Miss Kathleen's Scandalous Baron (Honorable Rogue Book 2)

by Vikki Vaught

  Giving her mother a hug, she said, “Please, Mama. Don’t cry. Maybe it’s better I talked to her. Now I know without causing any embarrassment to either of us.”

  “Perhaps you’re right. I hope you’re not afraid.”

  “Not at all. A bit shocked, but not scared. I’m sure Andrew will be gentle and patient with me. We truly care for each other, and it will make all the difference in the world, from what Anissa told me.”

  Georgia patted her back. “I’m sure you’re right. I’ll just add, the physical side of marriage is beautiful when love exists as it does between you and your young man. Well, I shall leave you to get plenty of rest. Tomorrow will be a full day.” After kissing Kathleen’s cheek, she left the room.

  She climbed into bed after her mother left, and Silky curled beside her, purring. As she stroked the cat’s soft fur, she thought of what would happen on her wedding night. Shivers of anticipation rushed through her. No, she wasn’t scared, far from it. There was a fierce attraction between her and Andrew, and she couldn’t wait to be his wife. Finally, giving in to Morpheus, she drifted off to sleep dreaming of the life she now looked forward to…with her scandalous baron.

  She awoke to the sweet melody of bird song. Crawling from her bed, she ran to the window, pushed aside the lace sheers, and opened it. She breathed in the fresh scent of flowers coming from Her Grace’s rose arbor. Thank goodness the rain had cleared overnight. What a beautiful morning for her wedding. She couldn’t have ordered a more perfect day.

  Louise came bustling in with her breakfast tray. Surprising enough, she felt famished and quickly demolished the coddled eggs, bacon, and the heavenly crescent rolls she’d grown to love. While she finished drinking her hot chocolate, her maid readied her bath.

  The scent of the floral bubble bath she’d bought in a shop on Bond Street permeated the air. Stripping off her night rail, she sank into the lovely warm water and bubbles, luxuriating in the feel of the silken water caressing her skin.

  She picked up the French milled soap and lathering the bathing cloth, spread it over her arms, then her shoulders and around her breasts. They tingled, reminding her of the night to come, and anticipation settled in her belly. Embarrassed by the heat in her cheeks and her wayward thoughts in front of her maid, she ducked under the water, then coming back up, she washed her hair. Louise rinsed off the soap, and Kathleen relaxed against the back of the slipper tub.

  She’d become used to having a maid and had asked the duchess if she could take the young woman with her once she married, and she had agreed. Louise, being a sweet country girl with no pretentions, suited her perfectly. She would have hated a lady’s maid who felt superior to the other servants. With Louise, she could laugh and joke with her without feeling as if she’d stepped out of bounds by being too familiar.

  When the water cooled, her maid handed her a towel, and Kathleen stepped from the tub. Her pretty and feminine new silk and lace underthings were laid out on the bed. Once she donned the garments, she sat at the dressing table, and Louise brushed her hair dry, then styled it in a soft chignon with a few curls framing her face. The overall effect was enchanting, and would compliment her Brussels lace-trimmed veil perfectly.

  While her maid buttoned her gown, Kathleen heard a knock at the door. Georgia entered with Anissa. When Mama came over and hugged her, tears filled her mother’s bright green eyes. “Oh Kathleen, you look beautiful. Madame Clarisse has outdone herself. Your gown is perfect.”

  Anissa had not seen her gown before and shared her opinion. “That ivory is wonderful with your complexion and the lace accents the gown magnificently. You look beyond beautiful, you’re radiant. Lord Billingsley shall not take his eyes off you when you walk down the aisle.”

  Kathleen turned around and gazed at her reflection in the pier glass. “Oh goodness, my gown is even lovelier than I expected. I never dreamed I would be wearing a haute couture creation for my wedding. I’m glad the duchess took me to Madame Clarisse.”

  Georgia stepped forward. “Sit at the dressing table. I’ll arrange your veil.” Once she sat on the stool, her mother pulled a small velvet bag from her pocket. “Darlin’, these are the pearls your granddaddy gave me to wear at my weddin’. I want you to wear them at yours. Here, let me put them on.”

  As the weight of the lustrous strand of pearls caressed her neck, her throat tightened and she blinked several times as moisture threatened. While her mother adjusted the veil, Kathleen sent a silent prayer of gratitude toward heaven for blessing her with the sweetest mama a girl could ever have. “Oh, they’re beautiful. I remember you wearing these to church. I promise I’ll take good care of them.”

  Anissa handed her a pair of lacy garters. “It brings good fortune to wear something blue at your wedding. In Roman days, all brides wore that color.”

  Kathleen stood and hugged her. “Thank you. I’ve never heard of that custom. Of course, I don’t need luck, I have Andrew. I’m already the most fortunate girl in the world.”

  The ormolu clock chimed on the half hour, and Anissa said, “It’s time to go downstairs. Alex is waiting to take you to the church. The Barringtons lent him their open landau, since it’s such a glorious day.”

  “My goodness, I feel like a fairy princess from the stories I read to Melanie. Thank you for helping make my day special. Shall we go downstairs? I’m sure my brother is getting impatient, and I’ll not arrive late for my own wedding.”

  When the carriage pulled by the sidewalk at the church, a large crowd of spectators gathered in front. A footman stepped forward and lowered the steps, then she descended. Alex escorted her into the vestibule. Everyone stood inside, ready to begin the procession. Her bridesmaid, Lady Mary, went first, followed by Anissa, her matron of honor. At last it was her turn.

  Her brother smiled at her. “Are you ready, darlin’?”

  Smiling, she slipped her hand through his arm. “More than ready.”

  The swell of music filled the church, and Kathleen, with Alex at her side, stepped into the nave. As she walked past the pews, she looked at the altar, and there stood Andrew in all his wedding finery. His red-gold hair was brushed back from his handsome face and his blue eyes glowed with tenderness. Any nerves she’d had fell away as a sense of rightness filled her. The power of God’s presence embraced her as she reached the altar.

  Her brother placed her hand in Andrew’s, and they turned toward the priest. As they knelt to recite their vows, the magnitude of what she was getting ready to pledge overpowered her. A tiny twinge of fear twisted in her heart as she met his gaze, and he recited his vows. “I, Andrew Charles Henry, take thee, Kathleen Elizabeth as my wedded wife.” His voice echoed strong and steady throughout the church, and her fear left her completely. Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, the rest of her heart opened to him.

  She repeated her vows to love, honor, cherish, and obey with conviction, feeling in her soul she would love Andrew for the rest of her life. Somewhat taken aback by this revelation, she realized she’d fallen in love with him. While she’d planned to have him fall in love with her, it pleased her that she’d grown to care for him deeply. She hoped he had begun to care for her, and she believed he had. Her spirits rose. She could look back on this moment and know she’d given her husband…her whole heart on their wedding day.

  After the priest said his blessing over their marriage, Andrew raised her veil and gave her a kiss filled with tenderness. Lifting his head, he gave her a devilish grin. “Thank you…Baroness.” His touch of humor had her falling even further in love with him.

  Linking his arm with hers, he led her down the aisle. As they passed the pew where her mother and the children sat, Melanie and Harry waved, and she returned their greeting. As she looked around the church, she discovered the reason so many people were outside. The church pews overflowed with what had to be every aristocrat in London.

  It was a bit overwhelming, but Andrew didn’t give her a chance to panic. After signing the church registry, he had her in the
landau in the blink of an eye. Before he joined her on the seat, he threw fistfuls of coins to the waiting crowd. Dozens of street urchins scrambled to pick up the pence. Then he sat beside her, pulled her close, and gave her a kiss as the coachman pulled away from the church, delighting the crowd of onlookers.

  Her new husband told the driver to take a detour through Hyde Park before taking them to Chilton House. “Why are we going this way?”

  His laughter rang out. “So anyone who wasn’t at the church can see I have the most beautiful bride in the world.”

  As they drove through the park, he waved at anyone he saw. His enthusiasm was so typically Andrew, and she could not resist waving as well. By the time they neared Chilton House, the crowds along the street cheered. Kathleen laughed at his antics as he stood and bowed to the passersby. When the landau stopped in front, he helped her out. Then he scooped her into his arms and ran up the steps to the entrance. Collins had already opened the door, and he carried her into the ballroom to a round of applause.

  All the well-wishers crowded around them, wanting to congratulate her and shake Andrew’s hand. Finally, the crowd thinned, and they took their seats at the head table. The wedding breakfast had a wealth of delicacies for them to enjoy. Each of his three best friends made toasts, along with her brothers. The time came to cut the three-tiered, elaborately decorated cake, adorned with sugar roses of the palest shade of peach. Kathleen could not imagine the number of hours that had gone into creating such a work of art.

  Then dozens of footmen cleared the floor, so the dancing could commence. Once the Orchestra tuned up, Andrew led her out for the opening set and captured her hand in his. As the music swelled, they began the intricate steps of the Minuet a deux. When their dance ended, her brother claimed her for the next one and on went the afternoon. Kathleen danced with all three of her new husband’s friends and the duke.

  Although Andrew’s mother never approached them, her furrowed brow and disdainful expression showed her displeasure. When she joined her friends and turned her back toward them, relief swept through her. She only hoped the woman would leave her family alone.

  Hours later, the time had at last arrived for her to go upstairs and change. Since it was so late in the day, they would spend the night at their townhouse and leave for Grainger Hall in the morning. Another maid helped her change into her carriage dress. Louise had gone over to her husband’s residence to prepare everything for the night.

  When she came downstairs, Alex waited for her in the entryway, and fury rolled off him in waves. His face resembled a storm cloud off the coast of the Chesapeake Bay. Andrew came to her. “Your brother wants to speak to you before we leave.”

  “Andrew, what’s wrong?”

  Through gritted teeth, he lowered his voice. “My mother told him what happened the night of your come-out ball.”

  Alex stepped in front of her. “I must speak to you alone. Please follow me to Barrington’s study.” Once they were in the room, he spoke in a quiet, controlled voice. “Kathleen. Why didn’t you tell me what happened the night of your ball?”

  She trembled as he scowled at her. Kathleen had never seen the full force of his fury directed at her, and it had her quaking in her ecru satin slippers. “I-I didn’t want you to k-know. I shouldn’t have allowed him to kiss me. We got c-carried away. I was appalled when the duchess—”

  He interrupted before she could say anything else. “Lady Billingsley tells a much different story. She seems to think you despise the baron. Now you expect me to believe you’re in love with him?”

  “I am in love with him,” she implored. “So what if we had to wed to avoid a scandal. We would have married anyway. We’re in love.”

  Her brother raked his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know what to believe. Three months ago, you swore you loved William Jones and couldn’t live without him. So help me God, if someone forced you to marry, I’ll tear them apart.”

  Regaining her equilibrium, Kathleen touched her brother’s arm. “Alex. Listen. To. Me. I promise…I love Andrew. We’ve become very close in recent weeks. I’ve realized what I felt for William was merely infatuation. What I feel for Andrew is real and lasting, please believe me. I promise no one forced me to wed him. If I had truly loved Mr. Jones, no scandal in the world would have kept me from marrying him. You should know me better than that. I’m not easily pushed into anything.”

  He looked at her with hurt in his eyes. “I still don’t understand why you kept this from me and from Ma. She stood beside me while Lady Billingsley spewed her evil venom. Don’t think this is the end. I’m going to talk to Billingsley as well.”

  “I want you to talk to Andrew,” Kathleen professed, meaning every word. “He will tell you the same thing. We love each other. Lady Billingsley’s mad he married me. She thinks I’m not good enough, since I’m not an aristocrat, and I’m an American. That’s two strikes against me. I’m sure he’s waiting right outside this door. I will get him now.”

  “Let him in. He’d better convince me he loves you, or I’ll tear him limb from limb for putting you in this intolerable situation,” he bit out through clenched teeth.

  She rushed to the door and opened it, and of course Andrew stood there as she expected. “Come in, my brother wants to talk to you as well. I’m going to find Mama. I’m sure she has the same questions as Alex had.”

  ****

  Andrew met his new brother-in-law’s gaze straight on, not flinching a muscle. “I know what my mother told you doesn’t sound good, but you need to consider the source. She’s repeating what the Duchess of Brentwood told her, and that woman is the biggest gossip in London. From what my wife tells me, she holds a huge grudge against your wife for events which transpired long ago.”

  “That’s not important,” Alex bellowed. “I demand the truth. Do you love my sister?”

  Whatever he had to say to convince Hawks he loved Kathleen, he would. With determination in his voice, he stated, “More every day. What’s not to love about your sister? She has a great sense of humor. She’s beautiful beyond words…and smart. We’ve gotten to know each other quite well since the debacle happened. What started as infatuation has grown into so much more. Your sister completely captivates me.”

  Looking skeptical, Alex growled, “Will you be faithful? I’ve done some of my own investigating, and you’re a well-known rakehell. My sister would be crushed if you cheated on her. She’s been raised to expect fidelity, and she’s always been surrounded by love. Our parents loved each other desperately, and I feel that way about my wife.”

  This was one thing he could say with total conviction. “I know what an unfaithful husband can do to a woman. My father was a philandering rogue, and he turned my mother into a bitter woman. They fought constantly. I would never subject my wife to that kind of pain. I’m the first to admit, I’ve had my share of women, but I vowed when I married, I would be a faithful husband. Whether I love your sister or not…I shall never betray her. I can promise you that.”

  Alex gave him an appraising look, then stiffly nodded. “All right,” he replied in a biting tone. “I’ll accept your word on this, but if you ever hurt her in any way, I will come after you. You’d better treat her like a fragile crystal goblet. Do you understand?”

  “Perfectly. Now, I would like to find my wife and take her home. I’m sure she is anxious to leave. Excuse me.” Turning on his heel, he left the study.

  Andrew searched the ballroom, but didn’t find Kathleen. He did find the duchess. “Your Grace, do you know where my wife is?”

  She nodded. “She’s with her mother in the library. Mrs. Hawks is understandably disturbed by what she heard.”

  “Was my wife upset?” he asked, concern radiated in his voice.

  “Somewhat,” the duchess told him, “but she seemed to be in control of her emotions.”

  Then thinking this would be a good time to talk with his mother, he asked, “Have you seen the baroness recently?”

  “I saw
her around ten minutes ago. She was in the drawing room talking to a few of her friends.”

  “Thank you, Your Grace. Excuse me. I shall go see if she’s still there.” Although Andrew wanted to go to Kathleen, he needed to talk to his mother. He had to make it clear: she must not interfere again. When he entered the drawing room, he spied her with one of her friends. “Good afternoon, Lady Wyatt. Please excuse us. I need to speak to the baroness.” Looking at his mother, he added, “Come outside, so we can speak privately.”

  Taking his mother by the arm, he led her through the French doors and onto the terrace. Once they were alone, he faced her. “Madame. This is my wedding day. It should be the happiest day of Kathleen’s life. Did you have to ruin it for her?”

  She glared at him. “I hope I did ruin it.”

  He gripped her arm and squeezed as his blood began to boil. “I asked you to keep your feelings regarding my marriage to yourself. But did you listen? No. You couldn’t resist the opportunity to stir up trouble. Your cruelty is beyond what I expected, even from you.”

  Jerking her arm from his grasp, she backed away and sneered, “I did it with pleasure. Why should I care for your happiness or hers? You have no concern for mine, or you would never have married her. She’s an uncouth American, for goodness’ sake. No one would have thought badly of you if you had not married her. I told you that, but no, you still married the gel anyway. Now, the ton will pity me for having to put up with her as my daughter-in-law.”

  Adrenaline rushed through him with the force of a hurricane. He grabbed her shoulders and fought the desire to shake her. “Kathleen is not an uncouth American. Her great-grandfather was a baronet. She’s a genteel young lady. If you would give her a chance, you would find that out. I’m telling you now. Do not interfere with my life or my wife’s again. If you recall, I give you a substantial allowance each month, so you don’t have to live on the pitiful widow’s jointure my father left you. Keep that in mind. I do not have to do it.”