Invitation to Seduction.html

by Lorraine Heath

  “She’ll be here any moment now,” Montague said quietly.

  “I should hope so. We have a schedule to keep.”

  “Everyone will understand if you’re a moment or two late in slicing the wedding cake.”

  Richard refrained from commenting. He’d asked Montague to stand as his best man, so Kitty might feel more at ease. He didn’t know how he could do much more for the woman than he’d already done to earn her favor. Yet she still seemed reluctant to grant it. He hoped she hadn’t changed her mind completely. They had a child to think of. His child. A possible heir.

  He would have preferred to have turned her heart toward him before giving her a child, so he could be secure in her affections, and she could be certain of his. With or without a child, he would have married her.

  But he was plagued with doubts that without a child, she might not have ever married him.

  However, doubts could be erased with actions. He could woo her more ardently from that moment on. And it would be his pleasure to do so, and hopefully a bit easier. After all, he no longer had the shadow of Farthingham hanging over him.

  The soft music that had been filtering from the organ suddenly hit a resounding chord, as the “Wedding March” began, and he finally had hope that the blasted waiting was about to end. He shifted slightly and watched as Emily littered the floor with orange blossoms, then four ladies whom Richard vaguely recognized strolled down the aisle. Friends of Kitty with very respected fathers no doubt. They probably moved about in his circle, but he’d never paid them any attention.

  Exactly as now, he hardly noticed them at all, taking their places off to the side, because Kitty had come into view, and he thought his gaze had never before fallen on a woman as beautiful as she. He’d feared she’d arrive in black crepe simply to remind him that she’d not gotten over her loss of Farthingham. And here she was in pure white, strolling gracefully beneath the archway of orange blossoms. He could not have been more pleased that she’d gone to such lengths for this moment.

  Then she was standing before him. He’d hoped by now that some of the color might have returned to her face, but even through the veil, he saw she was incredibly pale. She offered him a small semblance of a smile, and he gave her a brusque nod.

  The bishop’s voice rang out, “Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?”

  “I do,” David Robertson said as he placed Kitty’s hand within the bishop’s, and he, in turn, relinquished it into Richard’s keeping.

  He was surprised by how badly she was trembling, almost as badly as she’d been the morning he’d taken her from the sea or when he’d held her during the storm. Nervousness, of course, was the culprit. She had to stand before all these people, most of whom were probably strangers. His mother was too ensconced in Society. He doubted an empty seat remained anywhere.

  The bishop asked Kitty to repeat her vows. Richard became distressingly aware of the silence that followed and the bishop striving to look as though he were not waiting for a response.

  “Kitty,” Richard urged quietly, barely moving his lips.

  The bishop cleared his throat. Montague cleared his throat. Richard thought he heard one of the ladies standing beside Kitty clear her throat, so for good measure he cleared his.

  “Kitty,” Montague hissed. “Your vows. Repeat your vows. Farthingham—”

  “I saw him,” she whispered.

  Everything within Richard stilled. “Pardon?”

  Kitty flinched, and Richard cursed as his voice echoed around him. Her gaze wandered over his face, and he wondered if she saw the guilt there, suspected what he’d done.

  “Yes, please,” the bishop said. “You’ll need to repeat your vows a bit more loudly so we might all hear them.”

  She looked to the bishop then. “I’m sorry. Will you say them again?”

  The bishop repeated the vows, and Richard held his breath while she said them, every word. The remainder of the ceremony could not have happened quickly enough.

  Richard repeated his vows. They knelt on the cushions and bowed their heads to receive the blessing. The bishop’s voice echoed with the most beautiful words Richard had ever heard.

  “Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.”

  Richard breathed a sigh of relief. He’d done it! She was his! And now no one could take her from him. Not even Farthingham.

  As Richard escorted her out of the church, it dawned on Kitty that she was married, and she wondered if she was obligated to uphold vows she could barely remember speaking. As they went down the steps, into the sunshine, she glanced around the waiting crowds who were cheering and applauding. So many people. Anyone could hide within them.

  Richard helped her into the carriage, then joined her. Only this time, instead of sitting opposite her as he’d always done in the past, he sat beside her.

  “What about my parents and Emily?” she asked.

  “They’ll follow in another carriage. Smile, Duchess, and wave. You’re as close to being royalty as many of these people will ever see.”

  She did as he commanded, smiling and waving, remembering her promise never to let anyone know that by his side wasn’t where she wanted to be. The carriage started off, and she couldn’t have been more grateful. She would have a few hours at her parents’ home, then she and Richard would return to his London residence. She didn’t want to contemplate what would happen then.

  “What did you mean in the church when you said you saw Farthingham?” he asked quietly, once the crowds had dissipated and no further need for smiling or waving existed.

  Suddenly feeling silly, she shook her head. “I thought I saw him.”

  “Where?”

  “In the crowds, outside the church. There were so many people. I looked around as I was getting ready to get out of the carriage, and I thought I saw him.”

  “You do realize that you can’t have seen him.”

  “I know. I simply thought…what if he survived?”

  “He didn’t.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “I was there.”

  She studied his face. “Did you actually see him drown?”

  He averted his eyes, seeming to take interest in the shops they passed. “Kitty, he’s gone.” He turned his attention back to her. “If he were alive, if you’d truly seen him in front of the church, do you not think that he would have rushed inside and put a halt to the ceremony? Do you not think that he would have claimed you for himself?”

  “Yes, yes, of course, you’re right.” She lowered her gaze to the ring he’d placed on her finger during the ceremony. Another perfect fit, as though it had been designed specifically for her. “Unless he thought we betrayed him.”

  He released a deep sigh that was rife with frustration. “And why would he think that?”

  “You took him sailing when the sky promised a storm—”

  “It was his idea to take the boat out.”

  “Was it?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  “But if he survived, if he were badly wounded and it took him a while to recover, and when he did, he saw our announcement so soon after his supposed drowning—”

  He cut her off by cupping her cheek with his gloved hand and pressing his thumb against her lips. “I think you’ve been reading too many of Montague’s plays.”

  She smiled at that, actually truly smiled. She released a tiny laugh. “You’re right. You’re so right. That was one of Freddie’s plays. I remember now. What was it called?”

  “A Sea Change.”

  “That’s right. Have you read it?”

  “Yes.”

  “A woman’s lover tried to drown her husband—”

  “But the husband survived and killed the lover,” he finished quickly. “I was not overly impressed with it.”

  “I thought it was rather good.”

  “Perhaps it is, if it has you seeing ghosts.”

  “You’re right. I actually read some of it last night
when I couldn’t sleep. It must have been on my mind. I found the man I thought was Nicky, but he didn’t look anything like him when I got near enough to see him clearly.”

  “I’m glad that matter’s settled satisfactorily. Now tell me why you couldn’t sleep? Anticipation of the day?”

  “More like dread.” She regretted the words as soon as she’d spoken them. “I apologize.”

  “No need. I prefer complete honesty when it is only you and I. I have a feeling there will be enough playacting the remainder of the time. Besides, I dreaded it as well.”

  “Why?”

  “I feared you’d change your mind. That I would stand there like a fool, waiting for a woman who had no intention of arriving.”

  She found that she didn’t much like the idea of him being a fool. “How long would you have waited?”

  “Until I was old and gray.” He cupped her face once again and lowered his mouth to hers for only a heartbeat as the carriage drew to a halt. “We’re here. This shall no doubt be the most unpleasant part of the afternoon, pretending for a time that you’re in love with me.”

  His words hit her hard. He’d done all he could to make this day as pleasant as possible, and she was grateful. She placed her hand on his arm. “I won’t be pretending that I’m honored to be your wife.”

  He gave her a warm smile. “Thank you for that.”

  She could do little more than return his smile and wonder if perhaps the pretense was actually that she didn’t love him.

  Chapter 22

  It was dark by the time they left the afternoon tea her parents had arranged at their home. This time Richard had a closed coach waiting to whisk them away. Kitty leaned out the window, waving good-bye until she could no longer see her family. Then she settled back into the coach, so tired she barely had the strength to notice that Richard sat beside her.

  “Tired?” he asked quietly.

  She laughed wearily. “Exhausted.”

  “We’ll be home soon.”

  She squinted through the darkness at him. “Will your mother and Lady Anne be joining us there?”

  “No. They’ve taken up residence at the dower house.”

  She nodded, not certain what else she should do. The Dowager Duchess had told her that she would move into the other residence. Kitty had hoped it wouldn’t be immediately, but a day or two after the wedding, after she’d grown accustomed to her new status. Although she feared that she might never become accustomed to it.

  “It only now occurred to me that I’ve seen very little of your London residence.”

  He took her hand, his thumb circling the rings on her finger. Rings he’d placed there. “Everything happened quite quickly for us, but I shall make you happy.”

  “I’ll try to do the same for you.”

  “I ask no more than that.”

  The coach came to a halt before a grand house, and Kitty’s first impression of her new home was that she hoped the staff was efficient. The coach door was immediately opened, and a gloved hand appeared inside the doorway. She slipped her hand into the waiting footman’s and stepped out of the coach. She didn’t know why she was suddenly more nervous than she’d been all day, why the reality of all that had transpired was coming home to roost.

  “Are you ready?” Richard asked.

  Taking a deep breath, she placed her hand on his waiting arm. They walked up the sweeping steps. Another footman opened the massive door, and Kitty found herself halfway hoping that she’d find Lady Anne waiting inside as she had the night they’d gone to the opera.

  But the only one waiting was the butler. “I’ve called for the servants, Your Grace,” he said immediately.

  “Thank you, Watkins,” Richard said.

  The butler turned and as if by magic, servants began appearing, of all ages, shapes, and sizes. A considerable number, many more than her parents had ever used. My goodness, she’d been taught to manage a large household, but she thought it highly unlikely she’d remember everyone’s name—

  “You need not concern yourself with remembering everyone’s name,” Richard said.

  She peered up at him. “You must have been reading my mind.”

  “Your eyes seemed to be growing as they came out. Mother and Anne have taken their lady’s maids with them. Yours should be arriving here at any moment with her things.”

  She felt as though her eyes really widened then. “You mean Nancy?”

  “If that’s her name. I arranged her transfer to my household staff as part of the settlement. I thought you might be more comfortable if I weren’t the only person you knew in the house.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re most welcome. Allow me to introduce you to those who will be of the most service to you. They in turn will introduce the others to you over time as needed.”

  “I’m acquainted with how it all works. Americans aren’t totally barbaric.”

  He grinned. “That surprises me, since your wildness was the very reason I married you.”

  She looked away, embarrassed to remember the reason he had married her, a result of the night when she’d behaved as anything except a lady.

  “Duchess, may I present Watkins. He has been in our employ for many years.”

  “Watkins,” she said with as much dignity as she could muster.

  “Your Grace.” He had a kind smile.

  “Our cook, Mrs. Butler,” Richard said.

  “Mrs. Butler.” Mrs. Butler looked as though she sampled generously of her own cooking, which Kitty took as a good sign. “I look forward to going over menus with you in the morning.”

  Mrs. Butler curtsied. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

  “The head housekeeper, Rose.”

  Rose’s cheeks blushed to the color of her name. Kitty didn’t think the woman seemed old enough to be in charge.

  “Rose.”

  “Your Grace.” She curtsied.

  “It appears you manage an excellent household.”

  The woman’s cheeks burned into a reddish hue. “Thank you, madam.”

  “You’re most welcome.”

  Richard then introduced her to the remainder of the staff with little more than a grand sweeping of his hand, after which a round of curtsies, bows, and “Your Graces” followed.

  “I look forward to getting to know each of you,” Kitty said.

  “All right now, back to your duties,” Watkins ordered, and everyone scurried away as though they’d never been there.

  “Was the package delivered?” Richard asked.

  “Yes, sir. I had it readied as per your instructions and placed it in your library. I assigned the underfootman the task of keeping watch over it.”

  “Thank you, Watkins. My duchess and I will retire to the library for a while. Send word when her lady’s maid has arrived and settled in.”

  “Yes, sir. Will there be anything else?”

  “No, thank you.”

  Richard turned to her and extended his arm. “I thought we might relax in the library for a bit.”

  Now he asked, after already indicating that they’d do exactly that. “By all means, lead the way.”

  He escorted her past several rooms, pointed out various items, and explained their history in relation to his family. She was too tired to take notice of much of what he said. He led her into the library with its walls and walls of books, and the musty smell that she so loved next to the scent of the sea.

  “Hello, Henry,” Richard said.

  “Evenin’, Your Grace.”

  “Kitty, this is Henry. He serves as underfootman and keeps all the boots and shoes polished to a shine.”

  “Hello, Henry,” she said, charmed by the smile that the boy bestowed on her. She didn’t think he could have been much older than twelve. “I must confess that I’ve always been quite impressed with the shine on the duke’s shoes. I can almost see my face in them when I glance down.”

  The boy’s smile brightened, and he puffed out his chest. “That’s ’cuz I’ve g
ot good spit, and I ain’t stingy with it.”

  Striving to bite back her laughter, she darted a look at Richard and saw him fighting to hold back his own. She thought this might have been the most relaxed moment of the evening. “That’s very commendable, Henry.”

  “Thank you, Your Grace.”

  Kitty became aware of a whining, a thumping.

  “Have you been keeping careful watch over my wife’s gift?” Richard asked.

  “Yes, sir. Been keeping it under the desk so’s it wouldn’t be seen ’til you was ready.”

  “I suppose now is as good a time as any.” He indicated a chair. “If you’ll sit, we’ll retrieve your gift.”

  She hardly knew what to say. “You don’t need to give me—”

  “I want to.”

  She took a seat, watched the eagerness with which he and the boy went round behind the desk. Her husband was almost a child himself. He lifted a box that didn’t have a lid. The thumping and whining increased, and her stomach began to knot. She’d never had a fondness for dogs, not since she was a child and one had snapped in her face. Cats. She loved cats. Kittens. She adored kittens. Please, don’t give me a dog.

  But he did. With expectation clearly written on his face, he set the box before her and crouched beside it. Leaning over slightly, she peered into the box.

  A dog. A tiny dog. A puppy she supposed. With a reddish brown coat and a huge green ribbon tied around its neck.

  “It’s a spaniel,” he told her.

  “Yes, I can see that.”

  “I thought it might make you less lonely. I spend a good deal of time dealing with business interests and the estates. I haven’t the time to play as…” His voice trailed off.

  “As Farthingham did.”

  “Yes.”

  “You can hold ’er,” Henry said, as he reached into the box, lifted the dog out—

  “No, no,” Kitty said, jumping to her feet, skirting quickly around the box.

  Both man and boy stared at her as though she were insane.

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m simply not fond of dogs.”

  Henry looked at her as though she’d kicked the puppy. “How can you not like dogs?”

  “Henry,” Richard chastised sternly, “it’s not your place to question the duchess.”