With a gasp of relief, he felt her head come up, and she cried out, writhing against him as the climax came upon her. Raphe held her, stroking her back and murmuring praise as she shattered in his arms, easing her through the final tremors until she collapsed against him, utterly sated. Her hot breath fanned against his neck as she calmed and he held still, too aware of his own throbbing arousal, poised on the brink.
Gradually she came back to herself and sat up, lifting away from him as Raphe’s breath caught. He dared to look at her, to find her staring down at his naked body.
Oh, God, yes, please touch me, he implored silently.
She answered his prayers, smoothing her hands down his chest and toying with the coarse hair there before diverting to circle his nipples. Gooseflesh prickled over his skin, his cock twitching impatiently for her attention.
“You want me to touch you there,” she said, an amused lilt to her voice.
“Only… Only if you want to,” he managed, somehow not resorting to pleading and begging, though the temptation was strong.
She looked back at him and lifted one elegant blonde brow. “You think I don’t want to?”
“I’ll likely cry if you don’t,” he admitted through gritted teeth.
She leaned in, her breasts brushing his chest in the most tantalising way as she whispered in his ear. “No tears.”
“Oh, thank God,” he said with a breath of relief as she curled her cool fingers about him.
“Like this?” she asked, giving him an experimental stroke.
It was clumsy, her grip not quite firm enough, but that didn’t seem to matter. Raphe made a choked sound, his hips canting up as she took his anguished cry for assent and stroked again and again, and he came in a rush of incandescent pleasure, his seed spattering over his belly and chest in a hot splash that made her gasp with shock.
Raphe fought to calm himself, to find words of apology for having lost control, for not having warned her. She was an innocent, and he’d…Selfish bastard! Only he’d been unprepared, had not realised how her touch would break him, would shatter every vestige of self-control he had. He opened his eyes, still dazed, hoping she would forgive him, only to find a smug smile curving over her lush mouth. Oh. He fell back against the chair, giddy with relief. The dreadful girl was pleased with herself. He gave a helpless laugh and shook his head.
“My God,” he said faintly. “My God.”
Chapter 13
Miss Knight,
I hope it pleases you to know I have done a great deal of swearing, in both English and French, and have kicked several items of furniture. The desire to confront the idiotic creature who has made you so unhappy is hard to resist. If it would not cause a deal of unwelcome gossip and speculation, I would not hesitate. Do not, I beg you, listen to the wretched woman. For one, you are not short and dumpy. You are petite and voluptuous. Not all men want their women to be skin and bone, you know.
I demand to see this appalling gown. I will be at Beverwyck from the night of the 7th, for the Christmas period and I understand you arrive the same day. Somehow, we must contrive a private meeting. I am certain between us we can think of some way to improve or destroy the monstrous thing before the ball.
Chère amie, allow no one else to make you feel less anything less than lovely. You are perfectly splendid, just as you are. Don’t forget it.
―Excerpt of a letter from Louis César de Montluc, Comte de Villen to Miss Evie Knight (daughter of Lady Helena and Mr Gabriel Knight).
Early morning of the 14th of December 1840, Royle House, Derbyshire.
Raphe woke with a start, discovering Greer curled up on his lap. Her hair tickled his neck and chest, and he could not help the smile that curved over his lips, nor the joy in his heart.
Selfish blighter.
They had talked for hours about everything and nothing, and they had kissed. Long, glorious kisses. How strange for a man like him, who had believed there was nothing left for him to learn about lovemaking, to discover kissing. It wasn’t like he hadn’t done it before, but it felt that way. Everything was different with Greer. She made everything seem new and exciting, as though he experienced her discovery of each sensuous delight as his own.
She stirred against him, a warm huff of breath against his skin as she stretched and shivered. Raphe tugged her dressing gown closer about her shoulders and she blinked up at him like a sleepy cat.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice scratchy.
She smiled at him, and the power it had over him devastated him all over again, making his heart soar even as it made him afraid. He’d come so close to destroying himself and now the realisation terrified him. What if his friends had not cared enough to come for him? What if he’d never met Greer? His heart clenched, a sensation akin to iced water sliding down his spine.
“What is it?” Greer asked, noticing the sudden tension in him. “You’ve… You’ve not changed your mind, have you?”
Raphe stared at her, bewildered. “What?”
“About marrying me, I mean.”
“Changed my mind? Are you mad? Of course I’ve not—good Lord, Greer. I was only tormenting myself with how close I came to never knowing you. I shan’t change my mind. I only pray you don’t change yours.”
She laughed at that and settled back against him. “After how hard I worked to seduce you? I think not.”
“Oh, that was you doing the seducing, was it?” he asked, nuzzling the sweet spot beneath her ear that made her shiver.
“Certainly it was. Don’t think I’m going to let you take the credit for it, because it was all my doing. I pursued you shamelessly and you know it.”
He sighed, wondering how someone who’d lived such a shocking life until now could deserve such good fortune. Of course, there was still Rothborn to face. Raphe’s good humour faded abruptly.
“You’d best get back to your room,” he said reluctantly. “The staff will begin moving about soon. You don’t want to cause an even bigger scandal by being seen leaving my bedroom in the early hours.”
Greer sighed, and her obvious reluctance to leave cheered him. “I don’t want to go.”
“I know, but the sooner you are up and dressed, the sooner we can speak to your parents. I suppose I had best speak to your father first.”
His anxiety must have shown on his face, as Greer hurried to reassure him.
“Pa will welcome you. Mama likes you, so you’ve done the hard bit. If she didn’t approve, things would be different, but she does.”
“Why?” Raphe demanded, helpless to understand what on earth she saw in him.
“For one, because you need loving, you need a family, and Mama is dying to mother you. For another, she knows you’re a good man, that you’ll do everything you can to make me happy.”
“How can she possibly know that?”
“Intuition, and your brothers,” Greer said. “The way they admire you, the way they defend you and wish to stand by you. You did that, Raphe, by never letting them down.”
His cheeks scalded at the undeserved compliment. “I let them down constantly,” he said, his throat tight.
Greer shook her head. “No, you didn’t. You were there when they needed you. You made them feel they mattered to you. That’s worth more than any amount of financial security.”
Raphe frowned but said nothing, so Greer kissed his cheek and clambered unsteadily to her feet. With regret, he watched her tidy her nightgown and wrap, covering herself up. She gave him a wistful smile.
“I suppose I’d better go. I’ll see you at breakfast?”
With a nod, he got to his feet and then walked her to the door. With one last press of his lips to hers, he sighed and let her go. Once he’d made certain the coast was clear, he watched her hurry down the corridor, and closed the door behind him.
Well, an audience with Mr Cadogan, then. His stomach clenched.
Mr Cadogan waited patiently while Raphe stammered his way through the reason for wishing to speak to him
alone.
“—so, you see, sir, although I know she could do far better, I give you my word that I’ll never give you cause to regret the decision if you would be so generous as to give me a chance.”
Mr Cadogan watched him with interest and Raphe felt a sudden empathy for small scuttling things that scientists liked to study beneath magnifying lenses. His stomach, which had been turning somersaults all morning, cramped.
“And the drink, the womanising, the gambling?” Mr Cadogan asked, his tone mild. The man had remarkably blue eyes and, despite his jovial air, Raphe suspected he missed nothing. “I understand the lure of such behaviour, believe me. Are you certain you won’t be tempted back into that world? You were immersed in it for a long while.”
“Not immersed. I was drowning, sir,” Raphe said, wishing it weren’t so dreadfully hard to breathe. “It has been a long time since I found any pleasure in it. I don’t want that life. It’s behind me now and I’m glad of it. Word of honour. I’ll never bring her dishonour, never betray her trust.”
“You’re sure of that? You’ve only known her for two weeks,” her father observed, frowning a little.
“No, it….” Raphe began, and then stopped.
It couldn’t only be weeks. He scoffed inwardly, but then he worked it out. It had. It had been mere days, when he felt he’d known her forever, or ought to have done.
“Good heavens,” he said, rather alarmed by how fast things had happened. “I—”
Mr Cadogan snorted, giving him a look of deep sympathy. “Don’t fret, lad. I know how you feel. Meeting her mother was a bit like getting hit by the mail coach.”
Raphe laughed, still a bit stunned. “Yes,” he said faintly.
“And what about what happened last night at the ball? The fight with Lord Plumpton?”
Dragging his beleaguered brain back to the conversation, Raphe frowned. He could do nothing but answer honestly. “I should do it again in a heartbeat, though I am sorry for any distress the scandal might bring you.”
There was a fraught silence that seemed to Raphe to stretch on for hours, and then Mr Cadogan held out his hand, smiling. “Welcome to the family.”
Raphe stared at the man’s outstretched hand in stunned disbelief.
“It’s not a trick,” her father said, clearly amused by his shocked response.
Gathering himself, Raphe gripped the man’s hand. “Thank you, Mr Cadogan. I won’t let you down, sir.”
He nodded and patted Raphe on the back. “Call me Jerry, and we’re glad to have you. I suppose we’d better discuss finances. No, don’t fret. I am well aware of your financial problems. I meant the dowry, and all that comes along with Greer. You realise, of course, that she’s rather—”
“I don’t want to know,” Raphe said, suddenly desperately certain he did not wish to discuss it. “I’m not marrying her for her money, though I know everyone will think otherwise. Of course, I’m glad if there is money enough to help rebuilt my estate for her and our children. I would not wish for her to be embarrassed. I want her to have a place she can be proud of, though it’s rather humble by these standards.”
Jerry snorted. “Versailles is rather humble by Royle House standards,” he said with a short laugh. “I’ve never seen so much gilding in one place before. Nonetheless, I really think you ought to know—”
Raphe shook his head, sick with embarrassment. The thought of sitting and listening to how much he would gain financially by marrying Greer made him ill. “I’ll leave my lawyers to deal with it. Truly, I am grateful for whatever there is. I’m certain it is more than I dreamed of, and I promise you that whatever legal provisions you wish to demand for Greer and any children we may have will meet with no objection from me.”
“Very well,” Jerry said, clearly amused by his discomfort. “As you prefer. I will leave it for now, though there’s no shame in it. Most of the men in aristocracy must marry for money these days. That you’ve a nobler reason is more luck than judgement, I’m afraid, though I’m deeply relieved for it. Your father left you in a very sticky position. All things considered, you’ve held the family together well. It was a great burden you’ve shouldered all these years.”
“I’ve hardly shouldered it. We’re constantly one step away from falling on our faces.”
Jerry’s expression grew stern. “You’ve done well in impossible circumstances. You were far too young for such a responsibility. It’s hardly any wonder you lost your way for a while. I think I might have done the same, but you’re all in one piece, your brothers are fine men, and not one of you is languishing in debtors’ prison.”
“Well, I suppose,” Raphe said, deeply uncomfortable with the entire conversation. He had heard Rothborn say similar things in the past but had believed the man had been trying to bolster his confidence, that he’d been being kind to a hopeless young man. To hear Jerry repeat the words made him wonder if he’d not made such a mess as he’d believed.
“There’s no suppose about it,” Jerry said cheerfully. “Now, then, why don’t we put the ladies out of their misery? Though, I feel I should warn you, Bonnie is simply dying to take you in hand.”
Raphe smiled, relieved to have survived the awkward bit and willing to endure any amount of fuss from Bonnie if she was happy to have him marry her daughter.
The inhabitants of Royle House had risen late and, despite their good humour, breakfast was subdued, with smothered yawns everywhere after the excesses of the previous evening. Greer had not eaten a bite as her nerves were jangled, and she now sat in the parlour with her mother and two sisters. Elspeth and Alana were playing cards whilst they waited for the gentlemen. They were going Christmas shopping when everyone was ready, and Alana was fidgeting with impatience. Greer knew how she felt, though for rather different reasons.
Greer got up, paced about the room, and then sat down again. She picked up a book, realised she was too jittery to read it, and put it down. A moment later, she was pacing again. She sat down, thought she heard voices outside the window, and got up to see. Oh, only a gardener. She went and sat down again.
“For heaven’s sake, Greer, whatever is wrong with you? You’re bobbing up and down like a jack-in-a-box,” Elspeth complained.
Greer flushed and avoided her mother’s eye. Only Mama knew what Raphe was doing, for Greer had been too afraid to tell Elspeth. She worried her sister might not approve, having seen Raphe at his worst.
“Nothing,” Greer said stiffly.
Elspeth glared at her suspiciously but returned her attention to the card game. Mama set down the book she was reading to reach out and give her hand a reassuring pat.
The door opened and Greer shot to her feet, her heart leaping to her throat as her father strode in with Raphe close behind.
“Ah, and here are my favourite ladies in all the world,” Papa said. “How can one man endure such a vision of loveliness?” he asked, pressing a theatrical hand to his heart.
Alana snorted, and Elspeth sent him a look of fond amusement.
“Jerry, do put the poor girl out of her misery,” Mama said, shaking her head in exasperation.
Elspeth sent Greer an alert look as she realised Raphe was staring at her. Greer couldn’t meet her gaze, could barely breathe as she waited.
Her father strung the moment out a little longer before saying, “Well, my dears, it seems we have some joyous news.”
“Oh, Papa!” Greer exclaimed, flying across the room to embrace her father. “Thank you.”
Her father laughed, picking her up and swinging her about like he’d done when she was a little girl. “I’m happy for you, love. Truly.”
Greer laughed, turning to Raphe, who was looking at her with such adoration her eyes burned. He held out his hand, and she took it, holding on tight. Alana ran up to them, hugging Greer and grinning at Raphe with obvious interest.
“Greer?” Elspeth said, and Greer turned, seeing concern and affection in her twin’s eyes.
“I wanted to tell you,” Greer said,
apologetic now. “Only—”
“You thought I might disapprove,” Elspeth finished for her.
“Do you?” Raphe asked. He gripped her hand as if she was an anchor to the ground, and she felt the tension running through him. “I wouldn’t blame you, after the trouble I caused you and Dare.”
Elspeth smiled and shook her head. “Dare has always told me I ought not to judge you for those first weeks of our acquaintance. I admit, I am anxious still, but I trust my husband and, if he thinks you are a man worthy of his friendship, then I must put my faith in you too. Do not let me down, though, Lord de Ligne. My twin is like a part of myself. Hurt her, and you will have me to deal with.”
“Elspeth,” Greer said, touched and a little annoyed by the warning.
“I would rather cut out my heart,” Raphe said. “But I take your warning with the seriousness it merits, I assure you.”
“Then it is indeed a happy day,” Elspeth said, holding her arms out to Greer.
Greer let out a breath of relief and ran to her sister, hugging her warmly. By the time they turned around, Raphe was being smothered by their mother, who hugged him, kissing his cheek and ruffling his hair like he was a small boy, though he had to bend down to let her.
“Now can we go shopping?” Alana whined plaintively.
Greer laughed, so excited she felt she might burst. “Yes!” she exclaimed. “Everyone should be happy today, even you, my darling nuisance.”
“Congratulations! About bloody time you got leg shackled. It’s not as if Dare and I haven’t led by example.”
Raphe endured Bainbridge’s pat on the back, which was hard enough to make his teeth rattle.
“Smug devil. I was the one who did it first,” Dare said, rolling his eyes at his friend. He turned to Raphe and shook his hand, grinning warmly. “Well, I’ve always considered you a brother. May as well make it official, eh, old man?”
Raphe laughed, touched and pleased by his friend’s reactions.
“Just wait until August hears the news. He won’t believe it,” Bainbridge predicted. “He’ll think we’re pulling his leg.”
Dare to Risk it All (Daring Daughters Book 7) Page 15