Regency Romance Collection From Christina Courtenay

by Christina Courtenay

  ‘Don’t make me hurt you already. I want to take my time.’ Amelia made the mistake of glancing over her shoulder at him and saw him grinning as if the thought of hurting her gave him infinite pleasure. ‘Besides, I don’t think your husband will miss you. I heard rumours in the village that your marriage isn’t working out quite the way you had hoped.’

  ‘That’s not true. James loves me and our marriage is perfect,’ Amelia said, hoping against hope that this was true. Even if it was, however, it wouldn’t help her now. In a last ditch attempt to free herself, she kicked Bernard on the shin, but her thin slippers did hardly any damage at all and he merely laughed.

  ‘Oh, I do like spirited women, cousin. It will be a pleasure to tame you, but not here. Come on, let’s go.’

  James woke up with a crick in his neck and realised that he had fallen asleep in the library the previous evening. He had been having a drink while he pondered whether he ought to tell Amelia about Bernard or not, and he must have nodded off.

  She had been right, he knew that now. As she was a sensible female and not the kind who had the vapours for every little thing, he was sure she would have coped with the knowledge that her cousin wanted revenge on her. It would also have put her on her guard so that she didn’t go haring off riding without anyone to accompany her. James had never felt so relieved in his life as when he was told she had come back unscathed.

  I love her.

  There was no doubt in his mind any longer. Amelia was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, to protect and cherish. He couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to her. In fact, he was going to go and tell her this minute, even though it was barely morning.

  Taking the stairs two at a time, he reached her room in record time and opened the door slowly so as not to wake her too abruptly. He tiptoed over to the big bed, but to his surprise it contained only his two daughters. Mathilde heard him step on a creaking floorboard and raised her head.

  ‘Papa?’

  ‘Shh, sweetheart, I just came to talk to Mama. Do you know where she is?’

  ‘She said she was going to the garden.’

  ‘Garden? Oh, no …’ Mathilde frowned, so he hurried to reassure her. ‘You go back to sleep, while I’ll go and find her.’

  Icy tentacles gripped his insides as he raced down the stairs. He found the French windows to the morning room unlocked and rushed outside, following the paths towards the rose garden. Once out of earshot of the house, he began to call Amelia’s name, but there was no reply. Eventually he realised that he needed help and ran back to the house to organise a search party.

  Amelia wondered if she had ever been so uncomfortable or so afraid in her life. Lying on top of some rotten straw in an old barn, she knew not where, with her arms tied behind her, she was waiting for Bernard to come back.

  ‘I’m going to procure us a conveyance as my horse can’t carry us both much longer,’ he had informed her. ‘I want to be as far away as possible from this place before nightfall, and then we can enjoy the evening together.’

  Amelia shivered. Bernard’s handkerchief was stuffed into her mouth and tied tight with a scarf, so there was no chance of calling for help. She felt as if she couldn’t breathe properly, but tried not to panic. Her hands were bound securely with a thin rope, and although she tried to work the knots loose, they wouldn’t budge so much as an inch.

  What will become of me if Bernard succeeds in his evil scheme? She very much doubted her husband would want her back and she couldn’t blame him. He might revenge himself on Bernard, but it would be too late for Amelia. Then he would surely divorce her. That thought was too awful to contemplate.

  Frustration boiled up inside her, quelling the fear for a while, but it soon returned when she heard the sound of horses’ hooves. Bernard came sauntering in, looking extremely pleased with himself. ‘I have returned with our means of transport as promised.’ He came over and bent to remove the gag. Amelia coughed and spat on the floor, relieved to be rid of that at least. As she opened her mouth to retort, he put up a hand. ‘No screaming now, unless you wish me to hurt you?’ This was said almost hopefully, and Amelia shuddered again, closing her mouth.

  ‘Nothing to say? How unusual,’ Bernard drawled. ‘Well, perhaps this will get you talking – I have decided to have my way with you before we go, just in case your dear husband should decide to follow us.’ Amelia stifled a gasp. ‘That way he won’t want you back, even if he does catch up with us.’

  Amelia could do nothing except stare at her cousin in horror as he advanced on her. She closed her eyes and bid a silent farewell to James.

  ‘My lord, I’ve seen him!’

  Bootle had come rushing up the front steps of the house, just as James had been about to leave on yet another search of the grounds.

  ‘Sir Bernard? Where?’

  ‘In the village.’ Bootle was struggling to catch his breath, his face red with exertion. ‘He was talking to a rum fellow, and eventually he went off with him. I followed discreetly, and it turns out he was hiring a horse and carriage.’

  ‘And where is he now?’ James was almost jumping up and down with impatience. They had not a moment to lose, but if the stupid fellow was taking the time to hire a carriage, that was good news as it meant he was not as far away as James had feared.

  ‘He set off in the opposite direction, out of the village, and I came here as fast as I could.’

  ‘Thank you, you’d better have a rest now. We’ll go after him and see if we can pick up a trail. There was no sign of Amelia?’

  ‘No, my lord.’

  ‘Then he must have hidden her somewhere. Let’s go!’ He bellowed to the men already waiting with horses saddled, and the group set off at high speed. When they reached the village they went in search of the man Grigson, who was the only one who could have rented out a horse and carriage as far as James knew, and the man soon told them all he knew.

  ‘Said he’d been staying in an old barn last night, as he’d had an accident with his own carriage. I’m guessing he meant the one over by Farmer Jacobs’.’

  ‘Of course. Many thanks.’

  James knew the place well and cursed himself for not thinking of it earlier. The ride there took no more than a few minutes, but they were the longest minutes in his life.

  As Bernard came closer, Amelia tried desperately to think of some way of deterring him.

  ‘Why would you want me now?’ she asked scornfully. ‘I’ve been married for months and my husband isn’t exactly a monk.’

  Bernard frowned, his euphoria evaporating temporarily, but then he smiled. ‘To be sure, I would rather have been your first lover, my dear, but maidens are rather tedious. I’m sure you will make a much more exciting mistress now and I remember that you learn things very fast.’ He put one arm around her and began to paw her with the other. When he bent to kiss her, she twisted her head away.

  ‘If you want me to put up a spirited defence, shouldn’t you untie my hands?’ she said, trying not to let the desperation show in her voice.

  Bernard stopped what he was doing and smiled again, a wolfish grin that was beginning to make Amelia feel nauseous. ‘Do you know, I believe you’re right. Don’t think you’ll be able to get away though, my strength is vastly superior to yours and I’m wise to your little tricks now.’ He pulled out a small pocket knife and reached around her to cut through the rope. All too soon, however, he began the assault again.

  Amelia tried everything she could think of to defend herself, but he had been right in saying that he was too strong. She managed to escape his clutches once and bolted for the door, but he was too fast and caught her in an instant. He back-handed her viciously so that her head swam. Amelia thought her battle was lost for certain, but just then the door flew open and James burst in, followed by several other men.

  ‘You bastard!’ James lifted Bernard bodily off Amelia and slammed him into the wall. He stood before the man, fury blazing out of his ice-blue eyes and Amelia
noticed with satisfaction that Bernard no longer looked quite so cocky. ‘Well, coward, are you going to stand up and fight me or do you only fight women?’ James taunted.

  Bernard flushed a dull red and charged at his opponent, but the fight that followed was very one-sided. Amelia knew that James had trained at the famous Gentleman Jackson’s boxing salon, whereas years of soft living had done nothing for Bernard’s fitness. In the end, he begged for mercy in a pitiful voice and James let go of him.

  ‘If you so much as come near my wife again, you’ll be very sorry.’ James turned to the men who had come with him. ‘Tie him up and take him to the nearest magistrate. He’s to be charged with abduction and assault. You’ll all stand witness, won’t you?’

  ‘Aye, my lord.’ The chorus of eager assent made Bernard slump even more, but Amelia felt no pity for him. It was what he deserved.

  ‘Amelia, my love, are you all right? Did he hurt you? I should have killed him, shouldn’t I?’

  ‘I’m fine, James,’ Amelia said shakily. ‘Truly, you came in time and I wouldn’t have wanted you to face murder charges for such as he.’

  He sat down on the floor next to her and took her in his arms and Amelia leaned her head on his shoulders. It felt so good, sitting there like that, safe and happy, and she never wanted to move.

  ‘How did you find me?’ she asked.

  ‘I had men out searching for you and Bootle saw your cousin trying to hire a conveyance. After that, it was fairly easy.’ He pulled her closer. ‘I thought I would go mad with worry. I love you Amelia. Can you forgive me for my idiotic behaviour yesterday? I was only trying to protect you by not telling you about Sir Bernard’s threats, but I realise now that I shouldn’t have kept you in the dark.’

  ‘Of course I forgive you. And I love you too, have done almost from the first moment I think.’ She looked up at him and smiled.

  ‘I don’t deserve you, you know,’ he said, cupping her cheek with one hand. ‘You are altogether too good to be true. I’m sorry I ever doubted you.’

  He bent his head to kiss her, gently at first as if she was fragile, but when she put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, he seemed to realise that she wanted more. The kiss turned explosive, giving full rein to their long suppressed emotions, and Amelia felt almost dizzy with desire. He loves me! She hardly dared to believe it. With heart singing, she tangled her fingers in his hair, loving the feel of it and the taste of him. He reciprocated by running his hands all over her and Amelia sighed with pleasure. This was what she’d been craving for so long. This was where she belonged.

  She explored the contours of his powerful shoulders and arms, overjoyed to be able to touch him freely at last. Then she remembered what had happened on their wedding night and hesitated, doubts clouding her mind.

  James looked up, frowning at her in sudden concern. ‘What’s wrong, my love?’

  ‘I ... I’m being too forward again, aren’t I?’

  He shook his head and drew her closer still into a fierce embrace. ‘No, never. But perhaps this isn’t the right time or place. There are people outside the barn waiting for us.’ He stood up and bent to lift her into his arms. ‘We’d better return home. I want you all to myself.’

  ‘Home, how truly wonderful that sounds.’

  ‘Yes, and it’s all thanks to you – you’ve made Marr Place into a real home for a happy family, and that’s how we shall remain.’

  EPILOGUE

  The following summer saw Holt House opened up to guests for the first time in years. The old Earl had invited as many people as the place could hold for the christening of his new great-grandson. To his great joy, the little boy had been named after him, and the Earl sat in a chair in the middle of the room, beaming at all and sundry.

  ‘You look to be in great health, grandfather,’ James commented during a lull in the proceedings.

  ‘Never better, my boy, thanks to you and your lovely wife.’

  ‘And what happened to being at death’s door more than a year ago?’

  ‘Oh, that.’ The old man shrugged his shoulders. ‘Sometimes little white lies are necessary in order to get what you want and my memory isn’t what it used to be. I get confused.’

  James shook his head at him and smiled. ‘Pah! You’re incorrigible, but since you helped me to find happiness, I’ll forgive you this time. And I’m glad you’ll be around to see my family grow.’

  He glanced at his wife, who was being regaled with a boring monologue by some great-aunt or other. The look of love she sent him made him feel that life had never been better.

  ‘I’m a very lucky man,’ he said, and knew it for the truth.

  Without any consideration for propriety, he strode across the room and pulled Amelia to her feet, wrapping his arms around her. He ignored the scandalised gasp from the great-aunt and bent to kiss his wife as thoroughly as he could.

  When they were both out of breath and Amelia’s cheeks stained a becoming shade of pink, he whispered, ‘We may have married in haste, but I’ll be damned if we’re going to repent at leisure. That’s a ridiculous saying! I love you and marrying you was the best thing that’s ever happened to me.’

  Amelia smiled into his eyes. ‘I love you too and I couldn’t agree more. But I believe you’re creating a scandal again. Perhaps you should let me go now?’

  ‘Never!’ James tightened his arms around her. ‘This time I have nothing to be ashamed of, nothing at all.’

  ‘Then you may as well kiss me again. The damage is already done.’

  James did not need to be asked twice.

  Once Bitten Twice Shy

  Christina Courtenay

  Copyright © 2012 Christina Courtenay

  Published 2013 by Choc Lit Limited

  Penrose House, Crawley Drive, Camberley, Surrey GU15 2AB, UK

  www.choc-lit.com

  The right of Christina Courtenay to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

  All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher or a licence permitting restricted copying. In the UK such licences are issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1P 9HE

  ISBN-978-1-781890-43-1

  CHAPTER ONE

  ‘I think it’s time Robert found himself a wife – you must take him to London, Jason.’

  Jason Warwycke, fourth Marquess of Wyckeham, slowly finished his perusal of the Gazette and looked up at his stepmother, Caroline, who was seated at the other end of the polished dining table. It was long enough to seat ten people either side, but right now, Jason would have been happier if it had been twice that length.

  ‘Is that so?’ he replied. Although his tone was even, there was an underlying sarcasm that anyone but Caroline would have noticed, but as always, she was oblivious to anything other than having her way.

  ‘Well, he needs some town bronze, so you may as well kill two birds with one stone, don’t you think? It can’t be good for him to spend all his time in the country.’

  Jason stifled a sigh and put down his paper. It was obvious that there would be no peace in which to read until Caroline had left the room. ‘As far as I am aware, Robert has not expressed any desire either to go to London or to take a wife. He seems perfectly happy to stay where he is.’

  Robert Warwycke was his younger half-brother, the product of his late father Gerald’s second marriage. Their father had been killed in an accident when Robert was only ten, and Jason had naturally become his brother’s guardian. As Gerald had left his wife and younger son in dire straits financially – the estate bein
g entailed to Jason with little provision made for anyone else – the latter had allowed them to continue to live at Wyckeham Hall, which became his main residence as well. Although Gerald had been the kind of man who preferred sporting pursuits to paperwork, Jason knew his father had intended to provide for Robert and Caroline eventually, he just hadn’t got round to it. Gerald had obviously believed he had plenty of time for such boring tasks. It didn’t matter as Jason had every intention of helping his brother. At first, it suited him to have them in his house so he could keep an eye on Robert, and he was pleased with the way his brother had turned out, despite having to fight Caroline every step of the way with regard to education and upbringing.

  At Robert’s coming of age a few months previously, however, Jason had judged it time the young man learned to fend for himself. He’d bought him a small country estate to run, and Robert had thrown himself into this task with enthusiasm. They had hardly seen him since and Jason doubted very much he could be tempted away any time soon.

  ‘Pah! He won’t find a wife in deepest Wiltshire.’ Caroline made it sound like Outer Mongolia and Jason stifled a sardonic smile. She’d been born and bred in that very county herself and it was where Jason’s father had found her.

  ‘He’s very close to Bath, you know. Plenty of society there.’

  She ignored the interruption and continued as if he hadn’t spoken. ‘There are no families of any note in those parts, none at all. No, you must take him to London and soon, before he falls in love with some unsuitable country girl, not fit to be the next Marchioness of Wyckeham.’

  A spurt of anger, so strong it surprised him, shot through Jason at Caroline’s blithe assumption that he himself would never beget any heirs, and that it was a foregone conclusion Robert would be the next marquess. For heaven’s sake, I’m not in my dotage! Jason was only thirty-two. And even though he had declared to all and sundry that he would never wed again, there was no reason why he couldn’t change his mind.