His arms slid around her waist as he pulled her closer. She dipped her head to the side as his kisses traced the elegant curve of her swanlike neck. She arched back and let out a moan. She wore nothing but a nightdress, and he could see the delicate contours of her physique beneath. It aroused him greatly, but he had vowed not to touch her in a husbandly manner until they were man and wife.
And yet…how could he resist her?
Dipping his head, he captured her mouth in a savage kiss; his hands running the length of her spine. She gasped in delight, and shuffled into his lap, her arms looping about his neck. It would have been so easy to lift the hem of her nightdress and expose the naked heat of her, but he did not. He could not. Not yet. Even so, the feel of her in his lap was intoxicating, making the hardness of his arousal strain to be closer to her.
She pulled him closer to her, until he found his head nestled in her firm breasts. He had sworn not to touch her, and yet he could not pull away. Tugging aside the neckline of her nightdress, he found her taut nipple and took it into his mouth. She writhed in his lap, making it harder to suppress his driving need. She could no doubt feel it, and he found he did not care.
“Oh, Edward,” she moaned, as he sucked harder.
Sliding his hand up her smooth, milk-white thigh, he found the heat of her sex, welcoming his fingertips with its enticing slickness. As he caught her mouth in his, he brushed his thumb across the most sensitive part of her, making her buck wildly, like one of the stallions in the stable.
“Do that again,” she urged.
Kissing her fiercely, he rubbed his thumb against her in pressured circles. She clung to him feverishly, her nails raking at his back. Keeping one hand upon her sweet nub, he slid his other up the length of her inviting thigh and beneath the innocent hem of her nightdress. Slowly, he let his fingers trail across the sensual, wet heat of her. As she ground her hips into his, he pushed two fingers gently inside her.
She gripped him tighter, her face a picture of pure bliss. He longed to taste her, but there was discretion in this. If he were to be found between her thighs, he knew his head would be on the chopping block. However, by reveling in this pleasure, he could hide what he was doing should anyone discover them.
Kissing the curve of her neck, he began to thrust his fingers in and out of her sweet sex, his fingertips strumming at her most sensitive spot. Her breath came in sharp, ragged gasps as he urged her towards her first taste of unadulterated pleasure. He did not relent, as he felt her muscles tighten around his fingers, her cries ringing out as a wave of rapture crashed over her.
His member strained to take the place of his fingers, spurred towards madness by the scent of her arousal, but he knew he had to stop. Letting her sag against him as he drew his fingers away, he smiled sadly. This could not go any further, not if he valued her honor. She was so close to him, and yet so far.
“How can you be here?” he murmured, pulling away with every ounce of willpower he had left.
“My Mother let me out,” she replied, her face flushed, her breath coming back to normal.
“Your mother?”
“It was as much a surprise to me as it is to you. Although, not as surprising as what you just did.” She chuckled softly, the sound making his heart swell. He loved to see her laugh, almost as much as he loved to see her ride. There was a freedom in both things that became her well.
“Then I am grateful to her.”
She smiled. “As am I. My goodness, as am I. I did not know it could be like that.”
He chuckled. “It can be so much more.” He paused. “But you know that we cannot be together, as long as I remain in this house. Your father despises me and my family, and I will be forced to return to them before long. I have already written to them of my safety and promised to go back to them as soon as I am able.”
She sank back in sorrow. “Forever?”
“No, not forever.” He held her face in his hands and gazed into her eyes. “I must make arrangements for you at Summerhill Hall. Once they are complete, I will send for you. We will have to maintain a degree of secrecy, otherwise it shall never work.”
She nodded. “I can do that.”
“I hoped you would say so.” He kissed her again, deeper than before. “I have been at a loss without you, and I cannot live happily unless I have you beside me.”
“You will always have me, my love.”
He folded her in his arms and held her close. “I love you, Lydia.”
“And I love you.”
They sat like that for a long while, enjoying the proximity of one another. Only when Edward’s chest began to falter did he release her from his embrace, encouraging her to lay at his good side. She curled up into the lines of his body and lay her head on the uninjured side of his chest, her eyes looking up into his.
“Do you think you are safe from that man now?”
Edward sighed. “I do not know. It has been troubling me.”
“Surely, he will not attack you again?”
“I cannot say for certain.” He stroked her soft, fragrant hair. “As soon as I have returned, I shall ask my brother if he knows of this man. My brother takes care of many of the state affairs. If he knows of a disgruntlement against our family, he will tell me so. I will attempt to deduce the culprit from there.”
“You must be careful on the road.”
He smiled. “I will be. I will tell nobody but you when I actually leave, to reduce the risk of information finding its way to unsavory individuals.”
“That is a good idea.”
“Did you ever discover who had given Danson that letter?” It was another thought that had been troubling Edward, though he had not been able to leave his room to investigate further.
She nodded. “It was delivered to Mrs. Benton first, just as Danson had said. He is sulking somewhat, at the idea that he might have been accused of underhanded activities.”
“And who gave it to Mrs. Benton?”
“One of the valets.”
“This attacker of mine, whoever he is, must have sent it via the post, then.”
Lydia nodded. “That is the most likely explanation. After all, if he has been watching you, then he knows where you have been living.”
“Yes, I imagine you are right.”
Although his sister had ceased to haunt his dreams, his pursuer had been as prevalent as ever. Each time he closed his eyes and drifted off, he heard the beat of hooves behind him, and found himself sitting in the saddle of Silver once again. It was another reason he had not been able to rest properly.
For the sake of Lydia and their promising future, he prayed he would be able to make it back to Summerhill Hall without being intercepted by his would-be assassin. If only he could shake the feeling that he was still being watched…
Chapter 26
Edward was in the middle of his breakfast of bread and warming chicken soup when the Duchess of Greenwick paid him an unexpected visit. He knew he had a great deal to thank her for, though he had not seen Lydia for three days. By all accounts, her father had taken to keeping her under lock and key, just in case she got any ideas. At least he had not discovered their night-time visit.
“Sir, I was wondering if you and I might have a word,” the Duchess said, as she took a seat beside his bed. He was healing well, but his upper body still ached.
He nodded and set down his breakfast. “Certainly.”
“As I am sure you are aware, I was the one who orchestrated Lydia’s visit to you the other evening,” she began. “I realize it was a rather peculiar thing for me to do, as it is not in a mother’s nature to allow her daughter to speak freely, and alone, with a gentleman. However, she assured me of your good grace.”
“I would do nothing to tarnish her reputation, Madam.” He thought of the way Lydia had felt in his arms, and the temptation he had succumbed to, but quickly pushed the memory away. He did not want his face to reveal anything that he would not say aloud.
“You are an honest
man, are you not?”
“To the best of my ability, I strive to be.”
“And you are kind?”
He smiled. “I hope that I am.”
“And you love my daughter, as fiercely as she seems to love you?”
“With all my heart, Madam.”
The Duchess looked anxious. “If you were to wed, would you be good to her, always?”
“I would. I promise you that I would, for she has become everything to me.”
She nodded slowly. “Then, I will do all I can to persuade her father that you are a decent gentleman; the kind who would take care of our daughter and treat her with love and respect. I cannot promise that I will be successful, but you must allow me to try.”
“I am grateful to you, Madam.”
“However, there is the somewhat troubling matter of your departure. Lydia has informed me that you are keen to keep it as discreet as possible, to avoid any further attacks on your life,” she said, which perplexed Edward for a moment. He had not realized that Lydia and her mother were so close, and yet it seemed as if she had become her confidante.
“That is true, Madam.”
“In that case, please allow me to make the arrangements for you. I will say nothing to anyone, you have my word upon that,” she continued. “I thought it might be a good idea if you departed tomorrow, before dawn. I will gift you my own horse—the speckled mare. You must ride away and not return until I inform you that it is safe to do so, do you understand?”
He eyed her uncertainly. “Might I correspond with Lady Lydia in the meantime?”
“You may, but you must address the letters to me. Otherwise, my husband is sure to intercept them. Put a small mark in the top right corner, so that I know it is from you, and I shall not open them. I will deliver them directly to Lydia.”
“Do you swear it?”
“I do, Edward.”
He had no reason to disbelieve her, and yet a nagging doubt remained. “Madam, if I may be so bold, why are you doing this for us? When you thought me a stable boy, you would have balked at the idea of a romance between myself and your daughter. I am grateful, indeed, but I cannot understand what has changed.”
“I have always desired a good match for my daughter, but I neglected to consider her feelings in the matter.” She sighed softly. “Let me just say that it did no harm to discover that you were a peer.” She flashed him a small, irreverent smile.
“Then, I will leave tomorrow, before dawn. I will write to Lady Lydia as often as I might, and I hope you will discover a way to send a reply?”
She nodded. “I have already thought of that. I shall endeavor to pass my daughter’s letters to the messenger myself, to avoid the Duke intercepting any of her replies.”
“Thank you, Madam. Truly, I cannot begin to put into words what this will mean for us,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.
“I only hope you are half the gentleman that you profess to be. I must admit, I do not fully comprehend the ancient quarrel that took place between your family and that of my husband’s, but I am a firm believer that one must leave the past in the past. Never tell the Duke you heard me say so, but if there is a way to bring peace, it ought to be done.”
Edward smiled. “I agree, Madam.”
“Well then, I will leave you to the rest of your breakfast. I will come for you when the time arrives for your departure.” She got up and dusted down the front of her elegant, marigold gown.
“Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart.”
“It is my pleasure. I only hope that I have not put my faith in the wrong place.” She turned to leave, but Edward called her back the moment she reached the door.
“There is one more thing, Madam.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Might you bring Lady Lydia with you, when I am to leave? I should very much like to say farewell to her, if I am not to see her for some time.”
“I had already planned on arranging it.” The Duchess smiled, before dipping into a small curtsey and leaving the room.
Edward sat back against the headrest of his bed, his appetite lost. He stared at the door and wished Lydia would walk through it, but the chances of such a miracle were slim. These were his final hours in Greenwick Abbey. Come morning, he would ride away, and he did not know if he would ever be permitted to return.
No matter how long we are separated for, my beloved Lydia, I will find a way for us to be together. I will come back for you, even if it means risking another shot to the chest.
* * *
Lydia awoke with bleary eyes, to the sensation of someone gently shaking her. She blinked up at her mother, who was illuminated by the flame of a solitary candle.
“Mother? Is everything well? Has something happened?” She sat up and stretched out her weary arms. Having been locked in her room for the last few days, she had done very little but sleep, and yet she did not feel any better for it. If anything, she felt more exhausted than ever.
“You must come with me, Lydia.”
“Whatever for?” She peered into the gloom, looking for any sign of her father. “Am I to be taken away to a convent? Has the time come at last?”
Her mother chuckled. “Nothing of the sort, my darling. You know I would never permit your father to send you to a nunnery.”
“Then what is happening?”
“You will soon see. Now, come, you must put on your warmest coat and follow me.”
Curiosity got the better of Lydia. Throwing back the covers, she clambered out of bed and hurried to her armoire, pulling out a long, black coat and fastening it tight around her nightdress. It was rather amusing to see her mother in the same state of peculiar undress, with a woolen coat of white-and-gray checkered fastened about her nightclothes.
“Hurry, child!” her mother urged.
Feeling decidedly nervous, she followed her mother out of the bedchamber, the two of them sneaking across the landing like furtive robbers. They descended the grand staircase and stole out of the front door, moving in the direction of the stables. Lydia had no idea why they were going towards the stables, and her heart began to beat faster as they approached.
Perhaps this is a trick, and Mother truly does plan to send me to a convent.
However, as they rounded the doorway and stepped into the stables, Lydia finally understood. Edward was midway through preparing the speckled mare, a friendly beast named Dapple, for riding. The saddle was already upon her back and her bridle and reins had been fitted. A small leather bag hung off the side of the saddle—Edward’s sole possessions from his time at Greenwick Abbey.
“You are leaving?” Lydia’s voice echoed through the stable.
Edward turned in surprise, his eyes widening as his gaze fell upon her. “I must, my love. My family will be worried about me, and I must attend to the dukedom before news of my absence finds its way to the gossipmongers of London.”
“Will you return?”
He smiled. “As soon as I am able.”
“I have sworn to send word to him, when it is safe for him to come back,” her mother said softly, placing a hand on Lydia’s forearm. “In the meantime, I shall attempt to persuade your father that Edward will make a suitable husband for you. I shall also assist you in corresponding with one another. His letters shall come to me, with a mark in the corner, and I shall send your replies to him.”
“Oh, Mother. I do not know how to thank you.” Lydia clasped her hands together in gratitude.
“Do not thank me yet, my darling. I do not know if I have the ability to persuade your father that a Godwin is a suitable match for you, but I will do all I can.”
“That is more than enough, Mother.” Lydia could hardly fathom the change that had come over her mother, and the relationship between them. Throughout her childhood and into her womanhood, there had been a perpetual strain dividing them. Now, that seemed to have vanished. She only hoped that all of this was not too good to be true.
“I will stand
just outside the door. Make your goodbyes swift, for Edward must be gone before the sun rises and the house begins to stir.” Her mother dipped her head and exited the stables, though her shadow could be seen just beyond the stable door.
Lydia stood there a moment longer, not knowing what to do. She wanted to run to Edward and throw her arms about him, but the presence of her mother had turned her shy. Instead, she gazed at her love, and waited for him to make the first move.
Around them, the horses snuffled softly at the unexpected arrival of so many people. She looked to Conker, and thought of Edward’s poor sister, who had lost her life so many years ago. It reminded her of how short and cruel life could be and spurred her on to grasp her own fate by the horns.
Wicked Temptations For The Seduced Duchess (Steamy Historical Regency) Page 19