He took back his hand. “You can keep your eyes on me all on your own or I can help you.”
She scoffed and turned away. “I cannot be controlled, my lord.”
His hand landed on her hip and curved over her belly. Slowly, it rose.
She pushed his hand away and glared. “T-that isn’t right.” She was breathing hard now. She wanted his hands but was too startled to admit it.
“You are to be my wife. I will decide what is right.”
“And I get no say in this matter? I believe I am older than you.” Her eyes showed a hint of vulnerability. “I’m twenty and six.”
He was twenty and four. He patted her knee. “Do not fear. I will make you feel young again.”
Her lips twitched with humor.
“But we are off topic. We are discussing Miriam’s safety. I will not allow harm to come to my daughter.”
Nora colored and smiled. Then her eyes glassed over. “You’re going to ruin me, aren’t you?”
He knew what her words were intended to mean. He was breaking down the walls she held around herself. She was becoming vulnerable to him. The possibility that he would hurt her was becoming great.
He wasn’t sure he would hurt her. He hoped he didn’t, but he would surely ruin her. She’d never see the world the same once he was done with her.
She narrowed her eyes and studied him as though he were a puzzle. “Is sex all you think about?”
Was that a true question? “Only when I’m with you.” Actually, that was a lie. He thought about it all the time. Almost every minute of every day. It was only recently that she’d become the leading lady in all his wicked thoughts.
She looked away sharply and stood. “I believe I’ll spend some time with Miriam and make certain I’m there if she has any questions.” She looked at him then. “Though I do have a question for you.”
He stood and jutted his chin, which prompted her to continue.
“When will the wedding take place? I believe the end of the Season to be the best time.”
Garrick shook his head. “Tomorrow.”
Nora pulled in a deep breath. “Tomorrow? But shouldn’t we wait for Lucy and Kent’s return?”
“We must marry now. You know how scandal works. The longer we wait, the worse it will be for Miriam. Even now, they could believe you are carrying my child.”
She became stiff. Embarrassment turned her cheeks a rosy hue. “I suppose you are right. The story will grow, change, and shift into something terrible if we wait for the banns.” Her words said she agreed, but her face and stance showed nervousness. “Speaking of children—”
“You will sleep in my bed.” He wouldn’t admit that he’d be content to do nothing more than hold her, but he needed her there just as surely as he needed his next breath.
He was surprised when she didn’t argue and even more when some of the nervousness faded. “I suspected as much,” she answered. “How will this… work? You and me. I mean… what is it you’d be expecting from me?”
It was a fine question given the circumstances. It would be something they’d both have to figure out. “The truth in all things. I wish to know your pleasure and your pain.” And her secrets. “Will you tell me the truth?”
She closed her eyes. “Do I no longer have permission to deal with this alone?” She opened her eyes to get his reply.
He touched her cheek. “You are no longer alone, Nora.”
∫ ∫ ∫
3 2
* * *
As Nora sat across from Lady Johanna, Garrick’s words rang in her mind again.
You are no longer alone.
She hadn’t known just how lonely she’d been until he’d said it. Now, she was to be a married woman.
“This is the most exciting news you’ve ever brought,” Johanna said with misting eyes. “The last time I was this happy was when you told me that you and Miriam were moving into Lord Ganden’s home. I saw the way he dealt with his vile mother and knew that if he wouldn’t hurt a snake like her there was no way he’d hurt you, but this… You can’t know how happy this has made me.”
“I didn’t realize I’d been bringing you nothing but terrible news these last few years.”
Johanna shook her head and took Nora’s hand. “It’s all right.” She glanced out in the hall where Miriam and Garrick were once again seated together. They were deep within the pages of their book. Johanna turned back to Nora. “What’s more important is how you feel about everything that has happened. Based on our last discussion and under the circumstances of how the engagement came to be, it is clear you didn’t plan to marry Lord Coalwater. Have your feelings change?”
Had her feelings changed? The
question contained a million other questions.
Had her feelings toward marrying Garrick changed? No, they hadn’t. If there were any other way, she would stop what she was sure would be a great mistake. But had her feelings for Garrick changed? Not at all. She liked him. He made her nervous. He aroused her. He made her feel safe and fearful at the same time. Excited and reluctant. “This is a mistake,” she whispered. “He and I do not suit.”
“Why do you say that?” Johanna asked.
“You know the rumors about him,” Nora said. “He enjoys bedding the women at the brothel. How am I to ever compete with such an array of women when I am just one? How am I to capture and hold his affection?”
Johanna smiled. “You already have his affection. I know this to be true, but to keep it, that is something I cannot advise you on since I never married. However, I will say that I once heard my mother speaking to my aunt. It was years ago.”
Nora leaned closer to listen. Something about the spark in Johanna’s eyes told Nora the advice she was about to receive would be scandalous.
Johanna cleared her throat, made certain that Garrick and Miriam were still too far to hear, and then said, “My aunt was having trouble with her husband and Mama said that Papa never left her bed, because once there, he grew far too tired to get up.”
Nora pressed her lips together, but Johanna did nothing to hold back her giggle. Her own eventually slipped and she covered her mouth before she looked over and met Garrick’s eyes.
Garrick’s mouth was tilted with humor. If only he could hear their conversation. Nora shivered and thought of how Garrick had touched her in the garden. He didn’t like it when she shut him out and turned away so she wouldn’t have to read his hands. His possessive fingers had smoldered her internally and shot need through her. It had been so long since a man had touched her.
She wanted to share his marriage bed. In that one primal way, she wanted Garrick, but what she didn’t want was to share him.
Could Johanna’s advice truly work?
“Surely, my mother’s advice will work for you,” Johanna said.
Nora turned to her sister-in-law. “Will you ever marry?”
Johanna shook her head. “I’ve experienced too much loss. I couldn’t bear it anymore.” She smiled. “You and Miriam are all I need.”
Nora didn’t believe her, but neither did she press any further, but she did want her friend to be happy.
”But I must know,” Johanna went on. “Does this marriage mean you plan to give it up? Now that you will be a viscountess, perhaps it’s time?”
“I’ll never give up,” Nora decided. She’d actually decided so last night. Being Garrick’s wife would not stop her brother. Therefore, she had to go on. “I heard that Meri is interested in marriage. Do you know the lady who holds his affections? A woman who is blonde?”
Johanna thought. She went to Season events as well and often saw Meri at a distance. “I’ll be honest, your brother is not a bad-looking man and he happens to be an unattached earl. There are many who seek his attention. He does give Lady Christina Quinton a bit of attention. They danced at nearly every event they both attended. She’s blonde as well.”
“Christina?” Nora asked. “That was our mother’s name.” And she knew exactly who t
he lady was, not only because of the familiar name, but because of the woman’s visage as well. Christina Quinton looked like Nora’s mother, a younger version, of course, but still very similar. At least, that was what Nora had always thought every time she’d seen the woman at a party.
After her mother’s death, it had become hard for Nora to look at her and not see her mother. She usually avoided the lady.
Johanna nodded. “I never thought anything of the similar names. It is not an unusual name.”
Nora agreed. Christina was a common name, but her face… “I must warn her.”
Johanna’s eyes widened. “Tell me you plan to simply send her a mysterious note of some sort.”
Nora shook her head. “You said it yourself. The ladies of the ton have set their caps for my brother. Therefore, why would she believe a word of what I say on paper? She could easily think one of the other women sent it in the hopes it would turn my brother’s head to another. No, it must come from me.”
“When will you do it?”
“Do you know the next party where she will be in attendance?”
“No, but I could find out,” Johanna said. “But how will you get an invitation?”
Nora lifted a brow. “My engagement is already in the papers. My marriage tomorrow morning will make it even more of a scandal. I may have sat out of society for a few years, but I still know how it works. I’ll manage to get an invitation.” She stood.
Johanna hugged her. “Good luck. With everything.” When she pulled away, she was smiling once again.
Nora kissed her cheek and then turned to find Garrick standing at her side, ready to escort her away. He was always there and now that he would be her husband, he would never go away.
Why did that idea make her skin feel tight?
She’d have to find a way to make their marriage work without losing her heart. Would Johanna’s advice work? Was Nora brave enough to even attempt it?
She thought of this as they silently walked back to Kent and Lucy’s. Miriam pushed Monica in her carriage and told her mother that Garrick promised to get her a pony so that she may attach the carriage onto it.
Nora said nothing and began to think of how she would tell Garrick the truth about her financial state. She could afford a pony on her own. She wasn’t poor. In fact, her husband had left her well situated upon his death.
She would have to tell him soon. Before tomorrow’s wedding.
Her wedding.
Her stomach flipped at the idea. She’d been married before. It had been lovely with quiet passion and kindness. Garrick, however, was no Nathan. She had a feeling that where she and Nathan had sailed through their marriage on calm water, she and Garrick would rock like a storm.
And for some reason, that only made her hotter.
When they arrived home, there was a carriage outside that she recognized. Footmen moved to and from its boot. They unloaded one trunk after the other.
And then Nora saw a face she hadn’t been prepared for and heard a shout from her side.
Then Miriam, in a very unladylike manner, was running and screaming toward George and though he didn’t scream, he was running to her as well.
And he was faster.
Only two years older than Miriam, he was strong and managed to wrap Miriam in his arms before spinning her once and placing her onto her feet.
But Miriam wouldn’t let him go. She sobbed into his shoulder. Her tears were about as loud as they’d been when her father passed.
Nora’s heart raced at the breathtaking sight.
And then Garrick was there, placing his arm around Nora to give her support.
Why had George returned?
And then she saw Lucy come out of the house, and Nora’s own happiness had her breaking from Garrick to get to her. Lucy smiled wildly as she started toward Nora. Nora hadn’t known just how much she’d missed Lucy until that moment and if the tears in Lucy’s eyes meant anything, then they truly were friends.
They hugged not far from George and Nora’s emotional reunion.
“What are you doing here?” Nora asked her.
Lucy sighed with relief. “George didn’t want to stay. We took the whole trip to Eton for him to decide he would rather go to a school in London. Kent says he’ll go to Oxford when the time is right, and I cannot say that I am not pleased by this. I’m so happy he’d rather stay home. I felt as though I would die if he left me. Also, I’m with child.”
Nora’s eyes widened. Alvin wasn’t even a year, yet she could see the news pleased Lucy and that made her happy. “That is wonderful. It is all wonderful.” She was glad that George had returned and would remain for some time.
Lucy smiled and sighed again. “So, tell me, what has changed here?”
The question brought Nora back to reality.
∫ ∫ ∫
3 3
* * *
Kent turned his stern green gaze to Clive. “Tell me that I read his hands wrong.”
Clive chuckled and slapped Kent on the shoulder. “No, my friend. You’re reading is excellent.”
Kent turned back to Garrick. “You and Nora are…” He shook his head. “I don’t understand. I was only gone a week. Is this about whatever is going on with her? How did this come about?”
Garrick had suspected Kent would not take the news well. Kent was protective of Nora, but there would no longer be need of it. Nora would belong to Garrick tomorrow whether the earl liked it or not.
Actually, Garrick had hoped to have Nora in his house before Kent and Lucy’s return. Now, he had to deal with Kent’s slightly territorial nature. Nora was counted a friend. Nora made Lucy happy. Anything that upset Lucy upset Kent, and Kent was not a man who handled his anger well.
Garrick would hate to fight his friend.
He’d had to fight more than a few gentlemen in the past year. Actually, Garrick had allowed a few of his victims to a fight. If they won, he wouldn’t kill them— naturally, they’d have killed him first. But if he won— which he always did— then they would drink the laudanum without issue, and he would take their life.
He had no intentions of letting Kent take Nora from him.
Clive, clearly knowing of Kent’s habit of assuming the worst about a situation, broadened his grin. “There was a spot of bother at a party. Garrick and Nora were found in a compromising manner.”
“What is Clive talking about?” Kent asked Garrick. “What were you and Nora caught doing?”
“It’s there in the paper.” Garrick pointed to the paper that sat on the side of the couch.
Kent moved there, settled down, and began to look over the sheet. He found the story quick enough. The wedding announcement was there on the cover.
Kent’s brows lowered, and he began to brood as he read further.
Lucy and Nora came in just as Kent closed the paper.
“Kent, did you hear?” Lucy grinned. She approached Garrick and touched his cheeks. “I’m so happy for you.” Then she spun to Nora and took her hands. “This is wonderful. It’s what I’ve always wanted for you. Never had I thought it would be Garrick, though I must admit I noticed he possessed a certain level of protectiveness toward you and Miriam. It is clear that love bloomed from there. Is it not, Kent?” She looked at her husband and waited.
Kent’s scowl slowly vanished until only a hint of it remained. Then he turned to Garrick and asked, “Is that what it is? Love?”
Garrick had no intention of lying. Instead, he turned his back to the women and signed. “Love or not, it isn’t revenge.”
Kent narrowed his eyes, but then he chuckled. Kent had coerced Lucy into marrying him in a fit of revenge. He’d been upset with her and had sought to control her through marriage, but it hadn’t been long before Lucy had him answering to her every beck and call.
They adored each other now, but Kent’s prerogative did not extend to this area.
Clive, who’d been standing behind Kent as he read, began to howl with laughter.
“What�
��s so funny?” Lucy asked, worried. She let go of Nora and moved to her husband. “What did Garrick say?”
At Lucy’s expression— which was rather comical— Clive began to laugh anew.
Garrick took Nora’s newly freed hand and was glad when she didn’t try and pull away. He led her out of the sitting room and knew what question she’d ask once they were away.
“What did you say to Kent?” she asked.
He stopped in the hall and turned to her. “I told him to mind his business.” The words weren’t the same, but the message was.
Her eyes flashed. “And he agreed to leave it alone?” Kent wasn’t very good at minding his own business. Even Nora knew that.
“You have lived in his house for two years. He counts you as his. I am surprised he has not offered me a dowry.”
Nora laughed and placed her hands on her cheeks. Then she sobered and met his eyes. “Oh, there is something I have to tell you. I’m not poor.”
He frowned.
She dropped her hands. “I mean… I have money. Quite a bit, actually.” She smiled. “I didn’t actually need the position of governess. I came here because of my… situation.”
He wished his earlier suspicions hadn’t been correct. “You needed Kent’s protection.”
She nodded. “No one would bother the Earl of Ganden. I used him and Lucy.”
Garrick shook his head. “You didn’t use them. You worked very hard. You are just as responsible for George’s happiness as they are.” George had not had a good life until Lucy had taken him into her care. Kent had made it better, then they’d wed and with Nora and Miriam in his life, the boy had finally conquered his night terrors and grown strong enough to smile in spite of his past.
“You’re responsible as well,” Nora said. “As are the others, Clive, James, and Marley. George is who he is because of who stands by him and he has the strongest men in London at all sides.”
“None stronger than me, though.” He smiled.
She laughed and then bit her lip with a coyness he was not used to. Was she nervous about their marriage? He was.
Wounds of A Viscount: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 17