The Marquess's Christmas Runaway

by Josie Bonham

  Eliza laughed. “Very true.”

  Georgie sat on a sofa a little away from the older ladies and Cecilia took the space beside her with a shy smile.

  “Thank you for standing up for me this afternoon, Lady Hargreaves.”

  “Oh, please call me Georgie.”

  Cecilia gave her a tentative smile. “I would be honoured.”

  “I love how informal this family is. I’ve visited places where people call close relatives by their title. This is so much more comfortable don’t you think?”

  Cecilia nodded. “I’m glad Uncle Max has married you and not one of the horrors Mama and my aunts were considering for him.”

  Georgie struggled to know how to answer but Cecilia ploughed on.

  “He saved me you know. Not many uncles would have gone to the trouble he did and afterwards there was not a word of disapproval from him.”

  She drank her tea down in a few gulps and sat staring at her hands.

  Georgie finished her own tea. “Do you want to tell me about it?”

  Cecilia raised a face which was now bright red. “Yes please.”

  The door opened and Max entered followed by the rest. He caught Georgie’s eye and started to walk towards her. She shook her head at him. Cecilia didn’t appear to have noticed the men come in and she needed the release of telling her story. Max’s brows shot together in a frown. She would have to explain later.

  “I thought Hugh loved me,” Cecilia almost whispered.” I told Mama I didn’t need a season as he was going to offer for me and I would accept.”

  There was silence for a few moments. Cecilia seemed to have been transported to a different place, her eyes unfocussed.

  “What was her reaction?”

  “She was furious. Told me he was a fortune hunting rascal and I was never to speak to him again.”

  “Ah I see. That didn’t leave a spirited girl many options did it?”

  Cecilia caught her hand. “I knew you would understand. We waited for my father to go away, so there was less chance of pursuit. Hugh hired a coach and two horses from an inn in the next town. The horses were real screws as my brothers would say.”

  “And Max happened to visit and set off in pursuit.”

  “Yes, it was awful.” Cecilia dashed a hand across her eyes. “Hugh was more interested in the size of my dowry than me. He seemed angry when I didn’t know how big it was. We stopped at an inn for supper and I overheard him book a room for the night. He started kissing me as soon as we were in a private room waiting for our meal. I said we should wait until we were married and he said he wanted to see if I was worth marrying or whether he would be better to ransom me.”

  Georgie gave her a clean handkerchief and held her hand until her tears stopped. “I pushed him off just as Uncle Max charged in. Uncle Max floored him with one blow, and carried me out to his curricle. I was so shocked my legs wouldn’t seem to move.”

  Cecilia started crying in earnest. Georgie rocked her in her arms. Sally and Eliza joined them.

  “I’m sorry, Georgie,” Sally said, looking harassed and concerned at the same time.

  “I don’t mind. I think talking about it will make Cecilia feel better.”

  Sally moved forwards and Eliza waved her back.

  “I’ll look after her, Sally. Don’t worry, Cecilia, you aren’t the first girl to be tricked by a rogue and you won’t be the last. You can relax now you’ve told Georgie. I told you she would be kind. There is nothing to upset you now. Let me escort you to your room.”

  Sally stared after them. “I made a complete mull of dealing with her first tendre.”

  “Your instincts about the man were obviously right.”

  “We girls learnt to pick out fortune hunters at a hundred paces. Where there is money there will always be plenty of them. I should have warned her when she was a little younger.” Sally stiffened. “I shouldn’t be burdening you with this on your wedding night. Thank you for being kind to her.”

  ***

  Max moved away with a sigh and fell into conversation with Nat. They both looked up at the unmistakable sound of sobbing. Good Lord, it looked like Cecilia was telling Georgie the story of her ill-fated elopement. It was their wedding night damn it. Christmas was not a good time to get married.

  Nat threw him a sympathetic look and he grimaced. His expression softened when he studied Georgie comforting Cecilia. She would definitely be a warm parent, if they ever got the chance to try their luck at becoming parents that was. He tried not to grind his teeth in frustration. He bore Cecilia no ill will over her escapade but she could have picked a better time to unburden herself.

  An unwelcome suspicion hit him. Georgie hadn’t encouraged Cecilia’s confidence to avoid spending time with him, had she? She’d welcomed his kiss in the woods but she was still young and could be feeling overwhelmed. No, it was more likely she was finding the presence of his family as inhibiting as he was. In his case desperation was definitely overcoming his embarrassment. How soon could he suggest they retire?

  At last Sally and Eliza took a hand in dealing with Cecilia. He relaxed when Eliza went out with the girl. Perhaps now he would be able to talk to Georgie. He spotted the three Fordham boys chatting together. They kept glancing from him to Georgie. Knowing that trio they were probably taking bets on how long it would be before he took his bride to bed. This was going to be a long night.

  He walked over to Georgie and sat down beside her. She was so engrossed in her conversation with Sally it was a few moments before she noticed him. He felt like a volcano simmering on the edge of erupting. He burst out laughing. This was ridiculous.

  “I see you have been well and truly accepted into the family, Georgie. Thank you for helping Cecilia. Has she been telling you of her adventures?”

  “Yes. She did have a bad experience. I’m glad you were able to rescue her.”

  “The poor girl was most unfortunate in her choice of suitors. If he hadn’t been such a nipfarthing as to make do with only two horses, and a pair of screws at that, I would have arrived on the scene too late.”

  “I’ll be eternally grateful to you Max,” Sally said. “If I had handled it better it probably wouldn’t have happened.”

  Max stroked his chin. “I rather fancy if she hadn’t gone willingly, he would have kidnapped her.”

  Georgie shivered. “Is he still a danger to her do you think?”

  “Oh, he won’t be able to do her any more harm.”

  Georgie stared at him.

  “Don’t look so alarmed. He wasn’t worth risking having to flee the country for. As far as I know he is alive and well, on a ship bound for the colonies. He certainly sailed with the ship. I had a group of men watch him around the clock and stay in the harbour with spyglasses trained on it until it was no longer visible.”

  “Oh well done, Max,” Sally said. “Do you mind if I tell Cecilia that? She is afraid of seeing him again.”

  Max stretched his features into a smile. “By all means, Sally. No one harms my family without facing the consequences.”

  “Thank you, Max. You are more like father than I had realised. I’ll send these boys to bed.”

  “It might come better from Wakeley,” Max said as gently as he could.

  Sally might have had a fright but she hadn’t learned the lesson of not riding high spirited young people too hard. She flushed but nodded and went over to talk to her husband. That was another thing in Georgie’s favour. She didn’t show any overly managing tendencies like some of his sisters. Indeed, she had been prettily deferential over the matter of releasing the servants to their Christmas party. He settled into the sofa by her and took her hand. It definitely fluttered a trifle. He had her attention now.

  He chuckled, “I trust the memories of our wedding day will have us laughing in the years to come. I apologise for you being drawn into family problems quite so quickly.”

  “Oh, I don’t mind. When I was younger I helped my aunt and uncle with the parishioners all the t
ime. I rather missed that when we moved to Canterbury.”

  “I thought you moved to Benfort?”

  “That was after uncle died when I was nineteen. He was given a position connected to the cathedral when I was sixteen.”

  Max closed his eyes for a moment. Some of the archbishop’s staff must know her. No wonder they had given him such a grilling.

  “Ah, so you must know some of the people at the cathedral.”

  “Yes quite a few, although most of them not all that well. That was another reason for hiding in this area. Once Christmas was over, I was hoping to find some of my old friends to help me with the lawyers.”

  “Why not go straight there?”

  “Cousin Mary wouldn’t let me go out without her and I had no access to writing materials. I had no idea who would be there now. I made a couple of friends of around my own age but they were both engaged and I don’t know where they moved to.”

  “Once my secretary is back from leave, I’ll have him try and trace them for you.”

  Georgie smiled at him. “That would be lovely. Thank you for taking the trouble.”

  Max laughed. “It’s no trouble to me. My poor beleaguered secretary will do all the work.”

  He glanced around the room. “I have a suspicion that my nephews are planning to ambush us with a bunch of mistletoe. You look tired. I suggest you go up to bed first and I will stay a while longer to foil them. I’ll not have them put you to the blush.” He sighed. “I can remember when they were as sweet as little Peter.”

  “It has been a long day. I think I would like to rest now.”

  She didn’t meet his gaze. He leaned towards her to shield her from the view of his nephews.

  “I bought a few things for you in Canterbury. I hope you don’t mind. They will be waiting for you.”

  As he expected, she blushed adorably. “Thank you, Max.”

  Her voice was huskier than normal and he was tempted to consign his nephews to the devil and go up with her. At the same time he wouldn’t have her, or him, made a spectacle of. He sat back and nodded with as much apparent unconcern as he could muster when she said goodnight. He leaned back so his face was in the shadows beyond the flickering light of the fire. She walked out with a great deal of grace. Yes, she had the makings of a fine marchioness.

  Once she had left, he jumped up and watched his nephews, led by Rollo, smirking in a corner. He walked across to Nat, slowly.

  “Would you like a game of billiards, Nat?”

  Nat looked surprised but agreed readily enough. They went out and Max silently pointed at a branch of mistletoe that had appeared above the drawing room door.

  When they were out of earshot he grinned at Nat. “The work of my Fordham nephews hoping to embarrass the newlywed couple.”

  Nat burst out laughing.” They should know better than to try and outwit their uncle.” He patted Max on the back. “Damned awkward for the pair of you though, having the whole family with you.”

  “I know. It was something I hadn’t thought of. Come on let’s have that game. Georgie looked exhausted. A few minutes to herself will give her time to rest.”

  It was an hour later when he made his way upstairs. He ran up the last few stairs when he was sure no one was looking. He had told his valet not to wait up for him. It was a bit of a struggle to remove his tightfitting coat and boots. The coat would survive but he was in for a scold over the boots. He threw his clothes over a chair and shrugged into his dressing gown, not even bothering with his nightgown. At last he could make her his. Heart thumping, he almost ran to the connecting door between their suites.

  Chapter Eleven

  Georgie stretched out and turned over. She felt so much better for a rest. How long would Max be? He was a man with a tight control of his emotions but would he lose some of that control in the marriage bed? She shivered with anticipation. His kisses had made her aware of her body in a way she had never been before. Would she be able to satisfy him? There had been enough rumours, even in Benfort, to realise that he was experienced with women. To be fair to him though, there had never been any talk of affairs around Hargreaves Hall or, worse still, disappearing maids.

  She turned onto her back and sighed. She was nervous enough without all this waiting around. How long was he going to be? She threw the covers back and shivered. With the curtain around the bed pulled back, she could see that the fire had burnt itself out. She glanced at the window and jumped out of bed. The drapes were thick but surely that was light creeping in around their edges? She grabbed her robe and rushed to the window. Outside the grey light of dawn was reflecting off the landscape. She looked more carefully. There had been heavy snowfall overnight.

  That was one worry less. They would be cut off for a while so Cousin Mary wouldn’t be able to descend on them, if she had managed to trace her. That incident at the church was a bit of a coincidence considering. She would have to deal with her at some point, but preferably not under the gaze of a sizeable part of Max’s family. She wrapped her arms around herself to try and keep in some warmth. It must be past the time the maids would normally light the bedroom fires.

  There was nothing for it but to climb back under the covers. She pulled them over her shoulders and propped herself up against the pillows with her knees drawn up under her chin. Oh heavens, she must have fallen asleep waiting for Max. What must he be thinking? It was kind in him to have left her to her slumber but he must have hoped for more on his wedding night. She groaned. Would he have taken offence thinking she was faking sleep to put him off?

  “Are you alright, Georgie?”

  Georgie jumped and the covers fell to her waist. “I didn’t hear you come in. You startled me.”

  Max laughed gently, “I’m sorry. I crept in. In case you were still asleep.”

  His voice sounded even deeper than normal and his eyes were focussed on her new nightgown. Her chest felt tight as she took a deep breath to steady herself.

  “I’m so sorry, Max. What must you think of me?”

  He raised his eyes to her face. “Nothing more than that you were tired. It’s rather cold in here. I told the staff not to disturb us this morning. I’ll soon get that fire going.”

  She watched him lay the fire and bend over the tinder box. His face was a study in concentration as he applied a spark to the twigs at the centre. Her body seemed to have warmed up simply from his presence in the room. The twigs burst into flames and he stood up after a few minutes, when the logs started to smoulder.

  “There that should do it. May I join you in bed as we wait for it to warm the room?”

  Georgie nodded and dropped her robe down over her shoulders. Max leant over her and gently pulled it back up. She shuddered as his hands brushed her arms, sending a wave of longing through her.

  “Let’s lie together and talk for a bit. I don’t want you to be cold.”

  He climbed in beside her and her heart hammered in her chest. He lay down and pulled her into the crook of his arm. At last she understood why so many girls allowed themselves to be seduced despite the danger they put themselves in. She let her head rest on his broad chest and he stroked her hair.

  “That’s better. You will soon feel warmer. It’s me who should apologise for my behaviour last night.”

  “But to fall asleep on our wedding night…” She tried to sit up.

  “Relax, Georgie. I was so embarrassed by the antics of my nephews I went off with Nat to play billiards. It was more than an hour later when I came into you. After the time you have had of it over the last few days, I’m not surprised you drifted off to sleep.”

  The rhythmic stroking of her hair had a hypnotic effect and she gave herself up to the pleasure of the moment. Her hand came to rest on his chest. She could feel the heat of him through his robe. A shudder ran through her when she realised that was all he was wearing.

  “What’s the matter, sweetheart?” His voice was little more than a husky whisper.

  How could she explain that she wanted
to rip his robe off and explore every inch of his hard, masculine body?

  “Georgie, don’t you feel ready for this? We can stop and wait until the family have gone if that will make you more comfortable.”

  “No. That is I don’t want to stop. That’s the problem.” Oh heavens why had she said that? Now she would have to explain. She blushed as she remembered Mrs Powell’s disapproval of her.

  Max chuckled. “We’re married now so why is you wanting this a problem?”

  His free arm gathered her closer and stroked her back and her buttocks. She was lying partially on top of him and she could feel the hard ridge of his arousal against her thigh.

  “It’s just…. Well you know.”

  Instinct was telling her to roll completely on top of him. Her face grew even hotter. What would he think of her if she did?

  “No I don’t or I wouldn’t be asking.” He sounded a little cross.

  She took a deep breath and tried again but for once in her life she was tongue-tied.

  Max gave out a string of oaths and she tried to move away.

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart. You’re feeling nervous and I’ve rushed you, haven’t I?”

  She could have cried with frustration. What should she tell him? Then common sense kicked in. She couldn’t live a lie and her only option was to tell him the truth. If he found her brazenness repulsive, he would have to learn to live with it.

  “No. I was feeling excited rather than nervous.”

  Max sat up and stared down at her. “Then what in heavens name is the problem?”

  She turned her face away. “I want you so much I’m afraid of how I will react. I don’t want you to be disgusted by me.”

  He lay back down and pulled her close. One hand stroked her back. “Oh Lord, you’re not blaming yourself for the way I mistreated you at the inn are you? I vaguely remember saying something recently about you reacting to me when I kissed you.”

  “Not exactly but I am afraid you will think me a wanton if I’m too enthusiastic.”