‘Good,’ Clarissa said with a giggle. ‘So off you go and talk lordly things with Brody the duke and we’ll talk girly things with Brodie the dog.’
Ben bowed before he took his wife into his arms and kissed her so thoroughly, Mary wondered if she should leave them to it. When he finally drew back his eyes were bright and Clarissa flushed and flustered.
‘Ben, enough.’
‘Your wish, my love, is as ever my command.’ He turned to Mary. ‘Thank you, Mary. I hope you know what you’re letting yourself in for.’
Clarissa punched him on his arm. ‘A day or two of good uncomplicated companionship. And you, my lord, will miss me.’
‘True. I’ll leave you both, and make my way up the hill. Enjoy each other’s company.’ He flicked his finger over his wife’s nose again and left them.
Carissa watched him go and sighed. ‘That man is way too full of himself. Lord knows how much I love him, although I still wonder how on earth we ended up married.’
Mary, who knew most of the story, laughed. ‘Impetuousness?’
Clarissa grinned. ‘As you say. But enough of me, what about you?’
‘Me? Oh I’m just getting on with life. Moving forward without Horry.’ Mary hesitated. ‘I’ll always miss him, but life has to go on. I owe it to him. You know one of his objections to our marriage was that I’d be a young widow. I had to promise not to mope, mourn, or regret anything. Well the only thing I do regret is that our time together was so short. He was everything I wanted in a man.’ Well, until I met Brody.
‘A hard act to follow.’ Clarissa said with sympathy.
‘As you say. Anyway enough of me, how are you?’ Mary looked speculatively at Clarissa who chuckled.
‘No, I’m not increasing, and to be honest, I hope I don’t conceive too quickly. We’re having far too much fun practising.’
Mary laughed. ‘Yes, I bet. I… Oh hell, life is complicated at times isn’t it?’ She didn’t say why and thankfully Clarissa didn’t press her. ‘Shall we go and see which room you’d like? And Brodie, of course.’
The dog woofed, then stood up, stretched and scratched behind one ear.
The evening was spent in chatter and laughter. Clarissa could paint a pretty picture with words and sketched out things from the capital and her life in the country as a new and not so newly-wed. Several times Mary bit back the words… “When did Brody arrive back?”
Then unwittingly, as they sat in the comfortable room where Mary preferred to spend her evenings, Clarissa gave her the information she wanted to hear.
‘So Ben and Brody had been in contact by letter, but Ben decided he needed to speak to him in person. Some second reading of a bill, they want to discuss. They agreed that Welland was the perfect place to meet. Brody rode up from London today and we came down from Lord Channery’s. Why they chose here and not the capital I have no idea, but I’m glad they did, as it means we get a chance to catch up. We could have gone to Ben’s hunting lodge, which isn’t too far from here but he insists on leaving it empty and ready in case…’ she coughed ‘…well he does. It’s not up to me to say why.’
Mary had heard some rumours about the previous owner so merely nodded and didn’t comment. She stared at Clarissa who sat on the opposite side of the fire from her in a matching armchair. Both ladies had made themselves comfortable in night rails and robes and sat with their hair down and their feet up on stools. It was a sight to scandalise every tabby in the ton, and they had agreed neither cared. They intended to be comfortable.
‘Therefore, the castle was chosen,’ Clarissa continued. ‘They wouldn’t want me up there, as somehow I’d need to be, in their eyes, entertained. To be honest I’d be bored rigid without anyone to talk to anyway. As much as I love Brodie, my Brodie, there is only so much one can say to a dog before you want an answer that isn’t a woof, a bark, or a fart.’
Mary smiled at the picture Clarissa’s words painted. ‘I’m so glad you came. I’ve missed you. Oh I have a full life, but at this moment? Well you are exactly who I need.’
‘Good. Not just for your sake, but for mine as well,’ Clarissa said frankly and rolled her eyes. ‘The castle might be imposing, but it’s damned inconvenient as a guest. The bedchambers are miles from the public rooms and the corridors draughty. The only redeeming feature is the library, and that is tucked away from what you could loosely call civilisation. I believe Brody’s papa liked it that way. He could then ignore everyone as often as he wanted. I swear the last time we visited it took me twenty minutes to find the darned place, and then the blighters weren’t there. They were in the snooker room, another twenty minutes’ walk.’
Mary laughed, as she was sure she was supposed to. In truth Brody had remarked how he would like to rearrange the rooms in the castle to make them more convenient. No doubt his wife would help. His wife. That wouldn’t be her. It was not a pleasant thought.
Clarissa looked at Mary closely, stood up and walked the yard or so that separated them and squeezed her shoulder in silent sympathy for whatever; Mary guessed Clarissa decided it was needed.
‘This however is perfect,’ Clarissa continued. ‘It reminds me of Ben’s hunting lodge, of which, let’s say, I have very fond memories. Right – now let’s have it.’
The abrupt change of subject made Mary blink. ‘Have what?’
‘Tell me why you have such a bleak look on your face, you’re not full of gossip about the local laird, and you haven’t once asked or said anything about the ton. Not even that you wish they were all nibbled to death by starlings. Something is up.’ She patted Mary’s shoulder. ‘Tell Aunt Clarissa, you know you want to.’
Mary had to laugh in spite of herself. ‘Am I that bad?’
‘Worse,’ Clarissa replied, with the brutal honesty of an old friend. She gave the shoulder she touched a comforting squeeze once more. ‘Oh, Mary, if you really don’t want to tell me what is worrying you, then don’t and I’ll accept that. But however I come over to people, I am a good listener, you know that. Plus, anything you say here is in confidence and I won’t share, not even with Ben, on my honour. Even so, if you want to tell me to mind my own business, please do. I promise I won’t sulk. However please my love, remember a problem shared is a problem halved or some such thing. And think on, let’s face it, you can’t have done anything worse than I did when I found myself engaged to Ben.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘And look how well that’s ended.’
Mary studied her friend. Everything Clarissa said was true, but it still went against all she knew to admit she’d had a passionate affair, refused an offer of marriage and ended up alone once more.
‘I’ve been an idiot.’
‘That’s allowed occasionally.’
‘Yes well it was a bit more than occasionally,’ Mary admitted with a wry grin. ‘And now, well now I’ve made someone I like and admire, hate me, and there’s nothing I can do about it.’
‘Don’t be daft, of course there is,’ Clarissa said robustly. ‘Go to him… I’m assuming it’s a man?’
Mary nodded.
‘It usually is,’ Clarissa said with a wry smile. ‘They are designed to annoy us, I’m convinced of it. Tell him you’ve been an idiot, ask for forgiveness and say you’d like to go on as you were.’
‘That’s the problem,’ Mary said and knew she didn’t disguise her sadness over it. ‘I wanted to and he didn’t.’
‘Ah. That complicates things then.’ Clarissa moved away and reached for the port decanter. ‘Port and confessions time I think.’ She poured two large measures into glasses and handed one over to Mary before she resumed her seat. ‘Sorry for encroaching on your hostess-y things, but you were slow in offering this.’
‘I didn’t think you liked port.’ Mary took her glass and twisted it between her fingers, by the stem. ‘I was going to offer Madeira.’
‘Not Madeira, nasty stuff. As for port? I didn’t and now I do. Cheers.’
Mary held her glass to Clarissa’s and admired the rich ruby red liq
uid before she took a sip. ‘It was given to me by a friend. He liked a glass if he visited.’ She took another swallow and made her mind up. She needed to talk to someone and she knew of no one better than Clarissa. ‘Clarissa, I had an affair.’
Clarissa raised one eyebrow in a manner that reminded Mary of Brody.
‘So? Was he any good?’
Mary spluttered into her port. ‘Clarissa,’ she protested, once she could speak clearly. ‘What a question.’
‘Well,’ Clarissa said with a smile. ‘You said had, not having, so it must be over. Therefore either he was rubbish at servicing you, or he had halitosis.’
‘Neither,’ Mary said. She tried for a severe tone and failed miserably. ‘He was everything a lady could wish for.’ She put her feet on the floor and leaned forward. ‘Everything and more.’
‘Then why on earth did this affair end? I refuse to believe you didn’t satisfy him. So…?’ Clarissa’s voice trailed off, inviting the answer.
Mary sighed. ‘He found out who I am and decided he’d compromised me, and announced, quite arbitrarily, that therefore we must marry.’
‘And you said no.’ It was not a question. Mary knew Clarissa had wished to do the same at one point.
‘I said no. So he then took himself off in a temper and I’ve not seen him since.’ Mary finished her port and went to the decanter. ‘I think I need another glass.’
‘Believe me that to get drunk is not the answer,’ Clarissa said as she allowed Mary to top up her glass. ‘I should know, I tried and it did me no good whatsoever. Plus, the following day you feel like someone has dragged you though a badger’s sett. The question is, do you want to sort things out and if so, how?’
****
‘What do you mean you’ve compromised a lady and she won’t marry you?’ Ben asked Brody as they sat either side of a blazing fire in Brody’s study. The shutters were closed and the lamps lit, and the brandy decanter half full. ‘If I am to believe even half of the stories about you that circulate the ton, the boot has usually been on the other foot. They tried to get you to compromise them and marry them, and you got out of it.’
Brody shrugged. ‘It used to be thus. This lady is different. For a start, I didn’t realise she was a lady, which is half, if not most of the problem. I thought she was a widow of a gentleman or a tradesman who was ripe to kick over the traces. The widow and the traces were correct. The rest? How wrong can a man be? She’s a very wealthy widow, and no, I do not want to marry her for her money. I have enough of my own. Plus, thankfully, if she remarries she loses her money and has only a small allowance. I’d prefer it to be nothing, but in the event it doesn’t matter. She refused me.’ He laughed mirthlessly. ‘You know? It is a salutary experience to be turned down thus. I had thought I was a reasonable catch. Not to this lady, it seems. Therefore, I decided to leave.’
‘So you went to London in a temper, to lick your wounds, pick up the threads of your life… hold on.’ Ben stared at Brody over the top of his glass before he took a healthy swallow and put the goblet down. ‘This was around here?’
Brody nodded.
Ben shook his head and snorted. ‘Oh dear. Did I mention who Clarissa is stopping with?’ Ben said slowly.
Brody shook his head. ‘Just that she wouldn’t accompany you.’ A leaden lump began to form in his gut. He was sure whatever Ben was about to say wouldn’t sit well with him. He filled his glass and passed the decanter to Ben.
‘Because she is having a couple of nights with a friend nearby.’ Ben lifted his glass and poured some brandy into it. ‘A lady who is a very rich widow.’
Brody felt all his blood rush to his face. He was correct to think it would not sit well. The lump swelled and he was thankful they had discarded jackets and cravats hours earlier.
Ben nodded again. ‘Exactly. I have a feeling the lady you say you compromised is one of my wife’s dearest friends and that said wife is sharpening her knives to stick in you. That or a voodoo doll.’
Brody grimaced. ‘Not that, I beg of her. I remember Childe’s stories when he returned from the other side of the world early this year. Enough to make your hair stand on end. I have difficulty enough taming mine as it is.’
‘Disabling you apart, the ladies will no doubt be plotting, so perhaps you might want to think over your next steps?’ Ben suggested. ‘I will of course be happy to act as referee or second or whatever.’
‘Your generosity is overwhelming,’ Brody said dryly. ‘As I have no idea how to proceed perhaps you can give me some advice there. We seem to be at an impasse. I want her as my wife, she wants… or wanted, who knows now, me as her lover. Is there any reason why I cannot be both? Hell, Ben, what is so abhorrent about marriage to me? I’m hale, healthy, wealthy and, as far as I know, have no disgusting habits. I don’t take snuff, rarely smoke a cigarillo any more, gamble only in moderation and refrain from spitting or swearing.’
Ben laughed. ‘Really?’
Brody tilted his head to one side as he thought over his statement. ‘All right, disregard the swearing. This lady is enough to make a saint swear and I’ve never considered myself saint-like, but hell, Ben, she has to marry me.’
‘Why?’
That brought Brody’s head up. ‘What do you mean, why? She’s a lady. I bedded her.’ He stopped speaking abruptly and a warm glow heated his cheeks. ‘You married Clarissa.’
‘Ah, but I hadn’t bedded her, just been found stroking her ankle at a ball.’ Ben paused. ‘Allegedly. And I can’t say Clarissa was enamoured by the thoughts of our betrothal or marriage but it worked out in the end.’
Brody sighed. ‘That’s Clarissa. Mary… I might as well name her, for it’s obvious you know of whom I am speaking?’
Ben nodded.
‘Then, Mary informed me she does not want to marry again, and won’t. Unequivocally, has no intention of once more entering into holy wedlock.’
‘Ah.’ Ben was silent for a moment. ‘Did she say why?’
‘Not really. Merely that she has no desire or intention to remarry, she’s happy as she is. And…’ He bit his lip, conscious that perhaps he was sharing something Mary hadn’t wanted broadcast. It’s Ben. He’s as close as the grave. ‘…this is between us, yes?’
‘Of course. All this conversation is. Neither Clarissa nor Mary would be best pleased to know we are discussing them as well as the bill to be put before parliament soon.’
‘She was married for years and had no children. I wondered if it was something to do with her or her husband’s age?’
‘Her marriage?’ Ben looked thoughtful. ‘It was, by all accounts a love match, even with such an age gap. Clarissa did say she thought Mary wanted children but it wasn’t to be? Maybe she is worried that she can’t conceive?’
‘I would have thought it more likely her husband was the one falling down there. If he was so much older,’ Brody said slowly. ‘I want her for herself, not as a brood mare. That apart, I have brothers, so it is immaterial.’
‘Is it though?’ Ben looked thoughtful. ‘Honestly, could you see Blair or Euan as the next duke? Running the ducal estate with confidence and enjoyment like you now seem to. And do not say, they’d have your mama. Because they wouldn’t really. Not for as long as they were head of the dukedom. And, didn’t you say that both of them have threatened you with all sorts of nasty things if you don’t secure the line so they do not have to? So brothers mean you don’t need an heir? Honestly, do you really think that?
Well put like that, no he didn’t.
‘So what the hell am I going to do?’ He felt an idiot asking Ben for advice, but Brody owned he had no clue how to proceed. He couldn’t forget her, his unwilling-to-play pego showed him that. But Ben was correct. He did need to marry and have an heir.
‘What if I married and only had females? Blair would have to step up to the mark then.’
‘But he’d know you’d tried. And think of all the fun you’d have trying. Plus, you’d have years to show him the ropes.’
Brody stood up and began to pace the room. He kicked at the fire irons and winced at the discordant jangle they made as they hit each other. ‘Sorry. Childish but satisfying.’ Brody took up the poker, stirred the fire and once more settled the irons. ‘I know I’ll have to marry, but how can I? I’m not the rake I was. She’s not one of those young bored matrons of the ton whose husbands turn a blind eye to what goes on because they’re doing the same thing with someone else’s wife. She’s a young widow who deserves more than a tumble. Hell, I thought it was more than a tumble. Godalmighty, Ben I’m bloody confused. Where do I go from here?’ He sat down again with a thump that rocked the chair and gulped a goodly mouthful of port.
‘Ah, that’s the dilemma,’ Ben said in a sympathetic tone. ‘Are you prepared to go on as you are? Sulking or living a life you don’t want in town? Or are you ready to come back here, talk to the lady, ask her what she wants and decide if you can live with that. Maybe woo her, and accept it might not work. After all, really and truly, what have you got to lose?’
‘My sanity?’
Ben laughed. ‘We all lose that around the women we love.’
Brody’s glass slipped through his fingers. ‘Love? I never mentioned love.’ His heart missed a beat and his stomach churned. After Mercedes he had no time for such a thing. To love and lose once, was more than any man should have to bear. To love and lose again? Not to be thought of. Much better to harden his heart against more hurt, and say there was no such thing as love. ‘That’s absurd. I like her, respect her and want her. But love? I’ve never loved anyone in my life,’ Brody said emphatically and untruthfully and picked his glass up as he rubbed at the liquid now staining the carpet with the toe of his shoe. ‘Love doesn’t come into the equation.’
‘You think not? Oh Brody, you do need to take a long hard look at yourself.’ Ben put his glass down. ‘Methink thou protesteth too much.’
‘You’re wrong. Love doesn’t exist.’ Why did his voice sound panicky? ‘I should know, I’ve had enough paramou…’
The Duke's Seduction of Lady M Page 20