It's All About the Duke--The Rakes of St. James

by Amelia Grey

  “No.” It wasn’t the answer he’d wanted to give her. She was trying so hard to help her friend. He wanted to help her do it. “I tried. He won’t consider selling one piece.”

  “Then try harder,” she insisted irritably. “You’re a duke. You are supposed to be able to make people do things they don’t want to do.”

  He understood her sharpness and let it pass. “In business, Marlena. In Parliament maybe, but it’s usually because there is a reason for someone to compromise with me. I offer something in exchange for what I want them to give me. Even if I had something Portington wanted, I don’t think he’d do an exchange. He’d just want to buy what I had.”

  “No,” she said, refusing to accept defeat so easily.

  “Yes.” He gently took hold of her shoulders. “Marlena, I don’t know if I can explain it adequately. It’s as if he considers each piece he has as a part of himself, and his work as saving what’s left of the past for mankind’s future. Valuable or rubbish, I’m certain he’ll never sell any of what he has. The man has cataloged and written about every damned piece of it.”

  She remained quiet, clearly upset, so he added, “I can give Eugenia the money to have her—”

  “No,” Marlena interrupted. “Don’t say that. You can’t. They’d never accept your help and I wouldn’t want you offer.” Marlena’s lashes lowered and a sigh passed her lips. “Eugenia doesn’t even know about this yet, and I’m certain Veronica would rather her sister not have a Season than to consider your charity.”

  He looked at her curiously. “Most people would be happy for a duke to sponsor them.”

  “Some. Justine is certainly happy to accept all the gifts you want to bestow on her.”

  He rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “So you are still unhappy about the sweets I brought her.”

  “Actually, I’d forgotten about that. I was thinking of the carriage that is at her disposal. She thinks it’s divine. Her station in Society has risen considerably and she’s quite pleased to pick up Lady Westerbrook and others and take them for rides in the park.” Marlena paused and shook her head. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I know you will do well by me, but the thought of Eugenia not attending the Season is troubling. She needs to have the opportunity to dance and talk with all the gentlemen, too.”

  “I understand your compassion for your friend. It’s admirable. Don’t give up hope yet. I had an idea when I was talking to Portington, but nothing I want to discuss until I check into a couple of things.”

  Her gaze lifted back to his and she inhaled deeply. “If there’s one thing living with my cousins taught me it was not to give up without a fight. We—that is, Veronica and I—have some ideas, too.”

  “What?” he asked, knowing there wasn’t anything a lady could do to earn money.

  “Nothing I want to talk about right now, either.”

  “I suggest you not do anything rash, Marlena.”

  She shook her head slowly and looked down at the ground. “I should have been told that long ago.” She lifted her face and met his gaze. “I shouldn’t have been ill tempered with you, but I’m—”

  “Shh,” he whispered. “No need to explain.”

  Marlena smiled at him and his heart started pumping as hard as a steam engine he’d recently seen. He’d never tried to hide or deny his attraction to her and he certainly didn’t want to now. There were times a man had to go with his instincts. This was one of them.

  “You know what I’m thinking?”

  “How could I possibly know,” she said in a lighthearted tone. “I can’t see inside your head.”

  It was his turn to smile at her. “I know because we are thinking the same thing.”

  “We couldn’t be.”

  “I have the kisses we shared the other day on my mind.”

  Her gaze swept his face. “I told you I wanted to forget that happened and not talk about kissing anymore.”

  Rath stepped in closer to her. A tremor of arousal threaded through him. He wanted to kiss her until she surrendered everything to his will. “But can you forget?”

  She flattened her back against the side of the house. “I had until you mentioned it just now.”

  “I believe that is what some would call fibbing, Marlena.”

  “No, I—No. Maybe I thought about the kisses a time or two, and that’s all I’m going to say about them.” She wiggled her shoulders just a little as if to shake off what she’d just said. “Besides, you should have never let the kisses and touches happen between us.”

  “Me?” He blew out a soft, brief chuckle. “So it was my fault? Even though I gave you my handkerchief to stop me.”

  “Entirely your lapse in judgment, yes,” she insisted with a smile. “You knew I wanted the kiss, that I had never been kissed, that I was eager and curious to have my first one. You should have remained strong and denied me for my own good.”

  “Your own good? You are so unbelievable at times, my lovely Marlena, that I find myself wondering how you will astound me next,” he said, hoping she could see the respect and the desire he had for her in his expression. “How could I have done that when I wanted the kiss as much as you, if not more?” He moved a little closer to her, keeping his gaze steadily, firmly on hers. “I want to have more kisses with you. Right now.”

  She moistened her lips and swallowed. “If that is the case, Your Grace, you will have to do it.”

  With pleasure.

  “I’ll consider that permission, but from here on, you will call me Rath. Not Your Grace.”

  Her eyes widened. “I shouldn’t.”

  “All you need is permission to do so and I just gave it. We have become too close for you to continue being so formal.”

  He could no longer bear not touching her. He caressed her damp cheek with the backs of his fingers, letting them slowly trace down to her jawline and then over to her lips. Just touching her face caused his lower stomach to tighten and a surge of longing to catch impatiently between his legs.

  Rath’s hands parted her cape and his arms slid beneath it to circle her waist and pull her close. He immediately felt her soothing warmth and leaned into her, enjoying the feel of her in his arms. He stroked her back and shoulders while reaching down to kiss her forehead and then both cheeks before letting his lips trail first to one side of her mouth and then the other.

  He lifted his head and smiled at her. “Your face is wet from the mist.”

  “Does that bother you?” she questioned.

  It arouses me.

  “No,” he answered with a smile. “I’m sure mine is the same.”

  Keeping her gaze steadfast on his, Marlena reached up and touched his cheek with her gloved hand.

  That was all the invitation he needed. Rath bent his head and brushed his lips tenderly across hers. They were soft and enticing. But that one sweet pleasurable kiss was not nearly enough to satisfy the hunger he had for her, and he sensed she had an equal appetite for him. He kissed her again, lingeringly at first, taking his time to fully taste her lips before easing his tongue into her mouth.

  The streets and houses around them were silent, the deep fog having sent everyone inside. All he heard was the strong, increasingly erratic beat of his heart and their mingled moans of pleasure. A burning heat surged through him and a longing to make her his filled him with an overwhelming eagerness. He didn’t want to tamp down his growing desire for her.

  He sought her sweet, yielding mouth again and again. Their tongues met. Their breaths mingled. Each kiss dissolved into the next. With her clothing between them, he continued to rub his hands along the contour of her back, around to her hidden breasts, and then down her waist to the lean lines of her hips and thighs. She was beautifully shaped, womanly soft, and heavenly to taste. It was as if time weren’t moving. All he could think, all that mattered was how good she felt in his arms and beneath his hands.

  A tremor shook her body. That sent a slow spread of delicious warmth sizzling through him. It pleased
him that his hands exploring her body thrilled her as much as it pleasured him. He continued to caress her, loving the feel of her against his hands. Touching her helped ease the intense hunger he had for her and gave him such pleasure that he wanted more and more from her.

  She stretched her arms up and around his neck and leaned into his chest. In place of the mist on the back of his neck, Rath felt her velvety-cotton-gloved hands. Her warm, eager acceptance of his touch pleased him. He held her tighter, urging her to fit her softness more fully against the strength of his body. He lifted his hips toward her.

  Their kisses deepened even more. Rath loved the way she responded to him, and in turn he was consumed with hot, throbbing desire for her. It scorched through him fast, making him want to give her more and demand more in turn. Without letting his lips leave her skin, he kissed her cheek, behind her ear, and then back to her lips to tempt her with short, sweet kisses that moved agonizingly slowly over her mouth.

  “Rath,” she whispered against his lips. “You are making me feel things I never knew existed.”

  At the sound of her whispering his name, a shiver stole over him. He had visions of her waking in the bed beside him in the morning, leaning over his bare chest and softly calling his name. Rushing down the stairs in the afternoon when he returned home from his duties at Parliament, calling his name. Lying beneath him during the culmination of their passion and tenderly whispering his name.

  Those thoughts jolted Rath. He wasn’t ready to think that way about Marlena or any lady. And yet he wanted Marlena more than he’d ever wanted any other woman. He didn’t know why but he felt differently about her than all the others.

  He didn’t know what he was going to do. The problem was that he didn’t know who was risking more if they continued on the course they were on.

  Marlena or him.

  Chapter 16

  He could be a rake if he kisses you and makes you swoon, and then never calls on you again.

  MISS HONORA TRUTH’S WORDS OF WISDOM AND WARNING ABOUT RAKES, SCOUNDRELS, ROGUES, AND LIBERTINES

  Marlena stood on a box and looked at herself in the tall wall mirror of Mrs. Musgrove’s Dressmaking Shop. The famous modiste was, indeed, a French woman who had married a Londoner a year ago. At his insistence, she’d changed the name of her shop to suit her new husband. Lady Vera claimed she was still the person to use in Town, because she could work miracles with fabrics, colors, and trims.

  After little more than a whirlwind of a week of choosing fabrics, ribbon, lace, and a host of other things, Marlena was trying on her fifth gown of the day. The one she had on was exquisite. Her underdress was a simple dark-pink satin shift. The fine silk overskirt was a gossamer layer of the palest pink froth Marlena had ever seen. The high waist, short capped sleeves, and hem were banded with dark-pink velvet ribbon. Tiny little sweetheart bows had been sewn all over the skirt. Marlena looked at the overly adorned dress and wondered if there was any way she could get out of ever having to wear it. She wasn’t adverse to bows, but there must have been fifty on the gown.

  And she’d certainly never had a dress cut so low. Lady Vera and Mrs. Musgrove insisted she not be shy about showing off to all the gentlemen, those available and those not, what nature had beautifully given her. Marlena would have to get used to that, along with the abundance of bows.

  Still staring into the mirror, her gaze strayed to what was behind her. More gowns. More ruffles, flounces, ribbons, and delicate, handmade silk roses sewn onto skirts that were sprigged, tufted, gathered, or scalloped at the hem. And all of them had been made for her in a short span of time.

  It was almost too much for her to take in.

  Her dresses had always been good fabrics, well stitched but simple, void of what she considered unnecessary frippery. Marlena’s clothing was always very wearable. In the house, in the garden, or in the park. The gown she had on and the ones hanging on the wall behind her looked as if they were far too fragile to touch, let alone wear anywhere outside her bedchamber.

  One thing Marlena had learned during the past week was that when Lady Vera spoke, people listened and acted. Mrs. Musgrove had more than a dozen women working for her, too. As soon as a pattern and fabric had been chosen, the dress was assigned to a seamstress and it was started immediately.

  Marlena looked at herself in the gown again. It did make her look pretty. Made her feel pretty. She turned her body and watched the skirt float and swish delicately from side to side. Maybe there weren’t too many pink bows on it after all.

  She’d never worn a ball gown. She’d never been to a ball. And why-oh-why, now that she was going to be attending them, did she want to be on the arm of the Duke of Rathburne. Why did she want to be in his arms again? Held tight. Feeling his lips on hers, his warm breath on her neck. If she was going to fall in love, why did it have to be with this man?

  Fall in love? Heaven have mercy on her. Had she fallen in love with the duke?

  Fate must be punishing her for writing the scandal sheet. Writing about innocent people like the lovely Lady Vera and causing them worry about what might be said about them next.

  Marlena closed her eyes, as she had so many times in the past few days, and remembered the duke’s passionate kisses in the cover of the fog. His body had been so warm. His mouth and lips had tasted so good. She’d felt as if her body were melting into his as they kissed and kissed, and then kissed again. But then her eyes opened. The duke’s sudden, whispered words that he must go had left her feeling shocked, empty, and bereft as he’d quickly disappeared into the gray mist.

  And he hadn’t been back to her house.

  She’d done something wrong. But what? Had she allowed him too much liberty? Did he think her a loose woman because they’d kissed so deeply and touched so freely? She shouldn’t have allowed it but she wasn’t sorry she had. The memories were too important to her. She wouldn’t want to give them up.

  What upset her most of all was that she must continue to write about him for now even though he was trying to help Veronica and Eugenia. If Eugenia made a good match during the Season perhaps her husband could then help her take care of Veronica.

  Marlena swallowed past a tight throat. She didn’t know what she was going to do about herself. The duke was going to expect her to choose a husband as well. That chilling thought was too disturbing to dwell on.

  “You look quite stunning in that gown, Miss Fast, but you are also looking pensive,” Lady Vera said, walking into the fitting room with all the elegance one would expect from the sister of a handsome duke.

  “Thank you for the compliment,” she answered softly. “And I suppose I am pensive. I’m not sure I’m ready to look for a husband, and I can’t figure out where I would ever go that I’d need so many gowns, carriage and day dresses, and traveling outfits. Not to mention all the gloves, capes, headpieces, and underthings to go with each one. I know the Season is several weeks, but surely I can wear a gown more than once.”

  “Indeed, you can. Are there pins in the one you are wearing now?” Lady Vera asked.

  “No. Mrs. Musgrove said it was perfect.”

  “I think so, too.” She reached her hand out for Marlena. “Let me help you step down. Come sit on the settee with me while we wait for Justine to finish looking at the fabrics and lace.”

  Marlena took her hand and stepped down from the box.

  After they made themselves comfortable on the settee, Lady Vera said, “You will have many places to wear your gowns, Miss Fast. We are fitting you for clothing not only for the Season but for your marriage as well.”

  “Oh, my.” Marlena eased onto the settee beside Lady Vera.

  “You know that is what the Season is for. The marriage mart, remember? But only if you should find the right match.” She smiled. “Should you accept an offer early, which is quite possible given how lovely you are, your intended may want to marry quickly, and if so, you will already have all your clothing prepared.”

  Marry quickly?

 
That sent another chill racing over Marlena.

  “It is Rath’s duty to see you wed.”

  “Yes, of course. I know I must marry. Sometime. It’s just that I don’t think about it often.”

  “I find that interesting, Miss Fast.”

  “Why? I’ve not had many opportunities to be around gentlemen. I have other things to occupy my time and my thoughts.”

  “Marriage is something most young ladies think about all the time. Getting an offer from the right man, leaving their parents’ home, making a life of their own with their husband, and having his children. But there is no reason you have to dwell on such. It’s just that most young ladies do because they want to marry their first Season. My sister Sara did. She is very happy and expecting her first child.”

  “That is lovely for her. I’m glad her life is settled and that she’s happy.”

  “She is,” Lady Vera said with a clear carefree attitude. “I, on the other hand, am still waiting for the man I want to spend the rest of my life attached to. The longer I wait the harder it gets to choose.”

  Marlena’s chest tightened as that horrifying feeling of jealousy gripped her again. “Is that because the Duke of Rathburne hasn’t offered for your hand yet?”

  Lady Vera laughed softly. “So that is the reason you don’t like me, Miss Fast. Because of my relationship with Rath?”

  “What?” Marlena exclaimed. Was Lady Vera serious? “No, it’s not true. I like you very much. I don’t know how you can say that. And with a smile on your face.”

  “It is true, but I don’t mind now that I know why.”

  “You are being unkind,” Marlena insisted. “I have the utmost respect for you. For how bold and honest you are about your feelings. I wish we all could be so engaging. I don’t dislike you. I—I.” She stopped, not wanting to lay open her feelings.

  “What?”

  “If you must know I am jealous, but I don’t dislike you at all. It’s surprising to me as well, but I enjoy being with you.”