30. A Dinner and a Discussion in the Dark
CHAPTER 30
A DINNER AND A DISCUSSION IN THE DARK
A few minutes later, behind the hotel
A line of candle lamps illuminated a pair of cloth-covered trestles set up directly behind the hotel, the flames dancing about due to the slight breeze coming off the nearby water. Nine serviettes, pottery plates, and wine glasses were evenly spaced out, each guarded by a set of silver utensils. Scattered about what was left of the trestle’s surface were bowls of cut up tomatoes, cucumbers and onions and platters of grilled lamb meat.
“I think we can forego formality on this night,” Will said as he escorted Barbara to a place to the right of the head of a trestle. A quick glance at the arrangement showed there was only one place setting at the end of one trestle and four on each side.
Murmurs of appreciation sounded as the others followed them to take their places, Jane and Diana sitting opposite one another while the young men took seats on either side of them.
“I cannot believe this is the first time we’ve all been together at the same table,” Barbara said, watching as their driver saw to pouring wine.
“Everything smells delicious,” Will remarked, placing a skewer of meat on her plate before taking one for himself. He passed the platter to David.
Meanwhile others helped themselves to the various offerings, tearing bread from long loaves and dishing up vegetables doused in olive oil and herbs.
“We’ve definitely come at the right time of the year for the tomatoes,” Randy remarked. He had managed to take the seat next to Diana, glad when she didn’t seem annoyed by his closeness.
Across from him, Marcus sat next to Jane, continuing the conversation they had been having when they had entered the hotel from that day’s excursion. While Randy would have expected David to sit on the other side of Jane, Tom had that honor while David sat across from his mother and to his father’s left. Antonio took the remaining chair on the other side of Diana.
“Do you suppose they would share any of their recipes?” Barbara asked after tasting the meat.
“I’ll ask Elena,” Diana said, knowing the older woman didn’t understand any English.
“We’ll have to see if Hannah can grow some of these spices in her garden,” Will murmured. “Or mayhap we can take some back with us.”
Antonio cleared his throat. “Lord Bellingham, I wondered if it might be possible to reconfigure who rides in which coach for the trip back to Athens tomorrow. Make the numbers at bit more equitable?”
Will glanced up from his plate to discover everyone’s attention on him. “Uh, what did you have in mind?”
“Perhaps Miss Diana and my sister could ride with Marcus and me,” he proposed.
Randy stiffened. While Marcus and Jane seemed pleased with the arrangement, he expected David would not be. However, his younger cousin seemed indifferent, his attention on his food.
Will’s gaze shifted to Barbara.
“If we’re in the same coach, I’ll be sleeping with my head on your shoulder,” she murmured.
“You say that as if you think I will mind,” Will countered, his dimple appearing in his lower cheek as he grinned.
“I think I should like to ride with my cousins,” Randy announced. “If that’s all right with them?”
Antonio shrugged. “It’s fine by me.”
“And me,” Marcus chimed in, his gaze on Jane.
Randy turned to Diana. “You won’t mind, I hope?”
She shook her head. “I expect I’ll be reading most of the time.”
“Pausanias?” he asked.
“Indeed. I find his descriptions of the artwork on the Acropolis quite thorough.”
“Better than his descriptions of the buildings,” David said. “Almost as if he couldn’t see the forest for the trees.”
Randy heard Diana softly gasp, and he dipped his head down. “What is it?” he asked in a whisper.
She lifted a shoulder and tittered softly. “My mother used to say that my father saw only the forest while she saw the trees.”
He watched how the flickering candlelight played across her features, how her expression of humor changed to lift her cheeks and the corners of her lips. His chest seemed to contract in response, and his breathing hitched. “Because of her poor eyesight?” he guessed.
“Indeed. But there have been times in the past when I’ve understood exactly what she meant. Father can look at a dig site and tell you where all the walls will be found while completely overlooking the perfectly preserved pot resting in the middle of it.”
Randy chuckled. “I do try to notice the obvious,” he murmured, keeping his voice low enough so that only she would hear.
“Perhaps I should be glad you have failed when it comes to me,” she countered, keeping her voice equally low.
Lifting an open hand to his chest, Randy feigned offense. “You wound me,” he accused.
Diana tittered and returned her attention to her meal.
“What shall be our next adventure in Athens?” David asked.
“The agora,” Tom replied. “And the Temple of Hephaestus.”
Murmurs of agreement sounded from around the trestle as Elena brought out small glasses of ouzo on a tray. Toasts were made and the spirits drunk before members of the party made their way back indoors.
“ M iss Jane, might you remain out here a moment longer?” Marcus asked when she seemed ready to leave the table.
Jane settled herself back in the chair. “Certainly. What is it?” she asked, her gaze darting about to discover everyone else had gone inside.
Marcus glanced around, sure Elena and her staff would be returning to clear the table at any moment. “Would you walk with me? Closer to the water?”
Inhaling softly, Jane allowed him to help her from the chair and then placed her hand on his proffered arm. They slowly made their way to where the ground met the sandy beach, their shadows barely visible from the little light cast by the candle lamps on the trestles.
“Penton told me you and he are no longer betrothed,” Marcus said, turning to face her.
Jane dipped her head. “He was a dear to have offered a betrothal when I was most in need,” she said. “But he knows me well enough to recognize I am ready for marriage when he is not.”
Marcus reached for her hand and raised it to his lips. He kissed the back of it. “Then might I discover if the feelings you once had for him could instead be for me?” he asked. “If you were to learn that I feel affection for you?”
Her eyes rounding, Jane scoffed as a grin lightened her face. “Do you?” she asked in awe.
He nodded.
“Then I believe they already are, Marcus.”
Appearing unstable on his feet, Marcus inhaled and let the air out in a whoosh. “Oh, Jane,” he whispered. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” He felt around in his waistcoat pocket for the ruby ring David had given him. “I believe this belongs to you.”
Jane didn’t have a chance to give him an answer before he slipped the ring on the hand he still held.
“Marcus,” she whispered.
“Penton... he gave me his blessing,” he said, touching his forehead to hers.
“Then, yes, I will be your wife.”
“Oh!” he responded on an exhalation of breath.
“On one condition.”
He stilled himself and swallowed.“Put voice to it, and I shall do my best,” he said.
“Don’t make me wait,” she replied. “I wish to wed as soon as possible.”
“As do I,” he countered.
“You’ll take me on the wedding trip you talked about?”
He nodded. “Roma first,” he confirmed. “And then to Derbyshire after we’re back in England.” He drew his brows together. “I was going to send a letter to your father to let him know of my regard for you,” he stammered. “To ask his permission, but instead I shall simply inform him I am taking you to wife.”
She laughed, the musical sound nearly lost in the noise from the waves lapping onto the beach. “Oh, my. He’ll despise and respect you all at the same time,” she claimed.
Dipping his head, he once again took her hand to his lips. “May I kiss you?” He dropped a kiss on the back of her knuckles before she pulled her hand away and wrapped it around the back of his neck.
Their lips met after a moment of hesitancy, barely touching and for only a moment before the two straightened and stared at one another. “Perhaps we should wait until after I’ve had a chance to tell your brother before announcing it to everyone,” he suggested. “I shouldn’t want him to plant a facer on me.”
Jane tittered. “Antonio wouldn’t do such a thing, but I can keep a secret for as long as we must,” she agreed.
She glanced toward the small hotel and then back at him. “Might we kiss once more?” she asked in a whisper.
It was Marcus’ turn to chuckle, and he lifted a hand to the side of her face to place his lips to hers. When she turned her head slightly and parted her lips, he deepened the kiss and moaned softly.
They might have continued kissing long into the night but for the sound of a shutting door.
“I’ll escort you back,” Marcus said, offering his arm.
Grinning, Jane accompanied him to the hotel, but once they were inside, they went in separate directions to their rooms.
Neither noticed Randy as he exited his room and left the hotel.