Before he could even ask, the door opened, and Vanity jumped out. “Your wife has volunteered me to save an orphan.”
Abigail stuck her head out too. “Orphan makes her sound like a child. She’s a woman.”
Chad stepped up and reached his hand in to help his wife out. “I’m afraid you’ve lost me.”
Vanity waved his hand. “I can stand here and explain, but then I might be too late.” He turned to Abigail giving her a glare. “Which might not be the worst thing.”
“We can’t just leave her. We have to help.”
Vanity shook his head, letting out a frustrated breath. Chad got the feeling they’d been arguing for some time. Which didn’t actually bother him all that much. A little distance between his friend and his wife might ease some of his jealous fears.
“Why?” Vanity asked, shoving a hand through his hair. Chad wasn’t used to seeing the man so disheveled and he quirked a brow as he noticed it now.
Abigail shook her head. “Because, Vanity, I was her. I was the orphan and if not for my sisters looking out for me, my uncle would have likely done to me exactly what they’re about to do to her.” She drew in a sharp breath. “Try to understand. I can’t be Eliza. I don’t have a little sister. But I can help her.” And Abigail pointed back toward the village.
Vanity raked a hand through his normally perfect hair. “Fine. You help her then. You save her and hire her as your personal maid. I don’t want to help. I’ve changed my mind.”
Abigail let out a slow breath, and then she looked at him. “We met a woman who’s about to be auctioned off to the highest bidder by the church.”
A muscle in his jaw ticked. Not because he didn’t wish to help. He understood her point, and he was beginning to understand her past. “I’ve very little funds currently to pay the priest to stop the auction.”
“Can you force him to stop?” She licked her lips as she looked up to the sky in thought. “Or I could steal her away. That’s what Eliza would surely do.”
“Bloody bull—” Vanity started, and Chad realized his friend was very upset. And Vanity was never distressed about anything.
“You can’t stage a daring rescue, love. Not when your own life is still in danger.”
“Danger?” she asked, shrugging. “We’ve been perfectly safe here.”
“Still.” He reached for her hand. “It’s best you remain out of this.” Then he looked at Vanity. His friend’s eyes were near wild, his pupils dilated, and his hair was an absolute mess. Chad studied his friend. “Vanity?”
Vanity scrubbed his hair again. “Fine. I’ll help her. But once I’ve stopped the auction, what do you suggest I do with her?”
Abigail squeezed his hand. “She’s uncommonly beautiful.”
Ahh. That explained a great deal. “Does she have any skills?”
“How should I know? We exchanged all of two sentences before your wife jumped in to help.”
Chad had to confess that the discord between Vanity and Abigail gave him some measure of satisfaction. He wrapped his arm about his wife. At one time, he might have wanted to see this woman of rare beauty. Now he couldn’t care a whit. What he wished for was his wife in his arms.
“Bring her back to my house where you’ll be chaperoned while we decide.”
Vanity gave him a dark frown. The sort he’d never seen on his friend’s face. “Bring a beautiful woman back to you?”
He heard Abigail gasp while his own jaw hardened. “Sweetheart, would you please wait in the carriage while I break Vanity’s face?”
“Chad,” she said, a pleading note edging into her voice. “He’s your friend and he’s doing us a great favor.”
He drew in a slow breath as the Vanity gave him a hard glare back. Then he broke the stare to swipe a kiss across Abigail’s forehead. “Would you please give us a moment, love? I swear I will not commit any violence.”
She gave a quick nod and then climbed into the carriage.
He looked back at Vanity, his arms crossing. “Did you just imply, in front of my wife, that I am not to be trusted with another woman?”
Vanity winced. “She’s the sort of woman who might make a man forget reason.”
Chad understood. Completely. “I can assure you that you can trust me with your orphan. I’ve already lost my reason, but Abigail holds it in the palms of her little hands.”
Vanity smiled. “I’m going to give you some advice. Have another wedding. The sort that will make all her dreams come true. And give her a ring. And, if you’re really brave, declare your feelings in front of her sisters.”
Chad sucked in his breath. Of course, declaring his love was what he should do.
But then he realized that Vanity needed some advice in this moment too. “Go save this girl. Find out what she’s like and what she needs. Pass her off as your second cousin until you figure out what to do with her.”
Vanity gave a stiff nod, mussing his hair again. “I might need to borrow your carriage.”
Chapter Fourteen
Abigail watched as Chad climbed into the carriage, his face set in hard lines. “What’s happening?”
“I’m not entirely certain,” he answered, capturing her lips before he sat.
“Is he going to save Gabriella?”
“Yes,” Chad answered, settling not across from her but next to her, tucking her against his large frame.
“Is she going to come stay with us?” Abigail studied his profile as a gentle grin played at his lips.
“Would it worry you if she did?”
She huffed, not liking the way he’d just answered a question with another question. “It likely should.”
With a quick move, he pulled her into his lap. “Should it?”
She huffed, even as he started to kiss a trail down her neck. “Your questions are getting annoying.”
He grinned against her collarbone. “What will you do to me?”
“Is spanking out of the question?” She pushed off his chest to glare down at him, but instead, his eyes darkened in a way that made her whole body aware of every place she touched him.
“No. It isn’t.” He tightened his grip around her waist even as he leaned forward to take her lips with his. “And you shouldn’t worry about any other women. All I can think about is you.”
Satisfaction slithered down her spine. “I’m glad to hear it. I know the passion between us won’t always be so…”
“Who says?”
“You’re asking questions again,” she murmured, but he was kissing the sensitive spot behind her ear and she found her head tilting to give him better access. “But it’s my turn. Why do you usually tire of a woman?”
He stilled. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Why not?”
“Because.” He pressed his forehead to hers, looking into her eyes. “I wasn’t married to any of them.”
She shrugged then. Those weren’t the words she’d hoped to hear. “Lots of men who are married have roving eyes.”
He frowned then, his gaze still locked with hers. “I bet those wives don’t smell as good as you.”
She shook her head. “My smell?”
“When we get home, we’re going straight upstairs. If we even make it to the bed chamber.”
Her body throbbed at the suggestion, but she attempted to clear her head. “Honestly. My smell is the reason you’ll be faithful?”
He made a sound, deep in his throat. So masculine, she forgot to breathe. “Your taste too. The pink of your nipples, the feel of your skin. No woman has ever driven me this mad. I—”
Now that was pleasing. She kissed him this time, sliding her tongue against his lips.
She’d yet to take the lead like this, but it seemed to drive him to the brink of lust. His hands were all over her back, his tongue meeting hers thrust for thrust.
He slid his palm up her neck and she heard her pins scatter to the floor as he thrust his hand in her hair. “And your damn hair,” he gritted out against her lips. “I dream
about it at night.”
The carriage pulled to a stop and he didn’t even pretend to walk her inside. Picking her up, he carried her from the carriage and up the stairs.
She let out a half scream, half laugh as he broke into a run.
By the time they made it to the bedroom, they were both breathless as he yanked on her clothes all the while kissing her.
“Do not tear the dress. It’ll be a month before I have more.”
He slowed his hands. “You’d better help me strip you naked then because I want to see your skin. Now.”
“My nipples?” She gave him a seductive smile as she slowly untied her skirts.
He made that sound again, the one that reverberated deep from his throat and straight between her legs.
“Yes. And your stomach. I’m going to kiss every inch of you right down to the bottom of your feet and then…”
She whimpered as the skirt finally gave. He was half on her on the bed and she couldn’t remove any of the layers. “Chad.”
He stood up then and between the two of them, they stripped in record time. Chad picked her up, her legs wrapping about his waist.
Even though she’d not given him her maidenhead yet, she had no fear in this moment. He’d spent hour after hour, night after night, pleasuring her. She wasn’t the least bit afraid of feeling his skin against hers. And as his manhood rubbed against her folds, she found herself growing more and more excited. Her nipples tingled with pressure as she rubbed against him, their mouths locked together.
Without intent, she pressed into him and he slid inside her. It burned like the last time but also a deep satisfaction at the joining filled her and she slid further down his thick length.
She hadn’t tried this again. Because, well, she was afraid, deep in her heart, that once they did this, everything would change. Would he lose interest?
But the thoughts fell out of her head again. Because he felt so good as he held her body to his. He stilled as she slid further down his shaft.
A sharp pain made her gasp. “Chad!”
“It’s all right, my love. I’ve got you.” He kissed her temple then and he took the step to the bed. But rather than lay her down, he sat with her in his lap and then lay back, her on top of him. “We don’t move until you’re ready.”
Her heart swelled. Oh, she loved this man.
She kissed him again as the pain receded. With slow measured movements, he pushed himself all the way inside her until they were completely joined. “Chad,” she said, with him fully seated. “I have to tell you something.”
“What is it love?”
“I think I love you,” she said as he slid back out and then into her body. This time, it didn’t hurt. Instead, pleasure radiated out from her deep inside. “I don’t need you to say anything, but I just want you to know that your happiness means everything to me and I’ll give you whatever you need.”
He pushed into her again, his arms cradling her body to his chest. He kissed her then, long and slow as the rhythm beat faster, their bodies moving together until she shattered in ecstasy.
It only took two more strokes, and he came undone as well, spasms racking his body. When he quieted, he didn’t let her go, didn’t slide out from inside her. Instead, he kissed her temple, her cheeks, her hair.
“Sleep, love,” he murmured as her eyes drifted closed. “I’ll wake you for dinner.”
To her amazement, she did exactly as he asked.
* * *
A deep ache radiated from his chest down his limbs.
She’d told him that she loved him as she’d broken apart in his arms.
He didn’t deserve any of it.
What had he done? He’d mucked up their wedding, he’d all but informed her he intended to return to his life as a rake, and he’d certainly made it clear he was marrying her for her dowry.
No one in his entire life had ever loved him and he knew why. He didn’t deserve it. He didn’t deserve Abigail.
She lay against him, soft and warm, her mane of thick brown hair trailing over his arm. She should have better than him, a failing baron who was the hated second son.
He stroked down the curve of her spine as she sighed in her sleep. And a sad smile touched his lips. Was she worried about some random woman coming into this house? Ridiculous.
Granted, it hadn’t seemed that way a week ago, but something had shifted in him. She was all he ever wanted. Her beauty all he’d ever see. Abigail fed not just his body but his soul. Filled him with the sort of love and warmth he’d never dreamed would be his.
With that in mind, he slipped out from under her, leaving her in the bed. Part of him wanted to stay. He could lie next to her for hours, but he had two important errands to run.
The first was to check on Vanity.
Earlier, the man looked as though he’d gone temporarily insane. And when Abigail woke, she’d want to know what had happened.
But the other…
He was going to take Vanity’s advice. And the first step was purchasing a ring.
He didn’t have much in the way of coin, but he had enough, and he’d spend what was left on her.
He’d find a way to earn more.
After dressing, he crept from the room and slipped into his office, penning her a quick note to tell her that he’d be right back. He folded it and slipped it under the door of her bedroom, their bedroom as he hadn’t used his own since he’d arrived.
Then he headed out the door and down to the village.
He knew Vanity must have done something because a crowd of rather disgruntled-sounding men stood just outside the church, but there was no sign of his friend or his carriage in the village.
So he walked on to the local jeweler, stepping into the dimly lit shop.
There were several interesting designs, but he stopped in front of a case, an emerald winking up at him. Set in gold, it had several diamonds encrusted around the large stone, a delicate band completing the piece.
It was perfect.
He had no idea what color she’d like but something about the sparkling green gemstone spoke to him. Just like her, it was warm, and fresh, and whispered of a new beginning.
The jeweler stepped out and gave Chad a smile. “My lord, good to see you again.”
“And you, Mr. Stone.”
“I’ve heard the news. You’ve married. Congratulations.”
Some of the tension in Chad eased. “Thank you. It’s what brings me here today. I’d like a gift for my wife.”
Twenty minutes later, he’d haggled the jeweler down to a fair price and left with a delicate box tucked safely into his pocket.
He searched about the village but found no sign of Vanity, and then he started for home, taking the narrow dirt road.
Excitement filled him as he made his way down the rutted drive. He liked being at his estate with her. He’d have to return to London for the club…the business was the only thing that had kept him from debtor’s prison. A few more years and he’d be profitable again. He could leave the gaming hell and live here full time with Abigail…
He stopped. She’d likely want to be in London with her sisters. Her family. His family.
His chest ached again. For the first time in a long time he had…hope. A vision for the future and the feeling of being cared for.
No one could get in the way of that.
He’d never let them.
Chapter Fifteen
Abigail woke to find herself alone. She sat up in confusion, the other side of the bed cold as though Chad had been gone for some time.
She curled her fingers into the sheets then saw the note by the door. Rising, she crossed the room to pick up the folded sheet and saw his bold scroll across the parchment. He’d gone out to check on Vanity and would return shortly.
Her breath slowly released but then she drew it sharply back in. Having been with her fully had he decided he wished to see Gabriella?
She squeezed her eyes shut, willing the thoughts away. She’d co
nfessed her love to him. She should trust him.
But he hadn’t said the words back…though to be fair, she’d told him not to. Still, he’d been nothing but honest about his intentions and his long-term plans. Which did not involve being a full-time husband.
Her gut twisted but she straightened. She’d said she would give him love. And while she had doubts, she’d also promised him his happiness was important, and that she’d teach him to love.
Jealousy did not foster love.
He’d been forthright about his plans to return to his former life; from the start, he’d been honest. He’d also told her he wasn’t the least bit interested in Gabriella.
It was Abigail herself who always felt inferior to other women.
But today, she’d not allow those worries to make her act like a petulant child. With that in mind, she bathed, dressed, and went downstairs. The sun peeked out from behind some clouds.
She noticed a garden outside that was a bit overgrown but still beginning to bloom with some early spring flowers. She went to the kitchen and finding shears, returned upstairs and outside to begin cutting a bouquet for tonight. Did a woman give a man flowers?
She weeded a section, first because she couldn’t reach the stems but then because she liked the work.
Moving like this, her thoughts quieted. Vanity was clearly interested in Gabriella. The man had practically turned inside out at their brief meeting. And he was running in to rescue her. Abigail was being silly.
A smile touched her lips.
She cleared out a bed and then rose with an armful of blooms to arrange for their dinner this evening.
But she stilled. Had she just heard a branch crackle?
The more formal garden opened up into fields and then woods beyond. She scanned beyond the beds but didn’t see anything out of sorts. Slowly she took a step back toward the door, thankful she hadn’t ventured very far from the entrance.
The wind picked up, rustling the branches and adding to her feeling of unease.
Another branch cracked. Was it just the wind? She took another step back.
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