by Lisa Follett
Cassie stayed close to the window and looked out at the London sites as the carriage made its way to Camberley House. William, however, avoided her glances. They spoke barely two words to each other over the evening. The tension crackled through the carriage. Was Cassie thinking about their carriage ride just this morning? He almost smiled. Almost, but not quite. Their shared lust meant nothing. She may have given him her body, but, after all, it was her duty. Her heart? That she could keep to herself. It pained him more than anything that he could not make her share her heart.
Dinner with the Prescotts never failed to amuse him, but tonight was a rare exception. How could he act jolly when he was so damned melancholy? He pretended to be at a boring soiree, and pasted a Society smile on his face. Years of practice should count for something.
“Cassie dear, what do you think of Rosehill Manor?” asked his mother.
“It is quite delightful. I am looking forward to making it a home.” Cassie’s smile failed to reach her eyes.
Did his wife regret marrying him? Bothered by the sadness in her green eyes, he turned towards his brother Stephen.“Are you taking Prince to the Epsom Derby next week?”
“Yes. Would you like to come along? I believe Prince has a very good chance of winning the purse. I bet Cassie has never been to a horse race. It would be quite the treat for her.” Stephen raised his wine glass to his lips, as his dark eyes assessed his new sister-in-law.
William was like a bug under a looking glass. Did his brother suspect the marriage was not what it should be?
“I will ask Cassie if she is interested in such a thing.” He bit into his beef and chewed until the taste turned to dust in his mouth.
“Cassie, William and I were just discussing going to Epsom Derby next week. My horse, Prince, is a prime candidate for taking the purse. Would you like to come along?” asked Stephen
William glared at Stephen for his impertinence, but the rest of the family chimed in, and made the decision for both of them.
He watched as Cassie’s eyes widened. His family caught her in their web. Once she accepted the situation, her smile turned genuine. It appeared they would be going to a horse race. If only he could race out of here and return home. He rubbed his aching temples.
The ladies parted company with the gentlemen and left them to their port. Thank God. He took a deep drink and looked up to see his father’s and brother’s eyes focused on him. “What?”
James smirked. Stephen looked away. His father gave him a direct look that never ceased to make his stomach turn. At seven and twenty, he could not imagine what he had done to get himself in trouble. The last time this happened he was still in leading strings.
“You are not happy. What is going on?” The Marquis of Camberley managed the most direct route in any conversation.
“I am perfectly happy. Why do you ask?” William studied his port.
“Humph.” His father answered. William did not want to continue this discussion.
“It is the curse.” James could not have portrayed himself more serious than at that moment.
William wished he had something to throw at his younger sibling. “I am married, am I not? That knowledge alone should put that ridiculous curse where it belongs –in a storybook.”
“Married, yes, but happy?” asked his father.
Could his father pull any harder punches? “It takes time for two people to adjust to living with one another. We are just beginning to learn each other.”
“Your mother and I did not have an easy time of it at first either.”
William sat his glass down and looked at his father. He noted his father had caught Stephen and James’ attentions as well. Their parents never fought, disagreed, or appeared out of accord with one another, at least not in front of their children. He could not imagine his parents having difficulty adjusting to their marriage. They were perfect.
“Despite what you might think, we are not perfect. In fact, we fought passionately when we first married. Your mother bonked me on the head once with a crystal glass. Drew blood. She thought she killed me.” His father laughed and wiped away tears with the back of his hand.
His sons stared at him. His mother? Granted, she certainly wielded a powerful look when needed, but he could not imagine her as violent. The years must have caught up with the old man.
“I will never forget it. The crystal cracked my head open. She had to call for a surgeon to stitch me up. The pain of that glass hitting my head did not compare to the pain I felt in her despair. I loved her. I still do, of course, but in the beginning, I did not realize just how much I loved her until she almost put me in the grave. It was my own fault though.”
“Whatever did you do?” William watched Stephen and James who were just as rapt with attention in his father’s story. Stephen’s eyes grew round while James chuckled in amusement.
“I took too long to realize the gift I had been given.” His father finished off his port and stood. “Let’s join the ladies, shall we?”
The men entered the drawing room, and the first face William saw was that of his wife. She wore the rose colored dress as when he first met. Somehow her glow seemed deeper, more womanly tonight. Her soft mounds peeked over the top of her bodice, and made his mouth water for her delicious taste. He wanted her. Despite her feelings towards him, he still wanted to bury himself deep within her sheath. How could any man not want such a delectable beauty?
He thought of Parker, his cutting remarks and the smirk on his face. The man was an idiot to let her go. And he was damn glad of it regardless of the circumstances. He may not have her heart, but he had her. She was his wife. His.
He approached Cassie’s side and took her hand in his. She startled at the gesture, but quickly relaxed and continued conversing with Anne. He did not miss Anne’s eyes flick over their hands before she looked between them.
The family made plans for their upcoming trip to the derby, as well as the ball in Cassie’s honor. The Prescott ladies would plan a grand event to titillate the ton. He expected nothing less, even though his wife were a mere vicar’s daughter, she would take Society’s breath with her beauty and charm. And he would secretly revel in his fortune at finding a wife, despite the damnable curse.
***
Cassie breathed a sigh of relief as the carriage pulled up to their townhouse. The night had been difficult. Her husband constantly changed from hot to cold from the moment he entered the drawing room. When he took her hand she was surprised by his affectionate gesture, and she warmed with the pleasure of it. Did he have something on his mind that had nothing to do with her? It was a possibility. Perhaps she only imagined his displeasure with her. Would come to her tonight? Once they alighted from the carriage, there was no time to consider his plans.
William swept her into his arms and carried her up the stairs. “I believe, my dear, it is time for bed.”
Her face burned from embarrassment as they passed the butler, footman, and a maid. She wanted to tell William to put her down, but she could not bring herself to say it. Instead, she buried her face against his shoulder.
Once they entered his bedchamber, he let her down, but held onto her so that her body glided down against his before her feet touched the floor. He tightened his hold against her and touched her cheek with the back of his hand. “So beautiful. So very beautiful.”
His voice whispered across her skin and she shivered with the expectation of what he would do to her body. He turned her around and unbuttoned her dress. “I will be your lady’s maid tonight.” His fingers burned her back, and sent heat throughout her body. The rose silk fluttered to the floor and sent a sweet breeze across her heated skin. He pressed a kiss to her shoulder, and more down her back as he wrapped his arms around her front and tugged at her corset strings. She breathed deeply when he released the corset from her body, and left her in her thin chemise.
William quickly divested her of the rest of her clothes. He pressed against her back with his rigid erection making it
self known against her bottom. His arms swept around her and his hands moved across her breasts then down her stomach. His fingers reached her mons and brushed her curls. He whispered in her ear, “I want to taste you there tonight, to put my mouth on you, to kiss and lick you there until you come apart.”
Cassie shivered as he swept her into his arms once again and carried her to his bed. He gently laid her naked form across his bed while never taking his eyes off of her, as he stripped his clothes from his body. She met his dark and stormy eyes and followed them to her core, where she lay open and exposed, ready to take him into her body. The heat and wetness of her mound flowed and throbbed.
She scanned his wide shoulders, muscled chest, and followed the line of dark curls until they reached the bulge which would soon fill her. Art did not do a man justice, at least not this man. He was everything beautiful and her hips rose instinctively off the bed to meet his offer of gratification.
“Patience, love.” William knelt before her, grasped her legs, and opened them to him before he pulled her forward. Her bottom met the edge of the bed as he wrapped her legs around his shoulders.
He could not be serious? Surely this was a sin. William smiled at her before delving between her legs and kissing her there. His tongue swept across her most intimate places, then twirled and suckled until nothing else mattered except his mouth against her. She wiggled on the bed, but he held her tight, and continued his torture until something swelled so deep inside of her she thought she would burst into flames.
Cassie grasped his hair and tugged downward to keep him in place until she lost all sense, then wept with the pleasure of it. Her dam burst and sensation swept across her body. Her hips lifted with eagerness off the bed. Tears escaped and flowed down her cheeks. William left her burning core, then moved over her and slipped inside to begin another round of exquisite torture.
This time his movements were not as slow and gentle. He pumped into her, and slammed against her thighs, then took her to new depths of bliss. She met his rhythm thrust by thrust until they reached beyond the stars, and he spilled his seed deep into her body. Their perspiration mingled as he lay over her with his chest pressed against her aching breasts. They breathed the same rhythm as their lovemaking, slowly descending to reality. William pulled out of her and gently cradled her in his arms.
Cassie snuggled against her husband. A few days ago she nearly missed out on this moment. A different decision and she would be in another man’s bed. She was glad things turned out they way they did.
Chapter Eleven
“This emerald green would be splendid on you.” Lady Camberley held the silk against Cassie. Such lovely fabric, and so costly. She nibbled on her bottom lip. She spent more today on one dress than she normally spent on her entire wardrobe for a year.
Lady Camberley looked at her oddly before she handed the fabric to Madame Colista. “Make something stunning from this.”
“Of course, my lady. You will be the diamond of the ball when I am done with this dress.”
Cassie watched Madame Colista flitter away. Outfitting six women for a season must be an overwhelming task.
“Shall we sit down and enjoy a cup of tea? I would like to speak to you while my daughters are occupied.” Seamstresses surrounded the four sisters and measured, pinned, and tucked. Cassie was fortunate they insisted she submit first, so now the ordeal was over.
She sat down on a settee at the far end of the drawing room. She looked over the rim of her cup, and watched her mother-in-law. She hoped whatever bothered Lady Camberley had nothing to do with her. So far, Lady Prescott showed her kindness and open arms.
“How are you and William getting along dear?”
“Fine, thank you.”
“Humph.”
Did Lady Camberley detect that things were not quite right? How utterly embarrassing! How could she explain something she did not understand herself? Should she ask Lady Camberley about William’s mood swings? She feared his constant change in temperature had to do with her. She was stumped as to why he offered for her in the first place.
Granted, they shared two sinful, lustful, intimate moments while she was still betrothed to Mr. Parker. Once near the river and once at Mulberry House. Her cheeks flushed from the memory. “It is rather warm in here.”
She could not think of any other reason why a man from such a noble and powerful family would offer for a mere vicar’s daughter. William must have felt some sense of honor towards after their scandalous indiscretions.
None of her fairytale made sense. He treated her well during the day. If you counted polite conversation at breakfast and a hurried retreat as doing well. The nights, however, were something else. He changed into a different man when he visited her room. She knew not what to make of it.
“Adjusting to marriage takes time. Lord Camberley and I did not get along very well at first. It took awhile for us to come around to each other, but in the end, I could not have been more blessed.” Lady Camberley’s eyes turned dreamy, and her features softened in such a way she suddenly looked much younger than her actual years.
“William and I get along fine, my lady,” said Cassie.
“In bed, perhaps, but what about outside of the bedchamber?”
Cassie nearly dropped her cup. “It really is quite warm in here.” Surely she just turned three shades of red. Good word! She did not want to discuss bed play with her mother-in-law.
“I have distressed you, my dear. I am sorry, but, I sense things are not as they should be. Call it mother’s intuition if you will. I know my William. He is not happy.”
Cassie closed her eyes and wished she could do the same to her ears. Not happy. Guilt enveloped her and squeezed the air from her lungs. She should not have married William. She brought her shame on his family, and now he regretted their marriage. When William proposed, he seemed to truly want her, want this marriage, but now, she was unsure.
She was so confused. Although she once believed herself in love with Mr. Parker, she could not imagine doing with him what she had done with William. Her world had shifted in such a short time, and her feelings were shifting as well. Pain seared her heart as she thought of William as unhappy. She wanted to be a good wife to her husband. But how could she if he kept his distance except at night?
“Cassie. Do you still love Mr. Parker?”
The air left her lungs. How was she supposed to answer such a question? She looked around the room, and searched for an escape. There was nowhere to go. She was well and truly trapped.
“Perhaps it is for the best if you did not answer.”
“I…uh…I…”
Mary grabbed a biscuit and plopped down in a nearby chair. “I am done with my fittings, thank goodness. I do not understand why women have to have so many changes of clothes. Morning dresses, walking dresses, dinner gowns, ball gowns. It is ridiculous if you ask me.” She looked curiously from one to the other. “Did I interrupt something serious? You both look like startled deer.”
“We were just talking, Mary,” said Lady Camberley.
“Talking about how William is so unhappy, I suppose,” said Mary.
Dear heavens! William’s family must despise her for the sham of their marriage.
“Oh, do not get your feathers in a ruffle, Cassie. It is William’s own fault. It is not as if he could expect you to fall madly in love with him only a day after returning from a spoiled trip to Gretna Green with your betrothed. He may be mad about you, but he cannot think you can turn your feelings on and off so easily.” Mary bit into her biscuit as if they were discussing the weather.
“Mary! Must you be so brass? I am sorry, Cassie. I did not mean for our conversation to turn so sour. I do not blame you, truly, I do not,” said Lady Camberley.
What exactly did they expect her to say? Could William be mad about her? She warmed at the thought. But no, he was too cold to her. At least he was cold during the day. But the nights…
“It is the curse.” Elizabeth poured herself
a cup of tea and sat down.
“What curse?”
“Oh, William did not tell you? Hmm…probably not. He doesn’t believe in it. You see, a long time ago, the third Marquis of Camberley, and his brother, the second son, fell in love with the same woman.” Mary’s eyes twinkled.
Elizabeth picked up the story from there, “Lady Monica, of course, married the marquis.”
Anne walked up to join them. “But the second son, Lord John, had a jealous fit of temper.”
“And when the marchioness refused to be his lover, he stabbed her with a knife,” added Elizabeth.
She looked back and forth as the sisters told their tale. What could this tragic triangle have to do with William?
Jane wandered over, obviously entranced with the story, and not wanting to be left out. “As she lay dying, she set a curse on Lord John.”
“And every second son of the Marquis thereafter,” said Anne.
“Which is odd when you consider it, since she in fact, cursed her own son,” said Elizabeth as she nibbled on a biscuit.
“I never thought about that.” Anne screwed up her face in consideration.
“Nevertheless, she did curse her own son, and every second son thereafter,” said Mary.
Jane continued, “According to legend, the second son of the Marquis of Camberley was cursed to rejection.”
“He is never to find his true love, or to marry. He is destined to remain a lonely bachelor,” said Elizabeth.
“But William married Cassie,” said Jane.
“So the curse came to an end,” added Anne.
“Except that William is unhappy,” added Mary.
“Mary!” The entire lot of them turned on Mary. She simply shrugged her shoulders.
Cassie paled. She could not believe in some silly curse, but she did believe William was unhappy. She was quite sure of it now. What could she do? They were bound to each other for life. She did not know how to make her husband happy.
“Oh posh. He is only unhappy because he believes his wife loves another.” Mary lifted her brows towards Cassie.