Marquess of Malice: Lords of Scandal Book 2

by Andresen, Tammy

  Cristina let out a primal cry, hitting her own chest with her fist. “He will never come anywhere near me again. I’d rather die.”

  Cordelia blinked. She was half standing but mostly leaning against Chad, his strong arm supporting her. “What happened to you?”

  “I don’t want your pity.” Cristina flung her arm back out. “You’re a traitor to all womankind.”

  Cordelia tucked her head into Malice’s arm. She didn’t care what she was. She’d never been happier to be next to someone than she was here with Malice. Then her nose caught something funny.

  Glancing over she realized the candle had caught the drapes on fire. “Chad!”

  “Damn,” he yelled and holding her still, crossed the room and yanked the drape from the rod, attempting to stomp it out. It nearly caught her dress on fire and she screamed, barely able to stay out of the way. Even worse, he didn’t put out the flames, instead, they spread to the wall. “We’ve got to get out of here.”

  He turned to swing her in his arms.

  “The Countess of Abernath is gone,” she gasped as he cradled her against his body.

  He leaned down and kissed her head. “We’ll deal with her later.” Then he started for the door.

  Reaching the hall, he started for the back stairs.

  “We have to warn everyone about the fire,” she called as smoke began to fill the hall.

  “We’ll tell the staff about the fire in the kitchen if the countess hasn’t already.” He pulled her even closer. “My first priority is you.”

  His words made her insides go soft. For a man that claimed to have a cold heart, she realized their courtship had been straight from a story and now culminated with a daring rescue. A smile formed on her lips. If only he could declare his undying love. The smile slipped away. she’d have to content herself with a lovely fantasy.

  A knocking noise from their right caught Cordelia’s ear. “Chad. Did you hear that?”

  “What,” he kept sprinting toward the stairs.

  She heard it again. “Stop.” Cordelia hit his shoulder with all the strength she had left. “Someone’s in there.”

  “Cordelia.” He slowed. “I need to get you out—”

  “Help,” a tiny voice cried. “Please help. There’s smoke.”

  “Chad,” she begged, wiggling in his arms. “Is that a child?”

  He stopped then and swung her down, leaning her against the wall. It was warm to the touch, which was terribly frightening. Chad tried the knob as the little voice cried again. “Back away from the door!” Chad yelled.

  In one swift kick, he knocked the door near clean off its hinges. Standing there was a little golden-haired boy looking frightened and forlorn. Cordelia watched as Chad scooped the boy up in one arm then came back to her, wrapping another large arm about her. “Can you walk?”

  “I have to,” she answered, but just then, Daring came sprinting up the stairs.

  “What the bloody hell?” he yelled but then grabbed the boy and turned back down the steps without another word.

  “We have to warn the staff,” Cordelia yelled to him.

  “They know and they’ve mostly scattered already as far as I can tell.” He pounded down the stairs. “Who am I carrying?”

  “I’m Harry,” the little boy said.

  Daring bounced the boy more securely in his arms as he hit the bottom step and made a break for the back door. The stableman were already racing past them with buckets of water in hand. Reaching the outdoors, Daring didn’t stop and neither did Chad as they made their way to a carriage parked in the alley. Daring opened the door and practically tossed Harry inside. Then he turned back to Chad. “You get them out of here, check them into the nearest inn. I’m going to help with the fire.”

  “Are you certain?” Chad was already stuffing her into the carriage. She made it in on wobbly legs and then collapsed onto a seat. “The Tuttleberry Inn is just down the street. Meet me there.”

  With a nod, Daring was off again, joining the bucket brigade.

  Chad climbed in after her and snapped the door closed. “You’re safe now.”

  Cordelia stared at the man who’d just staged her daring rescue. She wanted to throw herself in his arms and declare her undying love. But she held her tongue. “Thank you?”

  He slid on the seat next to her and pulled her into his lap. “You’re welcome.”

  She nibbled at her lip as she settled her face into the hollow of his neck. How to marry a man that she loved so deeply knowing he didn’t return her affection?

  Chapter Seventeen

  Malice held Cordelia in his lap, the little boy sat on the other bench huddled in a ball, tears streaming down his face.

  “Harry,” he said softy. “Do you want to come sit with us?”

  The boy launched off the bench, landing against Malice’s side with a decided thud. In response, Malice wrapped an arm about him. “You’re all right.”

  The boy turned a teary face up to him. “Do I have to go back?”

  The boy’s large blue eyes stared up at him, wide and full of fear. “Was that your home?” Had the Countess of Abernath kidnapped a child too?

  The boy didn’t speak for a few seconds and Cordelia shifted in his lap to hold the boy’s hand. “It’s all right. You can tell us.”

  “I’ve always lived with Lady Abernath.” The boy swallowed.

  Well that didn’t explain very much. He hugged the child tighter. “We’ll figure all of this out. For now, you are safe with us.”

  The carriage rumbled to a stop and Malice pulled out his two charges, hurrying them into the inn and securing a suite. Calling out a request for a breakfast tray, he ushered them upstairs and locked the door behind him.

  Cordelia all but collapsed on a settee and the boy stood staring at her while hugging his chest.

  She waved to him and, without hesitation, he hurried over. Opening her arms, he climbed into her embrace. “I had a teacher who was very kind to me,” he said and then burrowed his head against her arm. “She was pretty like you too.”

  “A teacher?” she asked, closing her eyes but hugging him closer.

  Malice’s heart squeezed to see them curled together. This boy reminded him of himself. If only someone like Cordelia had been there then. Wrapped him in her arms.

  The boy nodded. “She left a little while ago. But she said she’d try to come back for me.” Harry tipped his head back. “The countess is very mean. Miss Pennyworth couldn’t stay but she wanted to.”

  Cordelia’s face spasmed and then she looked to him. Her eyes were scrunched as though she were pleading with him in some fashion. He knew what she wanted to ask, he wished to protect Harry too.

  A knock came at the door and peering out, he saw a servant with a large tray of food. Quickly, he turned the lock and opened the door, taking the tray before he closed the room again.

  They ate in silence, Harry eating a man’s portion of food before he lay back down with Cordelia. In minutes both of them were sound asleep, wrapped together.

  Nearly an hour passed before another knock sounded at the door. Rising he looked out the peephole to see Daring, looking rather sooty, standing on the other side.

  He opened it again, letting his friend in. “You made it.”

  “I did.” Daring removed his hat and wiped his brow. “Bloody mess that was.”

  “What happened?” Malice gestured toward the fireplace and both men crossed the room.

  Daring turned his hat in his hand. “The countess has disappeared. The staff was able to get the fire out before it spread to more homes.” Daring wiped his brow again. “Honestly, they seemed relieved to be free of her and I told them all to visit me tomorrow for recommendations for a new post.”

  “That’s good,” he answered, bracing his hand against the fireplace. He knew the worst news was yet to come.

  “The housekeeper was especially chatty. It turns out that the boy…” Daring looked over to the child sleeping in Cordelia’s arms. “Is L
ady Abernath’s child.”

  Malice sucked in his breath. He knew what Daring was thinking. Was this his child?

  Daring looked down into the flames. “Lord Abernath made the boy his heir so he’s an earl.”

  “How can he be the earl if Lord Abernath….” But he stopped.

  “That’s right. Abernath died six weeks ago at their country home. Lady Abernath has kept that fact along with the birth of the child a secret.”

  Malice scratched his head. “I wonder if the death of her husband is why she’s suddenly reemerged in your life looking for revenge.”

  Daring nodded. “The housekeeper mentioned that not a penny of the money is hers. It all went to the boy. What little is left.”

  They both looked over at the sleeping child. “He’s frightened out of his mind. We both know what sort of person she is.”

  “She’s his mother. I don’t know how you could take him away from her.” His fist clenched. “Unless you could prove that someone else is his father?”

  Malice leaned his head against the mantel. “That’s a bloody mess, isn’t it? Do you think he’s yours? How would Minnie feel about this child becoming your heir and being part of your family?”

  Daring shook his head. “It would better explain why Cristina is so angry with me. But then again she had more than one man in her bed. Including me, three that I know of.”

  Malice frowned. “The child looks nothing like you.”

  Daring stared at the boy. “No. He doesn’t, and he’s already got a title, but we also can’t leave a tender child in her grips. The woman isn’t sane.”

  “Well, for now, he can stay with me.” Malice looked at him, his heart thudding in his chest. He never in his life thought he’d take on another child, not even his own, but here he was, his heart ready to give this boy love.

  “Are you certain? It’s a big commitment.”

  Malice nodded. “I wish someone had done this for me. Swooped in and rescued me from a man who hated the sight of my face.”

  Daring grimaced. “You’re a good man, Lord Malicorn.”

  “Not Malice?” he raised a brow.

  Daring stared back. “You’re not that man anymore, are you?”

  No. He supposed he wasn’t. It was time he told Cordelia what she meant to him.

  * * *

  Cordelia woke with a start. First, she had no idea where she was…again. Looking around the room, she realized it was well-appointed with rich mahogany and dark velvet drapes over the windows and the bed.

  She sat up, pulling the covers with her. When had her clothes been removed? Her arm was still in the sling but everything else, besides her shift, was off.

  It was dark. Had night fallen? Last she remembered; it had been morning hadn’t it? Details on the night before came flooding back and she gasped as she remembered she’d been kidnapped.

  “What’s wrong?” a deep voice slurred next to her. “Bad dream?”

  How had she not noticed she wasn’t in bed alone? Glancing to her right, Chad blinked up at her. “I didn’t know where I was.”

  He gave her a sleepy smile. “You’re safe with me at the inn.”

  “The inn?” she asked. “What of my family?”

  He covered her hand with his. “Daring sent them a message saying that you were safely recovered but so exhausted from your ordeal that you were sleeping here. Of course, your family thinks that Minnie and Daring are with us as chaperones but I won’t tell if you don’t.”

  “And Harry?” she asked settling back down on the bed.

  He smiled and reached out to stroke her face. “Sleeping in the other room. The inn has graciously allowed me to hire a maid to stay with him.”

  She relaxed her shoulders. “That poor boy. He seems lost.”

  Malice drew in a deep breath. Hope gleamed in his eyes. “I’m hoping that you’ll consent to giving him a new home with us.”

  Cordelia gasped. She lifted her hand to her heart, feeling it beat madly. “Is that even possible?”

  “Well, considering you were just kidnapped by his mother, Daring is fairly certain he can have Lady Abernath committed. So I’d say yes, it’s more than possible.” Then he frowned. “If it’s all right with you.”

  She rolled over to face him and without thought placed a kiss on his lips. “Of course it is. What a beautiful gift for you to give him.” Then she kissed him again, her mouth pressing to his, making her insides soft and gooey. “You’re a fine man, Chad Malicorn.”

  He held her face in his hands and gave her a long lingering kiss. “That is better than being suitable.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Speaking of that.” Her heart began to pound in her chest. “I know after what’s happened you’ll want to rescue me from any consequences from my abduction.”

  “There will be no consequences. We’ll be married and no one will question—”

  She placed a hand on his chest. “I don’t think we should marry.”

  “What?” His brow drew together. “You’ve already accepted my proposal.”

  Cordelia licked her lips, trying to gain the courage to say the next part. “But you see. I love you. I’m in love with you.”

  He stared at her, not saying a word.

  She trembled as she continued. “I can’t marry you because it will break my heart to feel this way about you when you don’t return my—”

  But he didn’t allow her to finish. Instead, his mouth covered hers in a searing kiss that stole the air from her lungs.

  He slanted open her mouth and probed her tongue with his, making her groan in sweet desire as his body rolled on top of hers. He’d already removed his shirt and her hand roved along the bare muscles of his back, feeling every ridge and hollow. Finally he lifted up his head. “Corde, a man does not go around rescuing women, fighting opponents, and stealing kisses in gardens if he doesn’t love her in return.”

  “What?” She pulled her head back deeper into the pillow to focus on his face. “You love me?”

  He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “I love you as much as I love the warm rays of the sun on a summer day. As much as I love air, and blue sky, and fields of summer flowers.”

  Something deep inside her burst with joy to hear those words. Could it be true? “Are you waxing poetic?” Her tongue darted out again and he stared at it, his body tensing.

  “I am, my little pixie.” Then he slowly lowered himself down until his lips met hers again. “I love you so much I ache from it. I can’t stand being apart from you.” He slid his hand down her neck and over her chest until he cupped one of her breasts. Pleasure rocked through her and she arched into the touch. “If you let me, I’ll spend my whole life proving to you just how much I love you.”

  He tweaked her nipple and she cried out, her legs wrapping about his. “Yes,” she murmured. Then repeated louder. “Oh yes.”

  He started kissing a trail down her neck as his other hand reached for the hem of her shift. It had already ridden up her legs and he ran his hand along her outer thigh, pushing the fabric higher. “How did I ever think I could remain detached from you?”

  She couldn’t answer as he skimmed his hand along her hip and then slid across her stomach, dipping lower until his fingertips brushed the curls at her apex. She could feel heat, warmth, and wet coming from her core and as he traced the outline of her sex and then dipped his fingers into her womanly flesh.

  Her insides spasmed and she gasped, her eyes losing focus. “Chad,” she begged not sure what she was asking for. He responded by leaning down and taking her taut nipple into his mouth. The cloth still separated his lips from her flesh but all the same, the peak tightened and puckered until she was writhing in pleasure under him.

  He stopped, rising above her and she gave a little whimper of protest. She didn’t want to stop. But he only took the hem of her shift and slid it up her chest and then over her head. When his chest came down on top of hers, she wanted to sigh in pleasure at the feel of his skin. “I love the way your hair f
eels,” she whispered close to his ear. “Your fingers, your mouth. I didn’t know it would all be so wonderful.”

  He kissed her lips again, his fingers gently stroking her sex once again. “It only gets better, love. I promise.”

  How could that be true?

  Chapter Eighteen

  Malice looked down at the beautiful little pixie currently begging for his touch and tried not to roar with satisfaction. The noise he made was more like a guttural growl. This beautiful, magical woman was all his.

  And she loved him too. That part still stunned him. He wasn’t certain he deserved it, but he was done questioning his worth. Instead, he intended to spend his life attempting to be the man she needed him to be.

  That was the only way. He understood that now.

  He thought back to the night that she’d promised to heal the wounds buried deep inside him. She already had. Here he was, filled with love, his heart open, not only to her but to the boy who reminded him so much of himself.

  Why hadn’t he done this sooner?

  “Cordelia,” he said as he kissed her again. “I can’t believe we’re here.”

  She wrapped her arm about this neck. “Me either. You’re certain you love me?”

  He groaned as reached for the stays of his breeches. “Very,” he answered. He pulled down his breeches, freeing his manhood.

  She slid a hand down his body and reached between his legs, her light touch exploring his flesh and causing his teeth to clench. Her hand felt bloody amazing. “And we’re going to marry?” she asked again. “You don’t mind I’m a writer?”

  Her hand dipped lower, cupping his sack and his eyes rolled back in his head. “I love it.”

  “I’m quiet. And people don’t notice me at balls or—”

  “Cordelia.” His teeth clenched. “You’re holding my balls in your hand.”

  She let out a tiny gasp and then a giggle. “I am.”

  He touched his forehead to hers. “Never has a woman been this deep inside me before. You might be quiet and shy, but you have managed to touch me in places I thought long dead.”