Brinley straightened in her chair and blushed. “Indeed not.”
Anthony looked at Everly. “Someone a little unconventional. A woman of her own means perhaps?”
Everly looked at Valiant with a spark in her eyes. “I don’t think we could ever find such a woman, do you?”
She’d been caught.
Anthony was describing Valiant and barely hiding the fact from her friends.
Anthony lifted his gaze in thought. “Maybe she would have an equally unusual name. Radiance? Fiery?”
Those weren’t even real names!
“Your Grace!” Valiant shouted louder than she’d intended. “You’ve yet to tell us how you found Mr. Goody.”
Anthony waved the subject away. “There’s truly nothing to say on that matter. I simply waited for the man to show himself.”
“Where did you wait?” Beatrix asked.
Anthony stiffened. His light demeanor changed, and he straightened. “I was told of a place where he frequented.”
“What place?” Brinley asked anxiously. “Where do men who run from society frequent?”
Anthony caught Valiant’s eyes before looking at Brinley. “It was not a place that women would be aware of.”
A brothel.
He’d not said the word. He wouldn’t. He likely wouldn’t even say the name of the establishment, but Valiant already knew.
He’d spent an entire fortnight in a brothel?
And now he was here intent on courting her.
If she’d been looking for a reason to refuse him, she’d found it.
“It must have been terrible.” Everly clearly knew what Valiant was thinking. She was trying to save the situation, but there was no saving it.
Everything Anthony had said to her yesterday became meaningless.
“I did not enjoy myself in the least.” Anthony’s gaze was steady upon her. “I was glad the moment Mr. Goody showed himself. I was quite ready to leave.”
She smiled but knew it looked more like a glare. “Oh, I’m sure you found a way to occupy yourself during the long hours of waiting.”
“I did,” Anthony said. “I occupied my mind with thoughts of you and how I would go about convincing you to become my wife.”
The room gasped.
Valiant stood. “You! You...“ She had no words to describe him. Her face felt inflamed by embarrassment.
Absolutely nothing was worse than this.
She left the room.
“Valiant,” Anthony called. He was right behind her. “I know what you are thinking, and you are wrong.”
She picked up her pace.
She didn’t dare try to speak.
“Valiant, please,” he called.
She closed her eyes for a second and told herself not to feel anything for him. Not pity or pain.
She should have known. He was Lord Cartelle. Women had been whispering about him for years.
“Your brothers knew I was there,” Anthony said. “Do you truly think His Grace would host a party in my honor and allow me to court you if he believed I’d touched a single woman?”
She spun around, and her mouth nearly dropped to the floor. “You spoke to Asher!”
At her abrupt halt, he nearly ran into her but managed to catch himself before he did.
“Of course, I spoke to him.” He narrowed his gaze. “Did you not hear me when I said I plan to do this properly? It is why I didn’t write. It is why I am here, calling on you. Do you not see what is happening?”
A part of her had, but the pieces had not come together until he’d formed it as he just had.
“Asher approves?” she asked.
“They all do,” Anthony said. “I have received Hero and Lore’s blessing as well.”
“Oh!” She threw her hands up in frustration. “I don’t know what to do with you.” She stopped away once more and ended up on the back terrace.
Anthony stopped next to her. He had a grin in his voice. “I can think of a few things.”
Oh, she was sure he could.
“I’ll not marry you,” she said flatly.
“Why?” Vulnerability flashed in his eyes. “Because, I’m not good enough for you?”
She pressed her lips together and thought about allowing him to believe that he was unworthy of her hand.
But she couldn’t.
Because, she was beginning to believe he’d actually been innocent while at the brothel and likely was worthy of her hand.
She groaned. “Why can’t you simply believe me when I say we aren’t a good match?”
“I can’t believe you, because you will not tell me why you think we are not.”
She crossed her arms. “You’ve not told me why you think we would be.”
He touched her cheek with utter reverence and lowered his voice. “I thought that obvious.”
Was it?
They clearly cared for one another.
He’d almost entered a duel on her behalf.
He was reckless.
She was reckless to even consider becoming his wife.
He ran a finger down her jaw and cupped her chin. “Speak to me, Valiant. Tell me what I can do to change your mind.”
“I don’t want my mind changed.”
He lifted a brow. “Is that why you don’t say? Because you know that if you told me the truth that I could, in fact, change your mind?”
She narrowed her gaze. “How did you put that together?”
His thumb stroked her skin, spreading tingles through her skin. “I’ve been working to solve puzzles for some time.” His finger brushed her lower lip. “I just wish you’d trust me.”
Her throat tightened, and she closed her eyes. “It’s embarrassing.”
“You’ll never have a reason to feel that way with me. I will understand.”
Her eyes flashed open. “Of course, you will. You’ve known so many women.”
He shrugged. “I can’t change the past.”
His casual reaction had not been expected.
He smiled. “I know what you were trying to do. You planned to use my past indiscretions as a means to separate us. I’ll not allow it.”
He’d not allow it?
“Of course. Is there anything else I should know, Your Grace?” she asked sweetly.
“Yes.” He smiled. “We’ve been invited to dinner tomorrow by Lady Goody. You may bring one of your sisters-in-law if you wish.”
“I’m a widow. I hardly need a chaperone… or my brother’s permission to do anything for that matter.”
He shrugged. “The choice is yours. All I care about is that you are there.”
She looked away. “I am trying to help you not make a decision you’ll learn to regret.”
“Tell me the truth, and I will consider your words of caution.”
She returned her gaze to him. “You’ll consider them?”
He nodded slowly. “Though, I confess, nothing will stop me in my pursuit of your hand.”
Valiant thought of a question so shocking she almost stopped herself from asking it.
Almost.
“If we couldn’t have sex, would you still marry me?”
His eyes rounded. He blinked repeatedly. “I’m sorry. Why are we not having sex?”
She shook her head. “The reason is not important. If we never consummated our marriage, would you still want me for your wife?”
She’d asked it, but she already knew the answer.
He drew his brows together. “Your question has no bearing on us. We will be having sex and a great deal of it.”
The words doused her entire body in heat. She took a step back, backing away from the temptation that was Lord Cartelle.
∫ ∫ ∫
2 7
Anthony watched her retreat and couldn’t help but follow her.
Neither could he help but place his arms around her and pull her close.
There was a great chance that anyone could come out and see them. Her brothers would protest, but as Val
iant had already stated, she hardly needed anyone’s permission to wed.
No. In the end, if Valiant was to become his, he would have to win her over and no one else.
He already suspected that a part of her did enjoy his company.
She didn’t pull away from his embrace.
In fact, she rested her head upon his chest and took a deep breath before shuddering slightly and moving closer.
He tightened his hold and barely stopped himself from pressing the issue of her secrets.
“What was your father like?” she asked. “Before he… did what he did with Lady Kurley?”
He’d not heard his fiancée’s name in years. He’d never forbidden anyone from saying it, but people had known not to. Since her marriage to the ambassador of Spain, and her subsequent move, people had all but forgotten her.
Now, the name held little effect, at least not while he held Valiant in his arms.
But the memory of his father had another reaction.
He’d not hide the truth. “He did not like me.”
She made a move to pull away, and he tightened his arms.
She stilled and then relaxed back into his arms. Then her own went around him, and she gripped him protectively. As though she could fight the memories away. “Why not?”
“He was a duke, used to being thought the best. He did not enjoy the thought that I would become a better man than him.” A million memories that proved his words sprang to mind.
She shook her head, which was simply her cheek rubbing against his shirt. She tilted her head and met his eyes. “I don’t understand.”
He bent his own. “He was always in competition with me, even when I was a child. If I appeared to be better at something, he always had to prove that it was not so. He always felt the need to prove he was the duke and I was nothing more than his heir.”
“That’s terrible.” Her look became intense. “It’s no wonder you try so hard not to impress anyone.”
Was that the reason he wore a mask while he mingled with the ton? He didn't know. Perhaps, there were many reasons.
She narrowed her eyes. “The story about how you broke your leg. I saw Beatrix’s reaction to the tale.”
“I did not fly from my horse to avoid a swan,” he admitted. “I’d have run the thing over if only to beat my father. No, he kicked me off. Benedict had been on my other side. He’d have missed it. I didn’t even realize Beatrix had seen what really took place until her reaction at dinner.”
She pulled away, righting herself, and touched his face. “It’s silly, but I wish I was there. I wish I could have done something to protect you.”
“My mother tried until she could no longer,” he whispered, leaning into her touch.
“Your father put her in Bedlam, did he not?” she asked.
He nodded. The day after his funeral, I released her and put her inside her own home. It is actually the house she’d enjoyed visiting when my grandmother had been alive. She is familiar with it. That was what she needed.”
She smiled. “She is lucky to have you.”
He captured her hand and kissed her palm, barely reining in the urge to lick the pulse at her wrist. “Shall I expect you at dinner?”
She nodded. “I must admit, I am curious about Mr. Goody.”
“Is he the only reason you shall attend?”
She pressed her lips together and slowly retracted her hand. “You’ve been gone for two weeks, which was precious time. Our arrangement to find you a wife will have to wait until next year.”
Why had she brought that up?
“I release you from your debt,” he said suddenly.
Her eyes rounded. “You would do that in the hopes of marrying me?”
“No. We will marry. I’ve no reason to bet my wife for sex.”
She turned crimson. “Anthony, I don’t believe I’ll change my mind.”
It was not what he wanted to hear.
“This has something to do with Lord Beaumont, does it not?” he asked.
Her back stiffened and then she took a step back. “I don’t wish to speak about my husband.”
“You grow nervous whenever the subject of coupling is brought up.”
She bit her lip and looked around as if for means of escape, proving his words.
“Did he hurt you?” He touched her arms. She started. He tightened his hold. He felt unimaginable heat pour through his veins. Anger gripped him and made his skin feel tight. “Did your brothers know? Your father?” Had they sold her to a man who would bring her pain? Anthony already knew how cruel a father could be.
She gasped. “My father loved me. He’d have never allowed a brutal man to have me, no matter his wealth.”
He leaned into her face. “I need to know if he hurt you, Valiant.”
“Not… intentionally.” Her eyes glistened. “Noah would never have hurt me. It was… me.” She shook her. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, Anthony.”
* * *
Valiant didn’t know what was wrong with her now.
Why had she told Anthony the truth? How had he pulled it from her?
He touched her chin. “There is nothing wrong with you, Valiant.”
She could hear no more. “Please…”
He wrapped her in his arms once more. “It’s all right.”
She immediately rested her head against his chest, finding her favorite place along his hard form. She sighed and realized she was trembling. She pressed her lips together and forbid herself from falling apart.
Yet she knew that if she must, she was in the perfect place to do so.
Anthony was so warm and as he stroked her back, she became lost in a feeling of contentment.
Later, much later, Anthony cupped her face and made her look at him.
His expression was the gentlest she’d ever seen upon him. “I must go, but I shall see you tomorrow night.”
She didn’t want him to go and her body, without her consent, acted upon that thought. Her arms tightened. Her feelings were visible. “Don’t go.” She knew it was the last thing she should have said considering the circumstances. She didn’t want him to think she would marry him. She wouldn’t change her mind.
But she did want his friendship and deep inside, she freely admitted that he’d become important to her.
“I must go, Valiant.” And she noticed then that his expression was no longer tender. There was a harsh intensity etched in his visage, and his silver eyes glowed with heat. “My instincts are telling me to act, yet I find myself questioning it.”
“To act?” she asked. “What do you mean?”
He bent his head and ran his mouth against hers, yet though the touch was gentle, he growled before he pulled away. “Let me escort you inside before I do something I’ll regret.”
He left her little choice as he returned her to the drawing room.
Brinley, Beatrix, and Everly were still there, likely waiting for Anthony to leave so that they could ask Valiant a hundred questions.
He didn’t look at her again as he excused himself and fled the room.
And as predicted, her sisters-in-law attacked her, which was yet another reason to despise Anthony’s intent to court her.
∫ ∫ ∫
2 8
Lore was waiting for Anthony as he walked into the foyer.
The man was leaning against the door with a muted look.
They were alone.
Anthony looked around, almost expecting Asher and Hero to come out from somewhere. When they didn’t immediately, he relaxed… partially.
Had Lore seen his intimate moment with Valiant? Was he waiting to tell Anthony to not return?
He hoped it was about Denhallow.
As he moved closer, Lore’s gaze cooled.
He did not wish to discuss Denhallow. “Imagine my surprise to find the drawing room empty and then after a search to find my wife, Everly, and Beatrix with their noses pressed to the glass windows by the terrace.” There was no humor in his ga
ze. “I sent them away before the kiss, but I’m sure they’d seen enough before that.”
Anthony said nothing and didn’t bother to hide his annoyance. He’d barely kissed Valiant. Besides that, there was so much more he’d wanted to do. In comparison to those thoughts, the kiss had been nothing.
Lore crossed his arms. “Have you convinced her to accept you yet?”
“No,” he said roughly. Yet he was starting to think of ways to convince her otherwise.
All of them consisted of getting Valiant so hot that she no longer cared about her reservations. Instinct told him that if he could get her to a place of extreme desire that she’d change her mind.
He didn’t think this method would work with every woman, only one who clearly battled with her own sexual awareness.
He was beginning to believe he understood part of the reason Valiant didn’t wish to marry. Aside from her husband’s infidelity, they’d clearly been in different places during coupling. He’d not made her ready. There were men who didn’t worry about such things. There were others who didn’t know they should.
Clearly, as evidence showed, Lord Beaumont had preferred experienced women. Widows and wives. No debutantes. No innocents, but women who’d have likely turned to him when their bodies already burned for completion.
He had a feeling that Valiant had never burned for anyone until he’d touched her. Her confusion and doubts led him to believe it.
“Are you intent on having her?” Lore asked, breaking his thoughts apart.
“Yes.”
Lore narrowed his eyes. “I see how you care for her, and she clearly cares about you. That was lacking in her last marriage and after experiencing love for myself, it is something I dearly want for my sister. She deserves it even if she is unaware. Therefore… do what you must to convince her that the match is right.”
Anthony lifted a brow but shared nothing of his previous thoughts with Lore. The man clearly didn’t know what Anthony thought needed to be done. What everything within him was saying needed to be done to convince Valiant that there was nothing wrong with her.
Lore pushed away from the wall and stepped into Anthony’s face.
Anthony had to rein himself in from committing an act that would cause him to lose Valiant forever, but Anthony was a duke. He did not bow down to other lords. There were less than ten men in London who he considered his equal or higher.
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