by Tarah Scott
She tensed. “I informed your father’s solicitor that the property that my father owned would remain mine. Dover Hall will go to our son, but Castle Dòmnallach will remain with my sister.”
He nodded. “I have no intention of taking possession of your property. I’m only explaining to you my father’s motivation. When my father dies, I will be the sixth Earl of Buchanen and Viscount Kinsley.” He lifted a brow. “Very impressive, do you not agree?”
Anne noted sarcasm in his voice.
His expression grew speculative. “I explained why my father chose you. Now, explain why you agreed to marry me.”
She shrugged. “I would think that should be obvious. I need money.”
“That’s why a two-hundred-pound bracelet wasn’t worth the night with me,” he said.
She nodded. There was no use pretending otherwise. “Your father is very anxious to have a grandson.”
“So anxious, he would offer you five thousand pounds once one is born. That’s a king’s ransom compared to a paltry two-hundred-pound bracelet.”
He almost sounded offended. “Our marriage is a business agreement,” she said. “Would you prefer I wanted love?”
He grimaced and said, “God forbid,” with such fervor that she wondered if she should be offended.
But she said, “Then you are in luck,” with more emphasis than intended, and cursed her temper. “I have a family to care for. That is why I married you. You needed an heir—and your father wanted another title. A perfect match.” She regarded him. “Why did you allow your father to choose your bride?”
“He wanted me married immediately and I had no preference.”
“How sad,” she murmured.
“Do you think so?” he said. “Should a man always be in love?”
Anne shook her head. This time she had offended him. “A man needn’t be in love to have at least one friend he might be able to choose as a wife.”
“Perhaps I take more seriously the task of choosing a wife than you did a husband.”
“On the contrary, I put a great deal of thought into the sort of husband I need.”
“Your only requirement is that he have enough money to support your ancestral homes.”
Was he trying to make her angry? For once in her life, she couldn’t be riled so easily. She gave a slow nod. “Aye, I had but one requirement: he must have money. But it seems you had no requirements.”
“That is where you are mistaken, my sweet. My one requirement was that my father approved.”
“Perhaps you and I are not so different,” she said. “A man of your rank and wealth, would allow his father to choose his wife for only one reason. Did he threaten to cut you off?” She couldn’t help but smile. “Have no fear, my lord. I admire a man who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to pursue it.”
* * *
Kennedy stared at his wife for a moment in surprise, then threw back his head and laughed. “At least I will no’ be bored with you, my dear.” His amusement vanished. “Perhaps my father did me more of a good turn that I realized.”
Her brows shot up. “Never say that is a complement, sir.”
He chuckled. “A man must give due were due is deserved. I believe I might keep that to myself, however. My father need not know.”
“When will I meet him?” she asked.
“Good God, never, if I have anything to say about it.”
“Surely, he will want to meet me,” she said.
“If he were a normal father, aye. But he isn’t. He will want to see our son when he is born.”
Her cheeks pinked prettily, and he realized they’d better get on with the business of the evening. She dark hair tumbled past her shoulders. He took the two steps to her side, then gently removed the shawl from her shoulders and tossed it aside. She wore a practical linen nightshift that didn’t quite hide the rose-colored tips of her breasts. His cock began to rise. Aye, he would have no trouble bedding this woman. When he slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, she leaned away from him.
He looked down at her. “Husbands are often known to show their gratitude with jewelry.”
Her mouth parted in surprise, then her eyes narrowed, and he realized his mistake. “How very kind of you to show your gratitude to your wife with jewelry. Do you mind if I show mine by selling it?”
He blinked in surprise, expected anger, but had to laugh again. “Are you always so delightfully honest?”
“Aye,” she said without hesitation, and he laughed harder.
Kennedy was forced to release her or laugh in her face. Perhaps the laughter was a delayed response of hysteria. Or perhaps she was simply funny.
How was he supposed to make love to a woman who kept him laughing? There was only one answer. He stepped, closer yanked her against him, and kissed her. She gave a squeak of surprise. He thought for an instant he would laugh again, then she melted against him and the laughter vanished. She grasped his shoulders as she had when he kissed her at the ceremony, but this time, the heat of her fingers penetrated the thin fabric of his silk robe. When she squeezed the hard muscle, he wondered what her fingers would feel like around his hard length.
He flicked his tongue against her lips. She hesitated, then opened for him. Kennedy slipped his tongue inside her mouth and her tongue cautiously touched his. A jolt of desire tightened his bollocks. The woman could easily bring a man to his knees. A thought struck. She said that her desperation to marry stemmed from a need to care for her family, but what if it was something more? What if she was carrying another man’s child?”
He wanted to laugh again, only this time the humor was dark. It would serve his father right for Kennedy’s heir to be another man’s offspring. Kennedy, however, wasn’t so certain he liked the idea. He brushed off the thought. If she was already pregnant, that only meant Rose would return home soon.
Kennedy slid his hand down her back and over the curve of her firm buttocks. She drew a sharp breath as he gently undulated his erection against her belly. He broke the kiss and slid his mouth along her cheek to her ear. When he took her lobe into his mouth and nibbled, she wiggled in his grasp, and he realized he wanted her—badly.
He swept her into his arms and crossed to the bed. When he laid her on the mattress, her hair fanned around her face just as he’d imagined that first night. She really was lovely. He couldn’t blame her if she carried another man’s child. Hadn’t he told her that a woman had just as much right as a man to see to her pleasures? A woman in her position, however, might find it prudent to bear her husband an heir first. For all he knew, that had been her plan. Perhaps she’d been engaged, and the man jilted her. Whatever the case, he could have done far worse.
With a flourish, he yanked the tie free on his robe and sloughed it from his back, then came down on top of her. Her soft curves molded to his body as if made for him. He cupped her face between his hands and kissed her gently. Slowly, she slid her hands up his shoulders and wrapped her arms around his neck.
He broke the kiss and slid his mouth downward along her jaw, her neck, to the rise of her breasts and finally to the nipple that now pressed like a pebble against the fabric of her night shift. He took one bud in his mouth and suckled. She drew a sharp breath. Desire swept through him.
When was the last time a woman had excited him so quickly? Jacqueline? He thrust his cock against her abdomen. She fisted his hair. He gave a low laugh then switched to her other breast. There was something to be said about marrying a woman who knew what she wanted.
He really had to get that damned shift off her.
Kenney levered up on his arms and looked down at her. “What do you say, love? Are you ready to take off that shift?” Her cheeks colored and Kennedy laughed, then rolled onto the mattress beside her. He stuffed his hands beneath his head. “Go ahead, I will watch.”
Her mouth fell open. “You want to watch while I undress?”
He shrugged. “Why not? I let you watch while I took off my robe.”
Her blush deepened. “Aye, but you are-are, and I am—” She broke off.
“There is no need to be shy with me, love,” he said. “I told you. I don’t mind that you’re a woman who has already sought her pleasures.”
She blinked, then fury played across her features, and he realized his mistake. Kennedy set upright ad reached for her, but too late.
She scrambled off the bed and backed up two paces. “If you believe I am a loose woman, why did you marry me?” Before he could answer, she said. “Oh, yes, of course. I forgot. Your father commanded you to marry, and that is all that matters.”
An answering fury whipped through him and Kennedy shoved from the bed to his feet. Her wide-eyed gaze flicked to his erection, which jutted upward like a steel rod.
“Aye, madam, producing an heir is all that matters. Just as you needing money is all that matters to you.”
“Thank heavens for that,” she retorted. “Otherwise, I would be disappointed.”
“Then you are one of those women who expect love,” he said.
“Ha!” She burst out. “Thankfully, I do not suffer that malady.”
An odd pain stabbed at his heart. “Then you won’t mind if I carry on as I always have.”
“As will I.” She arched a brow. “You did say that you admired a woman who knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to pursue it.”
“You will not pursue your pleasure until I have an heir.”
“That is not a point stipulated in the marriage contract.”
He knew she was angry, knew the argument had gotten out of hand, but he couldn’t stop himself from saying. “Test me on this, my dear, and you will find your lovers meeting me at a dawn appointment.” With that, he quit the room.
* * *
Anne gave thanks when she entered the breakfast room the following morning to find Kennedy absent. Her mother and sister were having coffee, and she slipped into the chair opposite her mother.
“Good morning, Mama. Louisa. How did you sleep?”
“Very well,” her mother replied.
Anne kept her eyes on her cup as she poured coffee.
“I slept with Mama,” Louisa said. “This house has noises that ours doesn’t.”
Anne smiled. “I think it’s more accurate to say that Dover Hall has noises, while his lordship’s townhouse is too quiet.”
“His lordship?” her mother said.
Anne sighed inwardly. Leave it to her mother to notice the smallest slip. “It will take some time for me to grow accustomed to calling him by his Christian name,” Anne said.
“Hmm,” her mother intoned as she raised her cup.
Anne took a hearty drink of her coffee and didn’t respond to her mother.
“We have decided to stay for two more days,” her mother said.
Anne looked up. “Why?”
“It sounds as if you are disappointed we are staying,” Louisa said.
Anne shook her head. “Not at all. I was just surprised, is all.” She wasn’t certain if that was the truth, however. She felt oddly self-conscious with her mother and sister here.
“We received a personal invitation from Kennedy’s father to attend the ball tonight,” her mother said.
“That was very kind of him,” Anne replied, but she wondered if her husband would feel the same.
“I have only the one dress I brought with me,” Louisa said.
Anne heard the hope in her sister’s voice. At fourteen, Louisa wouldn’t typically attend parties. But this party was held in honor of her sister’s wedding. Of course, she would accompany them. Her presence would be a good excuse for Anne to leave early.
“There is no time to have anything sewn,” Anne said.
Louisa nodded, but the enthusiasm in her eyes dimmed, and guilt stabbed when Louisa said, “Of course. The dress I have will do quite well.”
Here she was newly married to a wealthy viscount and worried about spending money on dresses for her sister. Dared she spend his money?
Anne rose and went to the door and pulled the bell pull. She sat back down, and a moment later the maid entered.
“What is your name?” Anne asked.
The girl glanced nervously around the room. “Emma, my lady,” she said, and curtsied.
Anne smiled reassuringly. “Emma, can you please tell the housekeeper that I would like to see her?”
The girl’s eyes widened and she bobbed a curtsy, and said, “Aye, my lady.” She whirled and hurried from the room.
Anne’s mother gave her a curious look, but said nothing. Anne filled her plate with eggs and ham and began to eat.
A few minutes later, a short, thin woman of about fifty-five years entered. “You asked to see me, my lady?”
Anne smiled. “May I ask your name, ma’am?”
The woman looked startled, but said, “Mrs. Hampshire.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Hampshire. This is my mother, Lady Kinsley, and my sister, Lady Louisa.”
Mrs. Hampshire curtsied, then looked at Anne expectantly.
“Mrs. Hampshire, do ye by chance know a dress shop where my sister can purchase a dress for the ball we are to attend tonight?”
“Why, yes, my lady, I know of several very nice dress shops downtown.”
Anne beamed. “When you have a moment, if you could please write down the addresses, I would appreciate that.”
Of course, my lady. Is there anything else?”
“Aye, now that you mention it. Can you tell me what would be the best time to go to one of the dress shops?”
“Not before one o’clock, my lady. You might begin at Mrs. Gerard’s shop. She is known for opening earlier than many of the other shops and I have heard ladies say that they like her work.”
“That is perfect, thank you very much, Mrs. Hampshire,” Anne said. “Who do I speak to about having the carriage ready at one o’clock?”
“That would be the butler, Mr. Bingham,” she said. “I can direct him to have the carriage ready for ye, ma’am.”
“Thank you very much, Mrs. Hampshire.”
The housekeeper curtsied, and Anne said, “Mrs. Hampshire, there is no need to be so formal. You will wear yourself out.”
Mrs. Hampshire smiled. “Thank you, my lady. If there is nothing else…”
“You have been most helpful, thank you. That will be all,” Anne said.
The housekeeper left, and Anne looked at Louisa. “Do you think you can be ready at one o’clock to go shopping?”
Louisa jumped up from her seat, raced around the table, and threw herself into Anne’s arms.
Tears pricked her eyes.
This is why I married a stranger.
Chapter Five
Kennedy stopped at the office door and knocked.
“Enter,” the man inside called.
Kennedy open the door and entered. A large man who sat behind the desk looked up and smiled. “You’re early.” He rose and shook Kennedy’s hand when he reached the desk.
“This is important, John.”
John nodded toward the chair opposite his desk. Kennedy sat down while John resumed his seat.
“It’s been nine days, Kennedy. A lifetime for you, I know. But a mere pittance for me.”
Kennedy’s chest constricted. “No clues as to her whereabouts, then, I take it?”
John’s brows rose. “I didnae say that.”
Kennedy sat forward in his chair. “You have something?”
John rested his arms on his desk and clasped his hands. “Your sister and her maid, Sarah, left your father’s estate at eight p.m., the evening before you contacted me.”
“What? You mean my father had only just sent her away? Had I been home instead of out at a damned ball, I would’ve gone to see him much earlier and perhaps—”
“Perhaps nothing,” John cut in. “Whether an hour or day, unless your carriage crossed hers on the street, you simply couldn’t have known.”
John was right, of course. But it was still too bi
tter a pill to swallow. She’d been gone no more than an hour when Jacqueline came to his home. He refocused on John. “Is there anything else, anything at all? How did you discover this?”
John leaned back in his chair and flashed a wide smile. “No matter how hard you nobles try, you can never really hide anything from servants. Have you ever considered the possibility that by making your servants invisible to the world, you yourself stop seeing them?”
“Enough of the philosophical rantings,” Kennedy said. “You are well aware that I don’t hold with treating my servants as if they aren’t human. So, you questioned the servants. What else did you learn?”
“It looks as though your father was telling the truth when he said Rose is no longer in Scotland. She took three large trunks, the sorts of trunks that one might take on a ship.”
“France,” Kennedy whispered.
“Let’s hope so. If it were the Colonies…” his voice trailed off.
Kennedy shook his head. “We know no one in America. Despite my father’s bravado, he clings to life like a man hanging from a cliff by his fingernails. Somewhere in the recesses of his diseased mind, he believes he will cheat death for a time. If I do produce an heir in the next nine months, and Rose does not return home safely, he knows I will kill him.”
“Have you friends, associations, of any sort in France?” John asked.
Kennedy nodded. “Aye, many, even some distant relatives. But he knows better than to send my sister to any of them. However, he would make certain there was someone nearby who could help with any problems. He would also want to know if any problems arose.”
John gave a slow nod. “My thoughts exactly. Which is why I have a man watching Chesterfield at all times.
Kennedy left John with this office, certain he’d hired the right man to help find his sister. It was John’s logic—along with the fact he had barred the door when Kennedy had decided to begin the search for Rose himself. John was one of the few men he knew big enough to stop him. He was also one of the few men Kennedy knew who made sense when he argued a case. He’d been right, of course. Kennedy’s first order of business was marrying a woman and getting her with child. In all likelihood, once he succeeded, his father really would bring Rose home. Kennedy still wasn’t certain he would bring her home before a child was born, despite Kennedy’s demands. However, once Anne was pregnant, Kennedy could join the search for his sister.