Her horse was brought to them by a footman and Genie continued with her unpleasant charade until they were well away from the house.
She sighed and turned a breathtaking smile at him, looking quite adorable in her riding habit. “Good morning, Francis.”
Francis did not return the smile. “There was no flower with my morning meal.”
Genie blinked. “But I thought you wished everyone to believe I hated you.”
“So?” he asked.
“I can’t send a man a flower if I hate him.”
“You damn well can.” He was angrier than he knew he should be but he couldn’t contain himself. Her flowers had helped him survive through the darkest points of his life. His morning didn’t start until he saw the perennial. “You always send me a flower when we are in the same city.”
Genie looked stunned. “I never knew you cared so much.”
“I do.” He started his horse forward, taking the trail that led around the hillside of the castle and toward the tree they’d raced to the other week.
Genie swiftly caught up. “It’s strange that I can finally call you mine. I’ve no more need to chase you.”
“Do I bore you now that you’ve accomplished your goals?”
“Not in the least, I simply have no clue as to what I shall do with my time.”
He smiled. “I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
A moment later, they were on the side of the hill facing the rising sun. The beauty of first light had always reminded him of Genie, the reddened hue at the horizon was the shade of her hair. The air was cooler but would warm with the day.
“Sunrises always make me think of you,” Genie told him. “The light pushing the darkness away to reveal a clear blue sky.”
He turned to her. “I was just thinking the same of you.”
Her eyes lit. “Francis, I’m so happy.”
He moved his horse closer to her and took her hand. Their position on the hill made it impossible to be seen but he was still cautious and kept her hand in the folds of her skirts. “I know what you mean. I have everything I want. Well, almost everything.”
“What else do you want?”
He placed his hands back on the reins of his horse and started them forward. “Peace and for us to be together without worry.”
Genie stayed at his side and was quiet before she spoke. “Mr. Cross mentioned something to me yesterday.”
He looked at her. “You saw Mr. Cross yesterday? Where?”
“At Aunt Tilda’s home. He came to see me.”
“Why?”
She frowned. “If you allow me to speak, I will tell you.”
“I apologize. What did he say.”
She shook her head and looked toward. “He implied that my cousin knew that we were in love and also knows we can’t be together.”
Francis tried to keep his voice steady and his expression clear. “Did he say anything else?”
“No, but what does Archie have to do with it?”
Everything and nothing. “When the time comes, I will tell you everything but I’d rather not say until then.”
She glared at him. “I’m not a child. I can keep a secret from Lorena.”
“Have you told her about us?”
“No.”
“But you want to,” he accused.
She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t you?”
He wanted to tell the world. All his rewards from races couldn’t compare to having Genie. “Of course I do, but I’m still not ready to say.” They made it to the clearing with the tree before them.
“Francis, tell me.”
“First one to the tree wins.”
She released an exasperated moan. “What do I get if I win?”
He smiled, remembering her last request and the many ways and places he’d kissed her the previous night. He was more than anxious to get his hands, mouth, and tongue on her. His cock began to swell under the thought. “What do you want if you win?”
Genie’s bold hand settled on his groin and bolts of desire swept him. “I want you.” Then she smiled, kicked her heels, and took off.
Francis allowed her the head start, if only to adjust his saddle, then shot off after her. He felt every hit of Prince’s hooves beating the ground pound against his raging erection and knew that, win or lose, he would take her.
He caught up smoothly and looked over toward Genie. Her green eyes glittered with laughter, her voice filling the air and his heart. Their gazes held as she bounced with the motion of Jenkins, keeping herself close to her horse’s body.
He thought her the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
Francis pulled gently on his reins and Genie’s horse took the lead and straight to victory.
“I won,” she whispered moments later as Francis backed her into the tree. He was aware of the distance of the house and the locations of its windows, so knew where to place her in order to not be seen.
His hands squeezed her hips as her back hit the leaning trunk of the tree. “It’s time for you to receive your reward.”
They moaned as their mouths met, greed heightening their passion and making them act fevered. His hands lifted her skirts and he groaned at finding her already wet for him.
Genie went to his buttons, fumbling to free him but he found her urgency both amusing and pleasurable. The pressure of her fingers stroking his swollen member over and over drove him mad.
He was more than ready to take her when he was finally free. He lifted her up, positioned himself, and then allowed her body to fall on his.
The feeling of being inside her tight wet sheath was extraordinary and he took a moment to calm enough to not shoot off immediately but Genie had no patience. She dug her heels into his bottom and lifted herself just enough to sink back over him. She drove him mad with need before Francis grabbed her hips and took her, pumping into her hard and fast. The sounds of their sex drowned out the birds as their grunts and moans grew, and his motions became wild.
Genie locked her hands behind his neck and cried out right before he did.
He kissed her while thrusting his body deeper into her, burying himself, and filling her with his seed.
Genie leaned her head back against the tree and took a long breath. “You let me win.”
He laughed. “Does this upset you?”
She smiled. “Only slightly. What would you have asked for had you won?”
“This,” he confessed, pushing himself just a bit further into her body. “Having you this way. I only wish we had more time alone.” He ground himself against her as his cock began to fill again.
She shook softly and bit her lip, gasping as she started to ride him again. Her hips met his thrusts, their bodies smacking together, the sound hushed beneath her skirts.
His hands settled on her arse, his mouth took hers as she convulsed and cried out with her completion. He watched the pleasure wash over her face and followed soon after.
They eventually straightened their clothes and he was loath to start their way back to Aunt Tilda’s house. Francis held her hand once again when they reached the hillside, the sun now a bright ball of heat in the sky but he took his hand away once they were close to the house. With every step, he could feel the distance being placed back between them and couldn’t wait until the day came when no one would have a say as to their happiness.
The footman took her horse and Francis wanted to kiss her when she started for the door.
“Good day, Your Grace,” she said coldly before the butler closed the door behind her.
Francis remained staring at the door for a moment before heading toward the castle.
At his arrival, he was directed by the butler to meet Morris and Frank in the office. His heart raced with his every step and he prepared himself for the worst upon entering.
The Duke of Cort’s office was not lavish but very masculine. Large carved pieces took up most of the space. Four men stood behind a table looking over books but looked up at the sound
of Francis’ footfalls.
Neither Morris nor Frank looked very happy. At Frank’s side was an older man Francis didn’t recognize with blue eyes that were hidden by spectacles. He wore a white wig, which had gone out of fashion except for in the minds of a select few. On Morris’ other side was Lord Allen Blackfall, whom Francis knew from his years at Oxford. He was three years older than Francis but had circumstances been different, he’d have easily have become one of the Men of Nashwood. He, too, had blue eyes, though his were paler in color. Allen wore his natural dark brown curls.
Francis didn’t even bother to sit. He bowed to everyone and Frank’s solicitor was introduced as Lord Gilbert Aims. “What is the news?”
Morris got straight to the point. “We found nothing.”
Francis allowed the words to settle over him and dropped into a chair.
Lord Gilbert spoke. “I’ve gone over your contract with Lord Buckley and it is ironclad. I’ve also gone over your father’s books and compared them to the names of businesses that Lord Buckley invested in. Both your father and Lord Buckley lost money on those ventures.”
“It would seem we were wrong,” Frank said. “Perhaps Lord Buckley had no hand in your family’s demise.”
Morris crossed his arms. “However, we’re still looking into just where Lord Buckley gained his vast sum.” Morris had been invited to a business meeting with Archie the other day at Buckley Estate and had exchanged his books with Buckley so that the two could compare investments. ”It’s unbelievable that the earl would have a hundred thousand pounds on hand to give you when he needed it. So far, it seems he earned his money from the West African Trading Company and Lavenberg Coalfield. I’ve made an appointment with the Duke of Lavenberg and plan to visit him in a few days’ time.”
Francis didn’t recognize either of the company names from his father’s files, papers that he’d memorized forward and backward. The last venture his father had placed his largest sum of money in had been a trading company called Gold Coast Traders. He’d bought nearly half of the company but Gold Coast Traders had failed before it could even get underway and his father had lost everything.
Lord Allen finally spoke. “I’m also looking into the people your father owed money but that could take time, for as you know many of those men were not from England. Tracking them down will be hard.”
Francis nodded. “Thank you. How much do I owe for all of this?” He waved his hands at the solicitor.
“Nothing,” Morris cut in. “And you better not insist on paying.” His eyes said he was not to be questioned.
Frank looked ready to argue as well.
Francis knew when he’d been beat. He nodded as the solicitors left.
“We need more time,” Morris said.
“How much longer?”
“A year, perhaps,” Frank said grimly. “Maybe more.”
He didn’t see Genie waiting an entire year before telling Lorena. Neither did he think he could contain himself around her in public for that amount of time before the obvious became true. They couldn’t endlessly go on pretending.
“What are you going to do?” Morris asked.
Francis stood and went over to peer at Buckley’s books. “I’m going to ask Genie to marry me.”
“Publicly?” Morris asked.
“It will all depend on what she prefers.” He stared at the names of the companies. “But I’m going to London to look into these companies.”
“I’ll join you in a few days,” Morris told him. “I’ve still a matter here to deal with.”
Frank closed the books. “I’ll leave with you today and a few others may wish to join us.”
Francis nodded. “Then let’s be off soon.” He wanted to know as much as he could before he proposed any sort of agreement to Genie.
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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
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“What does it say?”
Genie put down the note and looked at the five women who stared at her. She’d just received word from Francis that he was off to London and would return as soon as possible. The letter had included that she should expect no riding lessons while he was away, the words used to disguise his true intentions, which were that he simply wished her to know he was gone.
She was disappointed to know that it would be awhile before she saw him again.
She folded the note and handed it to the maid to be placed in her room. “He’s gone to London. I shouldn’t expect riding lessons.”
Lorena groaned. “We’ll have to move back our plans then.”
Alice smiled. “But the woodsman in town had a nephew who seemed to know much about how to cut trees to ensure they fall accurately. We’ve hired him to do the work around the Buckley dowager house. Francis’ absence gives us time to work on it. We’re visiting again this afternoon to see the plans.”
Genie nodded. Since she couldn’t go to the village while in mourning, she would have to stay behind but there was another errand she wished to run. “Could someone accompany me to the castle?” Her eyes landed on Sophia and she gave her a smile.
Sophia brightened at the idea. “I would love to go.”
The ladies cleared the house and Genie and Sophia took curricle with Sophia holding the reins.
Genie closed her eyes, leaned her head back, and allowed the sunlight to touch her face. Usually, she would never do such a thing, since she was prone to sunspots, but the weather was much too pleasant for her to not indulge a little.
“I think I enjoy the country,” Sophia said, probably a comment more to herself than anyone else.
“Maybe you should bring Levi with you when you visit next time.”
“Perhaps I will.” Then she asked, “Exactly what are you going to do at the castle?”
Genie hadn’t thought to come up with a good lie about her reasons for visiting the castle. With Francis gone, she’d known that no one truly cared why she went. “I wish to see the gardens and show you around.” That was what she wished Sophia to believe when the truth was that she needed to speak to the castle’s owner. Levander’s words still formed questions in her mind and she needed to know if Morris had anything to do with what was taking place between her and Francis. She hoped that wasn’t the case at all.
“Do you suppose anyone is there?” Sophia asked. “The men could have all gone with Francis. You know how very close they are.”
Genie feared she was right but turned and grinned at Sophia nonetheless. “Then we shall have the place to ourselves.”
Sophia smiled wickedly. “An entire castle to ourselves? However will we entertain ourselves?”
They arrived a half hour later and the butler made them wait in the drawing room while he went to go see if Morris was available.
“I guess he’s here,” Genie said nervously.
Sophia didn’t respond.
Morris walked into the room dressed in a white shirt and dark breeches. He wore no jacket and his cravat was missing. A silver rapier hung from his hand. They’d obviously interrupted him in the middle of his fencing. He looked at both women, greeted them respectively, then turned to Genie. “Is something wrong?” His face expressed none of the flirtation it had days before and Genie felt some of the tension leave her body.
“We were hoping to see the gardens,” Genie told him.
A moment later, Rollo stepped into the room, dressed much like Morris. It was also apparent he had not shaved that morning. Dark stubble covered his jaw and Genie recalled a time when the men had challenged Rollo to not shave for a week. He’d nearly had a full black beard by week’s end, which Genie had found to be quite handsome in an uncivilized way. His eyes were just as inky black as his hair. He grinned at seeing the women.
“We’re to go to the gardens?” Rollo asked.
Genie went to him and took his arm, deciding she’d rather
ask him about what was taking place between the men as opposed to Morris.
Sophia dutifully took the duke’s arm and they started toward the sun-bathed courtyard. Four enormous towers surrounded them and Morris led them down a wide set of stairs that opened to Kidd Castle’s gardens.
Genie heard Sophia’s intake of breath but kept her eyes on the burst of vibrant colors before her. The castle’s gardens were like no other with a large pool that stretched through the center. Trees lined the exterior and flowerbeds of roses had been placed amongst the shrubs and pathways.
She clung to Rollo as they descended and slowed her steps to place distance between them and Morris. She ensured that he and Sophia were a few yards away before she spoke.
Or at least tried.
Rollo beat her to it. “What’s this about?” He led her the opposite way around the pool, leading them even further from the other couple.
Genie frowned. “What do you mean?”
He narrowed his eyes but his lips lifted in a corner with a superior grin. “You wished to see the gardens or Morris?”
Genie’s cheeks heated.
Rollo looked surprised. “So you do have feelings for the duke.”
“Not that duke.” Then she gasped and covered her mouth, cursing herself for allowing Rollo to dismantle her defenses. She was supposed to be keeping her and Francis a secret from the others.
“It’s all right,” he told her. “We know.”
She stopped walking. “Know what?”
Rollo placed his hands in his pockets. “About you and Francis.”
She blinked. “What are you talking about?”
He chuckled. “You know what I’m talking about. Francis didn’t return to the castle until very late the other night.” Then he narrowed his eyes. “What were you all thinking to set up such a scene in the drawing room?”
Genie crossed her arms. “I simply wished to hurry Francis along. I wish to be his wife.”
Genie’s Scandalous Spinster’s Society Page 15