Chapter 19
Gabriel knocked on the door of the Duke and Duchess of Kirkbourne’s town residence, hoping and praying that Kathleen had got the right of it and that the Duchess really had given them an open invitation to drop in unannounced in the event of an emergency such as this.
Of course, she was right about going to Stalwood’s. Everyone knew that he had been seen all too frequently in the man’s company over the past fortnight.
A butler opened the door, raising his eyebrows, no doubt because of the time. He looked like every other silver-haired English butler. His lips in a straight line, his eyes assessing and his nose firmly in the air.
“Can I help you…” He left the lack of title hanging in the air.
“The Earl of Cindermaine to see the Duke of Kirkbourne,” he said.
“Ah, come in, my lord. My lady.” The man could not get out of the way fast enough to allow them to enter the house. “His Grace said if you arrived at his door I was to grant you immediate entry whether he was home or not. He is home and in his study. I shall go and get him.”
“No need Williams, I am here. Good God, man, you stink. Not you Williams, him.”
“We had to come through the alleyways and mewses to get here. I had to kick off my shoe to get Cedric off me. We’re covered in horse muck. And the whole of the ton now knows that Cindermaine is married to Cedric’s fiancé.”
Kirkbourne rubbed a hand over his face and scowled. “All right, I understand everything except the shoe. I think perhaps we should draw you both baths, get you cleaned up and then talk. We shall have the bath drawn up in the study. You can both go in there. It is warm We shall also prepare you a room. Or two? Which would you prefer?”
“One is fine.” But he glanced at Kathleen. Perhaps she wanted two. Perhaps sleeping in the same bed with him was not something she had planned.
She nodded, smiling. She did not seem at all upset.
“Good, we shall get the bath organised.”
“What is that smell?” They turned to see the Duchess wheeling herself towards them in a chair.
“Horse manure. They have just run the gauntlet from… where?”
“The Hammond’s ball.”
“Oh. So what happened?”
“Well, Gabriel asked to speak to me in a quiet parlour so that we could discuss our escape on Christmas night. It was dark, and I did not turn around when who I thought was Gabriel entered and unfortunately it was Cedric. And he put his hands all over me and I tried to break free and he refused and then Gabriel came to my rescue. While they were arguing he called Cedric a bastard and said he was Cindermaine. So I guess everyone now knows.”
“Oh! I see.”
“And then he kicked Cedric in the… um… well…”
“Ballocks?” provided Gabriel. Kathleen rolled her eyes.
“Remind me why I married you? You are so uncouth.”
“I ask Nate that all the time,” Sarah said, laughing. “Now, come into the study and we shall organise the baths.”
“I can do that, Your Grace,” said the butler.
“Thank you, Williams.”
“Now we need to send a servant around to the Stalwood residence to check on Christina and Stalwood. Let us hope they are aware of what is happening, and Christina has had the sense to go there and not Hartsmere House. I shall then send the servant to the Beattie’s just in case they are followed from Stalwood’s house.”
“You’re very good at subterfuge, Duchess,” said Gabriel, grinning.
“We worked it all out the other night. Lord Beattie and Nate have been planning for this, just in case.”
“And neither of you thought to mention it to me.”
“You had enough to worry about. We had a feeling you would come to either of our houses and not Stalwood’s.”
“My first reaction was Stalwood’s. Here was Kathleen’s idea.”
“Just as well you married a clever girl then since you are a dolt, eh, Cindermaine?” Gabriel smiled ruefully. He would probably have reassessed the plan once they got out of the main street where the Hammond’s house was. But his wife was possibly just a bit cleverer than he.
Once they were inside the study, Kirkbourne offered them the seats by the fire. Gabriel headed for one seat. When Kathleen started to move away from him to sit on the other seat, he caught her around the shoulders.
“No, come.” When he sat, he placed her on his lap and cradled her against his chest. She was pale and starting to shiver and he was not going to let her go. Kirkbourne leaned against his desk and smiled indulgently.
“Would you like me to write to Stalwood?”
“Do you mind?”
“Not at all. You must look after your wife. She looks pale. I shall do it quickly and you can remain with her while she bathes. I will ask Sarah’s maid and my valet to bring clothes for you both. My clothes should fit you. Sarah’s gowns may be a little loose on Lady Cindermaine as they have extra give for her to use crutches.
“I doubt it. I have a huge bosom,” Kathleen said.
Gabriel burst out laughing. “I am sure as a gentleman, His Grace has not been looking at your bosom.”
Kirkbourne coughed and seemed to be scrabbling in his desk drawer for something. So, he had noticed her bosom. He supposed he could not blame the fellow. She has an amazing décolletage.
“I am sure marriage has not caused His grace to go blind, my lord,” said Kathleen. “Rest assured, Gabriel, I can still see Cedric’s manhood through his inexpressibles even though we are married. It is no less distasteful now than it was a fortnight ago.”
“So you find it distasteful compared to mine?” Gabriel asked.
“Ahem!” The Duke was glowering at them. “Do you two mind not discussing manhoods at this moment in time, especially not your bastard half-brother’s, Cindermaine. Good God. I ate only a few hours ago. I should like it to remain in my body and not be cast up.”
Gabriel grinned at Kirkbourne.
“As you wish, Your Grace.”
“And stop Your Gracing me. Nate or Kirkbourne will suffice. That goes for you too Ma’am. May I be so bold to ask your permission to call you Kathleen since I know you are on given name terms with my wife?”
“Yes, of course, Your… Nate.”
He smiled at her then. “I shall write these notes and then I shall leave you to your baths. We shall be in the drawing room and shall have some tea and hot chocolate when you are ready. Something stronger if you prefer. Now I need to write some instructions for Stalwood. We need to make sure any messengers are not followed anywhere other than Beattie’s.”
“Are the Beattie’s not in danger?” asked Kathleen.
“No, they are at Lady Rutherford’s. Gideon’s sister. I hate leaving Christina and Stalwood alone but Stalwood assured me he had some burly footmen who could handle the Duke’s men. A few servants will set off to misdirect any followers. None will come directly here. Most will return to Stalwood’s by a circuitous route. One will return via our back door. We are simply making sure that Christina is well and made it to Stalwood’s from the ball.”
Nate applied himself to the task and as the hip bath and a smaller basin and ewer were brought in along with steaming buckets of water, the Duke stood up.
“I shall leave you to it. Please do not worry. It will take around an hour for us to find out about Christina, but I am sure we will find her safe.”
Gabriel nodded. He hoped Nate was right.
When the footmen were finished, a maid came in with some clothes and linens and introduced herself as Tilly, the Duchess’s lady’s maid. When Gabriel made no move to exit, she raised an eyebrow at him.
“My wife’s safety is paramount, and I remain with her just in case anyone tries to get into Kirkbourne House. I hope you understand. I have seen her naked before.”
“Yes, my lord. I understand. She helped Kathleen out of her gown and Gabriel marvelled at the beauty of his wife. However, he scowled at the yellow bruises on her back. They were healing, of course, but they were extensive.
“Kathleen, Cedric brutalised you.”
Kathleen shrugged. “I fell against the baluster. I fell hard, but it was… well, it was his fault but it is over now. Please, Gabriel, there is no point upsetting yourself over it.”
“I shall kill the bastard. It looks worse than it did the other day.”
“Bruises always look worse a few days later.”
She walked over to him and pressed a kiss to his lips. Devil take it. She was naked and kissing him in front of a maid. He scrunched his hands into fists and forced himself not to touch her.
“Calm down and sit down. You are like a lion I read about in a book.”
“You call me a cat.”
“Cats are ferocious. And lions are the king of the jungle.”
“I am a mere earl and just a courtesy one at that.”
“You are a king among men to me, my lord. Now, stop growling your disapproval and allow me to wash.”
He moved away and sat down, as much to hide the bulge in his silk evening breeches as anything else. Soon she was washed and dressed and Nate’s valet had come in and helped him wash and dress as soon as the tub had been emptied and refilled. Gabriel felt bad that the poor servants were having to go to so much trouble so late at night. He knew how much work it was to heat water for baths and move the water and the tub and clean it. At least he and Kathleen hadn’t brought home miniature friends from brothels, he mused.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“We shall go and meet our hosts.”
As they walked through the foyer, servants were cleaning the floor that they had dirtied when they arrived. Gabriel felt another pang of conscience.
“I am sorry,” he said.
The maid just looked at him as if he had lost his mind. He supposed no one ever bothered to apologise for making work for her to do. It wasn’t that Nate and Sarah were unkind, they had just been brought up to expect servants to earn their keep. The servants he worked with also would have given a visitor an odd look if they had apologised for dirtying the floor.
When they arrived in the drawing room, the Duchess and Duke were sitting side by side on a love seat. They looked relaxed and happy.
“Christina and Stalwood are fine. They are pleased to hear that you are here and will endeavour to visit in the morning when it will be easier to check if they are being followed. I have also received a note from Mrs Newham, your great-aunt, I believe, Kathleen.”
“Yes.”
“She said she has spoken to the family and while your father is upset about the business deal, she has explained the situation thoroughly and hopes that by the time he has slept on the matter, he shall be more amenable to your marriage. Hartsmere has already been there shouting the odds.”
“That sounds like my sire. Look Kirkbourne, I appreciate the hospitality but I worry about putting you, Sarah and your son in danger.”
Nate waved him away.
“I have plenty of loyal servants and I have weapons here. Ever since Sarah was shot just after we were married. It was only a flesh wound, but it frightened me, I can tell you.”
“Who shot you?” asked Kathleen.
“Oh, that’s a long story for another time. Suffice to say I survived and I am here to tell the tale, but we do not take our safety lightly. Nor that of our friends.”
“You hardly know us.”
“I hardly knew Nate when I married him and fell in love with him. Friendship seldom needs time. When you know you like someone, you just know.”
They drank their tea and hot chocolate in relative silence, all contemplating the events of the evening. Gabriel was half glad he’d been there to save Kathleen but wondered if she would have solved the problem on her own. She looked like she had been managing to get Cedric off her when he’d entered. However, Gabriel had seen red and his protective instincts had won out. He’d charged in without thinking of the consequences or checking to see if she could get herself out of the situation before revealing himself. It may have been a misstep. However, it was done now.
After tea, it was decided that they were all tired and ready for bed. Gabriel led Kathleen upstairs and assured Kirkbourne that they had no need of servants. He could see to his wife. Kirkbourne told him to ring the bell if they needed anything and in the morning when they were ready to wash and get dressed. Nightclothes had apparently been laid out for them.
They bid him and Sarah goodnight and Gabriel led his wife into their bedchamber for their first night as man and wife.
∞∞∞
Kathleen could not understand why she felt nervous. Of course, this was their first night together, but they had consummated their marriage a few times. Somehow though, the idea of waking up with Gabriel in the morning seemed just as intimate.
He undid the ribbon fastening her gown and helped her out of it, then loosened her stays. She sat at the dressing table and undid the simple knot Tilly had fashioned for her earlier. Her hair was still damp. It had dried a little beside the fire while Gabriel had been bathing but it had not been nearly long enough.
Gabriel was out of his coat and waistcoat and had slipped off his shoes and stockings. He was standing behind her.
“May I undo your braid? I shall retie it before we go to sleep. I have not run my fingers through my wife’s hair yet. I was itching to do it when you were bathing but did not want to upset Tilly.”
Kathleen nodded and watched him as he ran his fingers through the long mane to loosen the braid. When at last his fingers moved freely, she moaned her pleasure and laid her head back against his stomach. He dropped his hands to her shoulders.
“You are exhausted. It has been a frightful evening. Come, the sooner we get to sleep, the better you shall feel.”
“Yes.” Was he not going to bed her tonight? Well, that was disappointing. He re-braided her hair but in a looser braid than Tilly had created and helped her on with her nightgown. He then removed the rest of his clothes. She noticed he ignored the nightshirt laid out for him and slipped into bed beside her.
He pulled her into his arms but she wriggled free.
“Why are you naked and I am not?”
“I never wear anything to bed.”
“Well, now that we are wed, neither do I.” And she sat up and pulled the nightgown off.
“Kathleen.”
“Yes, my lord?”
He ran a hand over her back and she grimaced. He was looking at those bruises again.
“Do they hurt?”
“No.” She was telling the truth for the most part. They were slightly sore but nothing terrible. He shifted, and she felt the soft caress of his lips over her spine and then her ribs.
“I was not going to do this,” he muttered. “I was going to let you rest.”
“I do not need rest, Gabriel. I need you.”
He continued to kiss her back as he snaked one hand around to cup her breast and pinch her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. She realised her hair was falling loose again. He had obviously undone his own braid and swiped the mane of damp blonde curls over her shoulder as he continued up her back and over her bare shoulder to her neck.
“How am I to resist you?”
He moved then, laying her gently back on the pillows then settling himself between her open legs. Then he just looked his fill smiling as he ran one hand up and down one of her thighs. He looked very pleased with himself.
“What are you thinking, my lord?”
“That I am the luckiest man alive.”
“Why?”
“Because you agreed to be my wife and you are perfect.”
Kathleen looked down at her over-large breasts and grimaced. She suspected she also could do with losing a little weight around her hips and stomach too.
“I am not perfect, my lord.” Her gaze fell on the rippling muscles of her husband’s stomach and the large thick shaft proudly pointing almost vertically and glistening at the tip. Now Gabriel was perfect.
Gabriel leaned over her and captured her mouth in a kiss. It was slow and sensual and did not contain the usual heat and desperation that his kisses had carried when they had been about to do the deed the past few times. His fingers caressed her body—her breasts, her stomach, her womanhood, her thighs, behind her knee. Tickles, caresses, pinches—all manner of sensations and Kathleen was aware of a slow burning desire in her, like a fire burning in a grate catching the coals. He moved over her, his shaft rubbing her most sensitive area but not penetrating her.
He broke the kiss and moved his mouth to her ear, biting the lobe gently.
“God, Kathleen, I need to be inside you soon.” She ran her hands down his back. The skin was soft with a slight sheen of sweat already forming. Then she cupped his rounded backside and squeezed. He groaned and nipped her lobe harder before pressing his lips to her neck. He peppered gentle kisses down her neck along her collarbone and over her chest. When he moved and his hard length broke contact with the aching flesh between her thighs, she moaned her protest. He chuckled and pressed his fingers to her core to continue the delightful pressure. More pleasure spiked through her and she rutted against his hand. His mouth covered one nipple and she gasped at the added sensations, moving her hand up to grip his hair and guide him.
“Gabriel, I want to give you pleasure too.”
He lifted his head and grinned at her.
“Oh my love, I am experiencing much pleasure doing this.”
“You are?”
He licked and suckled at her other nipple and made a sound as if he were eating a particularly delicious dessert. “I am,” he breathed against the flesh of her ample breast.
Kathleen had not thought she could get more aroused when he had been on top of her and rubbing his shaft against her core but it seemed that was untrue. When his fingers pushed inside her, she thought she may die of pleasure as his thumb strummed her pearl.
And then just when she thought she could take it no more, her body exploded in a burst of pleasure that burned through her from her centre to the tips of the toes and fingers to the roots of her hair. Little white lights sparkled behind her eyelids and Gabriel, who had seemed to realise it was about to happen and had moved up her body, smothered her cry of release with his kiss.
And before she had fully recovered, he was slipping his long, hard shaft into her, watching intently as he thrust, first slowly, then more quickly into her. She wrapped her legs and arm around him and he settled onto his forearms. His lips descended on hers and again her body started to burn with need. Her hips rocked in a counter motion to his. He broke the kiss.
“Dammit, you’re so special, so passionate.” His rhythm speeded up again and held her gaze. She reached up with one hand and cupped his cheek. He turned his face to press a kiss to her palm, but he continued to thrust into her and his gaze never left hers.
“I love you too, Gabriel.” He grinned.
“I wondered how long it would take.” Then he pushed a hand between then and teased her just above where they were joined. She writhed against him and knew another release was imminent. This time, when she arched her back and allowed the wave of pleasure to rush through her, she stifled her moan of pleasure. Gabriel cursed as his rhythm broke and he thrust a couple more time into her as his seed bathed her insides.
Gabriel collapsed atop her and she pressed a kiss to his ear. When that did not make him respond, she swirled her tongue around the shell of his ear. He chuckled against her arm.
“What are you doing, wife?”
“I am finding out if you are alive.”
“My heart is pounding out of my chest. If that constitutes alive, then I am well and truly alive.”
He rolled off her and pulled her to him. “I should bank that fire. I forgot to do it before I climbed into bed. I am not used to a room with a fire.”
“Are you not cold at night?”
“No. I am used to it.”
“I see. I am always cold.”
“Then you can have my share of the blankets. I just need one and a sheet.”
“Even in winter?”
“Even then.”
He climbed out of bed and banked the fire for the night then walked around to her side, urged her to sit up, ran a brush quickly through her hair and braided it. He washed between her legs before laying everything back on the dressing table. She loved how much care he took of her. It was very thoughtful. He then moved back around to his side, adjusted the covers so that she had most of them, blew out the single candle on his bedside table and closed his arms around her.
She ran her hand over his hips. She liked his hip for some reason.
He lifted her hand and pressed it to his lips.
“My darling Countess, I do hope you are not trying to commence round two. It is time for sleep.”
“I was not. I was just… enjoying the feel of you near me.”
“Well, I suggest you enjoy the feel of me further away from parts of me that might think round two is commencing.”
She chuckled and then drew a heavy sigh.
“What is the sigh for?”
“I am just aware how blessed I am. I do not believe I would be at all happy with Cedric. And yet by sheer chance, here I am with you. But it is not your title that means anything. If the roles were reversed, and you were the illegitimate son and Cedric the heir, I should still prefer you, because you are the better man.”
He ran the tips of his fingers soothingly down her back and back up before he spoke. “I am so very glad Stalwood, Beattie and Christina convinced me to marry you. Of course, I did not want you to marry Cedric but I must confess I did not think it possible to just take you to wife myself. And my pride was hurt at the idea of accepting money from friends to support us.”
“I think father shall come around and give us my dowry.”
“Did your great-aunt not tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“She is giving me your inheritance from her. She has already given me a bag of coins. That was in the belt I had around my waist. It is sitting over there.”
“I… I saw no belt. I… was looking at your bottom when you were getting undressed.”
He snickered like a horse and patted her bottom. “I like your bottom too.”
“Tell me about the inheritance and stop talking about bottoms, Gabriel.”
“You started it. When she called me to your home this morning she gave me gold coins which I can take to the bank and trade for money. She said she shall send the rest when she gets back to America.”
“I see.”
“And this is my inheritance, from her.”
“Apparently so. You are to get it when she dies. I tried to say no, but she made me feel terribly guilty and that I would be allowing you to starve if I did not take it.”
“She is good at manipulating people. Do not feel bad. So we have some money to start out with.”
“It appears so. I shall invest it. Stalwood is good at investing. I believe so are Beattie and Kirkbourne. I shall take their advice.”
“Good.”
“You sound sleepy, my love.”
Kathleen curled onto her side with her head on his shoulder.
“I am. I should have liked to have made love again like we did on the day of our wedding but…” she yawned suddenly and stretched her limbs to try to make herself more comfortable in the strange bed. Gabriel kissed the top of her head.
“We have years ahead of us.” He tilted her chin and kissed her lightly. “Until tomorrow. Good night, my love.” Then he threw most of the blankets over her and settled her against his side.