“Brothers, I appreciate your expertise and counsel.” Then he raked his hair and braced for their reaction. “But I intend to follow my instincts, where Miss Harcourt is concerned.”
#
“So we have posted the banns, contacted the modiste, the milliner, the hosiery, and Damian’s cook.” Lady Elizabeth checked off an imaginary list. “Has Dirk submitted the papers to secure the license?”
“He has,” Rebecca responded. “We should receive the requisite documents in plenty of time. And everyone has circulated the on-dit that the hasty nuptials take place at Penhurst, due to the governor’s rapidly declining health, which forbids him from journeying to London for the ceremony. Damian explained the situation to Mr. Catchpole, and the vicar has agreed to maintain the ruse.”
“And Richard will travel to Penhurst, with Hicks and Mrs. Jones, but Robert will stay on the Continent, as Beresford refused to grant leave on such short notice.” Daphne toyed with the betrothal ring, as nerves got the best of her. “Then that covers everything.”
“Which allows us to depart on Friday, for a Sunday ceremony, as planned.” Rubbing her eyes, Alex yawned. “Forgive me, but my bargain with Jason has left me exhausted, as he exercises my imagination, among other things, with his daily boon.”
“But I had presumed that ended, given Dalton proposed.” With baited breath, Daphne awaited a private dinner with her fiancé, which she looked forward to ever since she had received his sweet note. With all the excitement surrounding her wedding, they had enjoyed little time together, and he had requested an audience, which had set her thoughts racing in various directions. “Their job is done, is it not?”
“Oh, but you forget my husband’s stipulation that our pact continued until you married.” Alex reclined amid the pillows and sighed. “I should have known better than to tangle with the captain of my heart, as he is a past master at licentious stratagem, and he indulges in his installments for hours, on end, but that is an observation, not a complaint.”
In concert, the ladies giggled.
“Beth, this younger generation never ceases to amaze me. Secret alliances and recompense to win a man, and all I had to do was seduce Mark. And when I seduced him, he stayed seduced.” Poised and polished as ever, Lady Amanda ignored the laughter and smiled, as she perused a sampling of wall coverings, which the interior designer had delivered that morning, after Dalton had employed a small army of experts to redecorate Courtenay Hall. “And I believe I am partial to the navy flock with the damask pomegranate designs, for the drawing room.”
“That was my choice, too.” With cheeks burning, given Lady Amanda’s statement, Daphne nodded. “And I ordered two Hepplewhite chairs, in a cream textile. I had intended to select a softer hue of blue for the sofa and chaise.”
“Sounds marvelous.” Rebecca flipped through a collection of swatches. “And what shade did you select for your apartments?”
Now that was one aspect of the renovations Daphne had thought about long and hard, and her decision had been finalized the previous afternoon, with a brief but concise directive to the contractor. Borrowing from Sabrina, as well as the other wives, Daphne had instructed the foreman to make some last minute changes to Courtenay Hall, which she had not discussed with Dalton.
“May I impart a secret?” Daphne scooted to the edge of her seat. “I am having the wall between the master suites torn down, so we will share a much larger space, and the entire chamber will be trimmed in Dalton’s favorite color. However, as our schedule is tight, I delayed that portion of the project until after we return to London.”
“Nice move, Daphne.” Beth winked. “Like I said earlier, I believe you will do very well with my son.”
Just that morning, Beth and Daphne had taken breakfast in the dowager’s sitting room. During the casual meal, Dalton’s mother had detailed some disturbing news of his childhood, which had brought Daphne to tears.
A mean-spirited nanny had denied basic nourishment and care to a newborn Dalton, in favor of spoiling the heir. Given Dalton was but a babe, the abuse had been well hidden. As a result of the neglect, the second son had failed to thrive and become quite ill. It was in Dalton’s third year that a physician had suspected maltreatment, the injury had been discovered, and the evil woman had been fired, but the damage had been done.
“I hope so.” When Beth catalogued Dalton’s misfortune, Daphne ached to hold him. A quick check of the mantel clock declared the appropriate hour grew nigh, and she trembled with anticipation. “And I do wish to please him.”
As if on cue, someone knocked at the door.
“Come.” Rebecca peered over her shoulder.
“Have you finished your business, love?” Dirk sauntered into the room. “As Jason is just arrived to collect Alex.”
“Where is my beautiful bride?” The blonde captain strutted to the fore and grinned, when everyone noticed Alex had drifted off, sitting upright, and nestled in the cushions. Jason pressed a finger to his lips and tiptoed, yes, the giant tiptoed to his wife. With great care, he lifted her in his arms and kissed her forehead.
“Captain of my heart, am I dreaming, or are you here?” Cupping his cheek, Alex sniffed. “Even if I wished to, I do not think I could muster sufficient energy to walk. I am so tired, Jason.”
“You are not dreaming, darling.” As he adjusted his hold, he chuckled. “And I shall take you home, feed you, and put you to bed, straightaway, as you have earned your rest.”
“And I should be going, as Mark will be expecting me.” Lady Amanda stood and smoothed her skirts. “So we are to attend the wedding in Penhurst, the funeral in Portsea, and the family dinner that I will host, once we return to London.”
“In that order.” Beth clutched Lady Amanda’s elbow, as they walked into the foyer. “And I am so glad you are feeling better. Did Dr. Handley know what caused the sour stomach?”
“Oh, yes. And I am in fine fettle.” Lady Amanda cast a pointed stare at Daphne, and she dipped her chin. “But we can talk more, when we are all together.”
“And my brother paces in the back parlor, Miss Daphne.” Dirk smirked, has he hugged Rebecca. “I do not think I have ever seen him so nervous, so you should take pity and put him out of his misery.”
“How do I look?” Wearing a sapphire silk gown, which she had purchased just for her one true knight’s delectation, Daphne rotated. “Will Dalton consider himself fortuitously matched?”
“Given you sport his favorite color, he will fall at your feet.” Then Dirk nipped the tip of his wife’s nose. “As do I, when my bride captivates me with something fetching from her wardrobe in my shade of choice. Oh, I almost forgot, Hughes gave me a message, which is addressed to you.”
“Thank you.” With a half-curtsey, Daphne swiped the envelope, slipped it into her side pocket, and squealed.
In the hall, she turned right and walked to the appropriate portal. A footman opened the door, and she crossed the threshold and gasped in surprise.
What she had previously known as the back parlor had been transformed into an oasis filled with red roses and a smattering of candelabra, which lent a warm, soft glow to the room. Some of the furnishings had been relocated to make space for a small table for two, which had been set in the center of the room. Standing before the hearth, bedecked in his gentleman’s garb, featuring a fawn waistcoat and a coat that matched her dress, her dashing sea captain favored her with his shy grin. When the latch clicked shut, she gave vent to a smothered sob and sprinted into his embrace.
For a long while, Dalton held her, and though no words were spoken, they conveyed a wealth of meaning in gentle caresses and sweet kisses. Again and again, they came together, tongues twining, lips converging, and hands groping in an enchanting symphony of desire, and Daphne wanted more, as everything inside her seemed to twist and turn. When he attempted to set her free, she moaned an injunction of protest, and he steered her into heretofore-unknown bliss.
How they made it to the sofa, she neither knew nor
cared. But when he settled her in his lap and loosened her bodice and the chemise, she retreated a hairsbreadth and inhaled a shaky breath. “What are you doing?”
“May I?” Recalling his troubled infancy, she could not comprehend how anyone could have hurt him. Endearing to a fault, he had been blessed with endless charm, and she could not resist his lure, so she nodded her assent.
“If you wish me to stop, you need only say so.” Then her knight bared her breasts. Whereas she had expected some semblance of awkwardness, the heat of his stare emboldened her, and she relaxed. “You are beautiful, Daphne.”
“I am so glad to know you are pleased with me.” As he cupped her tender flesh, she shifted her hips, as foreign sensations assailed her.
“Pleased? The word is insufficient, sweetheart.” To her minor discomposure, he admired her without restraint and drew small circles on a peak. “Watch your nipple. See how it responds to my touch? It grows hard.”
“Yes.” A strange fluttering in the pit of her belly, and lower, snared her attention. But when Dalton licked his finger and brought the warm wetness to her pebbled tip, she emitted a muffled cry.
“Do you know what this means?” he inquired a husky tone. When she shook her head in reply, he smiled. “You are aroused. It means you want me, as I desperately want you.”
“In that, I must trust you, as I have no experience in such matters.” Despite her nudity, she sank against him and nuzzled his chest. “How I have missed you. I long for the simple days, on Portsea, when you joined me on my charitable visits.”
“My back may never recover, given I chopped more wood in those few hours than I have in my entire life.” In that instant, he bent and suckled her nipple, and Daphne thought she would surely melt. “Just as I presumed. You are pure honey, my angel.”
“Will it be like that again?” She struggled to focus, as fire simmered in her veins, and her heart beat a rapid salvo. “The companionable walks and easy talks, with just the two of us?”
“I hope it will be better.” He grazed her with his teeth, and she closed her eyes. “I want you to be happy, Daphne. But if you have any second thoughts or regrets, you may tell me, and I will release you from our engagement.”
“What?” She lurched upright, as sheer panic replaced the contentment. Clutching her gown, she retied the chemise and secured the bodice. “You do not wish to marry me?”
“You did not listen to me.” He kept her in check, when she tried to push away. “I seek to give you a way out, if you so desire it, because you know my faults. As for me, you are the only woman I would ever wed, but I would not hold you to our arrangement, if you valued your freedom. You need not concern yourself with money, as I would take care of you, regardless.”
And there it was, his vulnerability on full display, just as his mother had explained. He considered himself less than honorable, when nothing could have been further from the truth. At that moment, she framed his face and kissed him with all she had and for all she was worth. When, at last, they came up for air, she rubbed her nose to his.
“I will not let you renege on your proposal, Dalton Randolph.” At her proclamation, he squeezed her so tight she gasped. “And if you try to leave me, I will hunt you down, sir. You would never escape me, because I love you. So you are saddled with me, till death do us part.”
“All right, sweetheart.” Without ceremony, he retrieved a long but thin box from his coat pocket. “Then I would ask a favor. For our wedding, I would have you wear something special to mark the event.”
“Dalton, not more jewelry.” He had already gifted her diamonds, after the awful confrontation with Lady Moreton, and Daphne was unaccustomed to such demonstrations of wealth. “I feel guilty, as I have nothing to give you, in return.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that, as I count your kisses as priceless treasures, love.” As if to prove the point, he claimed a quick buss. “Humor me, for the occasion.”
“You spoil me terribly.” With a frown, she lifted the lid—and burst into tears. “Mama’s pearls.”
Hugging the much-cherished family heirlooms to her chest, she collapsed, as the stress of the impending nuptials, the remodel of Courtenay Hall and her room at his bachelor lodging, and the contretemps with his former mistress had taken their toll.
“Daphne, please, do not cry.” As she wept and sobbed, divesting herself of the tension that had plagued her since arriving in London, her knight massaged her back and offered unshakeable support. “I had intended the sentimental gesture to make you smile.”
“You have no idea what this means to me.” With a roll of her shoulders, she laughed and burrowed close to him. “But how did you know about the pearls? I surrendered them to pay a portion of papa’s debt.”
“I know.” Dalton cupped her chin and brought her gaze to his. “I was in your father’s study, hiding behind the drapes, when you gave them to Mr. Allen. I knew you were in trouble, and I wanted to help you. After the ball, I sent two of my men to locate him and purchase the baubles, so I could restore them to you. That is the effect you have on me. You make me want to be a good man.”
“But you could never be a good man.” She pressed her forehead to his and sniffed. “Because you are a great man, and I am fortunate you found me.”
“Sweetheart, I thank my lucky stars, every day, that you chose to board my ship.” It was just as Elaine had said, he could not stop touching Daphne, and she reveled in the attention. “And I never thought I would be grateful to your brother for stealing the brooch, but I am obliged, because the theft led me to you.”
“Then let us toast our auspicious fortune.” With that, she eased from his hold, pulled on his wrist, and led him to the table. “Because right now, I want to celebrate.”
The meal passed in relative calm, as she learned the simple fare of roasted pork and apples, with a side of macaroni and cheese, was Dalton’s favorite. For dessert, ah, dessert was a marvel of unimaginable delight, as her one true knight fed her a spectacular whipped syllabub. Then it was her turn to offer him spooned bites of the creamy concoction, interspersed between sugary kisses, which she had indulged from the now-familiar cozy perch of his lap.
All too soon, the long-case clock chimed the late hour, and her fiancé stood to depart. But another thirty minutes had passed before she walked him to the door.
“So we journey to Penhurst on Friday, lady mine. And on Sunday, you shall be Mrs. Dalton Randolph.” With a sly grin, he drew her close and set his mouth to hers, and she flicked her tongue to his, just as he like it. “Thank you, for a lovely evening.”
“Oh, I dearly love the sound of that.” Wrapping her arms about his waist, she rested her head to his chest and sighed. “Tomorrow, after I inspect my quarters at your home—”
“Our home.” In play, he tapped her nose. “And I want everything to be perfect for you.”
How disappointed she had been, when he gave her a tour of his town residence. When Daphne had envisioned their happily ever after, it had not included separate bedrooms, and she wondered how he would react to her secret renovations at Courtenay Hall.
“In any case, I shall practice writing my new name.” Just the prospect gave her gooseflesh. “Until I see you again, I will miss you.”
“Then dream of me, tonight.” He pressed his lips to her bare knuckles. “As I will conjure naughty fantasies of you, angel. Now go upstairs, before I break my promise to be good and have my wicked way with you.”
#
The next morning, after a relaxing breakfast in bed, in her private apartment, Daphne stretched long, as the lady’s maid shook out the sapphire blue gown and hung it on a peg in the armoire.
“Miss Daphne, an envelope fell from the pocket of your dress.” Mary set the missive on the tray. “Will there be anything else? Would you like more tea?”
“No, thank you.” Daphne poured a third cup of the steaming brew. “I shall lounge for another hour, and I will ring for you when I am ready for a bath.”
“Very good, Miss Daphne.” The maid curtseyed and exited the room.
Reclining against her pillows, Daphne tore open the letter and unfolded the parchment. As she digested the contents, she cried out in shock.
Miss Harcourt,
If you value your life, do not marry Dalton Randolph. Heed this warning, and call off your wedding. If you do not do as I advise, you will be sorry.
There was no signature, and neither the stationary nor the handwriting yielded hints of the sender. Of course, Daphne had her suspicions, and she pondered whether or not to apprise Rebecca and Dalton of the threat. As the obvious culprit was Lady Moreton, Daphne saw no reason to permit the harridan a victory, of sorts, by spoiling what should reign as a happy occasion. And what could the widow do in so little time?
Resolved to stay the course, she tucked the envelope into her journal and opted to pen an entry describing the evening with her one true knight. For good or ill, she had given him her promise, and she would not go back on her word.
THE LUCKY ONE
CHAPTER TWELVE
It had taken two days to journey to Penhurst Castle, the ancestral seat of the Weston dukedom, so Dalton’s last night as a bachelor had been spent in a dank tavern in the village, surrounded by his fellow Brethren of the Coast, save Everett and Lance, who remained in London with their wives and newborn children. As he peered out the window of his chamber, which had been prepared to accommodate his bride for their wedding night, he admired the impressive vistas of the Channel.
“Brother, it is time.” Dirk came to stand beside Dalton. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.” That was putting it mildly, because he had not slept much, as all he could think of was his blonde angel and the consummation of their vows. Never had he wanted a woman, as he desired Daphne. “Is it true? Does the drawing room look like a hothouse run amok?”
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