This put Agnes in deep thoughts as she mused for a bit, about how sensible her sister was. Indeed, nobility did not lie in title, for Alan was proof of that. Given, he was wealthy in his rights, but he had no title. Yet, he was inarguably the noblest man she had ever met, beyond her father. More than that, he loved her as her father loved her mother. Somehow, she knew that while Nicholas would respect her, do right by her, he would never love her that way. And what would happen when he realised she had given her heart and body to another man?
“Do you find Nicholas agreeable?”
Eleanor’s words pulled her out of her thoughts, and she answered without hesitation.
“Yes. He strikes me as a nice man, and he is easy on the eyes. However, I am not too certain about marriage to him. You see, the prospect of marrying a stranger does not excite me either. Regretfully, I have no choice. I suppose I can only be grateful that he isn’t a terrible choice at all. Just think if Mother had chosen someone like Akwright? The bald head, stout stature, irritatingly arrogant behaviour, and that stinking breath. Ugh! So terrible! The Virgin knows I would have rejected right away!”
It was Eleanor’s turn to have her fit of giggles and the sound gladdened Agnes’s heart. She was now certain that her sister would be fine. The rest of the ride sailed smoothly with light conversation, and by the time they arrived at the McCaulay home, Agnes was in a much more positive mood.
Chapter 15
“Huh. I would not have believed if I wasn’t seeing it myself. I still cannot wrap my head around the fact that you are actually getting married. Look at you, completely besotted and pining over her. Did you know that their great grandmother was rumoured to be a witch? Well, you are welcome. Now you know why they are so enchanting. It’s the witch blood.”
Finally out of his patience, Nicholas turned to look at Benjamin who was standing by his side, interrupting his thoughts with his meaningless chatter. “Do you mind? Bloody hell! You bicker like a woman.”
Anyone else might have picked offence but certainly not Benjamin. Instead, he grinned as though he had hit the jackpot. Nicholas had a feeling that his purpose had only been to annoy him and now that he had succeeded, he counted himself victorious.
“You do know that you can walk up to her, don’t you? She is to be your wife, after all. Your wife.” Benjamin gave into a gale of laughter, further annoying Nicholas who suddenly wished they weren’t in such a formal setting. Otherwise, he would have gifted his dear friend with a blue eye by now. He voiced out his thoughts, and Benjamin laughed harder.
“I do not quite see what is funny. Care to enlighten me?”
“Of course, with pleasure. It’ssimply that I never thought out of the two of us, you would ever be the first to get hitched. I had always imagined that even with my rakish ways, my daughter would be entering society before you got your nose out of those books for long enough to consider taking a wife. I really find it hard to believe you beat me to it.”
Nicholas sighed, unable to believe Benjamin, himself. “Well, since it is hurting you so bad, I am sure it would be an easy feat choosing a wife of your own. You simply have to pick from the numerous ladies you have at your fingertips. And, Mother and Father beat you to it, not I.”
“An excellent suggestion, dear friend! I shall consider when I am thirty. Now, do I hear you complaining about your lovely wife to be?”
“Shush it, Benjamin! I do not know why I keep you around. Come, let us go say our pleasantries. You cannot deny that you have glanced at the redheaded sister one too many times tonight, to pass off as not suspicious. I reckon she still makes your blood boil, your balls itch?”
When Benjamin gave him the stinky eye, Nicholas grinned and mentally congratulated himself for his wonderfully executed revenge. Despite Benjamin’s protests, he managed to drag him across to the other side of the room where the beautiful Birmingham sisters stood in their exquisite clothing. Benjamin’s teasing had been a bit off target for he had not been staring at the eldest Birmingham. No, it was the youngest who had held him enthralled since he set his eyes upon her that evening. He had not been able to get his mind off her all through the week and now, he could not take his eyes off her. Sadly, it appeared he was the only one suffering from that particular infirmity for Eleanor had looked everywhere but his direction, all night. He knew she was still avoiding his gaze, and it made a knot tighten in his chest.
All week, the only thing that had stopped him from calling on Agnes was the fact that he had been afraid he would give himself away. Alas, here he was, doing just that. But how could he help it when she affected him in such a powerful, mysterious way. They soon reached them, but Eleanor was already gone. As she saw them approach, he watched her lean into her eldest sister and mutter something – no doubt an excuse to take her leave. Great. Not only was she avoiding his gaze, she was avoiding him in totality. He looked in the direction he had seen her go and wondered if he should go after her. Deciding against it, he shook his head and gave attention to his wife to be, by all rights. He could go after his heart later.
“Lovely evening, My Lady, yet I am afraid, it is not nearly as lovely as you.” As he rose from his bow, he released the gloved hands he had taken for a kiss. Agnes smiled at him, fondly, sincerely, but there was no hint of a blush on her cheeks. It made him miss his goddess who reddened so unabashedly for him. He forever wanted to see that hue on her cheeks, provided he was the one putting it there. What kind of person had such thoughts about the sister of their betrothed? A bad person, that was.
“It is rather too early to begin with flattery, do you not think, Nicholas?”
A cheeky grin and a wink as he said,“It isn’t flattery if it is the truth, Agnes. You must have heard that a thousand times.”
She rolled her eyes at that, and it reminded him again of Eleanor. “So much that I find it a bore, these days. What else is new?”
Everyone laughed at this, even Isabelle and Benjamin who had been staring daggers at each other all this time. Quickly realising that quick wit was a trait of the Birminghams, he retorted“Perhaps, you would find it more exciting if I complimented your intelligence and humour? They are refreshing, I must confess, and it’s amusing I would think so after only two meetings, but like physical beauty, such things cannot be hidden. They are revealed as the tongue speaks. After all, out of the abundance of the heart and the mind, the mouth speaks.”
He knew he had done well when he saw her eyes twinkle, betraying that she was indeed, impressed.
“A man who knows his way with words and even reads theBible. I declare you are a danger to clueless, unguarded hearts, My Lord.”
“Ahh, back to that, are we, milady?” He winked at her, and he could swear he saw her cheeks colour up. Encouraged, he went further. “I enjoy reading every good book. The Bible falls into that category, and the only heart I happen to be interested in, is yours milady. Only I intend to win it, not endanger it.”
She shook her head at him this time around, but her lips remained curved in a big smile.“I’m afraid my heart is well guarded. Perhaps, you may want to change your mind and try another?”
Notwithstanding her teasing demeanour, he could hear the edge in her voice and wondered if there was more to those words. They discussed some more before he turned to greet Isabelle. Then very subtly, he enquired about the whereabouts of Eleanor. He was promptly told that she had gone off to the library again, and as soon as he could excuse himself, he found his way to the library. True enough, he found her there, her head buried in “Lady Or Pirate.”
“I would say that isn’t a book any lady should be reading,” he began as he stepped into the library. She had been so engrossed that she had not heard him come in, but now, she looked up, her eyes widened in alarm. It took him back to the first time they had met. “You know what they say about pirates. They corrupt the maidens and lure them away with well-crafted lies, only to have them ruined and heartbroken.”
She was immediately on her feet, and he saw her look at
the door before returning her gaze to him. For a fleeting moment, he amused himself with the possibility that she might be contemplating running away, just to avoid him. Then raising her chin up defiantly, she retorted,“I would say a lot of the so-called gentlemen are pirates then, for they behave in terribly similar manner.”
He had missed this, he knew. Shaking his head, he moved closer to her.
“Why have you been avoiding me, Eleanor?”
“I know not what you speak of,”she denied sharply, her chin still in the air.
He moved closer. “Are you sure? Because ever since the last time we were together like this, since you realised who I truly am, you wouldn’t look at me. And tonight, just as you saw me heading your way, you took your leave like a rabbit scurrying away from the sound of a gunshot, his tail between his legs.”
“I am not entirely certain that comparison sits well with me, My Lord. I will beg you to refrain from insulting my person. As for your accusations, I do not deny them. Seeing as you are bound to my sister, I thought it best to erase every memory of whatever it is that we shared and treat you as a stranger. I will never betray Agnes that way.”
“Oh. Of this I am certain. What I refuse to believe, though, is that you indeed succeeded in erasing those...memories, you called them?” He took more steps towards her as he spoke. Slowly, holding her gaze like a man on a mission with his eyes on the prize. As he spoke the last word, he came to a stop, a mere foot in front of her. He caught her sharp intake of breath. If he hadn’t been watching her so closely, he might have missed it. It thrilled him that she remained affected by him, gave him hope. Wanting to taunt her further, he continued,“Are you certain you have forgotten these things? The easy camaraderie we found with each other? The playful and quick banter, the shared laughter. Have you forgotten how you felt when our hands touched? Surely, you mustn’t have, Eleanor. For I haven’t. It is all I have been able to think of for these past few days. I feel as though I am going mad for I can’t stop. I have no hope.”
The book in her hands dropped, and she gave another involuntary sharp intake of breath. Ever the gentleman, he bent to pick the book and handed it over to her. In truth, he simply wanted an excuse to touch her again. As she took the book from his hand, he brushed his fingertips over the back of her hand, and the attraction sizzled. The tension in the air now was palpable, and not a word had come from her.
“Have I rendered you speechless, Eleanor? Why do you not answer my questions?” He stepped closer until only a thin slab could fit between them.Their breaths mingled as his arousal stirred below. This close, he could see her long beautiful lashes, the freckles splayed over her nose. He could see her lips, pink, soft, supple, drawing, daring him to have a taste, to drink from this sweet fountain. Unable to help himself, he placed his forefinger under her chin and lifted her head so that he could look into those violet crystals again. Gorgeous, that was what she was. Utterly, breathtakingly gorgeous. His brain scrambled, and he could not think of anything else, could not form any words. All that he could think about was how her lips would taste against his, how it would feel to ravish her completely like he had been dying to do ever since that first moment. Slowly, he lowered his head, giving her the chance to pull back, to stop him. He was far gone, but if she spoke, said any word to express her discomfort, he would stop.
She said nothing; instead, her eyes fluttered to his own lips. Then she swallowed and brought her tongue out to wet her lips. The sight of that pink goodness was his undoing. Dropping every inhibition, he pulled her forward and crashed his lips against hers.
Savagely, he took, not having it in him to go any slower. His eyes fluttered closed, and he ravaged her lips and needing more, held her head with both hands, so he could angle it for a deeper penetration. With his tongue, he pried those lips apart, and when they wouldn’t give in, he nibbled her lower lips and found his way to the small of her back with his left hand. As soon as he found that spot, he pulled her closer, nestling his erection in her belly. She gasped as she felt it, and that was his opening. Not hesitating, he plunged his tongue in and proceeded to discover every hidden contour in her mouth. She moaned in that moment, reducing his senses further as more blood rushed down below. Their tongues tangled in a feverish dance. Fluids mixed. Reasons vanished.
It was bliss. Eternal bliss, and he only wanted to kiss her forever. She tasted so sweet, like rich tea and creamy cookies. She smelled of roses, exotic, erotic, filling his nostrils, playing the strings of his senses. For her, only her, he was an instrument. He only wanted to be played. He did not know when his hands slipped to her buttocks, but as he gathered the perfect cheeks into his hands and squeezed, she gasped again and wrenched her mouth away, bringing the kiss to a forceful end.
His eyes flew open to see her staring at him with wild eyes. Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath, and he fought hard not to let his gaze wander to the bosom he had felt pressed against his chest, only seconds ago. The way she was looking at him, if she only gifted him with a slap, he’d count himself lucky. While she had not refused him, he knew without doubt, that he had taken great liberty.
He stood, looking at her. Speechless, himself, as he waited for her to say something. Do something. No words left her lips. She simply picked the book that had dropped again as their tongue danced and ran out of the library.
Astonished, he stood, staring at the door which she had just gone through. He had an epiphany in that moment. She was going to be the death of him. Surely, kissing her had been a terrible mistake. He knew without a single doubt, that he could never marry Agnes. Not after tasting from the sweet nectar of Eleanor. Everything else be damned. Tomorrow, he was going to visit his parents and declare his interest in the woman his heart wanted. Consequences be damned, alas, he would never survive a lifetime without this woman, his goddess, his Eleanor. Now he knew Benjamin had been in his rights to call them witches. There was no other way to describe this madness. He had been bewitched. The worst part of it all was that he didn’t ever want this spell to be broken.
Chapter 16
As daylight broke the next morning, Nicholas found himself headed for his parents’ townhouse. His mind was made up. He was resolute. Today, he would speak the truth to his parents and tell them of his love for Eleanor. He would endeavour to make them see reason. They wanted him to marry? He was going to give them that. They wanted a Birmingham? He was going to give them that. Only, he was going to choose exactly which Birmingham he wanted. As he came down the stairs of his townhouse, he got stopped by his butler, Andrew.
“My Lord, it is quite early. I am afraid, breakfast is yet to be served. You are not usually up by this time and so formally dressed... Do I take it you have a meeting?”
“Ahh yes, Andrew. You could say that. I am headed to my parents’. It is quite a matter of urgency, but nothing to worry about. I am certain that it would be no problem to join them in the breaking of their fast. Tell Liza not to worry about a meal for me if she is yet to begin. If she already has, then you may help yourself to it. Good day, Andrew!” He tipped his hat at Andrew, and not waiting for a response, stepped out of his house. There was a swing in his steps, and as he settled into his carriage, a familiar tune found its way to his lips, and he began to whistle.
Soon, he arrived at his parents’ and his mood appeared to have vastly improved. He was received by the footman, and he wondered where Callaghan was. That immediately became the least of his worries when he stepped into the house. Everywhere was gloomy, and the servants moved around with a drag in their steps, their heads bowed, even as they acknowledged his presence. It appeared as though they were all sad, and Nicholas immediately became concerned. Had a wave of sadness swept through this household? What was this? He looked around and finally saw a familiar face.
“Deborah! Good day. How are you this fine morning?”
“Ahh. Master Nicholas. You have decided to pay us a visit today. Ahh. I believe you hav’ da’n well. When we saw our Lord walkin’ about a
ll ail and ’arty, we reckon’d he had fully recover’d. Unfortunately, his illness struck again yesterday, and he has returned to his bed. It’s such a sad thin’, I tell yer. His Grace deserves non’ of this. A good man, he is. A darn good man. Such a shame.”
Nicholas did not understand a thing of what was going on. He could hear the words Deborah spoke; he simply could not understand them. Or maybe, he was simply refusing to. He reached for the maid’s shoulders and held them as he shook her lightly.
A Scandalous Love for the Enticing Duke: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 11