"I also have a wealth of knowledge about—"
"No." He placed a finger against her lips. She nibbled on it until he gave her a mock warning look that made her shiver. "I am astounded that Great-Aunt Aurore encouraged you in these elopements."
"Hugh, she is the very reason for them. She has entertained me with this tale for years, telling me how our family was cursed to fall instantly in love, or meet with dire results if we did not. I only eloped because I was trying to find my one true love."
"Did you ever doubt the curse?"
She shook her head. "Never. Though I did lose faith recently. I accused Great-Aunt of making it all up merely to keep me quiet as a child."
Hugh's lips twitched. "You were never quiet as a child."
"I was whenever she told me this story!"
"What restored your faith in it?"
She had expected mockery, or even disbelief, but instead Hugh's voice seemed almost tender, his interest decidedly genuine. It took her breath away momentarily. She was relating her adventures about finding her one true love to the very man who was her one true love—whether or not he believed the legend.
"When I informed Great-Aunt Aurore at your—well, one evening I told her I was relinquishing this quest, because it was obviously hopeless, despite my devoted efforts. She was forced to reveal how she had been cursed too."
"She seems perfectly happy, even if she never wed."
"Oh, she is happy, but cursed all the same. I thought I could persuade Frederick to marry Great-Aunt, to finally put an end to the curse for both of them. But he is unyielding, despite the fact they have loved each other for decades."
"Frederick. Frederick. I cannot seem to place—" Hugh's eyes widened. "You cannot mean—"
"The very one! If I had known of my aunt's plight beforehand, I might have never eloped in the first instance."
He eyed her intently for several moments, and it took a great deal of self control to keep from squirming. It was all well and good to chatter about the family curse in the abstract, but after her revelations about Great-Aunt Uproar and Frederick. . . perhaps Hugh was wondering how quickly he could get their marriage dissolved.
Before he could respond, she hastened to add, "No matter what might have occurred previously, you can be assured I am quite the sedate married woman now—"
His lips lifted in a slow smile. "There is nothing sedate about you, and never will be." He leaned forward and gave her exposed nipple a kiss. "It's what I treasure about you."
She could not halt the shivers he elicited, but somehow she managed to say rather calmly, "I meant I am intent on putting my flighty past behind me. I have put it behind me."
He dotted kisses along her shoulder, and down her arm, and she hoped his goal was another area begging shamelessly for his attention. She was so consumed by the sensations he was causing, she nearly missed his question.
"You have found your one true love then?"
"Yes, I have," she managed, though her breath was ragged from the effects of his endless kisses and caresses. She was ready to call a halt to the conversation, at least until much later, once they had communicated in a more passionate fashion.
But then Hugh brushed her hair away from her face, gazing at her with an unreadable expression. "How are you so certain?"
His question puzzled her. How could he not know her feelings? She had pursued him, relentlessly so, even when he was betrothed to another. She would do so again if faced with the same situation.
"I am certain, because now whenever I think of a carriage, I want to be there with you, and no one else."
His laugh was low and sexy. "You always surprise me."
"I plan to do so for a long time," she said. "You may even come to like them one day."
"I can think of nothing better." He paused, his expression becoming more serious. "Though perhaps I should explain my lack of enthusiasm about surprises. A family curse of my own."
"What do you mean?"
"You were probably too young to hear the tales about my parents. Or maybe you encountered some of the whispers about them over the years." Hugh lifted her hand and punctuated his words with kisses on her fingertips. "But they were the epitome of wickedness."
"More wicked than you?" She delivered her best theatrical gasp, complete with a hand to the back of her forehead. "I cannot imagine such a thing."
He bit the tip of her finger playfully. "A great deal more wicked than me. They had raucous parties every night, with half-naked people chasing each other through the hallways—it was many years before I realized other houses were not like mine."
"Yes, well, that is quite wicked, since they had a child with which to be concerned."
"I can assure you I was the very least of their concerns. Most times I suspect they forgot they even had a child."
"No! I cannot bear to believe that."
"It is quite true." He laced his fingers with hers, and continued in a light tone, but she saw a hint of tightness in his jaw. "Once, after a spate of wild activity, my parents must have decided to heed my poor grandmother's warnings. They remained at home, doting on me for days." He smiled briefly at the memory, clearly one that he cherished. "But some new scandal finally caught their fancy, and I was left in the care of nannies and tutors once more, waiting impatiently for them to come home."
"They had to have been completely heartless. I am glad I never knew them."
He shrugged, as if it did not matter very much. "One day, while I pestered my grandmother endlessly about when my parents were coming home, she sat me down. Or she tried to."
Felicia hid a smile, not wanting to interrupt Hugh, but she wondered if he saw any of his childhood traits in Lucinda's personality. They were more alike than he probably wanted to acknowledge.
"I was impatient to hear about their return, and did not notice the strain in Grandmother's voice. She finally managed to tell me they would not be returning, ever again. I was certain she was mistaken. I sat by the window, and continued to wait—"
"Oh, Hugh."
Felicia squeezed him tightly, trying to give solace and comfort to the young boy he'd been, as well as to the man he'd become.
"Such a fierce embrace," Hugh teased, but he smiled when she finally released him.
"It distresses me so, thinking of what you endured."
"I am not the only child to have lost his parents in a carriage accident. I have quite overcome it," he assured her. "A long time ago."
She was not entirely convinced of that, but she did not press the point. Instead, she gave him another heartfelt kiss. "It also distresses me how I have contributed to your worries with my endless stream of surprises."
"Thankfully the majority of yours are delightful. Eventually." He grinned before giving her additional kisses in return. "And perhaps it will set your mind at ease to know that you have yet to surpass the greatest surprise of my life: when Lucinda landed on my doorstep."
Felicia tilted her head, waiting for him to continue.
"It was a shock to learn I was a father, of course. But I was aghast to discover I'd been just as careless as my own parents. I had a child I'd abandoned while I continued to pursue my hedonistic life as Lord Wastrel."
"It is not at all the same, Hugh. Your parents were well aware they had a child, but they chose to ignore their parental responsibilities. You had no notion of Lucinda's existence. How could you have?"
"I couldn't, I suppose. Marguerite had never given me any reason to believe otherwise. But until that day it had never occurred to me I was following the same path as my parents. I reformed myself that very moment, to ensure Lucinda had the parent she needed, rather than the dreadful one I was when she arrived." He frowned. "And now I pray my misspent youth does not compel Lucinda to embark on a scandalous life of her own one day. That would indeed be a family curse."
He managed the words in a joking fashion, but Felicia could see the doubt lingering in his eyes.
"Have you considered it was not a misspent
youth? You may have been utterly wicked and dissolute, reveling in every depraved moment of your bawdy existence—"
He raised his eyebrows as if shocked, but his lips twitched with amusement.
"I merely repeat what I have recently experienced," she added with a grin that made him laugh. "But perhaps all of it, even your wretchedly selfish parents, served to prepare you for your current role. There can be no doubt what a devoted and loving father you are. I am certain there is none better."
Hugh appeared to consider that for a moment. He leaned in and kissed her once more. "I can only hope you are correct. For Lucinda's sake."
Felicia returned his kiss, slowly, and tenderly. She understood so much about her husband now, and it made her love him even more intensely than she thought possible. His heart had been betrayed too many times, and at too young an age. It would take time before he was willing to give it to her permanently.
She would have to remain patient, though she prayed it would not take decades. Until then she would give Hugh her love, doing her best to dispel his fears, about himself and his ability to protect his beloved daughter from harm.
Her kiss became more passionate, and he responded in equal measure.
"Come here, Lord Wastrel. I have a surprise I believe you will enjoy immensely."
Chapter 21
Felicia did her best to stifle a yawn. She had wanted to stay abed this morning, but Great-Aunt Aurore had said she desired her niece's company, especially since they had seen so little of each other after the wedding. Felicia missed being in her husband's embrace, but she could not find it in her heart to decline her aunt's wistful invitation to sample the ices at Gunter's.
Still, her thoughts strayed to Hugh, and his demanding, yet exhilarating, lovemaking the past few nights. She would swear his passion had increased in intensity ever since he'd revealed his sad history with his parents, as well as his fears for Lucinda's future. It warmed her soul to think it was a sign of his burgeoning trust in her.
It also warmed other portions of her being, ones she intended to assuage by cornering Hugh for a few hours once she returned home. Until then, another dish of ices would have to serve as a temporary cooling mechanism.
"I need something different," Great-Aunt Aurore said emphatically, setting her spoon down.
"Did you wish to try the parmesan instead? I have heard many good things about the muscadine as well."
Great-Aunt clucked her tongue. "I have been discussing bonnets these past five minutes, Felicia, but you were not attending."
"My apologies. My mind is. . .elsewhere." She felt her cheeks heat, but she had no intention of divulging just where her thoughts had been roaming.
"Do not think I haven't noticed you pining away for your husband."
"I am not pining."
Great-Aunt rolled her eyes. "If anyone is well acquainted with pining, it is me."
Felicia pushed her dish aside. "Whenever I fear I am making little progress with Hugh, I have only to recall what you have endured over the years."
"I have not endured anything," her aunt scoffed. "I have spent these past decades loving Frederick, and knowing with absolute certainty he loves me."
"But you said you knew about pining—"
"Oh, I do." Great-Aunt grinned. "But I was talking about hats."
Felicia could not contain her laughter. "Tell me what you need. I suspect it is something grand."
"And large," Great-Aunt demonstrated, her hands spread wide. "With tremendous flowers."
"Those have not been in fashion for decades. You may have to create your own design."
"What an excellent notion! In truth, it would be a wonderful service to add to the elopement academy—"
Felicia held up a hand. "Do not let Hugh hear your suggestion. It will make him succumb to apoplexy."
Great-Aunt's sigh was a heavy one.
"Why did you need such a creation anyway? I cannot think of anywhere in London you could wear it. Have you been invited to a masquerade ball?"
"No, but what a lovely notion. I haven't been to one in ages." Great-Aunt smiled, in an almost secretive fashion, her earlier disappointment evaporating. "In my youth, masquerades were so delightfully risque. You never knew for certain who might be behind a mask. Perhaps a duke. Or maybe even a coachman."
Felicia nearly choked on the lemon ice she'd just put in her mouth. She had never considered the notion that Great-Aunt and Frederick had found ways to sneak away to indulge their feelings for each other. It would have been a clever way to spite the curse—and the restrictions of society—that kept them apart for decades.
Before Felicia could press her aunt for more information, Great-Aunt said excitedly, "That is where I saw her! It has taken me quite a long while, but now I remember—"
"Who?"
Great-Aunt's expression was nothing short of triumphant. "The woman at Hugh's betrothal ball." She chuckled. "His first one. Before you were wed."
"Yes, I know which one you mean. Since my own 'betrothal ball' occurred after the wedding."
Felicia could not hope to stop her thoughts from racing towards that particular evening, since it had been the commencement of many delightfully decadent nights with her husband.
She tapped her fingers on the table. What was Hugh doing at that moment? Did he spend as much time contemplating these insatiable stirrings as she did? Perhaps—
"Felicia!" Great-Aunt Aurore leaned forward, her mouth open to repeat her niece's name.
"My apologies!" She struggled to remember what they had been discussing. "You mentioned the woman from the betrothal ball—"
"Yes. She was at a masquerade—that is where I had seen her previously. Although it was many years ago, which is why I could not place her immediately."
"How can you be certain it was her? She was no doubt in costume then."
"True. She was dressed as a Greek goddess, complete with a long sweeping white gown, and a gold headdress. It was quite brilliant, since her actual name is Lady Aphrodite—" Aurore halted, her mouth open in shock.
Felicia grasped her aunt's hand. "Are you quite all right?"
"I cannot believe I forgot. That masquerade was the night Frederick and I fell in love." She blinked, as if trying to see that long-ago night more clearly. "It was mere moments after a conversation with this same woman."
Felicia gasped. "That is what happened to me! You cannot think—is she—"
"I am not quite sure what to think," Great-Aunt Aurore admitted. "Yet there are remarkable similarities in both our situations."
"She is so youthful," Felicia said. "Surely it cannot be the same person. How could that be possible?"
Great-Aunt merely shrugged.
Was this woman the source of their family curse? Felicia had not seen her since that ill-fated horse ride in Hyde Park. Perhaps all of it was an odd coincidence. But if it were not, if Lady Aphrodite was the reason they had been cursed with true love, they needed to seek out the woman, to discover what she could offer as a resolution for the two pairs of lovers.
Felicia laughed at the strange turn of events. It had been a complete surprise, one that would be hard to top, that was for certain.
"Lady Weyson?"
Felicia glanced up, half expecting to see Lady Aphrodite standing at their table, as if their conversation had conjured her into appearing. She nearly laughed at such a flight of fancy. Instead, it was a young woman Felicia had never seen previously. Yet the woman gazed intently, as though she were well acquainted with Felicia.
It was not entirely unexpected, since she was still quite notorious, despite her intentions and recent wedded state.
"Your ladyship, might I have a word with you? I have need of your help."
Felicia was torn, not wanting to appear ill-mannered. Still, it was one thing when people of her acquaintance asked for elopement assistance. She knew just how displeased Hugh would be once he learned it occurred with people to whom she had not even been introduced.
She did not wan
t to incite his displeasure, not when he was finally beginning to trust her.
"I am sorry—"
Though it pained her to do so, Felicia gave the woman a regret-filled smile and turned away. She gave her attention to Great-Aunt Aurore once more, and waited to hear the disappointed woman's footsteps heading for the door.
Instead, she heard, "Your ladyship, I am Lucinda's mother."
***
Hugh brought the stallion up short, right in front of the Enfield stables, and dismounted. Once he was done here, he would stop for a visit with Felicia's brother. Hopefully Tony would be there too, though he could only imagine what the man would have to say about his last encounter with Felicia.
Hugh laughed. He could not remember ever feeling so content. With himself. His life. And most especially his wife. Several lust-filled thoughts immediately surfaced. On the morrow he would show Felicia a variety of reasons for staying abed much later than was her custom.
Until then, he had another surprise in mind for her.
He glanced around and finally noticed an older gentleman demonstrating to some younger stable boys the proper method for brushing down the horses. It was just the man he sought.
"Frederick," he said, clapping the coachman on his shoulder. "Might I have a word with you?"
"Yes, your lordship," he answered with a nervous gulp. "Of course."
They walked to the back of the stables, towards an empty stall, where they could speak freely without the other men overhearing them. Frederick's eyes darted anxiously, but Hugh waited until they were quite alone before saying anything further.
"I understand you will not make an honest woman of Great-Aunt Aurore."
The man started, and then blushed to the tips of his ears. Hugh did not know it was possible for skin to turn such a deep shade of red.
"Your lordship," Frederick said, his eyes lowered slightly, but his voice defiant. "It would be unseemly for her to marry a lowly coachman such as myself."
"But you do love her."
"Of course I do. I will love her until my dying day."
Lord Wastrel (The Curse of True Love Book 2) Page 14