pausing long enough to remove the rest of her clothes, he kissed her deeply She yanked at his shirt, her fingers cluitation