Gillian laughed at his behavior. “Benedict, we have been home from our honeymoon for nearly a fortnight and I can count on one hand the moments we have left your chamber.”
“Nine times, we have left nine times,” he mumbled into her belly. “That requires more than one hand to count, my love.”
“You must be including the times we simply moved into my chamber when the servants insisted on tidying this one up, and that does not count for we were still blissfully alone and caught up in one another’s love. Have you forgotten that tonight is the Dallingham Ball? We have already sent our reply promising that we would attend.”
“Devil take it,” he growled as he pulled her down on top of him. Gillian giggled as he rolled over, taking her with him. He pinned her onto the mattress with his body, trapping her beneath his weight. He propped himself up on one hand and used his other to stroke her long, tangled hair, fanning it out on the pillows beneath her. “Who needs to dance?” he asked in that sultry tone of his that she loved.
“Not I, though I do need to eat to keep up my strength. Have you no appetite?”
He pushed his mouth to her neck, causing a sigh to escape from her parted lips. He pressed slow, tantalizing kisses up her neck, then to her jaw, working his way slowly towards her ear where he whispered, “My appetite is hearty, have I not proved that to you already?”
His warm breath swirling in her ear caused her to shiver, her toes curling in delight, and for the next thirty minutes she forgot entirely about her obligations and duties for the day and focused on her favorite duty of all—that of loving her husband.
***
The thrill of arriving at one of society’s events on Benedict’s arm and being introduced as his wife, the Countess of Danford, would never get old to Gillian. She smiled radiantly as he led her to the dance floor as the orchestra was beginning to play a waltz. She thought back to the first time that she had ever danced with him, the first time she had ever waltzed in public and she smiled. Her eyes scanned the same handsome face that she had beheld that evening, noting that the only thing that had changed, besides his awful clothing, was that when she looked at him now, her heart was so full of love she thought it would burst. His captivating gray eyes mirrored her emotions to exactness.
“Benedict,” she asked as he led her around the room effortlessly. “Remember the day you took me riding through Hyde Park and asked me to tell you one of my secrets?”
“Yes, I remember it very well. You told me that you did not have any secrets.”
“And that was true, at the time,” she admitted. “However, I do have one now.”
Benedict squinted his eyes curiously. “Truly? Then you must tell me, for I do not wish to have secrets between us, my love.”
Gillian gave him an impish smile. “Remember when we burned all of your hideously outdated clothing?”
“Yes,” he answered slowly, in a way that told her he was confused.
Gillian looked away from his arresting gaze and sighed. “Perhaps I shouldn’t tell you after all, for you might think I am silly.”
“Tell me and let me be the judge.”
“Oh very well,” she sighed, her gaze returning once more to meet his. “I saved that horrible puce tailcoat from being burned. I kept it. It is at this very moment hanging in my closest.”
“The one with the ripped sleeve?” he asked incredulously. When she nodded, he laughed and said, “Of all the articles of clothing to keep, why pick that one? Surely you do not wish for me to wear it ever again, for I will absolutely refuse.”
Gillian pretended to be repulsed at the thought of him ever donning the tailcoat again. “I kept it as a remainder of our first kiss. You were wearing the horrible thing that first time in the library. I knew that night that I would never be the same again, for you had branded me yours.”
His eyes danced with merriment at the memory. “I remember it well. I believe you rewarded me with a slap to my face.”
Gillian laughed. “Yes, but you did deserve it.”
“I will not admit nor deny that,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
As they were leaving the dance floor after the waltz had ended, Benedict turned to Gillian, “I just spotted Miss Graham conversing with her brother in the corner. Do you mind if we go greet them?”
Gillian gave him an unbecoming glare to which Benedict responded with a laugh. “Do not tell me you are still jealous of Miss Graham, for that would be absurd. My heart belongs to you and none other. But I will however admit that I do have a matter of business to discuss with her. It would seem I owe her a slight favor in return for her aide in making you jealous.”
“Very well,” she relented with a smile.
Marcus and Miss Graham greeted them politely as they approached, once more congratulating them on their marriage. Gillian watched Miss Graham shrewdly, relaxing noticeably when the girl showed no ill feelings towards her and did not express anything other than a polite interest in Benedict. When Benedict invited her to dance, Gillian gave the girl an honest nod of encouragement and told her to enjoy herself, sincerely meaning every word.
She watched as Benedict and Miss Graham walked away, wondering what sort of favor he owed the girl. She would be sure to pry the information from her husband later. Turning to Mr. Graham, she smiled politely and waited for him to ask her to dance, which he promptly did. She placed her arm in the crook of his elbow and allowed him to escort her to the dance floor. They took their places and waited for the dance to begin.
Gillian looked across form her at Mr. Graham and blurted curiously, “My husband never did reveal to me what he gained by winning the bet you challenged him to.”
Mr. Graham flashed her a contagious and lighthearted smile, revealing his dimples. As he took a step forward and met her in the middle, taking her hands into his, he said in a satisfied tone, “He won nothing. He failed to meet all of the requirements.”
Gillian gasped as they parted, switching partners for the next steps of the dance. She had to wait several long moments before she met back up with Mr. Graham. “That is not true, my lord, for not only were we engaged and wed before the end of the season, but I had fallen in love with him as well. Surely that was obvious.”
Gillian watched with amusement as Mr. Graham faltered in his steps. It was clear that she had flustered him greatly. She waited until they were facing each other once more before urging, “Tell me what he won by satisfying all of the conditions of the bet. I’m wildly curious.”
Mr. Graham stiffened. “I cannot say anything until I have spoken to Lord Straton.”
“Oh fustian,” she exclaimed in annoyance. “Just tell me or I will cause a scene.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I might.”
“Let us get through the remainder of this dance first, can you at least agree to that?”
“Very well,” she relented, though she wasn’t happy to have to wait.
As soon as the dance was over, an agitated Mr. Graham returned her to her husband’s side. “I need to speak to Griffin. Have you seen him?”
“He’s seems to be involved in a heated debate with Lady Adel,” Benedict said as all of their eyes followed the direction he indicated with a nod of his head. Sure enough, over by the refreshment table stood a very frustrated Lord Straton speaking animatedly with an equally annoyed looking Lady Adel.
Gillian gave Mr. Graham a small shove. “Go rescue that poor girl at once and return to me and give me the information I seek.”
It was with trepidation that Mr. Graham eventually did as she bade. Benedict looked down at her curiously. “What information could you possibly want from Marcus?”
“He has promised to tell me what you won from the wager.”
Benedict’s eyes widened, “I nearly forgot. I have yet to inform them that I technically won the bet after all. I suppose I was too busy courting you, then enjoying our honeymoon to remember to discuss it with them. Griffin is going to be furious.”
Gillian
’s eyebrows rose in alarm, “Did he wager an absurd amount of money?”
“Oh no, my dear, he wagered something far more valuable than that, but I will let him tell you himself. It will give me great delight to hear it from his own lips.”
They stood watching Mr. Graham and Lord Straton speaking back and forth swiftly, both of them looking stunned, as they sipped their glasses of champagne casually. Finally, both of the men turned and stalked angrily to their side.
“What is this nonsense about winning the bet?” Griffin roared. His dark eyes looked absolutely terrifying.
Gillian sunk back and allowed Benedict to respond. “Yes, I nearly forgot to inform you that I did satisfy the conditions of the bet after all.”
Griffin turned his flashing eyes on Gillian, “Is it true, Lady Danford? Had you truly fallen in love with Benedict before he revealed the truth to you?”
Gillian nodded solemnly. “Yes.”
Lord Straton’s head whipped back to Benedict. “I don’t believe it; you have no proof.”
Benedict stiffened at Gillian’s side, his hand tightening angrily on the stem of his champagne glass. Gillian braced herself, anticipating the glass to break at any moment. “You dare call my wife a liar,” Benedict spit out dangerously, causing all of them to flinch.
She watched as Lord Straton’s jaw twitched, his eyebrows scrunched together in anger. “I would never do such a thing,” he hissed, though Gillian was not convinced. She wondered what he had lost that was provoking so much anger from him.
“Then admit that I won the bet, or I will call you out for insulting my wife,” Benedict commanded.
Lord Straton looked at Mr. Graham who, after several tense seconds, finally shrugged, his face registering a sickening defeat. “We should never have agreed…”
“No,” Benedict said almost happily. “But you did and now the real entertainment will begin. I am highly looking forward to picking your brides.”
Gillian gasped.
Lord Straton cursed, despite the fact that he was in the presence of ladies, then turned on his heel and stalked angrily away. They all watched him depart in silence. Mr. Graham grabbed two glasses of champagne off a passing tray, downing the contents of both glasses in two gulps. “Benedict, please be kind to me when choosing my wife. Please.” He had resorted to begging and Gillian wanted to laugh. She truly had no sympathy for any of Benedict’s friends after what they had put him through, or her for that matter.
“We will see,” was all Benedict said before grabbing Gillian’s arm and pulling her away, leaving a dismayed Mr. Graham standing by himself, an empty champagne glass in each of his hands.
“I cannot wait to see the look on Lord Dawkins’s face when I tell him that I will be picking his wife,” Benedict said with a satisfied smirk.
Gillian looked up at her husband in awe. “I cannot believe that they agreed to let you pick their wives if you won the bet. Did they truly have such little faith in you?”
“Apparently.”
“Whatever are you going to do, Benedict? Surely you don’t really mean to dictate whom they will wed, do you?”
“I absolutely do. I plan on picking the most vexing, most obstinate, most challenging ladies I can find. And they will be just perfect for them, just you wait and see.”
“Oh you are very naughty,” she purred in hushed tones.
“Yes, I am.” He smiled widely as he winked at her. “And I will need your assistance. Do you think you can manage?”
Gillian thought back to all of the embarrassment Benedict’s friends had caused and felt her lips curve into a wicked smile of her own, “I am most certain that I can.”
“Then come with me. We have our work cut out for us, but I know just where we shall begin.”
Gillian gladly took his offered arm as he led her directly into their newest adventure and smiled. She was certain that life with Benedict by her side would never be dull.
The End
About The Author
Ginny Hartman has always loved writing, and when her love for the regency era blossomed, she decided to combine the two, resulting in her first published novel, Deceiving the Duke of Kerrington, which became an Amazon Historical Romance bestseller. After completing her first Regency Romance Trilogy, she decided to venture into other eras of historical romance, enjoying the journey back in time.
Ginny’s favorite thing about writing is the escape it gives her and the people who read her stories. For a behind the scenes look at the creation of Deceiving the Duke of Kerrington, Misleading Lord Martineau, Betraying the Highwayman, To Guard Her Heart, To Capture Her Heart, and Her Unconventional Suitor, as well as a sneak peek at her upcoming projects, visit her website www.creatingromance.blogspot.com . You can also keep up to date by liking her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/authorginnyhartman .
Besides writing, Ginny enjoys reading and spending time with her favorite people: her husband and three beautiful children. She also enjoys traveling the world with the love of her life and gaining inspiration for her books. She currently resides in Northern Idaho.
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