In the following days they really got to know each other, spending most of their time together, actually talking. Dennis offered to entertain himself for a few hours if Agnes wanted to write, he was looking rather forward to reading some of her books, but she said she wanted to spend this week with him, she'd go back to writing the next week, when he was settled in the household.
Of course he was settled within days, he knew half the servants already, Cook and John rarely said anything, and Charles, the artist who worked as a gardener, seemed mighty pleased to have someone new to talk to and show his work and the garden to.
But Agnes obviously wanted to be with him, and since he wanted to be with her, he didn't say anything and just enjoyed their closeness.
Expecting Dick to be jealous of him, Dennis was very surprised and pleased to find him sincerely glad that he was staying.
'I thought you'd leave when the mistress set you free, Dennis. Will you marry the mistress? She loves you.'
'Not yet, Dick, it's too early to think of marriage.'
'Do you want children, Dennis?'
Dennis didn't, but Dick seemed to find them important so he tried not to be blunt about it.
'I never thought of it much, Dick, life was pretty dangerous in the army. I was busy staying alive. I'll think about it now.'
'The mistress told me she can't have them, Dennis. Do you mind?'
'I don't, actually. Do you want children, Dick?'
That made him sad.
'I can't have any, they'd be like me. Mum said I shouldn't be with a girl because I might get her with child, but I couldn't say no to the mistress.'
'I think you'd be a great dad, Dick. If you want children, I think you should have them. Just choose a smart girl.'
'None of the girls would have me at home, they said I was stupid because I couldn't read.'
'I can't read very well either, Dick.'
'Why not, Dennis?'
'I only had lessons until I was nine. Did anyone ever try to teach you to read?'
'No, Dennis, they said I couldn't learn anyway so why bother.'
'So then you don't know how smart or stupid you are. I can't teach you because I can't read very well myself. But Guy can, he's very smart. Why not ask him?'
Dick obviously didn't believe him one bit, but Dennis wouldn't forget.
As the bruise on his throat faded, and the whip-cuts healed and almost blended in with the older ones, Agnes managed to come to terms with her guilt. She showed her beloved how to find his way on the moors, and they rambled for hours. But she also wanted him to ride with her, first on a placid horse she kept for farm-work and for John to use for running errands, but when Dennis had found his seat she offered to trade horses for a while.
'If you can handle a hunter, I'll get you one of your own. You don't mind my riding astride, do you?'
Riding the hunter was exhilarating, and seeing Agnes ride astride no less so.
Dennis did find her attitude disconcerting. Would she quit riding if he told her it bothered him? He admired her independence, he didn't want her to conform to his wishes. But she already knew that, so he decided to not attach any importance to this by talking about it.
For she gave as good as she got during their love-play, she became ever more spirited and creative. No sign of humility in either of them, they became ever more attuned to each other.
The moors came back to life as spring neared its end, the trees sprouted leaves, the heath shot up and looked green and healthy once more. Suddenly the weather turned balmy, and Dennis thought it was time to execute a little surprise he had thought up for his lady.
He had worked it out ever since their first week together, and prepared everything for the day the weather would improve.
After their morning ride, still on the road-horse but nonetheless very enjoyable, they had given the horses and the hounds over to John, and when they walked back to the house, Dennis grabbed for Agnes and missed her on purpose.
She ran off, and he chased her, as he had promised weeks ago. She cried out in excitement, and went for the long hill, undoubtedly expecting Dennis to catch her and take her against a tree or in a little dell. But when they were halfway up the hill, Dick came running from the stables, clearly not recognizing the playfulness of it all.
Dennis didn't spot him, he was too busy chasing his beloved, soon they were out of sight of the slope, and he caught up with Agnes and slung her over his shoulder, as he had promised. She forgot to mention seeing Dick in her instant arousal, Dennis was stronger than she had imagined, and he had a certain attitude she hadn't seen in him before, there was a fire in his eyes that reminded her of his past as a leader of a gang of youths, this was the man she had wanted to keep a slave, the dangerous man, the violent man.
He had assured her Dick could not stand up to him, and she believed him now. For a moment, she felt a little fear, what if he reverted to his old behaviour, she was helpless against him.
But that thought aroused her even more, she trusted him and let him push her against a sturdy birch, hidden from the main path by a brush of fresh green undergrowth, a rare cover in this open landscape, he must have scouted it out carefully.
He kissed her roughly and with great heat, then lifted her skirts, and pushed her up until she was on his knees, her back against the tree, her legs dangling above the ground.
One hand steadied her, the other pushed aside her underwear, and before she knew it she felt him enter her, a feat of strength that impressed her, and excited her like nothing else.
He was groaning and straining, his mouth still kissing her at times, and the whole situation made her head spin with lust and delight.
Until she saw Dick turn up from behind the brush, he must have been looking for them all this time, his face looked determined to save his mistress from being ravaged, and Dennis didn't know he was there, this was bad.