André’s lids slowly opened as his mind struggled to make sense of what had woken him. The coach was as a standstill. Men were shouting and he flinched as a shot rent the air. But the realization they were being robbed barely penetrated his consciousness until the door was flung open and a bulky form filled the doorway. A kerchief covered most of the man’s face and his hat was pulled low. Only the eyes were visible.
“I’ll be relieving ye of yer valuables, sir. All of ‘em.”
Non! his mind cried out. This would ruin everything! He needed his pistols, his clothing. In desperation, he dove for the bag that held his pistols but a heavy blow to the side of his head knocked him to the floor of the coach. He grunted in pain as the air whooshed from his lungs. Another blow fell and his last conscious thought was that he had failed Marguerite.
Chapter Fourteen
It was slightly after midnight when they left the Sheraton estate. Early by town hours, but it would take close to forty five minutes to reach home and Rand found himself rising earlier and earlier. He took his place across from Cecelia. The moon cast a pale light through the window accenting the soft curves of her face. She had been an absolute vision this evening and that fact hadn’t escaped the notice of the male guests. Hammond and a few others had been far too attentive. As she was certain to bring up Lady Sheraton, he opted for a first strike. He leaned back and folded his arms against his chest. “You should watch yourself around Hammond. He’s a reputation...”
“To rival yours?” she finished.
So much for a first strike. She was too clever by half. He scowled. “Never mind my reputation. Just don’t let him get you alone. Or Sheraton, for that matter. Jack’s always been a womanizer and he’s not particularly discreet.”
She sighed loudly with exasperation. “Don’t be silly. Lord Hammond was only flirting with me because he knew it wouldn’t possibly lead anywhere. Lord Sheraton was attentive because he was the host and was trying to make me feel welcome. And as a married woman, shouldn’t I have a bit more freedom in who I converse with? It isn’t as if I did anything to draw attention to myself.”
Except look more radiant and lovely than any other female there he thought irritably. He grunted. “I suppose.”
“I didn’t much care for her.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You didn’t much care for whom?”
“You know perfectly well who I’m talking about.”
“Lady Sheraton I would assume.”
“You would assume correctly.”
“Well, there were at least another ten ladies dining with us.” He forced a yawn.
“Do stop yawning and listen to me. She has wrinkles. Around her eyes.”
“I hadn’t noticed.”
“Of course, you didn’t. You and the other men were noticing her other qualities.” She adjusted her skirts slightly. “I’m quite perturbed.”
“Unburden yourself, Cecelia. I’m listening.”
“She made me feel like a child.”
“I didn’t notice anything amiss in her conversation. In what way did she make you feel like a child?”
“Isn’t she a charming young lady, Sheraton?” she mimicked.
“Horrors. She said you were charming. I don’t blame you for being upset.”
“It wasn’t what she said. It was how she said it. And that voice of hers. No woman should be allowed to have a voice like that. But it wasn’t just her voice. She practically oozed seduction. Men will always be attracted to her no matter how old she gets. I’m surprised the lot of you weren’t gathered at her feet pawing at her.”
He sighed. “I barely restrained myself.”
“And it’s very uncomfortable to have one’s appearance analyzed in front of others,” Cecelia continued. “She said I was tall. She said that Eugene and I had our father’s height.”
“You do,” he reminded her.
“She tried to make it sound like a compliment but it wasn’t. I thought it was very rude of her.”
He chuckled. “I like that you’re tall. I especially those long legs that do so such an exquisite job of wrapping themselves around me. But I digress. So what did you say when she so rudely referred to your statuesque appearance?”
“Nothing. I just smiled at her. What could I say? And even worse she said, “What a lovely gown. So few red heads know how to dress to suit their coloring.” She made it sound as if red heads were an entirely different species.”
He raised an eyebrow. “That certainly changes things. Would you like me to demand an apology? Challenge her husband to a duel for having such an ungracious wife?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
He stretched his legs out. “Why not? You are.”
“I have every right to be ridicu...” She stopped suddenly, crossed her arms and glared at him. “There’s more. In fact, you may hear some gossip about us.”
That caught his attention. He groaned. “What did you do, my dear? Tell me now, so I have the opportunity to prepare myself and plan our defense.”
“We’d just sat down to tea and she said ‘You must tell us how you managed it.’ And I said ‘I beg your pardon?” And then she said ‘Your marriage to Clarendon’ as if it was inconceivable that we should marry. I wasn’t foolish enough to tell them the truth, but I certainly wanted to.”
“Thank God, for that,” he broke in.
“I simply said it was a surprise to us as well, and that we’d had a whirlwind courtship but had agreed to keep the details secret for personal reasons.”
“Good God, Cecelia. There’s no telling what they’ll say about us now.”
“There’s little doubt as to what they’ll be saying. When she insinuated that you married me simply to set up your nursery, I let her know that you were quite determined. Lady Billings all but asked me how often we made love. I’m surprised steam wasn’t coming out of Lady Sheraton’s ears by the time you joined us.”
He hooted with laughter. “Of course, you know they’ll be watching your figure and counting the months for a while.”
“Well it’s for certain that they won’t come up with a number less than nine,” she grumbled. “And I don’t understand why everyone seems to think that our personal life is their business.”
“You know as well as I, that’s the way of the ton. Everyone’s business is everyone’s business. And if the truth isn’t exciting enough, someone’s bound to make something up. I’ve been dealing with it since I came of age. If it makes you feel any better, I had my share of aggravations to deal with this evening. My decision to not to prosecute the previous tenants who failed to pay their rents have not been particularly well received amongst the local landed gentry. Sheraton and Foxworth in particular. I’d venture to guess this dinner was planned in order to give them the opportunity to vent their spleens over it.”
“But the rents were ridiculous,” she protested. “Even I know you can’t charge someone more than they bring in and expect them to pay it.”
“To his credit, Hammond supported me though I think it was only because he was playing devil’s advocate. I expected some dissention but thought it would be handled more discretely.” He rubbed at his eyes. “Why I thought that I’ll never know. Give me a tradesman, any day. They’ve got more sense than the blasted aristocrats.”
“Well, Lord Sheraton and the others can think what they want,” she fumed. “You’re one of the most brilliant, successful people I know.”
“My sentiments, exactly.”
“If not the most humble,” she added.
“I’ve never claimed perfection.”
She stared at the shadow darkened landscape outside her window then turned to him and smiled. “I think we should have a dinner party. No, better than that. A house party.”
A long moment passed before he said, “You frighten me far more than a room full of angry men. What are you cooking up?”
“Nothing more than a house party for our neighbors and their guests,” she said innocently. “It’s customar
y to invite one’s neighbors for a week of food and entertainment, isn’t it? The season’s over but that doesn’t mean we must become social recluses. And as the Marquis of Clarendon, you’re expected to entertain. Lavishly.”
“Lavishly?”
“Yes. Lavishly.” She emphasized the word.
“I don’t mind entertaining a few guests for three or four days but I can’t spare any more time than that, Cecelia. There’s simply too much that needs to be done.”
She was quiet a moment, but to his surprise she didn’t argue. “Very well. But would you be willing to buy me some jewels for the occasion? Large extravagant stones that scream that our coffers are overflowing.”
He tried to picture her in large stones and couldn’t. He shook his head. “Large stones won’t suit you. You may be tall, but your frame and face appear quite delicate. It’s very misleading as you’re one of the least fragile females I know.”
The corners of her mouths turned down. “Somehow, that doesn’t sound like a complement.”
He chuckled. “I’ve no desire for a delicate miss. The fear of breaking one’s wife in two would take some of the fun out of the marriage bed.”
She grinned at him. “I suppose you’re right. And I can’t say that I would enjoy wearing large stones all that much. I could settle for perfect stones. They don’t have to be large.”
He studied her face then commented, “Emeralds would bring out the green in your eyes. Exquisitely cut emeralds in a delicate setting.”
“Yes, emeralds would be lovely,” she agreed. “Maybe with a few diamonds tossed in to make it more impressive.”
He inclined his head with deadpanned seriousness. “Of course. Your jewels must bear the consequence of our position and fortune. I won’t have it said that I’m a skinflint who won’t spend any blunt on his wife.”
“But you must choose them without me so that when someone remarks on my jewels I can say you surprised me.”
He couldn’t help but laugh. “What a little schemer you are. Would a necklace suffice? Or would you like earrings and a bracelet as well?”
“All of that and a broach and jeweled clips for my hair. Something unique.”
“Something unique,” he repeated. “Define unique.”
“You know perfectly well what I mean. Tasteful, beautiful and without comparison.”
“That’s a fairly tall order. It could take a while.”
She leaned forward. “Oh, but it mustn’t take longer than a few weeks. Three at the most. I don’t want to wait any longer than that to have our party. Though, too soon would also be a mistake. If we have it right on the heels of the Sheraton’s party it will appear as if we’re trying to show them up. But if we wait too long, there will be too many engagements in-between and no one will think to compare our party to theirs and I do want everyone to know I can entertain as well if not better than Lady Sheraton.”
“Good God,” he said. “Female logic is astounding. Mother always had her ball at the beginning of the season so she wouldn’t be tempted to outdo everyone else. Why can’t a woman entertain without fretting over what everyone else has done?”
“You simply don’t understand. Lady Sheraton must be made to realize that I’m more than a young girl who has married due to her brother’s influence and I don’t know how else to make my point. I know what’s expected of me. I was a bit nervous tonight but by the end of the evening, I realized that I can perform my social duties as well as anyone. And unlike Lady Sheraton I can do it without making our guests uncomfortable.”
“Are you certain you have time for this? You’ve taken on quite a bit as it is.”
“But I haven’t,” she protested. “Winston and Mrs. Brice do an exceptional job of running the household and I see no need to make changes where they aren’t needed, just to assert my authority. The three or so hours a day I spend with the children are very rewarding but what am I to do with the remainder of my time?”
“I’ve noticed you’ve done a little redecorating. I’ve been remiss in commenting on it but I like what you’ve done. The new rug and paintings in my chambers look very nice.”
“Thank you. I didn’t realize you had noticed.” She added with a touch of petulance, “You’re home so seldom.”
“Cecelia,” he warned. “You knew I would have to be away from home a good bit.”
“I wasn’t complaining. I was simply stating the facts. I’ve plans for the drawing room and dining room as well. They should be ready in time for our party.”
He’d paid little attention when his mother went on her decorating tears, but three weeks seemed optimistic. “I should think it would take longer than that. It takes a while to have things brought in.”
“We won’t need to, just yet. I’ve been exploring the house most afternoons and there are a number of nice furnishings stored in the attic and some of the rooms that have been closed off. And I’ve found the most extraordinary tapestries. They appear quite old. Mrs. Brice has them. You must see them once they’ve been cleaned. Mostly scenes of pilgrimages and one of what I believe is the original abbey.” She adjusted her skirts with a flounce. “Of course, I might know better if I could actually see the ruins. But since you’ve yet to take me there I haven’t had the opportunity.” She paused a moment. “And yes, that particular comment was a complaint.”
Her remark stabbed at his conscious. It was a deliberate ploy on her part but he had made a promise and not followed through and it was not in his nature to do so.
“We’ll ride out to the ruins, tomorrow,” he said.
“Truly?”
“Truly. Whitley can do without me for a day. We’ll take lunch and make a day of it.” “That would be wonderful,” she said happily. “I’m going to indulge myself in a long hard gallop. There are some lovely meadows we can ride through. And to the west is a stream. Harris and I stopped there to water the horses.” She stopped abruptly and Rand observed with interest as she suddenly flounced again and readjusted her skirts. He was learning her body language out of, as well as in the bedchamber and knew she was about to lodge another complaint.
She did. “He can be so tedious,” she said. “I wish you would select someone else to ride with me. He behaves as if I’d never been on a horse before. Why, I jumped a small fence the other day and Harris nearly had apoplexy. He actually turned purple. And no matter how hard I try, I can’t lose him. He’s sticks to me like glue! Where on earth did you find him?”
Harris had told him of her antics. She had led the man on a wild chase and then sailed three high fences with the grace of an eagle. The bulky Scotsman had been impressed with her abilities but not with her willful nature. “His instructions are to not let you out of his sight. I trust your skill implicitly. It’s your impulsiveness that gets you into trouble.”
She heaved a sound of annoyance but didn’t attempt to argue.
He watched through narrowed eyes as she stared out the window. Impulsive, sometimes petulant, and inherently headstrong, she never failed to stir him. In fact, he was fairly certain that was a part of the attraction. God knows she would never be boring. He would deal with the inconveniences of her occasional brashness to keep this free spirit in his life. Despite the sophisticated ensemble her heart shaped face and tilted eyes gave her the look of a wood sprite. It seemed forever since they had made love, though in truth, it was only two days. She’d been asleep last night when he came to bed and he hadn’t woken her. A moment passed and then he said, “Come here.”
Desire changed the tone of his voice. It was low and husky and in half a second she moved from her seat and was in his lap.
“Why didn’t you wake me up when you came to bed last night?”
“Another complaint?” he whispered. He lifted the long curls from her shoulder and placed his lips against the sensitive spot behind her ear. He felt a telltale shiver.
She nodded and sighed softly.
He nibbled on her earlobe. “You sleep like the dead. Maybe I ravished you in your
sleep.”
She pulled away. “You wouldn’t do that.”
He laughed softly as he hiked her skirts and lifted her so that she knelt facing him with her legs straddling his. “No, I wouldn’t.” He ran his hands up her thighs to caress her bare bottom. “I prefer you awake and involved. Your contributions are too enjoyable to forgo.”
“And I would hate to have you enjoy yourself without me,” she murmured as she tilted her head and rubbed her lips against his. “I’m very selfish that way.”
The carriage swayed rhythmically as they traveled down the road. She was warm and soft and he lost himself in the exquisite feeling of having her in his arms. She titled her head to allow him access as he nipped at her ear, kissed the pulse of her neck, ran his lips along the line of her jaw. Time slipped by. There was no urgency. No need for immediate completion. He played at his leisure knowing the languid touches would build to an even greater reward. But when he pulled her breasts free of her bodice and rubbed the peaks with his thumbs, a long sigh escaped her and she squirmed on his lap.
“Now,” she whispered.
“What a wanton bit of goods you are,” he murmured. “You have no patience.”
“None.”
He took her mouth with his and his tongue explored the sweet warm cavern. There was no help for it. His patience had vanished as well. He cupped his hands beneath the flesh of her bottom to lift her as she fumbled with the buttons of his breeches. And then an unexpected prickle ran down his neck and the hair on his arms lifted. He went still. Something was wrong. The carriage had slowed to a crawl. Every curse he could think of ran through his brain. With the utmost regret, he slowly lifted his head.
“Cecelia,” he whispered against her cheek. “We’re almost at a stop. Something’s amiss. You need to get up.”
“No,” she mumbled, then cupping his cheek with one hand, turned his face back to hers, and covered his lips with an open mouthed kiss.
The Devil's Own Luck (Once a Spy) Page 22