A Matter of Temptation

by Lorraine Heath

  She watched as Robert twisted around, leaned his back against the wall, the curled child cradled in his arms, while he looked down on him with such tenderness. He obviously adored this boy he’d only just met.

  “I daresay I should take him back to bed,” Eleanor said, rising to her feet. She crossed over to Robert and bent down to retrieve her son.

  “He’s a fine lad,” Robert said, and she heard something in his voice. Sadness, perhaps loss. Longing.

  “We think so,” Eleanor said.

  “I’ll help you put him to bed,” Weddington said, coming to his feet.

  As the couple left the room, Torie’s husband sat there, one leg raised, his wrist resting on his knee, his gaze on the window where the draperies were still pulled aside so they could watch the show put on by the magnificent storm.

  Was that a tear in his eye?

  With a soft clearing of his throat, he closed his eyes and pressed his finger and thumb on either side of the bridge of his nose, rubbing his nose, his eyes.

  “A headache?” she asked.

  He lowered his hand and gave her a poignant smile. “No, just speculating.”

  “On what?”

  “On what I’d be willing to do to protect my children from harm.”

  “And what would that be?”

  “Anything and everything.”

  “I’ve never understood why men believe women are too delicate to puff on cigars, drink whiskey, and smack small balls around,” Eleanor whispered to Torie.

  They were sitting in a corner of the billiard room, watching as the men puffed, drank, and smacked. Apparently the men needed quiet to play their game, although their own talking and laughter didn’t seem to disturb them. The ladies had been allowed into what Weddington referred to as a man’s dominion because Eleanor had insisted. Torie couldn’t help but wonder if a time would come when Robert would give as much deference to her wishes.

  “How did you meet Robert?” Eleanor asked, completely changing the subject.

  “It was at the first ball of last Season. He was the first duke to ask me to dance. I was quite smitten.”

  “Because of his title?”

  Torie heard censure in Eleanor’s voice, and she could hardly blame her. The woman was so obviously in love with her husband, she probably expected every woman to look beyond a man’s title.

  “Only at first,” Torie admitted. “But he was so charming and attentive that he fairly swept me off my feet.”

  “And if he wasn’t a duke?”

  “I’d still care for him.”

  “Care?”

  Eleanor had jumped on the word like a cat to a fly.

  “Did you love Weddington before you married him?” Torie asked instead of addressing Eleanor’s question.

  “Of course.”

  “I don’t know how proper courtship allows room for anyone to fall in love.”

  “I suppose I must confess that mine was quite improper. So you only care for Robert?”

  Torie felt the heat rise in her face. She wasn’t certain that she should tell this woman what she had yet to tell her husband. “I feel as though it’s only since we married that I’ve had an opportunity to truly come to know him.”

  “And you’ve grown rather fond of him,” Eleanor finished for her.

  Torie nodded, Eleanor smiled. “I’m glad your affection has deepened since you married him.”

  “Why?”

  “Because a man after marriage is often very different from a man who is courting. The reality of that difference can be very disappointing. I know any number of ladies who wished the beaus had not turned into husbands.”

  Torie smiled deeply. “It was just the opposite with Robert. I much prefer the man as a husband.”

  “And the way he looks at you,” Eleanor whispered, “it’s rather obvious that he absolutely adores you.”

  Torie shifted her gaze over to the men. The friendship between them was so evident.

  While she considered Weddington handsome, she couldn’t deny that she found her husband to be more so. He’d removed his jacket, unbuttoned the top of his shirt, and rolled up his sleeves as though he needed to get serious about this game. She liked to watch the way he concentrated on the ball right before he smacked it, the way he smiled with satisfaction when it landed in a hole, the way he groaned and grimaced with good-natured disappointment when he missed…

  He was quite simply…wonderful.

  “I find fierce storms lend themselves so well to romance,” Eleanor said softly.

  Stunned by the statement, Torie shifted her attention back to Eleanor. “Your husband told me that you’re terrified of storms.”

  Eleanor wrinkled her nose. “I am a bit. But my wariness serves a purpose. Men are quite ignorant when it comes to romance. I’m not certain why, but it takes a bit of training to bring them around…like a well-heeled dog.”

  Torie widened her eyes. “Are you comparing your husband to a pet?”

  “Of course not. I’m simply saying that sometimes men must be guided toward romance so that they believe it was all their idea. I’ve found storms to be the best time for simply holding each other.”

  “Simply holding each other?”

  Eleanor nodded enthusiastically. “People discount the importance of the small things. Simply being held while a storm rages. Being kissed silly. Talking in the darkness about dreams and plans. And snuggling to our heart’s content. Men are really rather stupid creatures when it comes to women. It is left to us to educate them that courtship doesn’t end when vows are exchanged.

  “Just like now. Men think they must sneak away to enjoy their cigars and whiskey, that it offends our sensibilities. But I take much pleasure in watching my Weddy enjoying his cigar and drink. And I daresay on occasion I’ve even shared the nasty things with him.”

  “You haven’t!”

  “I have. Life is to be experienced, I say. And I want to experience it with Weddy.”

  “You’re very lucky, Eleanor.”

  “I don’t believe in luck. I believe we make our own happiness. Right this moment, I could be off in another part of the house. Alone. But I choose not to be. I choose to be where he is. And the wonderful thing about it, Torie, is that there are times when he chooses to be where I am. And that’s the reason I love being married to him, and why I love him.”

  Torie realized that the balls were no longer being smacked around.

  “You’re out of practice,” Weddington said as he and Robert ambled over.

  “Decidedly so,” Robert responded.

  “Did you win, Weddy?” Eleanor asked.

  “Of course, princess.”

  Robert looked at Torie, shrugged, and grinned as though he thought she might be ashamed by his lack of success. She felt a need to comfort him. “It’s no surprise that you won, Weddington, since it’s your table in your house. You know doubt practice all the time.”

  “Whenever possible.”

  “What shall we do now?” Eleanor asked. “A game of charades?”

  “I was thinking we could go to the bathhouse,” Weddington said.

  “I think not.”

  “The bathhouse?” Torie asked.

  “It’s a horrendous place. A huge vat of freezing water,” Eleanor said.

  “It’s healthy to take a dip into it,” Weddington said. “My ancestors have done it for generations. Besides, it’s a ritual for Robert and me. We always do it at least once while he’s visiting.”

  “But tonight, Weddy? It’s raining.”

  “So? We’ll get wet anyway.”

  “Well, then, you can get wet without us.”

  “If you insist.” He bowed slightly. “Ladies, we’ll see you in a bit.”

  Robert looked at Torie. “Do you mind if we go?”

  “No. Spend some time with your friend.”

  “We may be a while. You needn’t wait up.”

  “All right. I’ll see you in the morning, then.”

  He looked incredibl
y awkward as he leaned down and brushed a kiss over her cheek. “Sleep well.”

  Watching as they walked out of the room, she couldn’t explain the ache of longing that suddenly filled her chest.

  “Have you ever taken a dip?” Torie asked.

  “Once.” Eleanor’s cheeks reddened. “Weddy warming me up afterward was quite lovely, but we wouldn’t be doing that with company about, now would we?”

  “I suppose not. I wonder what they find appealing about jumping into cold water.”

  “Haven’t a clue.”

  Chapter 16

  “You’re not really going to jump in, are you?” Robert asked, his voice echoing between the stone walls that circled the pool.

  “Hell, no,” Weddington said as he retreated into what served as a changing room.

  The bathing house had been built a good distance from the manor. Stone pillars guarded the entrance to the stone building. In spite of the rain, they’d managed to bring torches with them and placed them in the sconces on the wall. Eerie shadows danced around the inside of the building. A wide flight of stone steps led out of the pool.

  Weddington emerged from the room and held up his hands, each holding a bottle. “I love Eleanor with all my heart, but there is nowhere in the manor where she would not follow, and I thought we needed a bit of time to talk—alone.”

  “Like old times?”

  “Like old times.”

  They sat on the stone floor, their backs to the wall. Weddington opened a bottle and handed it to Robert before opening the other one for himself. He tapped it against Robert’s. “To friendship renewed.”

  “To friendship that remained.”

  Robert took a swallow, the whiskey burning down his throat. He gasped, released a harsh breath, and smiled broadly. “Whew! That was good.”

  “And there’s plenty more where that came from.”

  “Do you think your father ever deduced that we weren’t taking dips for our health in here?”

  “I think he might have suspected.”

  Robert took another swallow, raised his knee, and set his wrist on it, the bottle dangling. Dropping his head back, he watched the shadows dancing over the ceiling. “We had some good talks here.”

  “Yes, we did. I’ve told Eleanor about your situation.”

  Robert rolled his head over to the side, so he could see his friend more clearly.

  “She asked me why I didn’t kill you, and since she knew it was my intention…” Weddington shrugged. “I’ve never lied to her and I don’t keep things from her. She won’t say a word to anyone.”

  Robert looked back at the ceiling. “This situation has already hurt you and Eleanor enough. I don’t want it to cause any further harm.”

  “I don’t suppose between this afternoon and now that you’ve determined how best to handle it.”

  Robert brought the bottle to his lips, gulped the intoxicating brew, lowered the bottle, and licked his lips. “No. But as I was playing with Richard, all I could think was that with John alive, I would never know that my children were safe.”

  “Perhaps if you reassured him that he would always be provided for—”

  “I’ve been thinking about that. It’s not about the money. There was never any question that he would have an allowance that would allow him to live in the manner to which he’d become accustomed. It had to be about the dukedom itself. The title. All the titles. The prestige, the power, the respect accorded someone of rank. He’s already demonstrated the lengths to which he will go in order to be duke. I can’t assume that my being on to him is enough to deter him.”

  “What are you going to do, then?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I think you might have another problem that you didn’t realize you had.”

  “What would that be?”

  “Your wife.”

  “I’m very much aware that there is a problem there.”

  “Are you aware that she loves you?”

  Laughing at the absurdity of the question, he took another swallow, letting the warmth race through him. “She loves John.”

  “It wasn’t John she couldn’t take her eyes off in the drawing room.”

  He snapped his gaze over to Weddington. “Only because she thought I was John. If she realized I wasn’t the man who’d asked for her hand, she wouldn’t be giving me any attention at all.”

  “I think you’re wrong. I think she likes what she sees when she looks at you. I think it’s you that caused her to smile. I think it was the thought of losing you that caused the duel to so upset her. And I damned well know that you love her.”

  “I can’t love her.”

  “But you do.”

  “But I can’t. It was John—”

  “Do you honestly believe that she could have loved him?”

  “Yes!” He shot to his feet, drinking the whiskey as he went. “The day we married she told me how fond she was of me. Incredibly desperately. Only it wasn’t me, it was John she was referring to.” He dropped down to his haunches. “The morning after I escaped, I woke up to discover I was to marry. By the time I realized it wasn’t simply a lady marrying a duke, the deed was done.” He looked down at the bottle dangling between his knees. “I don’t want to give her up, but when she learns the truth, she will want to be rid of me.”

  “Robert, I have known her for only an afternoon and an evening, but I cannot for the life of me envision so sweet a woman falling for so unscrupulous a man as your brother.”

  Robert lifted his gaze. “I don’t believe she is aware of what he did. He has all of London convinced that the Duke of Killingsworth’s twin brother immigrated to America.”

  “I’d heard the rumors. Do you remember all the times he talked about going to America? So his finally going didn’t surprise me.”

  “Only he didn’t go. He’s supposedly written stories about his fantastic adventures.”

  “I’d heard that as well. I daresay it’s quite mad. All the more reason to win your wife over to your side.”

  Robert took a sip of his whiskey, something Torie said filtering through his mind. “She told me she had doubts about marrying me—or the man she thought was me. It’s so damned confusing.”

  “Consider this. John is a schemer. It is very likely that he never revealed his true self to her. And if that is the case, do you honestly believe she deserves him? You know the truth of him. Why would you condemn her to a life with him? Not that I think you’ll be able to grant her one. The law prohibits a wife from marrying her husband’s brother.”

  “But surely if I return her chaste, if I can undo the marriage, make the courts understand that it was through no fault of her own that she married the wrong brother—”

  “I think you should consider that perhaps she married the right brother. You shouldn’t take measures to stop her from falling in love with you, the real Robert Hawthorne.”

  With a good bit of whiskey sloshing around in his belly, Robert thought that Weddington’s view on his current situation made perfect sense. Was damned near brilliant, actually.

  He dropped into the chair in the bedchamber that Weddington had led him to, with a wink and nudge that Torie was in the bedchamber next door. Weddington had offered to send in his valet, but Robert had declined the offer. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts.

  He’d been so concerned about her discovering that he wasn’t the man she knew as Robert that he’d given no consideration to letting her discover the man he was. He still had no plans to bed her. Should the marriage be dissolved, he wanted to take nothing from her that he couldn’t give back. Such as her innocence.

  But he could spend more time with her, spend money on her. He could even write her sonnets. Well, writing sonnets might be a bit too ambitious since he’d never written one in his entire life and had read them only when the schoolmaster forced him to.

  His mind was wandering off in a direction of no consequence. Reaching down, he grabbed his boot and tugged, tugged, tugged until
he jerked it off, then tossed it onto the floor.

  He fell back in the chair and held up a finger. He needed to return his mind to the plan. Yes, the plan. Sonnets. No, not sonnets. That would be disastrous. He could read her sonnets that someone else had written. Like Shakespeare. As Robert recalled, he’d written a few good ones that might appeal to a woman’s heart.

  Time, money, sonnets. What else? He knew so little of courtship. When he would have been engaging in it, honing his skills, he’d been creating shadow friends. Not a lot of good they’d be in wooing a woman.

  He heard a light rapping on his door.

  Damnation. Weddington had sent his valet after all. Robert looked at his forlorn boot lying on the floor and the one still on his foot and decided he might very well need the services of a valet.

  “Come in!”

  The door opened, but it wasn’t the valet. It was his wife, standing there in a nightgown and wrapper, her bare toes peeking out from beneath the hem.

  “I thought I heard you in here.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll be quieter.”

  So much for his plans to woo her. Here was the perfect opportunity for him to say something witty, and he apologized. Give it up, Robert, you’ll never win her over.

  “You didn’t disturb me. I wasn’t asleep yet. I was actually pondering a problem that I thought you might be able to help me with.”

  He straightened. Straightened? What was he doing still sitting? A lady had come into the room. His lady. He shot to his feet, wobbled a bit, stilled, and realized how silly he must look tilted as he was with one boot making one side higher than the other. Ah, yes, a man as suave and debonair as he was…she would have no choice but to fall madly in love with him.

  “Your problem? How can I help you with it?” he asked.

  With a shy tucking of her chin, she pointed. “Perhaps I should help you first. You still have a boot on.”

  He glanced down. “Ah, yes, so I do. And here I thought the storm was causing the house to list to one side, like a ship on the sea.”

  “Are you foxed?”

  “No, no. I’m simply feeling very merry.”