Patricia Frances Rowell

by A Scandalous Situation

  Nodding, he reached up and pulled the ribbon out of her hair, combing his fingers through it and smoothing the silver curls against her shoulders. Iantha remembered Camille’s words. Now his lordship will have the pleasure of untying it. She smiled inside at the thought.

  Hoping that it had given him pleasure, she clasped his hands, holding them against her face. For several heartbeats his thumbs stroked her chin, brushed across her lips. Iantha turned her head and kissed his palms, first one and then the other. She took another deep breath and felt her tension ebb. His hands moved to her shoulders and pushed the robe off her arms, then rested on her thighs. All the while he studied her face.

  Iantha managed a smile. “I believe I am all right now.”

  “You are sure?”

  She nodded and felt the warmth shift to her hips. Cupping her bottom, he pulled her closer. Again his mouth found the sensitive skin between her breasts. But now, instead of working upward, the soft kisses moved from side to side, coming closer and closer to her nipples, wetting the fabric of her gown. When at last his lips closed over one of them, Iantha sighed and lowered her hands to his shoulders, pulling him closer.

  Immediately she heard his breathing change. And then she could not distinguish it from her own. His fingers moved subtly over her bottom, and his mouth seduced her breasts. Now Iantha heard her own voice, quietly moaning.

  Rob grasped her waist and, lowering himself to the floor, pulled her off the sofa on top of him. He lifted her until her breasts were over his mouth, and tugged the gown away. One of his knees came up between her thighs. Iantha felt herself begin to move against his leg.

  Was she supposed to do that?

  She no longer cared. She could think of nothing but the sensation of his hands and lips on her nipples, the feel of his bulging shaft so near the source of the need between her legs. And then his thumb was pressing against her there and the room began to go dark. She cried out as the world shattered into a million dazzling pieces.

  As the glittering shards fell around her and she collapsed on his chest, she became aware of a different pressure between her legs.

  He was inside her!

  His breeches were open, and he was inside of her.

  Panic threatened. Instinctively she tightened, and her body clenched around him. He groaned aloud and began to pulse, faster and faster. Suddenly he gripped her bottom and shouted—a hoarse, rough, triumphant cry. His movements slowed and finally stopped altogether. He clasped her tightly to his chest and held her as their breathing quieted.

  It was over. She had made love with her husband.

  She had survived.

  In fact…

  At last Rob let her roll to the carpet beside him, raising himself on one elbow so that he could look into her face. “Are you well? Did I hurt you?”

  Iantha shook her head. “No, not at all. I didn’t even know exactly when…”

  He smiled. “Good. I didn’t want you to think about it and be frightened. Were you frightened?”

  “Only for a moment. I—I was feeling so much when you… I didn’t realize it right away. For a moment I felt fearful, but then it was over.”

  “Hmm. I have been wanting you so long that I seem to have been a bit precipitous.” Rob grinned. “I will have to slow down so that you can also enjoy our being joined, but I think it was best this way for the first time.” He sobered. “You will come to enjoy our union, Iantha, I promise you. It can be very beautiful.”

  “I…I enjoyed most of it this evening, my lord. I experienced a few tense moments, but much of it was very enjoyable—though in some ways disturbingly intense.” She thought for a few moments. “I didn’t know it could be done as you did tonight. Was I supposed to move like that?”

  He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “You are supposed to move in any way that feels natural to you. That evidence of your passion is a great joy to me. I did it that way because I felt sure that before…”

  For the first time, he seemed uncertain. Iantha nodded. “That I was held down? Yes, I was.”

  “I didn’t want to do that to you.”

  “Thank you, Rob. Thank you so much for understanding.” Iantha buried her face in his shoulder, and his strong arms closed around her.

  Thank God that He had sent her Robert Armstrong as a husband.

  She slept in his arms that night. When Valeria was small and had a bad dream, she had sometimes crept into Iantha’s room for comfort, and slept with her for the rest of the night. But that had stopped after Iantha was assaulted.

  Iantha felt that the situation was reversed. She clung to Rob like a child with a nightmare on a dark night—the nightmare she had shut away with such determination. Now events had demanded that she must think about it. Experience it. Acknowledge it. She sensed that the recognition had been good for her, had freed her to an amazing extent.

  Yet it still frightened her.

  So she sheltered behind her husband’s strength.

  But when she woke the next morning, he was gone.

  Rob slipped out of his wife’s bed as soon as he wakened. After—at long last—enjoying her body completely, he awoke this morning hungry for more. He did not know how Iantha would feel about that in the morning’s light, so he took his desire away and let her sleep. He could stand being unfulfilled awhile longer. Now, at least, he had hope. The vision of a loving future opened before him.

  Whistling as he shaved, Rob was startled by a tap on the door that opened to Iantha’s bedchamber. He turned and called, “Come in.”

  The door opened a crack and a dainty face peeked through. Rob laid down his razor and wiped the suds from his chin. As he turned, Iantha, white silk billowing behind her, darted across the room and into his arms. He caught her close to his bare chest and laid his cheek against her hair, smiling. “What brings this on, my lady?”

  A muffled mumble sounded from the vicinity of his breastbone. The words came out in a rush. “I woke and you were gone and suddenly I felt afraid.”

  “You are safe. I am here.” Rob stroked her soft hair. “Of what were you frightened?”

  “I…I am not certain. I am just feeling very vulnerable of late. I have lost my control and every emotion assaults me unaware. I feel like a child in a nightmare.” She leaned back and looked into his face.

  A wave of guilt flowed through Rob. “I’m afraid I have done much to bring that horror back to you. I have deliberately undermined your control, because…” He searched his mind and his conscience. “I honestly believed it kept you afraid and unable to enjoy life.” What if he had been wrong?

  Iantha sighed. “I believe you were correct in that. But this is so…so very difficult.”

  He pulled her head back against his chest. “I’m sorry. All I can say is that I will not desert you.”

  Rob felt her nod. “I believe that, Rob, and I am very grateful.”

  Grateful? Was that what he wanted from his wife?

  Gratitude?

  Later that afternoon, Rob knocked on the door of Iantha’s bedchamber, and at the sound of a curt, “Yes?” he opened it and stepped in.

  And almost stepped back out.

  Perhaps he had overdone it. To his dismay he found his formerly over-restrained bride pacing the floor, waving a handful of letters. At the moment she was definitely experiencing all the emotion he could possibly have desired.

  He only hoped it was not directed at him.

  Rob sauntered into the room as nonchalantly and unthreateningly as he could under the circumstances.

  Iantha turned toward him and shook the letters. “Will you look at these!” She thrust the papers in his direction. “Just look!”

  He reached for them, but she whirled, charged across the room and flung them onto her desk. “Men!”

  Damn. Definitely a hazardous situation here. Rob raised his eyebrows, but forbore to venture a comment.

  “They see themselves as masters of the world.” Iantha stamped back across the room and stopped before him, arms cro
ssed over her chest. Rob held his peace. “And women… You would think that God made women just to serve them.”

  Concluding that biblical quotations were not in order, Rob raised his eyebrows politely.

  His irate wife stormed back to her desk and seized a letter. “This lady writes that her husband gambles away their income and then rails at her because she cannot supply the household. And this one…” She threw the first letter on the floor and grabbed another. “This one paws her even in the presence of the servants and demands her compliance at all hours of the day and night—which is no doubt better than this one.” She held up a third letter. “This one found the poetry she had been writing and laughed at her and threw it into the fire. Can you imagine? All her innermost fears and desires…”

  Suddenly her shoulders lost their militant bearing, and she cast a sheepish look at Rob. “Oh, dear. I am ranting, am I not? Please forgive me.”

  Seeing the threat momentarily abated, Rob approached her cautiously. He had sufficient experience with members of the opposite sex to know how quickly anger could shift from one man to another.

  He did not smile.

  “I can understand why they infuriate you. However, I would like to respectfully ask that you recognize that I have done none of those things.” In spite of himself the smile emerged.

  As he feared, Iantha looked annoyed. “No, my lord. I am aware that you have not. Nor did I direct any complaint against you.”

  “For which I am humbly grateful.” The smile became a grin. “Having observed your displeasure, I would certainly not wish to be the target of it.” He placed his hands on her arms.

  She looked into his face. “Of course not. I have no reason to be angry with you—and I do not even know these other gentlemen. Yet…” She sighed. “It is as I told you this morning—all my emotions are suddenly overwhelming me. I can’t keep them back.”

  Rob drew her to him. “You have been denying them so long, it seems understandable for them to bolt once you loosen the reins.”

  “I suppose so.” She pressed her head against his chest. “But it is very disturbing.”

  “I’m sure it is.” He lifted her chin and gently kissed her lips. His body stirred and, for a moment, he felt inclined to coax her into bed for another lesson in life’s greatest adventure. But considering her fury at the husband who demanded compliance at all hours, he thought better of it. Best not to test his luck. He stepped back from her. “Would you like to ride out? Perhaps take your paints? The weather has turned surprisingly warm.”

  “I would love to.” She smiled up at him, and he almost reverted to the coaxing plan. “Give me a few minutes to change.”

  Oh, well. The coaxing could wait until later.

  Perhaps he would not have to coax.

  Rob lounged against a rock, reading, while Iantha painted the view from the crest of a low, rocky hill. While the air could not quite be described as warm, he did not feel chilly at all. The pale winter sun shone on the knoll they had selected, warming the rocks and making him drowsy. He glanced at his wife from time to time, knowing that her small frame would lose heat much more rapidly than his did, but she did not seem cold yet.

  At intervals he rose and scrutinized the surrounding country, alternating with Feller, who meantime had the deceptive appearance of napping in the sun near the horses. Seeing nothing, Rob would turn back to his book.

  Just as he was making another survey, a shot sounded from across the narrow valley.

  Iantha cried out, and Rob whipped around in time to see her easel go tumbling over the side of the hill. He dived in her direction and, catching her around the waist, pulled her down behind his boulder. He yanked a small pistol from his pocket. Moments later Feller materialized at his side, handing him the larger horse pistol from his saddle. Feller had his own, and Iantha quickly pulled her hidden weapon from under her skirts.

  An interval of tense silence ensued.

  The trio held their breath. Every muscle in Rob tightened.

  When, after several minutes, no further attack manifested, Rob cautiously used his pistol to hold his hat above the rock.

  Nothing happened.

  He nodded at Feller, and the groom slipped away from the boulder and over the crest to reconnoiter their back. Staying low to the ground, Rob leaned around the stone and studied the opposite hillside. He could discern not the slightest movement among the rocks and small vegetation. Had the rifleman slipped away while they sheltered behind the boulder, or did he still lie concealed, hoping for another opportunity to end a life?

  Rob felt Iantha leaning across him, her pistol in her hand, trying to see past him and their barricade. He pulled back, bringing her with him, his voice sharp. “Stay down! Do not let him see you.”

  Both of them leaned against the stone. She frowned at him. “How can I shoot someone I cannot see?”

  “Exactly. If you cannot shoot him, it is likely that he cannot shoot you.” He frowned back at her. He was relieved to see that his very determined pistol-pointing lady showed no sign of fear, only a grim resolve. “I don’t want him to see you. It was you at whom he fired.”

  For a moment she looked at Rob stubbornly. “I am sick of being afraid. I want to fight back!” Then she sighed and nodded. “Very well. But I have little doubt that he—whoever he may be—would not cavil at killing you also. Nor Feller.” Her voice trembled. “I have brought danger to you both.”

  Rob cupped her face and ran his thumb across her mouth. “Don’t fret, wraith. This is by no means the first time that Feller and I have encountered danger together.”

  As if he had heard his name, the stocky groom reappeared at their side. “Can’t find no one back there. Least-ways, no one shot at me. I’d say the bas—uh, pardon, my lady—whoever it be is hid out on the other side of the valley. I never heard but the one shot.”

  “Nor did I.” Rob relaxed somewhat as he thought the matter over. “So very likely, there is only one of them. I wish I could be certain of that.”

  “If he is still there at all.” Iantha craned her neck a little, but kept her head behind their shelter. “Do you think he may have gone?”

  “He did not shoot at my hat, but he is probably well acquainted with that old trick.” The sun had begun to sink, and Rob was growing aware of the chill in the air. They needed to get home before the cold returned. He turned to his henchman. “What do you say?”

  Feller rubbed his chin. “I say I ride out a little way—see what I can scare up.”

  “No!” Iantha sat up, and Rob pulled her back down. She glared at him. “I will have no one shot in my place. Can we wait until dark?”

  Rob shook his head. “It is getting much colder, and it will take us longer in the dark. I say we ride behind the crest as far as we can, then make a run for it.”

  “Aye, that’s no doubt the best.” Feller inched back toward the horses and led them a short distance down the far side of the knoll.

  Rob signaled Iantha with his pistol, and keeping low, she slid down the hill like a veteran. Aye, she was quite a lady. A glow of pride swelled in Rob. He took the chance of retrieving her paints, before going over the crest of the hill. No sign of further hostilities occurred, so he found the easel and stowed it and the painting in the case.

  They walked the horses in the comparative safety of the lee of the hill until the terrain became too broken. Crouching low behind their mounts, they led them over the rise. Rob held Iantha back until he was reasonably confident that no shot would follow.

  Once mounted, they threw caution to the freezing wind and galloped for their lives.

  They charged into the warm dark of the stable, scattering the startled stable hands. Almost before Iantha realized it, Rob and Feller were off their horses, shouting orders and running to help close the doors. She slid off the sidesaddle, breathing hard.

  Rob hurried back to her. “Are you all right?”

  “Of course.” She nodded. “Just a bit out of breath—probably from the excitement
.”

  “Excitement?” Rob grinned. “I am glad to hear that you view it in that light.” He put his arm around her waist and ushered her up the stairs into the old castle.

  “Well, I yearned for adventure.” She smiled up at him, and he suddenly pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard.

  After several breathless moments he broke the kiss and gazed down at her. “This was a great deal more adventure than I had planned for you. I do not want you to be in real danger.”

  “Surely there is always an element of peril in any adventure.” Iantha lifted her face for another kiss, and Rob obliged her.

  When they stopped for breath again, he shook his head. “A little excitement is one thing, being shot at is another.”

  “You know…” She looked thoughtfully into his eyes. “It is very strange, but rather than being afraid, I found the episode to be oddly exhilarating. Especially the last gallop.”

  “Danger does that.” Her husband searched her face. “And it also does other things. I think we should go upstairs.”

  She agreed and let him guide her through the entryway without even taking time to doff their wraps. An unaccustomed urgency surged through her, and she could feel an answering tension in Rob. He took her directly into her bedchamber.

  Iantha did not ask why.

  He clasped her to him for a quick kiss and then began to unfasten her coat. Shoving it off her shoulders and onto the floor, he turned her and unbuttoned her dress. When it had joined her coat on the carpet, he pulled her to him, her back against his chest, and covered her breasts with both hands. She leaned against him and sighed.

  The cool roughness of his wool coat caressed her back as his warm hands stroked her breasts and stomach. A demanding pressure began to grow in her lower body, and she could feel the bulge swelling between his legs. Rob stopped what he was doing long enough to shed his coat, then sat on the edge of the bed and drew her to him. While his hands stroked her bottom, his mouth closed over a nipple, and Iantha moaned.