The Distinguished Rogues Bundle

by Heather Boyd

  “What gives you the right, sir, to take advantage of my daughter in such a way? She’s no mean trollop to swagger after like a jaded lothario. She deserved better treatment than this, and she will have it before the week is through. We are not without means, you degenerate scoundrel. You may be above me in rank, but we are not without friends. Did you think to dabble with her, and then discard her for greener fields? Guess again, Daventry. I will see that the deed is done properly.”

  “The deed has already been done,” Giles assured him, then ducked a blow. He had not meant his words to be taken quite that way. He trapped the older man’s swinging hands, pinned his arms behind his back, and turned him to face his daughter.

  “Lilly, if you please, the paper. Show your father what I was referring to.”

  Lilly looked white with fright and she shakily held the document up to her father’s gaze. When Lord Winter sagged, Giles carefully released him, prepared for the next swinging fist. He had certainly made an impression on his future father-in-law. Oh well, at least he would not be expected to call him Papa.

  “You never signed to end the agreement.” Winter took the paper and it shook in his grip. “You are still betrothed to Lilly?”

  Giles sat and picked up his cup. “So it would seem.”

  On the whole, Giles was actually happy that he would marry Lilly. Since the chemistry between them in bed was thrilling, and he did like her out of it too, he thought they had a chance to be happy.

  He was not used to feeling this good. Three trysts this morning had not sated his ardor for her touches. Good God, the woman had taken him into her mouth with such hunger and generosity that his cock stirred again.

  The next time he had her would be after they were married and he could finally enter that sweet, frail body that belied such a fierce passion for life. He doubted he would ever tire of her. He knew she did not believe him capable of monogamy, but the depths of their combined passions were barely tapped. He felt closer to her than any other. He couldn’t imagine wishing to stray.

  Lilly was passionate, uninhibited, and the most giving woman he had ever taken to bed. He hoped he did not pass out when they did make love. There it was again, he chided himself. He’d called it making love. He could not abide to use the word fuck when thinking about Lilly. Winter was right. She did deserve better treatment.

  He walked around Winter and pulled Lilly into his arms. She was shaking badly from the violence her father had exhibited, completely unprepared for such raw emotional displays. He kissed her hair and settled her into the window seat, pouring her another cup of tea just the way she liked. She took it and when Giles turned back, he found Winter gazing at him in astonishment.

  “I thought you barely knew each other.”

  Giles shrugged off the question, grabbed another chair for Lord Winter, then sat to finish his breakfast. When the stunned man joined them, Giles looked him in the eye and let some of his own anger show.

  “You left her with only the mean attentions of an incompetent nurse who drugged and deserted her the first night. What would you have had me do? Allow her to suffer needlessly? She endured more than her fair share of misery, but fortunately has recovered and now is mostly pain free. I followed your instructions and contacted no one. Not even you, since I did not have your direction, if you remember.”

  “What do you mean mostly pain free? I thought you said she was cured,” Winter asserted.

  “Nothing of the sort was spoken in this house. If you can bear to consider the matter, you can see when she is in pain. Like the stubborn Winter she is, she does her best to keep that knowledge wedged firmly behind clenched teeth,” Giles informed him, disgusted at explaining such an integral part of Lilly’s character to her own father. Did the man truly not know her?

  Lord Winter rubbed a hand across his face.

  “Papa.” Lilly fidgeted. “Am I truly betrothed to Giles still?”

  “It makes no difference now. You will be married before the month is out.”

  Giles discarded his teacup.

  Rapid steps approached the open bedroom door. He twined his fingers into Lilly’s just as Barrette burst into the room, red faced and puffing mightily.

  “What is the meaning of this?” The foppish demeanor had been discarded for hissing outrage. The man acted nothing like the amiable gent he had pretended to be just yesterday.

  “Congratulate us. Your cousin has agreed to marry me.” Giles pressed a lingering kiss to Lilly’s trembling fingers. He glanced at the clock. It was exactly thirty minutes since Lilly had last screamed his name. The thought of it stirred him again, and he wondered when he could get her alone.

  As if reading his thoughts, Lilly blushed a deep shade of red. He turned to find Barrette glowering at his uncle.

  “Are you three sheets to the wind? There will be no wedding.” Barrette’s gaze fell on Giles. “You have obviously coerced the baron into agreeing to this travesty of a marriage. Lillian isn’t fit to be a wife. You are just on the hunt for funds.”

  Winter surged to his feet. “Now see here—”

  Barrette sneered. “No, you see here, you fool.”

  Lord Winter bristled. “How dare you say such a thing to my face? Lord Daventry will be marrying my daughter. Just remember, it isn’t unheard of for a man to challenge his relation to a duel for an insult. Do not tempt me.”

  Giles dropped Lilly’s hand and stood beside the baron. “I believe that shall be my honor, my lord. He just insulted my future wife.”

  A successful duel would teach Barrette a lesson, but if Winter failed and died, Barrette would have access to Lilly’s dowry. He’d never release the funds, or her, for any marriage.

  Barrette shook with rage. “After everything I’ve done for you, you’d consider dueling over that pathetic creature. She probably arranged the whole affair just to live in the center of another scandal.”

  “Be gone.” Both Giles and Lilly’s father growled in unison.

  The little weasel held his ground. “You forget, sir, that I reached this destination in your company. I’ll leave when you do.”

  Giles had had enough. He reached past the baron and grabbed hold of Barrette’s arm. He hauled the light-weight to his bedchamber door and threw him towards Lord Carrington’s grinning visage. “Dump him in the village to await the stage.”

  “With pleasure, my friend.”

  Carrington grasped his arm and hauled the spluttering Barrette down the hall and hopefully out of the house.

  Giles found Lilly standing, but her hands twisted with agitation. Giles moved around behind her and rubbed into tense muscles again.

  “That’s how you did it, isn’t it?” Lord Winter exclaimed, watching Giles automatically soothing Lilly’s neck and shoulders that had clenched again in worry. “It never occurred to me, or any of those medical men.”

  “It was an accident.”

  “A damned lucky one at that!” Lord Winter approached them. “How often?”

  “Every day.”

  “Since when?”

  Giles considered the embarrassment Lilly would suffer if he answered honestly, and judged she would probably blush bright red. He could not answer.

  “Since you left me, Papa.”

  Lord Winter groped for his chair and sank into it, gulping loudly. “That long.”

  Giles eyed him for a moment then bent to Lilly’s ear. He drew in a deep lungful of her scent to get him through the next few hours. “Why don’t you go and rest to give your father some time to get used to the notion. I believe Mrs. Osprey will be waiting for you in your chamber.”

  She didn’t automatically go, but he caressed her derrière out of sight of her father, and she took his suggestion to leave.

  Lilly didn’t need to hear the details of the settlement. With all that had happened so far, he didn’t think she could handle many more shocks. He’d explain everything later with pleasure.

  “You do care for my daughter, don’t you, Daventry?”

 
Giles paused to consider how he felt about Lilly. He hadn’t tried to put that into words. They were friends and lovers, but Giles didn’t think Lord Winter would be happy to hear it phrased that way. “She has been uppermost in my mind for some time now, sir. I will take good care of her.”

  Winter did not seem completely happy, but let it pass, then informed Giles that Lilly’s dowry had increased before his father’s death. The amount surprised Giles. He’d had no idea of the change. But with funds of that size up for grabs he concluded someone would want to stop any marriage Lilly might make. And the best way to do that was either marry her—or kill her.

  ~ * ~

  “And I’m telling you it isn’t necessary.”

  Lilly jumped at the sound of Giles’ voice raised in anger. When she’d come downstairs, she’d discovered that Giles and her papa were ensconced in his study. By the sound of it they were not getting along at all. She leaned closer to the door, trying to better hear her father’s reply.

  “Yes it is. The money is hers, has always been set aside for her future happiness.”

  Discussions about money always caused strife between men. She hoped Giles wouldn’t debate the issue all day. A dowry was a sign of a girl’s worth, and a source of pride for her family. At least that was what her papa had always claimed.

  “I do not need that much money to be happy.” Giles insisted. “You risk crippling the estate.”

  “Ahem.”

  Lilly spun to find Lord Carrington a few paces away. He appeared amused by her eavesdropping. “I wasn’t—”

  Carrington smiled. “Of course you were, but no matter. I shan’t tell on you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I must say, meeting you has proven exciting. And throwing your cousin from the house this morning was a spot of fun. Detestable fellow – tried to convince me you planned it all.”

  “I—”

  Carrington held out his arm. “No one could make my friend behave in such a way if he was not completely committed to the outcome he has now. I offer an apology for doubting your motives. Shall we have tea in the drawing room?”

  Lilly glanced up at Lord Carrington and frowned. She didn’t know whether to trust such a reversal in his demeanor as a true overture of friendship or not. He was attempting to charm her.

  She took his arm rather than speaking.

  “I cannot wait to see the ruckus this marriage will cause amongst the ton.”

  “You mean among Giles’ paramours?”

  Carrington coughed. “I was referring to society at large, not his past associations.”

  Lilly frowned. “You needn’t pretend that he is one step away from sainthood. I am aware of some aspects in his life most women in my position are not. I don’t expect he will change.”

  “Past aspects.” Carrington shook his head. “Do you not know his family motto?”

  Lilly’s heart started to pound hard in her chest. She couldn’t remember.

  “The Wexhams are an oddity in society. Always have been too. They don’t marry until they must, and once they do, they pledge constancy to their wives. Decidedly unpopular stance to take in this day and age. I used to tease Daventry about it when I was young.”

  “You disapprove?”

  “My friends have all made love matches, not matches designed for dynastic greatness. As far as I can see, they are besotted with their choice of wife and their connections and a dowry, or lack of, held little sway in the decision. I didn’t understand such things before.”

  “And do you understand now?”

  Carrington nodded and turned his face to the window. In profile, she could see why most women liked the look of him. He was handsome, could hold a compelling conversation, but he was nothing like Giles Wexham. Could Giles pledge eternity to one woman?

  “What does Carrington understand?”

  Watching Giles stalk across the room set her heart to pounding again. He dropped to the cushion beside her, leant over, cupped one hand about her face, and kissed her soundly.

  Lilly pushed him away. “Please.”

  She glanced behind him, but found her father hadn’t joined them after all. Thank heavens he hadn’t seen her behave so badly. As it was, Carrington had moved away.

  “Suddenly shy?” Giles dipped his head and his lips caressed her ear. Gooseflesh rose along her skin in waves. “You were not so restrained last night.”

  Lilly licked her lips, struggling not to think about sharing Giles’ bed. Her body hummed in anticipation. “Papa sounded angry earlier. I don’t want to provoke him.”

  He caught her earlobe in his teeth, and she vibrated with pleasure. He let go and kissed the skin behind her ear. “Your father and I have come to an understanding at last.”

  Lilly set her hand upon Giles’ arm, intending to push him away, but her fingers curled around his limb and pulled him closer. “And that was?”

  Giles’ breath was harsh. “I get to marry you as quickly as I can manage it. If I thought you could bear a trip to the border, we would be on our way already.”

  Lilly frowned. That had not been what they had been arguing about.

  “Is it safe to return?” Carrington asked, a plaintive whine in his tone.

  She had to attempt to behave with some dignity around Giles. “Please do.”

  Carrington settled himself in an opposite chair, long legs crossing until he had just the right pose. “The two of you will be besieged with invitations once the announcements are made.”

  “I’m sure Giles will enjoy that.”

  Giles settled his arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “We will both enjoy the outings until you grow weary of them. You cannot think I’ll be attending balls without you. There will be many new people for you to meet.”

  “I wish I could see Agatha again,” Lilly murmured.

  “Agatha,” both Giles and Lord Carrington exclaimed.

  Lilly glanced between them. “Agatha is an old friend. I haven’t seen her in a long time but we used to write before it became difficult. She lives in London.”

  Giles smiled. “Of course we will make every attempt to see her. Where does she live?”

  Lilly searched her memory. “Berkley Square, perhaps. I cannot remember exactly. My father will, though. I’ll ask him when he comes back.”

  Giles rubbed her arm. “Her last name wouldn’t be Birkenstock by any chance, would it?”

  “That’s her! Agatha Birkenstock.” Lilly smiled, pleased to discover that Agatha was well-known to Giles. “Do you know if she’s well? Married? Happy?”

  Giles squeezed her arm again. “She will be happy to see you.” He turned his gaze on his friend. “She hasn’t married. You should ask your questions of Carrington here. She lives next door to him.”

  A pained expression flitted across the viscount’s face. “Agatha is well, I believe. Since the Marchioness of Ettington and her sister-in-law left town, she has been much involved with the Grafton Street Orphanage. I’m sure she would be happy to visit. Your company will be much sought after.”

  Hardly. Who would want to spend time with a broken woman? But it would not hurt to invite Agatha Birkenstock for tea.

  “I cannot say when Lilly and I will return to London, Carrington. Do not depend upon us to gain your private words with Agatha.”

  Carrington’s face mottled with color.

  Was that why he seemed so nice now? He wanted Lilly to be a party to some sort of clandestine rendezvous. Lilly scowled at him, and he had the good sense to drop his gaze.

  But the thought of navigating society scared her. She wouldn’t like to embarrass Giles by innocently falling prey to nefarious schemes.

  Perhaps this marriage was not a good idea. She would speak to her father about the situation in Wales as soon as she could get him alone. However, the idea of staying with Giles was appealing. He gave her so much pleasure.

  Lilly tried her best to blunt the hollow emptiness that filled her chest as she remembered last night. She could not believe sh
e had made love to him three times and yet remained a virgin. Did he not desire to finish what he’d started? Or perhaps he didn’t want to risk getting a sick woman pregnant.

  That seemed very likely. But if so, why would he marry her at all?

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  IT WASN’T NECESSARY to marry simply because you’d foolishly fallen in love. Lilly squinted into the early morning light, admiring, with half her mind, the garden wreathed in thick tendrils of fog. It had been a long time since she had seen a morning such as this, and she hurried to lose herself in the swirling white wisps.

  The gravel path crunched beneath her slippered feet and made her wish for sturdier boots. But nothing like that resided in Katarina’s wardrobe. Giles portrayed his older sister as a veritable shrew and Lilly wasn’t positive she ever wanted to meet her, but she could commend her for her excellent taste in fine clothes. Except for the shoes.

  She pulled Katarina’s heaviest shawl tight around her chest as the damp air stroked her face and lungs. Fog was one of her favorite things. In the pearly whiteness, she made out the dark shape of the central pond and wondered what the little fishes would think about her problems.

  Her thoughts swirled ’round and ’round, going nowhere like those poor creatures. They had done that from the moment she’d woken. She did like Giles. Well, perhaps more than liked. She loved him, but that did not mean he had to marry a broken woman. It was what she was, after all. Life had given her a harsh cross to bear, but she should bear it alone. Now that she knew how to take care of herself, Giles did not need to join her sad existence.

  Lilly would never ride a horse. She doubted that her weakened body would allow it. She would never travel far. The stress of even a short carriage ride had always produced the strongest pains. She could not even dance very much. Her body was just not strong enough to allow her to engage in much beyond a simple walk, followed by a generous amount of time wallowing on a well-padded surface.

  And the way she was eating now, she was bound to end her life as rounded as a pig just before the butcher came to slaughter it. She would make a very poor wife and companion, indeed.