A Date at the Altar

by Cathy Maxwell

  But widows were not dukes and he’d best not let anyone else know the comparisons he was drawing. He had meetings scheduled for the day and he should be about them.

  And so he set off to undo the damage Rov was hell-bent on stirring with his childish actions. He and Gavin were already fighting a duel. That should have been enough for one man, but not Rov. He appeared bent on wreaking as much havoc as possible for no other reason than his own vanity. Gavin had truly misjudged his former friend.

  As he went about his duties, he discovered Ben had been right in claiming tongues were wagging about his new mistress. Everywhere he went, he received winks and nudges and more than a few sly, jealous innuendoes from his peers. Bedding the Siren had burnished his reputation, which was puzzling to Gavin. He’d never once judged a man by the woman he poked.

  Apparently he was in the minority.

  And it wasn’t just the men who commented. Feminine interest had also been stirred.

  He discovered this when he attended the afternoon garden party to meet Miss Charnock.

  Over breakfast, his mother had given him quite a set down. She had informed him she’d made excuses the night before, citing his importance to the nation. “However, I have rearranged an introduction for this afternoon at the Countess Fizzwill’s garden party. I expect you to be there.”

  The only answer to such a declaration was, “Yes, Mother.”

  And he was there. The introduction went smoothly.

  The Charnock heiress was an uncommonly beautiful woman of what Gavin guessed to be two-and-twenty. She reminded him of a tigress with her abundance of tawny hair and dark, almond shaped eyes. There was a rumor that she had Indian blood. However, Gavin knew her family lines were impeccable because she’d already received the approval of his great-aunt Imogen. She was all a duchess should be—young, which meant she was fertile, very attractive, and well connected. That she was an heiress was an additional advantage. The title could never have enough money.

  Gavin also met her father and mother, both beaming their approval of him and behaving as if they would plaster themselves to his side.

  To his relief, when he suggested he and Miss Charnock stroll around the countess’s gardens, they did not follow.

  Gavin opened the conversation with some talk of the weather.

  Miss Charnock’s responses were unremarkable in their politeness. She mentioned she was fond of roses and Gavin made a mental note to have Talbert send roses to her.

  However, once they reached the haven of a rose arbor and were out of earshot of eavesdroppers, Miss Charnock shocked him with a different side of her character.

  The veneer of bored society miss dropped away. She whirled on him. “Is it true that you have claimed a woman known as the Siren for your mistress?”

  “I’m not certain this is polite conversation,” he answered, glancing around to see if anyone could have overheard her.

  “I’m not polite,” she informed him. “Not when I have questions.”

  “And here I was thinking you performed ‘polite’ rather well.”

  She blinked at his mild rebuke and then laughed as if delighted. “You are vastly more interesting than what I’d heard.”

  Now she had Gavin’s attention. “And what have you heard?”

  Her nose wrinkled as if in distaste. She reached for one of the lush blooms on the arbor and pulled a velvety petal, rubbing it between her fingers before deigning to say, “That you are all that is right and proper.”

  “You don’t say that as a compliment.”

  “It isn’t,” she answered. “Who wants to be leg-shackled to a paragon?”

  “Or an unconventional young woman,” he added, although her honesty was revealing. A paragon? Is that what people thought of him—and not in a complimentary way?

  She laughed. “We are all unconventional if we allow ourselves to be. So tell me about this woman. Is it true she danced naked?”

  Gavin could well imagine Sarah’s response to that statement. “Not naked,” he said dutifully. “However, it was a stunning performance.”

  “I would so love the freedom of being an actress.”

  Thinking of Sarah’s hardships, he answered, “It is far from free.”

  “But it must be better than being a wife.”

  “You don’t believe being a wife would be fulfilling?” Her statement had surprised him because here was the second reference this day to a thread of dialogue in Sarah’s play—the value of being a wife—and it sparked his curiosity.

  “Would you?” she pertly countered.

  “I would think being a duchess would be a very good thing.”

  “I think that now you have taken for a mistress the woman everyone is talking about, you might be right.”

  “And why is that?”

  She leaned into him so that her young breasts were almost offered up for his pleasure. “Because,” she said, drawing out the word, “if a woman with that sort of experience finds you fascinating, I can only wonder what you have to teach the rest of us?”

  If only she knew.

  Gavin laughed. He couldn’t help himself. The minx was bold as brass. Sarah was outspoken, yes, but she had a bit of class to her directness. “I should take you back to your parents.” He offered his arm.

  She placed hers behind her back, refusing him. “You aren’t going to try and kiss me?” she asked.

  “Is that why you brought me to the rose arbor?”

  Miss Charnock made an impatient sound. “I didn’t take you anywhere. You are the one who requested a stroll. But now that we are here, Your Grace—” she said, taking a step closer to him “—perhaps we should take advantage of the moment. I would like your kiss. I would like it very much.”

  She leaned toward him and Gavin instinctively leaned back. He had no desire to kiss her. It was Sarah’s lips he craved.

  And yet, Miss Charnock could well be his duchess.

  “We need to return to your parents.”

  She made a small moue of disappointment but took his arm. “Does this mean you shall not call upon me?”

  “Would you wish me to?”

  “I pray that you will, Your Grace. In fact, my father has urged me to consider you many a time, and I, well, let us say, I now find you exciting.”

  Nor was she the only woman who now found Gavin “exciting.” All the women at Countess Fizzwill’s event seemed to know. There was flirting in every flick of the fan and batting of the lash. Gavin had never experienced such favor before.

  He knew women were attracted to him for the title as well as his wealth. He held no pretenses about himself. However, now they apparently saw him as a lover, and he received a completely different reception.

  Here was the secret behind his brothers’ successes with women, the reason that ladies, even gentlewomen, favored the rake and the scoundrel. It had to do with the mystery of sex.

  No one seemed to favor what was upright and moral. They want adventure and expected the men in their safe little lives to provide it.

  The line was a direct quote from Sarah’s play.

  He might need to read that play again—

  A woman bumped against him. At first, he thought it was an accident until she slipped a note into his hand. Excusing himself from the conversation, he stepped off to the side and read it. What the lady was proposing shocked him. When he looked around for her, he discovered her with the female friend she suggested they share—and Gavin quickly broke eye contact.

  He knew this sort of licentious behavior existed. He had heard men boast but he’d thought it was exactly that—boasting. A gentleman would not use women in this manner . . . and then he thought of Sarah trembling on the bed. Caring people did not use others.

  Soberly, Gavin put the note in his pocket.

  He needed to leave. He’d met Miss Charnock. Now, he had a strong desire to see Sarah. Things had not been good between them when he had left and he was anxious to learn how her day had gone. He knew Talbert would see to matt
ers, but Gavin wished to spend time with her.

  His mother was discussing an upcoming outing with the countess when Gavin came to her side and made his apologies about leaving. His mother walked with him a moment. “What do you think of Miss Charnock?”

  “She is all that you said,” Gavin replied. “And a bit more,” he had to add.

  If his mother heard the amusement in his voice, she made no mention. Instead, she said, “You will call on her?”

  Gavin knew that calling on Miss Charnock would be tantamount to making a declaration. It didn’t matter. He was tired of the wife search. “I will call on her. You and Imogen have done well.” He kissed her on the cheek but she caught his hand.

  “I want you to be happy, my son.”

  “I am,” he assured her.

  “But not like you will be once you have a wife. You have put this off too long.”

  He thought of his shock over the note in his pocket. “So everyone tells me.”

  “You need children.”

  “I want children.” That was true. He longed for children, more so now that Elin and Ben were having a baby. He often wondered what kind of father he would be.

  “Will you be home for dinner?”

  He thought of Sarah. “I doubt it.”

  She nodded as if he’d confirmed what she thought. “Have a good evening then.” She released his hand.

  “You as well, Mother.” He happily left.

  He stopped by Menheim to see if Talbert had anything for him or if there was word from Perkins in his search for the theater owners. His secretary was not in and there was no message from Perkins; however, Ben awaited him.

  “I’m glad I caught you,” he said. “Rovington wishes to meet in the morning.”

  Gavin was surprised by how calm he was about the matter. He’d heard men talk of nerves, but he didn’t feel any, not yet. Perhaps they would come as the hour drew near. All he’d truly thought about today was Sarah.

  “What time?” Gavin asked.

  “Preferably at dawn. He knows how much you hate rising at an early hour.”

  And Rov would use it to his advantage. “Will it be someplace close?” Gavin asked, annoyed.

  “Meadow Field.”

  “On the other side of the river and a bloody hour away.”

  “We can counter—”

  “No, we won’t. I want to be done with this business. Swords or pistols?”

  “Pistols.”

  “Good.” Gavin was a crack shot. He was a good swordsman as well, but he’d never injured a man and if a duel was going to be fought, then let it be quick. “Thank you. Give my best to Elin.”

  “I will.” Ben left to deliver the terms to Rov’s second and within the hour Gavin was at the Clarendon and climbing the stairs. It was half past five of a very trying day.

  But he found his step quickening the closer he came to Sarah. He was curious how her day had gone. Had she been pleased with his gift? He was sorry he could not have given it to her in person and he was anxious for her reaction.

  He also wondered how he should approach her after last night. He wanted her. He had only to think of her to grow hard . . . and yet, he sensed more lay between them than pure physical release—

  Gavin’s thoughts broke off as he reached the floor for Sarah’s room and saw Rov’s wife Jane sitting on the chair reserved for the floor steward.

  He slowed his climb to a halt, keeping a stairs’ distance between them. When she stood, they were on eye level.

  She was of Gavin’s age with clear skin and blond hair. Years ago, she’d been an heiress and the catch of her debut season. Rov had quickly claimed her and Gavin could admit he had been somewhat jealous. Jane was a fine woman. She had the qualities to make a man an excellent wife, a better one than Rov deserved.

  Her expression was composed as if they had just happened upon one another on the street. “Hello, Your Grace.”

  “My lady. Where is the floor steward?”

  “I sent him away. I need a moment to talk to you where others can’t see us.”

  The last time she’d begged a private moment with him, he’d made the disastrous decision to push Rov for Chairman of the Committees. She’d told him that her husband’s compulsion to gamble was ruining them and he’d felt pity for her plight.

  And now, he was scheduled to duel with his boyhood friend, the man who was her husband.

  Wary, he said, “What do you wish to discuss, Jane?”

  “The truth,” she declared. “I’ve come here to let you know I return your feelings.”

  “Return my feelings?”

  “Yes, I do. I’ve yearned for you for years. And now, I can’t believe you are going to free me from my husband so that we can be together—”

  And before he knew what was what, she threw her arms around him and covered his mouth with hers—just as a hallway door opened, the door to Sarah’s room.

  Chapter Thirteen

  For a wild second, Gavin teetered for balance, his arms full of Jane.

  He leaned forward and tried to set her on the floor, but she wouldn’t work her legs and he had to pick her back up again. Nor had her kiss ended. Her lips were literally sucking his as if she’d never let him go. It took effort for him to pull himself away, and his first act was to look to the door, not knowing what to expect—and being thoroughly surprised.

  Yes, Sarah stood there but not the trembling woman he had left last night.

  No, this woman could easily pass for a peeress of the Realm, an exceptionally lovely one. The fashionable dress hugged the curves of her figure. It emphasized her narrow waist and more than ample chest and made him believe his money to the dressmaker had been well spent.

  The curls escaping from her hairstyle reminded him of how her glorious hair had appeared fanned out around her on the bed. His mind immediately pictured her naked. He even knew the color of her nipples, a thought that sent a jolt of desire right to his core.

  Now, he was the one who felt like trembling—except he had his arms full of Rovington’s wife.

  “I heard a noise and I thought I should investigate—” Sarah started and then stopped, holding up her hand as if to ward off anything else she might have said. Her lips struggled to contain her laughter and he realized how comical he must look holding Jane who had buried her head in his neck and was nibbling on his neck cloth.

  Making a great show of composing herself, Sarah said, “When you are done, Your Grace, I’ll be waiting inside.”

  He opened his mouth to call her back but Jane plastered her hands against the side of his face and went for his mouth again.

  The door closed, and so did his gentleness toward Jane.

  “Stop this,” he told her, keeping his voice low. “We need to maintain some semblance of good order.”

  Jane apparently didn’t agree. She rubbed her breasts against his chest and tightened her hold around his neck.

  Gentleness would not work. Who could have imagined the diminutive Jane could be so strong-willed?

  Placing both hands at her waist, Gavin physically pushed her off of him and plunked her down in the chair. She started to rise again, but a firm “sit” kept her in place.

  Her antics had pushed Gavin’s hat off his head. He picked it up from the floor and gave it a brush with one hand. He looked to Jane. “What took hold of you?”

  “You did,” she said and made to stand again but he directed her back in her chair with his pointer finger.

  “Certainly you knew I had strong feelings for you,” she said.

  “I did not, my lady.”

  “You must,” she insisted. “Why else would you have gone out of your way to help me all these years?”

  “Kindness,” Gavin assured her.

  She shook her head, her lips twisting into a knowing smile. “Or so you say, but I know better.”

  He knelt so he could look her in the eye, ready to protect himself if she leaped at him again. “Jane, we have known each other for a long time.”
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  She nodded. “I’ve admired you for a long time.”

  “You are married to another man, one whom I had considered a friend.”

  “I thought it excellent the way you held yourself back around me.”

  Perhaps she truly was mad? “What have I done to make you believe I was paying you advances?”

  Her face broke into a beatific smile. “You listened to me. No one else hears a word I say, especially Rovington. When I came to you worried about our debts, you rescued me by seeing him named to a position with a very handsome stipend. You wanted to take care of me.”

  “Out of friendship,” he reiterated.

  “For me,” she concluded. “Of course, Rovington has been quite capable of gambling that away just as he did my inheritance. But then, in your wisdom, you understood the only way you could truly protect me is if you shot my husband. Challenging him—”

  “Wait.” Gavin shook his head. “He challenged me.”

  “Yes, over that woman. The one in the room. I’ve thought hard about your motives. I’ve come to realize that you are keeping her away from Rovington to help me save face. It has been humiliating the way my husband has been carrying on about having seen her years ago and placing all those wagers. He has acted as if he a lovesick cow herder.” She leaned toward him, causing him to lean away from her, but she didn’t seem to mind. Instead, she practically hummed her happiness as she said, “I know the Siren isn’t really your mistress.”

  Gavin became cautious. “Why do you believe that?”

  “Because I follow you whenever I can.”

  This was shocking news, especially since he had not noticed.

  “I have been ever since I understood your plan,” she said proudly. “Once I understood how far you would go to help me, I could not stay away. I think about you day and night.”

  “Jane, you should not follow me. You should not be here now. What will your husband say?” Perhaps there was more behind Rov’s challenge than Gavin had originally thought.

  “He doesn’t care what I do anymore.”

  “Of course, he does. You are his wife.”

  “Do you think he remembers that when he is fiddling with his actresses? You think I don’t know he has an itch down there? I’d just as soon he not touch me.”