A David Romance
Part 6
Aura Thundera
deonii@yahoo.com

***

    "Kind to you!"  David growled, jerking away from me.  "That's gratitude!  Don't you feel anything for me at all?"

    "Of course I do, David.  I'm just not quite sure what I feel yet." I said.

    "I'm sorry, David.  I didn't mean what I said as an insult to you.  I jsut meant to say that  I wasn't sure that you really are my true love."

    "What kind of courtship were you wanting?"  David asked.  His arms slipped around me, and the full sleeves of his linen tunic draped around me.

    "I dreamed of a slow romance, of being your friend first.  To know that we would be friends for life before we began a romance."

    "Friendship!" David said into my ear.  "What place has friendship in a romance?"

    "It's everything, David.  To me, at least.  I want my true love and husband to be  a good friend who I can trust and confide in."

    "I understand," David whispered.  "Come now, calm down.  Mama will be wanting to discuss details of the wedding--flowers and such.  That is your sort of thing, isn't it?"

    "And you're going to come along and discuss flowers and table linens with Shirley and me?"  I asked.

    "I do want some input.  After all, this is my wedding too.  And besides, if I leave the two of you to your own devices you will try to put flowers in my hair for the ceremony."  David's red cape trailed across the marble floor in scarlet waves.  I followed him into Shirley's sitting room.

    "We've got a lot of details to discuss and not much time to do it in," Shirley said.  "Three months isn't much time to plan a wedding like this, with two heirs.  The peerage in London will surely take notice of such an advantageous match.  Also, you will have to name a new Lord Danesbury on your marriage--or keep the title for your second son."

    "We'll keep the title; I think my father intended  for me to pass the title to a husband or at least someone whose descendants bear our bloodline.  I don't think he planned on having me marry the Catesby heir."  I said.  "My uncle will surely attempt to stake his claim to the title at our wedding."

    David lounged in his chair, garnering a reproving glare from his mother.  "I don't know about that, but at any rate he didn't leave you a record of his wishes beyond that his brother not inherit the title.  And even if he did leave a will, I wouldn't ask your uncle about it."

    "Well, it will eliminate for us the problem that your mother has with Jack," I said.  "I just hope that we don't have more than two sons."

    David wiggled his hips.  "Only two?  I want many more than that."

    "David!"  Shirley said sharply, as I blushed.  "Marriage is not solely for the satisfaction of your carnal desires.  Dawn deserves better than to be treated in that way."

    A pleasant heat settled in my belly.  David's movements left no doubt in my mind that he would be a gentle lover, and they stirred my own carnal desires.  His dimpled grin was not helping matters either.

    Shirley smiled indulgently at us.  "You two now have an excuse to be together as much as possible now that you are betrothed.  And that  is a good thing.  Lord Orkane is not lightly crossed, and he may try to take you by force.  Whenever you leave the house, even if you are only going to the church at the end of the lane for prayers, take David along rather than one of the maids for an escort.  That way you'll be safe, and a litte piety won't hurt David either."

    David rolled his eyes.  "Come on, Mama.  I go to church on Sundays and  I pray.  I'm hardly a heathen."

    "It won't make you shrivel up and die," Shirley said unsympathetically.  "Besides, you want ypur bethrothed to be safe, don't you?"

    David nodded.  "But Orkane isn't stupid enough to try to kidnap her or force her to break our promise."

    "Never underestimate Orkane's power -- or his anger.  You dealt both Orkane and Marcus Danesbury a grievous insult.  Orkane has had his promised bride stolen, and Danesbury had his authority undermined in addition to losing a great opportunity.  He was in a position to enter into a liason with a powerful lord and get Dawn to grant him her title in one swoop, and you stopped him,"  Shirley said.  "Perhaps the two of you should travel to London for the wedding."

    "London!" David exclaimed.  "But that's like giving a huge advantage to Orkane if he wants to kidnap Dawn!"

    "Not necessarily,"  Shirley said.  "My brother holds a large house in London that is easily guarded against anyone sneaking in and kidnapping Dawn.  Also, your cousins are there, and they will help escort Dawn.  They will not be easily overpowered.  We can stay there, and you can be presented to the Queen as the new Lady Catesby as soon as the two of you are married.  You will be safer if you are surrounded by other nobles as much as possible."

    "Still, that is Orkane's territory, even though few in the peerage would aid him in any way."  David said.

    "Precisely.  Going there will unsettle Orkane.  Also, the Queen is there.  She may prove to be the most powerful protector  that the two of you could wish.  Lest you forget, the last king was king only on the strength of marriage."

    David gave his mother a sour look.  "You forget who shares the Queen's bed.  The Queen may become a powerful enemy to us."

    "Or she may not wish to give up his companionship,"  Shirley said.  "She may give you her blessing so that Orkane will remain unmarried and by her side."

    David snorted rudely.  "Our lives seem like an awful lot to gamble on the Queen's whims of the bedchamber."

    "David, whether you approve of her activities or not, do not speak of your soverign in that manner," Shirley said.  "It's disrespectful.  We leave for London tomorrow."

    "Besides,"  I said, with a grin.  "In London, I can hire the best seamstresses to make my gown, and you can find the best tailors for your suit."

    David heaved a long-suffering sigh.  "At least it's not flowers."

    Shirley clapped her hands.  "Let's move.  I've got to send a messenger to my brother in London and you two will need to pack."

    David swept out of the room, his red cape trailing him.  I followed him up to the second floor.  David was headed up the stairs to the third floor, and he was seated on the narrow flight of steps, trying to light an oil lamp.

    "Oh, Dawn,"  David called out to me.  "I have to go up to the attic to select a trunk from the storage room.  You'll need one too, so why don't you come on upstairs with me so you can choose which one you would like to use?"

    "I'm not going to be able to carry it back down,"  I said.

    "Doesn't matter," David said.  "Mama is sending two of the stablehands up to carry the trunks down for us."

    I sat down on the stair next to him, and took the box of matches from his hand.  He seemed to be singularly unable to light a simple oil lamp.  I quickly managed to light the wick.

    David took the lamp from my hand and set it down on a nearby side table.  His hands slid beneath the silk shawl that I was wearing over my shoulders.  I gasped and jerked away as I felt David's hands caress gently over my breasts.

    "Come here, you,"  David said.  "Don't you enjoy being my betrothed lady?"

    "I do, David. Just not in the way that you would like.  Any of the servants might happen by at any moment," I said.

    "What does it matter?  You are promised to me, promised to be Lady Catesby.  We are allowed to be close,"  David said.

    "Not like that, David!"  I said.  "We don't dare invite a scandal.  What if a rumor spreads that I am not a virgin, or that you have gotten me pregnant before marriage?

    Teasingly, David grabbed my shawl and jerked it off my shoulders.  I tripped and fell, landing on my knees.  Tears burned my eyes, and I wrapped my arms around myself.  My thin gown didn't keep out the cold drafts of Greenfield, and I shivered from the sudden chill.

    Shirley came up the stairs, just as David danced teasingly out of my reach.

    "DAVID!"  Shirley's reprimand was sharp and followed swiftly by a slap that sent David's head reeling.  "You let Dawn alone.  You don't want the trouble that  you'll cause for yourself and Dawn by these shenanigans."

    I grabbed my shawl and stumbled down the stairs to my own chamber.  Once there, I closed the door and bolted it so that neither Shirley nor David could bother me while I sorted out my confused emotions.  A host of strong emotions surged through my heart.  Only a few minutes ago, I had been madly in love with David, the dashing young hero who saved me from my uncle's wicked plans.  Now I was totally furious with the masher who had attacked me in the hall.

    Outside my door I could hear Shirley lecturing David about dishonor and what was involved in dishonoring a woman.  There was a sudden pounding at my door.

    "Dawn, let me in!"  David yelled outside.  "Please!  I'm sorry, I know what I did was wrong!  I didn't mean to hurt you!  Please say that you forgive me!"

    I ignored him.  David had to get the idea somehow that his overtly sexual behavior was inappropriate.  David gave a choked sob, and I heard him fling his body against my door.  An image of him, his dark hair in sweaty disarray, his billowing tunic clinging to his sweaty skin.  A soft moan escaped my lips at the image forming in my mind.

    A loud yelp broke my reverie.  Shirley had dragged David away from the door, probably by the ear.  Shirley knocked at my door and I decided to let her in.

    "Are you all right?"  Shirley asked.  "David sometimes has problems with controlling himself.  He has a rather rakish streak that is part of his charm as long as he keeps it under control.  His father was the same way.  David would never actually dishonor you, but he thinks little of appearances and how they could harm both of you."

    "I'm fine, but what if someone saw?  David could destroy his chances of an honorable marriage to me if a story comes out that we are lovers.  It would destroy my reputation and place me utterly back in my uncle's hands,"  I said.  "His playing -- he didn't seem to think that there was anything wrong with it."

    "Do you still wish to go through with your marriage to David?"  Shirley asked, her face concerned.

    I looked up at Shirley through the tears that were gathering in my eyes against my will.  "Of course I wish to continue with my wedding to David.  I do care for him -- or I will once I am done being angry at him!  He plays with me as though we were already wedded, and I would have no objections to his playfullness if we were married."

    "Good," Shirley nodded.  "I'll send a boy here with a trunk for you.  Pack up your things, and we will be on the road for London tomorrow.  You and I will ride in the carriage.  David will ride along on Midnight.  It will keep  him apart from you but near enough to talk if need be."

    "Where is David?"  I asked.

    "Packing in his room.  And, I hope, thinking about his actions toward you.  If you don't mind, the most effective punishment for him for this escapade would be if you would give him the cold shoulder for a few days.  He needs to think about his behavior, and he can't easily do that with you distracting him."

    "I understand.  Besides, tomorrow, he will be riding.  That will make idle conversation rather difficult,"  I said.

    The next morning, after a hasty breakfast, Shirley and I climbed into the carriage.  Our trunks had been loaded already.   David was mounted on Midnight by the time that we came out.  He wore his sleek black leather trousers.  The light wind made the full sleeves of his linen shirt flutter gracefully.

    I allowed my eyes to drift over David's body, amazed that a man could be fully clothed and yet so sensual.  No proper young lady was supposed to notice such things, but if he insisted on putting himself on display, then I felt justified in looking.  The tightly laced leather trousers clung to his thighs, and the wind revealed the outline of his torso through his thin shirt.

    Shirley gave me a sharp look.  "You must maintain the appearance of a totally nonsexual relationship.  Looking at David's body won't help your reputation.  Even though--" Shirley turned her reproving gaze toward her son. "--his choices of clothing do not help matters."

    David winked impishly at me.  I scowled and turned away, deliberately snubbing him.  I climbed into the carriage, certain that David was confounded by my behavior.

    "David, quit scowling like that!  I don't blame Dawn for her anger in the least.  Your behavior toward her has been less that gentlemanly.  You let her fall asleep in your bedchamber and you try to force her into compromising positions.  When we get to London and rejoin the gentry there, you will have to alter your behavior."  Shirley reprimanded her son.

    David nodded, scowling like a thundercloud, and turned his horse around.  The footmen helped Shirley climb into the carriage, where she and I would ride comfortably.  In two days of riding at an easy pace, we would reach London.  Shirley had sent a messenger ahead to notify the inns along our route and her family of our impending arrival.


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