The Reluctant Duke

by Blaise Kilgallen

“I feel like a new man,” he replied with a smile.

  Antonio had gone ahead. James and Lorena followed Caroline to the main deck and the dining room. Captain Johnson was busy with his crew, so the four Thorndykes shared the meal alone.

  “Por Dios,” Antonio commented. “Now I see a resemblance to the duke and duchess I met years ago.”

  “It’s at least eight years since then,” Lorena replied, then went on to ask, “May I speak candidly? May I call you Antonio?”

  “By all means, Your Grace,” Antonio replied.

  “My, that sounds so strange after all this time,” Lorena commented with a shy smile. “I want you to call me Lorena, as Caroline does. And please use James's given name, Antonio. We are cousins and family, you know.”

  With the formalities out of the way, the Thorndykes applied themselves to the excellent meal prepared by Terence Kilburn’s ship's cook. By the time tea was poured, the atmosphere was relaxed, and Caroline asked them to relate their story. Lorena glanced at James but he nodded for her to do the telling.

  Without any preamble, she told them how they had been knocked overboard by the swinging boom of the small sailboat. However, she still made no mention of Joshua. Caroline was puzzled and started to interrupt when Antonio gently shushed her.

  “Caro, let Lorena tell us what happened in her own way. We can ask questions later, chica,” he cautioned his wife softly. She nodded and kept silent.

  Lorena continued, explaining how Captain Ryan brought them to the pub where the Ryans took them in for found. “The captain took James to an apothecary as he promised, but the man was unable to help James with his memory loss or speech difficulties.”

  Lorena glanced at James with compassion, a tinge of resignation hiding behind her lids. “His speech is fine now, but there are things that James can’t recall even yet,” she said. “He remembers nothing in vivid detail of our life at Westhaven. Just shadows, he tells me.”

  “Is that right, James?” Antonio asked. “You don’t recall anything of the hall? Of the estate?”

  “Only blurred visions, nothing clear enough to matter,” James replied. “Sometimes…I think it’s coming back…but then, memory fades, and I can’t recall the things I should remember.”

  “James!” Lorena exclaimed. “You told me you couldn’t remember anything. Oh, dearest, we must get you to a proper London physician as soon as possible. If you can remember anything—anything at all—you must tell us. Surely, your memory can’t be gone forever.”

  “Lorena is right, James. That should be our first priority,” Antonio agreed. “We’ll go directly from Holyhead to London and Weston House. Lorena, do you have a family physician in London?”

  “Yes, Doctor Swinton. Oh, I know he can help you, James. Again, I do so thank the good Lord that we were found.”

  “And what of Joshua?” Caroline inquired softly. There was complete silence in the room. Nervously, Lorena looked at James whose face had clouded over.

  “We don’t know anyone named Joshua,” he pronounced flatly.

  Caroline's astonished look flashed to Lorena who simply shook her head and said, “James doesn’t remember Joshua.”

  James repeated in a quiet but very firm voice, “We know of no one named Joshua.”

  Caroline's perplexed look jumped to Antonio. He shot her a warning glance, indicating it was best not to mention the boy’s name.

  Shortly thereafter, Lorena and James excused themselves and went to their cabin. When they were alone, Caroline had nothing but questions for Antonio.

  “Tonio, what is this nonsense with James? He doesn’t acknowledge Joshua? The boy is his son and heir!”

  “I don’t know the problem or the reason, Caro, but it seems the boy drowned while James and Lorena were saved. Perhaps, James can’t face that fact and chooses not to remember he had a son at all.” Proposing a solution, Antonio still looked uncomfortable. “Sometimes traumas occur that can never be cured. It may be less painful for James to forget than to remember, querida.”

  “Can things like that happen, Tonio? Would you forget your own son?”

  “Ah, mi corazon,” he said caressing her cheek with a single finger. His smile warmed her like the sun. “We’ll have to wait until James meets with Doctor Swinton to find out more. But I think not…not if you gave me one.”

  “What did you say, Tonio?”

  “I said, we will have to wait…”

  “No, after that.”

  “I said,” he repeated softly, desire heating his eyes. “I would never forget my son…if you gave me one, cara.”

  Her sly smile was both tempting and teasing. “It’s a nasty day, m’lord. We might just as well spend the crossing in our cabin. From what I can tell, there’s nothing to see on deck that we haven’t seen before now, hmm? Mayhap, we should work on another project that interests you.”

  She was a brazen hussy, and his answering grin was just short of a leer. Compelling black eyes told her he was ready if she was. Wrapping his fingers around hers, Antonio led Caroline below, closed and locked the door, and took his wife into his arms. A long and very satisfying kiss was only a preliminary to more kisses, giggles and growls, moans and groans, as the Killarney skipped across the blue waves of the Irish Sea to her berth at Holyhead several hours later.

  Chapter 29

  Captain Johnson and his crew maneuvered the Killarney into her berth minutes shy of nine o’clock that evening. The four Thorndykes entered the King's Inn after thanking the ship’s captain for his excellent service. Antonio summoned the Westhaven coachman for new instructions on the trip across England.

  “Harold Coachman, I’ve unexpected news for you. Weston’s former duke, James, and his duchess are not dead as they were thought to be,” he explained. “They’re with us here in Holyhead. They had been rescued and were deposited in Ireland.”

  “Glory be,” the coachman exclaimed, his eyebrows reaching skyward in astonishment when he heard the good news.

  “We’ve changed our travel plans. We’re going to London, to Weston House, before returning to Westhaven.”

  “Aye, Yer Grace, I’ll make sure everythin' will be ready for ye. When do ye want us to start on our way?”

  “As early a start as possible, I think. Hopefully, the trip back will be faster than when we arrived here. Have the Weston coach outside the inn at seven o’clock tomorrow morning,” Antonio told him.

  “Aye, Yer Grace.” The grizzled coachman mumbled to himself in complete bewilderment as he hurried to tell his companions. “Glory be, can ye imagine that? The duke and duchess are alive. 'Tis a miracle…that's what 'tis…a miracle.”

  A night's lodging for the additional pair of Thorndykes was ordered. Both couples opted for dinner in their rooms. It was early when Antonio and Caroline finished eating. She removed her clothes behind a screen and drew on her nightwear while Antonio slid out of everything but his shirt and breeches.

  “Come over here, Caro,” he beckoned to her with a crooked index finger. She slipped onto his lap, twining her arms around his neck. Pushing aside her robe and nightrail, he nuzzled between her shoulder and neck, taking small, loving nips.

  “Tatu,” she giggled, leaning away from his mouth. “That tickles, m’lord.”

  “Is that all?” With a furrowed brow, he drew back. His teasing sounded like complaining rather than concern. “It’s meant to do more than tickle. I must be losing my touch. Here, let me try again,” he said, dragging his mouth across her cheek to the beauty mark on her upper lip. When his lips reached her mouth, he demanded more, but she pulled away saying, “No, no, stop. We have to talk.”

  “Later, querida.” Antonio’s voice rumbled from deep in his chest, like a lion ready to devour a tasty treat. “I don’t want to talk. I have other things on my mind.”

  “Ravenous beast! Stop this business, now. We need to talk, Tonio. We’ll have no privacy again until tomorrow evening.”

  “I know,” he muttered, trailing hot kisses across her bosom whil
e heading to a sweeter destination.

  “Tonio…listen to me,” Caroline insisted, gently pulling at his cropped hair with both hands and wrenching his seeking lips from her breasts. “Let’s talk first, then afterwards…”

  “Si, I suppose you’re right, corazon,” he agreed. An exasperated whine laced his voice. “But must we do it right now. I want…”

  “I want that, too,” she whispered breathlessly, running a caressing fingertip across his sensuous lips. “We’ll get to it…just a little later.”

  Impatiently, he straightened up and loosened his hold on her

  “What will happen now that James and Lorena are alive…and back in England, Tonio?”

  “I’m not certain how this matter will be handled, Caro. When we get to London, I’ll speak with the Thorndyke solicitors. They should be able to advise us as to how the situation is to be resolved.” Antonio tilted her chin with his knuckles so she could look into his eyes. “But I fear, querida, that you’re no longer a duchess…and I’m no longer a duke.”

  “Oh, Tonio.”

  “Do you mind so much, Caro?” he went on without waiting for her answer. “I’ll inherit my father's title one day, but until then, you’ve married a man with merely a courtesy title.”

  Did she regret her loss of station?

  Caroline shut her eyes and kissed her husband, long and deep, reassuring Antonio silently that the loss of a duchy or its title didn’t matter to her. Pulling her lips from his reluctantly, she said, “I’ll say this only once, m’lord, otherwise, I’ll never hear the end of your arrogance.” Hazel eyes delved deep into his as she whispered, “You…” She lightly touched a finger to the tip of his nose. “Are the most wonderful, handsomest, exciting…uncommon man I’ve ever known or wanted. And I want every tiny bit of you that belongs to me, now and forever.”

  His answering smile was what she needed to see.

  “Then, amour, it’s time we stopped all this talk and moved on to more pleasant things, no?”

  “Oh, you’re an uncompromising beast, Tonio…”

  “Aren’t you glad?”

  Caroline didn’t resist when Antonio picked her up and carried her to the waiting bed. Laying her down very gently, he stepped back to strip off the rest of his garments. She lay still, watching him.

  He’s truly beautiful, she thought. His handsome face, his strong, naked body. Everything so exciting and different than mine.

  She’d not yet been bold enough to explore more of his masculinity.

  Leaning over her, Antonio pressed one knee onto the mattress and joined her on the bed with a growl of desire. They may have spent hours making love in the Killarney’s cabin, but he still couldn‘t get enough of her. His upper body moved atop hers, his mouth seeking. He rubbed his lips gently back and forth on hers. His tongue probed until she gave him a sultry smile and opened a path into her mouth. Eagerly, he slipped inside, the same way he would slip into her hot, wet core when he made her ready.

  “What will it be like to have a mere viscount make love to you, Caro? Different from a duke?” Melding skin to skin, lust escalating into passion, he almost forgot his question.

  “I can only imagine you making love to me,” she sighed. “I want no other, Tonio—only you.”

  He groaned his pleasure and dragged off the rest of her clothing. He began a downward pilgrimage to her full breasts and tempting nipples. Teasing her, he circled the pale pink crests, nipping gently until she clasped the sides of his head, urging him to suckle. He smiled wickedly, his lips halting their momentary progress.

  “Black archangel!” she scolded. “You know what I want.”

  Antonio teased and teased until Caroline gently pummeled his cheeks, until he finally drew a nipple into his mouth and sucked so hard she felt sensations careening along a sizzling path to her innermost core. He pulled his head out of her grip, changing direction. His mouth traveled across her ribs and belly. Seeking, he rubbed his face in the curls between her thighs and inhaled the womanly scent that told him she was ready for intercourse.

  His words were muffled by urgency. “I need to taste…Dios, let me do this, querida…”

  Questing fingers spread her plump labia to expose the target of his desire. He gazed at her sex, buried between the pouty lips. Stroking her bud with long, slow, erotic sweeps of his tongue, gorging on her essence, Antonio devoured her juices as if she were as savory as honeycomb.

  Letting out a momentary yelp of surprise, at first Caroline fought his new ministrations, gasping, and feeling embarrassed. “Oh my goodness, Tonio! Oohh, heavens…”

  Antonio didn’t let her stop him.

  Finally, she relaxed and gave in when the sensations building inside had her burning with need. He exposed the swollen clit and took it into his mouth, pulling on it, hard.

  Caroline jolted upward, off the mattress. Simultaneously, Antonio pushed two expert fingers into her drenched opening and tickled her pleasure point. He kept her there, panting for breath, on the brink of ecstasy. Sensations radiating from that spot were agonizingly, excruciatingly wonderful. Caroline felt an aching need to fly skyward into the star-spangled black velvet with her climax. Her loud outcry was wild with release, like nothing she had ever experienced.

  “Tatu! Oh, my love, I must be dying!”

  She came down to earth finally, whimpering softly, eyes squeezed shut, begging him, “Please, please, hold me tight…”

  He held her.

  She wept silently, acknowledging her weakened vulnerability to him and his caresses whenever he made love to her.

  Antonio felt only the heat of passion that inflamed them both before that. Panting from breathlessness, he lifted his head and watched tears trickle from beneath the corners of Caroline’s thick lashes. An explosion of masculine ego and delight filled him, assured he’d brought her to a monumental moment of pleasure. He rested his cheek on her belly where she lay limp and unmoving. When she didn’t stir, he glanced up. “Caro? Are you awake? Are you all right?”

  “Hmm?” she murmured, slowly opening her greenish-hazel eyes, drowsy and sated with visible satisfaction. She urged him up her body, and he leaned his forehead against her shoulder, burying his face in her bountiful softness. She detected the faint odor of musk on his mouth.

  Mine, she thought. Just as he is mine.

  Her arms tightened around him, and she planted tiny kisses over his hair.

  He lay quiet.

  She was about to tell him how wonderful it felt when she remembered. “You…you didn’t…”

  “No, not yet, corazon. Rest a moment. We have all night.”

  If she fell asleep, he would be left wanting. “No, Tonio. I want to make love to you now.”

  Without waiting for his answer, she eased her shoulder from beneath his head and sat up. When he turned on his back and started to respond, she stopped him with two fingers against his lips.

  “Let me.”

  She’d never made love to him. He had always made love to her, or they made love together. This time, his pleasure knew no bounds. He desperately wanted her to touch him.

  “Si, mi esposa. Love me, por favor,” he whispered huskily.

  At first, her fingers sought the broad planes of his chest, searching through the black, curly hair for the rigid tips of his nipples, stroking and pinching them as he did with hers. His body tensed as her hot tongue touched one.

  “Dios, Caro,” he choked erratically, as she moved her mouth and licked downward over the middle of his stomach. His skin twitched under her lips as she progressed.

  She grasped his engorged erection, her fingers closing around him. His manhood jerked in anticipation. Her tentative caresses were agony—and ecstasy. Bracing himself, Antonio showed her how to move to pleasure him. He gritted his teeth, enjoying what she did to him. Her touch was heaven but he was worried he might spill his seed too soon.

  Her exploring mouth and fingers sent fiery shards of desire racing through his nerve endings. It was unholy torture not to
flip Caroline over on her back and plunge his cock into her. But he lay quiescent and let her have her way with his body.

  “Does it feel good?” she asked, glancing up at him almost shyly.

  “Arrgh, si, amour,” he exhaled and hissed through his teeth as if in pain. His body was a mass of rippling, pulsing sensations, all focused on the part of him that she played with like a new toy.

  “I’m hurting you. Perhaps…” She loosened her fingers, but he grabbed her hand and tightened her grip. His eyes bored into hers so she held on.

  He was rapt with tension, enjoying her touch, but didn’t know how much longer he could control himself. Her innocent play was a flame setting him on fire, driving him loco with need.

  Hesitantly, she bent and rubbed her lips over the velvety tip of his erection. He jumped as though scorched. “Nombre de Dios, Caro! Stop!”

  Startled, she released him. Quickly he lifted her and straddled her over his hips.

  “You didn’t like it, Tonio?”

  “Ah, bella,” he said. “I liked it much more than I can tell you.”

  “Then, did I do something wrong?”

  “There is never a wrong way to make love between you and me,” he rasped, breathing hard. “But we’ll do this together. Come.”

  He placed her hands on his shoulders, and she leaned forward. Watching his face, her breasts dipped close, hanging like ripe fruit from a tree. He licked and nipped, then took a nipple into his mouth to assuage his hunger…and hers. Streaks of desire seared to Caroline’s core as Antonio’s mouth worked its magic.

  “Let me show you, querida.” Antonio grasped her slim hips and speared her gently onto his rampant erection. She sighed with genuine pleasure as he slid in deeper and deeper. She’d never felt him so thick and long…and hot. Urging her onward with the pace he wanted, she slid up and down his shaft, loving the feel of him inside her body, at first, slow and tantalizing. As need for fulfillment became more deliberate and urgent, Caroline threw back her head and rode Antonio faster and faster.

  “Ah…it’s good, Caro, mas grande,” he whispered, raising his hips and thrusting as she continued to meet his movements. “Don’t stop, love,” he begged. “Hurry, whatever you do. We’ll soon be there.”