She never thought it could feel that way. Her skin was on fire, her heart pounding inside her chest. A strange ache was between her legs and she could feel her breasts become heavier and nipples taut, not because of the cold night air anymore; it was something much more primitive.
Her nightgown prevented Edward to kiss further than her neck, but after a quick look to see if she were fine with it, he snuck a hand inside her robe and cupped one of her breasts and Selina shamelessly moaned and let go of his shirt to cover her mouth.
Oh, she was in trouble. Her face felt even hotter and she was sure her ginger complexion was not granting her any favors and her fair skin was red with a mix of arousal.
“Fuck, Selina.” Edward kissed her neck again, biting it slightly and Selina had to bite her hand when he squeezed her breast with his hand, rolling her nipple with his fingers just so. The thin layer of her nightgown did little to prevent her from feeling his warmth.
He pushed her hand away and kissed her again, deeply and even more enthusiastic than before. Since their bodies were so close together, Selina felt his manhood, or she supposed it was, by her married friends’ improper tales; and for some reason, that knowledge sent a bolt of desire inside her.
So that was what it meant to have a want, a need, and to have the feeling reciprocated.
That was why men and women disgraced themselves by being with someone before marriage, or cheating.
Selina understood now. She didn’t think it was right, but she understood why it was so enticing. Why so many people succumbed to desire.
“We must stop,” Edward breathed, resting his forehead on hers, and closing his beautiful green eyes. He didn’t step away from her, but he seemed to try to collect himself.
“Yes.” Selina answered, the chilly night air and Edward’s hand letting go of her breast sobered her a little, but her heart was still racing as if she had been running for miles.
Once they seemed to be more in control, Edward loosened his grip on her, but just enough so she wasn’t crushing on his chest so much.
“I talked to the Duke.” He told her. “He didn’t know I existed.”
“What?” Selina frowned. “But you said…”
“I know. It was a surprise for both of us, trust me,” Edward snorted softly. “He knows I am his son, there is no doubt about it; as much as I hate to admit, we look too much alike.”
“You look nothing like Lord Ainsworth, though.” Selina gently traced with her finger, the shape of Edward’s nose and then jaw. “It is hard to believe you are related somehow.”
“He is the son of the Duke’s cousin, it appears.” Edward kissed the tip of her finger when she traced his mouth and she smiled.
He smiled briefly and then became serious. “He said he will try to speak to the King, Selina, to legitimize me.” She felt relief for a second. “But I do not think he will agree.”
Her happy bubble seemed to burst. “Why not?”
“He is a Duke with a living heir,” Edward explained. “I think even if Lord Ainsworth did not exist, it would still be difficult. For a legitimization like mine, it would be under major circumstances. I highly doubt the King of England will be concerned I need to have a title to marry someone I love.”
Selina sighed and nodded in agreement. “He will try, though?”
“He will, but we should not have our hopes up,” He told her. “It appears the Duke wants to build some sort of relationship with me, since he did not know about me for twenty-seven years.”
“I see.” Selina tried to smile. “It is good you are getting a father who wants to be involved with you.”
He hesitated. “I suppose so. I think the whole reason things happened the way they did, was because of his wife. Before I left London, he told me he would talk to her. I don’t know what will happen there.”
“I am sure she will accept-”
“Selina, I will tell you about her actions later and you will understand she won’t accept me at all,” Edward said as gently as he could. “I am the living reminder of her husband’s indiscretion and people will talk if they see us together.”
“Are you that much alike?” Selina was amused.
Edward chuckled lowly. “When you meet him, you will see exactly what waits for you in thirty years.”
Her heart started to beat a little faster once again. He hadn’t given up. He knew it was a crazy quest, but he hadn’t given up on them.
“I thought you said-”
He nodded. “I know. The Duke and I will talk to your father. His Grace says he won’t bless the union between you and Lord Ainsworth. He will bless ours, though.”
“What does that mean for us?”
“It means we will have to tread carefully. Your father wants a title, but what if I can give everything a man with a title would?”
“What do you mean?” Selina asked. “Papa wasn’t impressed with your money before. How could it…?”
“The Duke will change his will, if he can’t legitimize me.” Edward’s eyes sparkled for a moment. “Lord Ainsworth will get the title, but not the estate, or the home in London. Just a portion of the business. He will inherit his father’s lands, which are very fruitful, so it’s not a heartless decision.”
“Papa will see, then, you are the best option!” Selina exclaimed, happy. “He must see it otherwise, I will go mad! I cannot marry Lord Ainsworth.”
Edward frowned. “About that, Selina. In one of our letters you wrote me, he told you he was in love and to be engaged with Lady Kathleen, correct?” When Selina nodded, his frown deepened. “The Duke had no knowledge of this. He told me Lady Kathleen was interested and expecting to be courted by someone else entirely.”
It was Selina’s turn to frown in confusion. What reasons would Lord Reginald have to lie to her? Had he been trying to make her feel sympathetic to his feelings? Appeal to sentiment?
She felt, in her heart, something wasn’t right from the moment she met him. Every time he was brought up, the sentiment only grew.
“He had no reason to lie to me unless he needed something from me, like my sympathies or to play with me,” Selina told Edward.
“My thoughts exactly.” He took one of her hands and brought it to his lips and kissed softly. “I know you will see him again. I ask of you to be careful. We do not know what his reasons were and I trust you when you say there’s something wrong. Promise me you will be safe.”
“I promise.” Since their hands were still twined together, she brought it up and kissed his knuckles just like he had done with her. “Do not worry.”
“I will try.” Edward kissed her lips. “You should go back to the house, we have been reckless enough tonight. We can see each other tomorrow, here.”
“Uncle will probably send me away.” She shook her head. “Papa made him promise to do so when I came here. If you are in Bristol, I cannot be.”
“I see.” Edward seemed to think it over for a moment. “I will ask my staff to tell no one about my arrival so we can have a few days. Would that be fine with you?”
“That would be terrific,” she smiled. “See you tomorrow, right here?”
“Right here,” Edward said and leaned to give her a sweet kiss. “Sleep well, Selina.”
“You too, Edward.”
They let go of each other and Selina already wanted to return to his arms, to feel safe and wanted, but she knew the longer she stayed out of bed, the closer they were to get caught.
Selina opened the gate and waved at him before carefully closing it and made her way back home.
Seeing Edward that night had been a relief; he had not given up on her, and neither would she. Whatever happened, they were going to be together.
Before, she didn’t know which road she would take if she had a choice: love and scandal or duty and misery.
It was an easy choice now, after seeing how much Edward was trying.
She would choose love. Let the scandal come, if it comes to that; she was not losing Edward.
Edward Egremont, Duke of Bellford
His wife was still confining herself in her room, even after several days since his son visited and told him the truth.
The Duke was glad he did, but he also knew he needed to confront her and even though he knew what she had done, hearing it from her lips would’ve been heartbreaking so he was postponing it.
Thirty years together, if he counted courting and engagement, and she had withheld such a thing from him. A life changing information she had knowledge of and never shared.
He started to love her, after a while, like a friend and a wife, but the lies and treachery now misted his feelings for her. He didn’t want to talk to her when he was still angry. He thought he would come to regret what he would say in the midst of an argument.
After talking to Edward, he knew most of the story anyways, and since Kathleen’s death, it was only quite recently that the Duchess started to interact more with people and to be her old self. Losing their only child shook their marriage and their whole lives.
It was a bloody mess, indeed.
The Duke was certain the Duchess left her room when he was not at home. He had seen traces of her: a forgotten book, tea the maids hadn’t taken away just yet. She was most likely afraid of confronting him.
They would talk soon, but first he needed to do right by his son, who had twenty-seven years’ worth of compensation, with interest.
It was a moot cause to ask for the King to legitimatize Edward but he had to try, at least. As he promised to his son, if not possible, most of the Duke’s business and assets would be passed to Edward after his death, in any case. He needed to speak to his lawyer soon.
Mr. Clifford certainly would agree to the match if it was blessed by the Duke of Bellford himself. It was impossible that Mr. Clifford was only obsessed with titles and he wouldn’t see the benefits of the match.
From what he could gather, both Miss Clifford and Edward shared affections for each other, which would be highly beneficial for a union and much more than what the Duke had when he got married.
The Duke was about to start a letter to ask Mr. Clifford for a meeting when there was a knock on the door and he granted entrance.
His butler, Mr. Potter, opened the door and bowed. “Lord Reginald Ainsworth is here to see you, Your Grace.”
The Duke had forgotten about summoning his nephew. “Tell him to come in, Potter.”
“Very well, Your Grace.”
The Duke sat down and could already feel a headache brewing inside his head. Sadly, Reginald was a very spoiled man who was certain he would become very rich when his uncle died.
After another knock and the introduction by Mr. Potter, his nephew entered the room and bowed.
“Your Grace.”
“Reginald.” The Duke nodded. “Pleasure to see you.”
“You too, uncle. How have you been? And the Duchess?”
“We have had a few mad days, which is why I sent for you. We need to discuss some new information that came to my attention.” The Duke pointed to the chair at the other side of his desk and his nephew did as told.
“Is that so?” Reginald sounded curious.
“Yes.” The Duke took a moment to choose his words carefully. “It appears that I have a son.”
Reginald’s eyes widened in surprise. “A son?”
“A son,” the Duke nodded. “I just learned of this recently; I met his mother almost thirty years ago. My son is actually a very accomplished and highly educated young man.”
“Who is his mother?” his nephew asked
His Grace sighed. “A maid who used to work here, but it doesn’t matter.”
“Uncle, with all due respect, it does matter. How can you know he is who he says he is? He could be-”
The Duke cut his nephew off. “There is no question about it. You haven’t seen him; we look strikingly alike and other information that came to light support the fact. He is my son, even the Duchess agrees with me.”
Reginald frowned. “Why now? Is he looking for money? Is he blackmailing you?”
As far as reasons went, Edward’s were noble. All he wanted was to marry the woman he loved and be happy. It was much better to have Edward coming to him because of that rather than for money problems or addiction.
The Duke took a moment to think carefully about his next words. “We had a difficult start but all that is in the past. He does want something, but it is not money.”
“Not money?” Reginald asked. “What could be of more value? If not money, what does he want, then?”
“He wants to marry the woman he loves.”
His nephew raised an eyebrow in question. “That is an… odd request. Does he want you to use your influence to make a match? I thought you said he was accomplished. Couldn’t he arrange it for himself?”
“Oh, he has chosen someone.” The Duke cleared his throat. “It is Miss Selina Clifford.”
“Excuse me? Miss Selina Clifford? My Selina Clifford?” That information truly took Reginald by surprise. “Miss Clifford’s father and I have an understanding. We are to marry.”
The Duke nodded. “Yes, I am aware; Edward and I already talked about it.”
Reginald looked at his uncle with suspicion. “What have you talked about?”
“You see, Reginald, it appears her affections do not lie with you, but rather with my son.”
His nephew looked outraged. “Why do you believe him, uncle? How long have you known him for? Have you spoken with Miss Clifford?”
“Not yet, but Edward-”
Reginald all but scoffed. “What is this man’s full name? I will find things about him to-”
“His name is Edward McAlister and his reputation is beyond approach.”
His nephew seemed to think for a moment. “Is this the man who rents warehouses and such?”
“Among other things, yes,” the Duke told him. “We talked about it and it seems Miss Clifford is, indeed, in favor of the match.”
“No!” Reginald yelled and slammed his fist on the table and the Duke did not look impressed at least. “Miss Clifford and I-”
“Lord Ainsworth.” The Duke’s tone was cold and so were his eyes. “You will not forget to whom you are speaking to, boy.
* * *
Lord Reginald Ainsworth
Reginald was taken aback with his uncle’s tone and words. They were always very cordial with one another and he dared to think the Duke considered him the son he never had.
He cleared his throat and tried to compose himself, pushing the boiling anger inside of him, down. He couldn’t believe his uncle would support this McAlister chap to marry his Miss Clifford.
The Duke was choosing a stranger over Reginald. Someone he had known his whole life.
Reginald had planned to marry Miss Clifford for a while now. She was an heiress after all, the only daughter of a rich merchant with no other family to take over business once he was gone.
His plan was to marry her, increase his riches when he joined his own business with the Duke’s and Mr. Clifford’s, and live a good life.
It all seemed to be falling apart.
The last time he was with Miss Clifford, she had been pleasant enough, but cold, somewhat. Polite, serene, but distant.
Had she met McAlister, then? If what his uncle was telling him were true, they would have needed to be in contact to create such affection.
Reginald knew she wasn’t as excited to marry him and become Duchess as she should have been and if she were anyone else, he would have let her go a long time ago. Many other women would want to be in her position.
She was an heiress, though.
Mr. Clifford was rich and would leave a large amount of money to his daughter, money Reginald needed with the Duke’s business not as fruitful as before.
This Edward McAlister was ruining his plans.
“I am sorry, uncle, I overreacted.” Reginald said, trying to sound reasonable. “I was under the impression
Miss Clifford and I shared affections.”
The Duke stared at him for a few seconds, studying him. He had never done it before. What was wrong?
“Reginald. I wanted to tell you face to face what my plans are as I do not want you to make further plans without this information. I will speak to the King about legitimizing Edward and making him an Egremont. If this happens, he will become the Duke after me.”
Reginald’s blood began to boil even more in anger. “It is not likely to happen; I will try, though. If it doesn’t go as planned, I will leave, on my will, most of my businesses to my son, including this house.” Reginald couldn’t believe his ears. “You will receive the title, of course, and some of my business but I am afraid your father’s estate is all you will get.”
A Hidden Duke For The Passionate Lady (Regency Historical Romance) Page 11
