Free Love Me True by Heather Boyd Page B

chaise. The journal of poetry wasn’t there. Clarry frantically searched and let out a relieved breath when she found it at the other end of the chaise.
    Her heart stilled. She always sat on the right side of the couch, the journal tucked under the little scatter cushions so it couldn’t be stumbled upon. She’d never leave it closer to the door. When she remembered Justin had awaited her return on this couch recently her heart tumbled over. Had he read the journal while he waited? Read it then hidden it in the wrong place?
    Now that she thought of it he had seemed uncomfortable. Did he dislike her reading another man’s pretty words? Idly, Clarry flipped open the book and compared the handwriting. The journal’s lettering flowed neatly across the page, but the scrap of paper in her hand contained a messy scrawl. As she peered at them in turn she did detect similarities. The looping y’s ended with the same flourish. The a’s and e’s matching in height and size.
    Clarry frowned at it, twisting the pages to better capture the light. The journal could truthfully be penned in Lord Justin’s hand, and if that were so he was a very good poet and deeply in love with the subject of his verse.
    A shiver of distress raced over her skin at the thought her future husband loved another. But then reason returned. Of course the man was capable of love. He had treated her very gently considering the terrible circumstances they found themselves in. Why shouldn’t he have found a woman to love? But still, the thought of marriage to him dimmed somewhat. For the first time she had an inkling of what he must feel about her love for Lord Ramsbury.
    Clarry set her fingers to her lips. She hadn’t really thought much of Lord Ramsbury these last few days, and in fact, she had only thought of him when Justin had brought him up in conversation. Mostly, she’d been thinking of her future husband and the sensations she experienced when in his arms. Clarry rubbed her arms briskly.
    Well, sitting around dwelling on what she couldn’t have wouldn’t help her at all. She needed to do something. Idleness had never appealed. Clarry tucked the journal into its usual hiding place, scooped up the scrap of parchment, and hurried to the connecting door. She managed to return the scrap of parchment to Justin’s desk without incident then headed towards the gardens. There was a lovely walk to the side of the house she longed to explore. Living here at Staplehurst Hall had some advantages. At least she could stride about for the exercise without fear of censure.
    As she hurried along a well used path leading away from the Hall, footsteps sounded behind her. She turned to find her future husband hurrying to catch up. Clarry stopped. “My lord, is something amiss?”
    “Where are you going?”
    Clarry gestured to the woodland path ahead. “I am attempting to take a walk. Is that not allowed?”
    Lord Justin scowled. “It isn’t if you’re headed for the dower house in that great a hurry.”
    Clarry set her hands to her hips. “I like to take a brisk walk each day, but I’ve been caged in the Hall without leave. Please let me continue on my way.”
    Although it appeared Lord Justin wasn’t inclined to believe her at first he nodded. “I will come with you. I could do with the exercise myself.”
    Justin fell into step beside her and because she kept her pace brisk enough to match his longer strides they had soon covered almost a mile in silence. As they crested a rise, Clarry stopped to catch her breath. Lord Justin snaked his arm about her waist. “Do you really enjoy walking that fast or were you hoping to outrun me.”
    Annoyed not to be believed, Clarry scowled at her future husband. His reaction, to laugh at her expression, surprised her. She could almost believe him happy. He pulled her close against his chest and swung her off her feet and in a tight circle. “My girl, you could wither a man’s privates with that expression.”
    As her