by Marie Force
“They will adore you.”
“How can you be so certain?”
“Because I know them, and they’re delightful women. Did I tell you they were raised in a small village where their father was the local blacksmith?”
“No, you didn’t mention that.”
“Their father was a second son, and when his older brother and nephew succumbed to fever, he became the earl. Catherine and Madeleine were already in their twenties when this happened, so they weren’t raised as aristocrats. I guess it was quite a shock to them to be suddenly thrust into society and all its many rules.”
Maeve shuddered. “I understand somewhat of how they felt. It’s a shock to one’s system to suddenly be considered more simply because someone dies or marries.”
“Life can change so suddenly. That’s what happened to Derek and Simon and then to me when I walked into the ballroom and saw you there, looking so appealing as you wielded that massive feather duster.”
“I still say there is something wrong with your vision.”
He laughed. “There is nothing at all wrong with my vision. It was your delectable neck that sealed your fate, my love.”
“I’ve never heard of a man being attracted to a woman’s neck.”
“Until you met me, that is.”
“Yes, until I met you. It’s an odd fixation you have developed for my neck.”
“I find myself fixated on your neck and every other part of you. I have never been more thankful that my thoughts are private than I have since my family invaded our idyllic existence. For if they had any idea of the indecent thoughts I have about my wife while surrounded by sisters and nieces and nephews, I’d be drummed right out of the family.”
Heat flooded her face, which of course he noticed with a bark of laughter. “I love that sweet flush more than anything else in this life.”
“You’re completely daft.”
“I’m daft about you.”
She wanted so badly to ask him if he still would be once his mother played her hand and tried to destroy them. Would he still feel the same way about her as he did now when his mother forced him to choose between his wife and his family? Because she would. Of that Maeve had no doubt whatsoever. It would come down to a choice. And how could Maeve expect him to choose her over those he had loved all his life?
He wouldn’t choose her, and she needed to prepare herself for that inevitability and make plans for what she would do when this beautiful moment with him came to an end. In the meantime, she would do her very best to enjoy every minute she got to spend with him and to record the memories upon her heart and soul to sustain her during the empty, lonely years she would spend without him.
Chapter Fourteen
Derek, Catherine, Simon, Madeleine and Justin arrived late that afternoon in a flurry of carriages that included ladies’ maids, valets and a governess for baby Grace, a cherubic six-month-old with golden ringlets and big blue eyes who instantly captivated Aubrey.
“She’s beautiful,” he told her parents. “Well done, you two.”
“It was all Catherine,” Derek said with a wide grin for his wife. “She did all the hard work. My part was exceedingly pleasurable.”
“Hush, Derek,” his wife admonished. “Don’t speak of your pleasure in front of the baby.”
While the others laughed, Derek made a comical face at his wife.
Aubrey was delighted to see that the two couples were happier than ever, and clearly still besotted. It gave him hope that he and Maeve might fare similarly in the years to come. “Dear friends, I have someone very special I would like you to meet.” With his arm around Maeve, he drew her into their group. “This is my wife, Maeve. Maeve, meet Derek, the Duke of Westwood, his wife, Catherine, the Duchess of Westwood, their daughter, Lady Grace, Derek’s cousin, Simon, and his wife, Madeleine, and our dear friend Justin Enderly.”
“You have been keeping secrets from us, Aubrey!” Catherine handed the baby to Derek so she could hug Maeve. “Welcome to the family, Maeve. I’m so happy to meet you.”
Aubrey could tell that Maeve was taken aback by Catherine’s effusive greeting. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
If his friends were startled by Maeve’s Irish brogue, they gave nothing away. God bless them. He’d never been more thankful for their friendship than he was in that moment.
“Please call me Catherine. We’re going to be great friends. There’s no need for formality.”
“Thank you,” Maeve said.
Madeleine hugged her next. “It’s so nice to have another woman in our midst. Catherine and I are woefully outnumbered in this group.”
“You think it’s easy being me,” said Justin, “known as the fifth wheel, stuck in the midst of all these lovebirds? I’m devastated to hear you’ve joined their ranks, Aubrey. You were my only hope for this summer.”
“So sorry to disappoint, dear friend, but I’m happily shackled.”
Simon hugged Maeve. “Welcome and congratulations. I can’t wait to hear how you brought Aubrey up to scratch.”
“Oh, um, I didn’t really do that.”
The flush that overtook her cheeks had the same effect on him it always did, and he had to remind himself he wasn’t allowed to ravish her in front of their guests. “That’s exactly what you did, my sweet, and I’ve never been happier.”
“This is quite a development, old friend,” Derek said. “We’re going to want to hear the full story.”
“We’ll be happy to tell you, but first I have to introduce you to my mother and sisters, who are waiting not-so-patiently to meet you.” Aubrey led them to the back veranda where he’d asked his family to wait so their guests wouldn’t be overwhelmed the second they arrived. His mother had been none too pleased with the request, but had ceded to his wishes about that, the same way she had about everything else since her arrival.
He felt confident that he’d succeeded in making his stand with her by outlining the consequences that would accompany bad behavior on her part. As he was fully prepared to make good on his threats by taking his illustrious friends and departing, he expected her to toe the line and show his wife the respect she deserved.
So far, she had left them alone and had allowed Aubrey to oversee the staff.
Even his sisters had commented on their mother’s unusually docile behavior. Perhaps it was their father’s worsening health that had her preoccupied. They were all preoccupied with concern for their father, who seemed to be withering away before their eyes. He was making a valiant effort to participate in family activities, but he tired easily and was often in bed for the night before dinner.
“Mother, I’m delighted to introduce you to my dear friends.” Aubrey went through the introductions again, cringing when his mother curtsied before the duke and duchess, knowing they wouldn’t expect such a gesture. “And these hellions are my sisters.” He introduced them and then signaled to Mrs. Allston, who’d been hovering nearby, to go ahead and serve the refreshments he’d requested.
“I hope you’ll make yourselves entirely at home,” Eliza said, beaming with excitement.
Derek and Eliza launched into a “who’s your mother, who’s your father” conversation that further delighted Aubrey’s mother. She loved nothing more than discussing her aristocratic lineage with anyone who would listen.
To his credit, Derek paid rapt attention and asked all the right questions, which endeared him to Eliza for life. She could talk endlessly about her upbringing in England, the people she’d known, the balls she’d attended and the other trappings of a pampered, privileged life.
“How did you end up marrying Mr. Nelson?” Catherine asked.
Eliza’s displeasure with the question wouldn’t be apparent to their guests, but Aubrey saw it and resented it. His father may not have been the world’s most exciting man, but he’d been a wonderful husband and father, and his wife owed him more than her disdain. “My father, the earl, met Mr. Nelson at White’s and they became friends due to their mutual love
of horse racing. My father introduced me to Mr. Nelson and suggested I allow him to court me, and here we are forty-five years later.” She added a fake smile to the end of the statement that only her children would recognize as disingenuous.
Aubrey had been in his late twenties when he learned, quite by accident, that the man she had desperately wanted to marry, the Duke of Ellington, had led her to believe a betrothal was imminent before eloping with one of Eliza’s closest friends, setting off a scandal that had rocked the ton to its core. She’d never recovered from the deception—or the scandal—and carried the bitterness of the duke’s betrayal with her to this day. The offer of marriage from his father was the only one she received, and her father demanded she accept or end up a spinster sitting on a dusty shelf.
Hosting the Duke and Duchess of Westwood, the current toast of the ton, would give her something to crow about to the people at home in England who still talked about her humiliation in hushed whispers. Meanwhile Ellington and his wife went on to have ten children who were now adults and among the cream of society themselves. Aubrey had actually met a few of them during his first Season in London, not knowing at the time of their father’s former connection to his mother.
The group passed an entertaining and relaxing afternoon on the veranda, enjoying the warm summer air and the company of friends. Grace snoozed through most of it on her mother’s shoulder. When the governess appeared in the doorway to take the child upstairs, Catherine waved her off, preferring to tend to her daughter herself.
“I’m not sure why we brought Miss Ames with us, my dear,” Derek said with a tender smile for his wife.
“She is here so we can attend events. Otherwise, I wish to care for Grace myself, as you well know.”
“I do know and wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Aubrey noticed that Maeve paid close attention to the conversation but didn’t contribute to it at all, as if she didn’t think she ought to. He looked forward to being alone with her to encourage her to fully participate. She had every right to as his wife, and he would remind her of that the first chance he got.
“Shall we adjourn to dress for dinner?” he asked.
The others agreed and were shown to their rooms with two hours to rest and prepare for dinner.
When they were inside their bedroom with the door closed to prying eyes, Aubrey wrapped his arms around her and held her tight against him. “I have needed this for hours.”
“You showed remarkable restraint.”
“I did, didn’t I?” He drew back so he could see her face. “Did you enjoy yourself?”
“Very much so. Your friends are delightful, just as you said they would be.”
“You were very quiet. I hope you know you’re welcome to fully participate.”
“That is kind of you to say, but I didn’t want to intrude in any way. I know how much you’ve looked forward to seeing them.”
“You wouldn’t be intruding. They will want to get to know you, and you should feel free to speak up.”
“I’ll try.”
He studied her face more closely. “Is there something else troubling you?”
She schooled her features and shook her head. “No.”
“You would tell me if there was something, wouldn’t you?”
“Yes, of course. Everything is fine.”
She said what he wanted to hear, but he wasn’t sure he believed her.
“I would hope you know that there is nothing you could say to me that would be wrong. If you’re upset about something, I want to know.”
“Thank you.”
“I don’t want your gratitude.” The words came out harsher than he intended, so he softened his tone. “I want you to share your concerns with me so that we may resolve them together.”
“I wonder about Mr. Tornquist and whether there may be others looking for me.”
“If there are, we will dispatch them the same way we did him.”
“You can’t pay off everyone who comes looking for me.”
“Who says?”
“I say. That’s not the way to handle it. Eventually we are going to have to contend with the fact that I’m wanted on serious charges in Ireland.”
“I’m going to speak to Derek about that. He will know what we should do, and if he speaks up for you, that will matter.”
She recoiled. “You can’t ask him to do such a thing for someone he doesn’t even know.”
“He would do it for me, Maeve. Because I ask him to.”
“I wouldn’t feel right about asking him.”
“If he could help to free you from the weight of your concerns, you wouldn’t want to at least try?”
“I would like nothing more than to be free of those concerns but asking your friend to intervene on my behalf is too much.”
“I do not agree. He is a powerful man with powerful connections. We would be foolish not to at least ask for any assistance he can provide.”
As she thought about what he’d said, she rolled her bottom lip between her teeth.
Aubrey tapped on her chin with his fingertip. “Don’t hurt that lip. It’s one of my favorite lips in the entire world.”
Maeve released the lip from between her teeth.
He framed her face with his hands and kissed her gently. “I don’t want you to worry about anything. There is nothing that could happen, nothing at all that would change how I feel about you or how much I want to make our marriage work. You have become the most important person in the world to me, and you must believe me when I say I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe and happy.”
“You’re very kind.”
“I’m not being kind. I’m being a selfish bastard, because if you’re happy, I’m happy. It’s that simple.”
“What do you think your friends really think about you marrying the Irish housekeeper?”
“I’m sure they can plainly see how very pleased I am to be married to you, and that will be enough for them.”
“After spending the afternoon with them, I begin to see why you care so much for them. They are just like regular people. If you did not know of their titles, you’d never suspect they held them.”
“I’m glad that you were able to discern that. They are very humble people, who are not at all impressed with themselves, unlike many of the people you will meet this summer who are extremely impressed with themselves.” As he spoke, he began the task of unbuttoning her yellow shirtwaist, enjoying each inch of creamy skin he uncovered. “It’s going to be a late night. Shall we take a rest?”
Her brow arched. “Will this rest involve sleeping?”
“How suspicious you are, wife.”
“I have come to know you quite well, husband.”
Her teasing words hit him like a punch to the gut. He had a wife. He was her husband. And she was absolutely perfect for him in every way.
“What is the matter?” she asked after he had stared at her for a full minute.
“I’m continuously amazed that you agreed to marry me and that I get to spend my life with such an extraordinary woman.”
“You flatter me, Mr. Nelson.”
“I adore you, Mrs. Nelson.” He kissed the back of her neck, pulled the pins from her hair and watched her glorious hair cascade down her back. Then he began to quickly remove his own clothes and followed her into their bed where she welcomed him into her outstretched arms.
Every time they were together this way, Aubrey felt as if he’d come home from a long journey to the place he was always meant to be. He could look at her exquisite face for hours on end and never grow tired of the view or of the way he felt when she gazed back at him, seeming equally enamored. He wanted to ask her if she felt the way he did, but something continued to hold him back from posing the question. Perhaps it was the fear he sensed in her. He had reassured her every way he knew how, but still he could see her wrestling with concerns she kept from him.
It was a lot to expect of his new wife that she take on his mother, s
isters, illustrious friends and Newport society all at once, but the woman who had defended herself against a violent man and escaped to a whole new country wasn’t one who would be easily cowed. He was counting on her inner strength to help propel her through the summer of social obligations.
Anxious to quiet the thoughts that swirled through his mind, he placed his hand on her face and kissed her, intending to actually allow her to get some rest. But one kiss became two and her eager response had him forgetting all about sleep to indulge in pleasure so profound he often felt as if he’d consumed half a bottle of scotch after being with her this way.
His head spun and his heart beat faster than was probably healthy. He could barely breathe from wanting her so desperately. “Tell me you feel it, too.” He uttered the words between urgent kisses and then remembered he hadn’t planned to push her to reveal her feelings.
“Feel what?”
“Everything. Every single thing there is to feel when we’re together this way.”
As he watched her contemplate what he’d said, he felt as if his entire life was on the line along with any chance he had to be happy. For without her, he wouldn’t be happy. He already knew that much for certain. “I feel it, too.”
Relief flooded him, along with gratitude and love. So much love. “Maeve, I—”
She drew him into a kiss that smothered the words he’d planned to say. Had she known what he would say and didn’t want to hear it?
For the longest time, they only kissed, arms wrapped tight around each other, his leg between hers as their kisses became ever more desperate. Until Aubrey broke the kiss to stare at her once again. “I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you.” The statement surprised her as much as it did him because it was acknowledgment that as much as he’d loved Annabelle, it hadn’t been like this with her.
He was a heel for even having such a thought, but he couldn’t deny the truth of it. As much as he’d loved Annabelle—and he’d truly loved her—what he’d felt for her paled in comparison to his feelings for Maeve.
“I still can’t believe that this has happened,” she said.
“Believe it. It’s the very best thing to ever happen to me.”
