My Seductive Innocent

by Julie Johnstone

  Of all the times for Marguerite to decide to take advantage of the house he’d rented for her here, this week had been astonishingly bad timing for her to do so, and she’d not taken it well at all when he had told her he was getting married. He didn’t suppose for a moment it was the loss of his attention that bothered her. The loss of his money was undoubtedly her biggest concern.

  Marguerite strolled up to him and lifted her arms as if she was going to encircle his neck. Instinctively, he recoiled. It was going to be difficult enough to explain to Sophia why he hadn’t been present for dinner last night; he didn’t need the scent of another woman lingering on him to make matters worse. Not that he really had to explain himself, but he had just told Sophia she would have his fidelity and he’d meant it.

  Marguerite frowned. “You needn’t act so testy. You looked like death, and I decided you needed some sleep, not to go back to that girl child who tricked you into marrying her. I gave you just a pinch of laudanum.” Her eyes twinkled. “You used to like laudanum, remember?”

  She trailed a finger between the valley of her breasts, and a memory of his once licking laudanum off those breasts flashed in his mind and shamed him to the core.

  The muscles in his jaw twitched at a violent speed as he stared at Marguerite. He couldn’t say why he hadn’t ended their arrangement before now, except that she’d made no emotional demands on him and he’d liked that. He’d made it clear to her after he had gotten his life in order once more that he would never dwindle into such depravity again and he hadn’t. He’d sought out Harthorne and Aversley once he was thinking clearly and no longer taking laudanum and earned their friendships back, though it had taken some doing. Now, he needed to set Marguerite out of his life once and for all.

  It had been foolish to describe Sophia to Marguerite, even if his description had been accurate. It had been thoughtless, and after last night, he saw Sophia more as a forest nymph than an undeveloped woman. He glanced at Marguerite and saw something he had never seen before. He saw his mother. Bile rose in his throat. Marguerite was vain, prideful, and cruel.

  “Scarsdale,” Marguerite purred and wound her hands around his neck.

  He disentangled himself and thought of Sophia. She didn’t have an iota of vanity or cruelty. Pride she had plenty of, but it was a pure pride that was different from anything he had known in other women. “She didn’t trick me into marrying her,” he snapped. “I chose to do so, which I have explained to you repeatedly.” He turned away from Marguerite, located his shirt, and tugged it on. He thought to simply walk out the door after delivering an express order for her to leave, or a threat if necessary, but he realized his coachman was likely gone. “What did you tell my coachman last night?”

  “That you wanted to stay in my bed,” Marguerite said, a wicked grin pulling at her lips. “You will come back to me, you know. Once you bed her and she proves to be a mousy, timid thing that hates the marriage act as all wives do.” Marguerite huffed in a breath he suspected was to make her chest rise above her gown and not at all because she was upset. “You will be begging me to be your mistress again. I’m sure I’ll have another benefactor by then, Scarsdale, but you are always first in my heart. You know that. I will take you back anytime you wish it.”

  Nathan glanced down at her, positive he’d never wish it. Even if Sophia turned out to be as cold as his mother had been to his father once they were married, he’d not seek refuge in Marguerite’s arms. “I will never be returning to you. My betrothed is neither mousy nor timid or cold.”

  Marguerite snorted. “Liar. All noblewomen are timid and cold.”

  Nathan’s patience snapped. He snagged a finger under Marguerite’s chin and lifted it slightly. “Careful, my dear. You push me too far and you will find no gentleman who wishes to be your benefactor. I want you out of the house by tomorrow. You may use the London townhome for the next month, but I want you out of there after that. Do you understand?”

  “Afraid your future wife will find out about me and deny you the marriage bed?”

  “I’m afraid of no woman. Nor do I bow to any woman’s commands.”

  With that, he stormed out of the house and started on foot to Whitecliffe only to meet his carriage coming down the road. His coachman rolled the carriage to a stop with a nod and a smile. “Enjoy your night, Your Grace?”

  “No,” Nathan snapped. “That”―he motioned behind him toward the house, unsure why the devil he was offering an explanation to his coachman―“is not what you think.”

  Wilson’s eyes widened with obvious astonishment. “Of course not. Shall I take you home?”

  Nathan nodded, and after climbing into the carriage, he settled into his seat and stared blindly at the passing countryside. Emotion was starting to rule his actions and he couldn’t decide if that was a good or bad thing. He’d lost hope in people before he’d met Sophia, and now she was making him feel hope. Whether that would last or not was the real question.

  Nathan descended the carriage contemplating exactly what to say to Sophia and whether telling her the truth about where he had been was even wise. Before he could make up his mind, the front door of Whitecliffe swung open and Sophia came marching down the steps dragging Harry and their small, ancient trunk behind her.

  He stopped at once, both astonished and amused by the sight of his betrothed, who looked surprisingly fetching in an emerald-green-and-white-striped day gown. Madame Lexington must have altered something she had on hand and sent it over for Sophia. It was amazing what a properly fitting gown could do for a figure, he thought absently as he stepped sideways to block her flight. Then it became obvious she had no intention of stopping.

  She whipped her gaze to his, and he felt momentarily lost in the bright blue eyes made dazzling with obvious anger.

  “Please move,” she demanded in a low, throbbing tone that made his heart twist as he immediately recognized the hurt in her voice.

  “Where are you going?” he prodded with care, stepping closer to her, only to have her lurch away and almost fall backward over her trunk. He caught her at the elbow and steadied her, but when she stiffened, he released her. Harry caught his eye and gave him a dark scowl. Nathan felt almost as bad that he seemed to have hurt the boy, as well as Sophia. “Would you give me a moment to talk to your sister privately before the two of you leave?”

  The boy cocked his head to the side and seemed to contemplate Nathan’s request for a moment before nodding his head in agreement. Nathan motioned toward the house. “Why don’t you make your way to the kitchen and have the cook fix you and your sister a picnic basket for the road,” Nathan suggested. Once Sophia reluctantly gave her permission, Harry wandered back into the house, leaving Sophia and Nathan alone on the steps.

  “Why are you leaving?” he asked.

  Her black lashes lowered against her cheeks to veil her eyes for a moment before rising slowly up again. “Because you lied to me.”

  He didn’t know how she could possibly know where he had been, but it was obvious she did. He was awestruck by the calm and quiet she exuded. There were no tears or threats. She’d simply packed her bag and planned to leave. By God, she was a brave little thing. “I did not lie to you. If you will let me explain...”

  She pressed her lips into a grim line. “I don’t see how you can possibly explain going from my bed to another woman’s. You promised me your fidelity.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, Nathan thought he saw his aunt standing at the window watching them, but all he saw now was a fluttering curtain. Still, he didn’t want a show for this or any part of his life. “Come with me,” he demanded and grasped Sophia by the hand before she could protest.

  He quickly led her all the way down the steps and away from the house, toward a path that went to a separate building. They’d have complete privacy in the banqueting house. It hadn’t been used in years, not since the time when his mother would have elaborate dinner parties and all the guests would stroll from the main house to this on
e on warm, starry nights to enjoy confections after dinner.

  The door creaked open, but once they stepped inside the main hall, Nathan saw immediately that the staff had maintained the house as if he might request confections be served here at any moment. Candles flickered in the main hall and the two large, ornate fireplaces roared with a crackling fire that further illuminated the room. After calling out to make sure no staff was in here now, he locked the door behind them and drew Sophia into the dining room.

  She tugged her hand away as he faced her but kept her proud gaze squarely on him.

  Crossing his arms over his chest, he leaned against the table, which put him closer to Sophia’s eye level. “What is it you think you know, Sophia?”

  “I know you brought your mistress to this town last week and that your coachman took you to her house last night.”

  “And how do you know that?” He was going to dismiss whoever had such a loose tongue.

  “I have my ways,” she responded, lifting her chin to a defiant angle. “It’s commendable you aren’t going to lie about it. Good-bye, Nathan.” She swung around to leave and got to the door before he caught up with her, grasped her arm, and swung her around.

  “You’re going to give up on me that easily?” he demanded, his pulse picking up speed.

  “No. It wasn’t easy. I waited all morning for you to reappear so I could ask for the truth from your lips, and when you never returned, it became apparent that you don’t care enough to bother with my feelings.” She took a deep breath. “But I do have feelings. And the one thing I know will make me hate you is unfaithfulness. I told you that, and you lied and promised your fidelity.”

  “I have not been unfaithful, though I’d like to point out we are not married yet.”

  She scoffed. “We are to be married tomorrow, and if you cared for me at all, which you don’t, you would not be sleeping with another woman. I should have known better.” She dashed a hand across her cheeks when several tears slipped out of her eyes. “I’m a fool, and clearly a hopeless dreamer, but what are we without hope?” she demanded.

  He opened his mouth to answer, but she shook her fist in the air between them. “We are nothing. We are moving through life in misery. I refuse to throw my hope for love away on you.”

  Moved by her complete honesty, he grasped her by the arms and drew her to him until he could feel her heart pounding within her chest. He gentled his hold and drew his hands to her face, cupping her cheeks. He couldn’t give her his love, yet, but damn it, he wanted to try. What he could give her in this moment was honesty like that she’d just given him. “I have not been unfaithful to you. Ask me whatever you want to know and I’ll tell you the truth.”

  “Did you bring your mistress here?”

  “No, but she is in town. I kept a house here for her that I told her she could use anytime she wished, and she happened to pick this week to come use it. I did ask her to leave.”

  Sophia quirked her mouth. “And you expect me to believe you couldn’t get your mistress to do your bidding?”

  She tried to tug away from him, but he slid one hand to the gentle curve of her waist and he placed the other on the back of her delicate neck and held her still. “I don’t expect you to believe anything, but I find myself in the most unexpected position of hoping you will. I should have been firmer with Marguerite, but I was trying to be kind. I’ve remedied that and she will be leaving by tomorrow.”

  Sophia’s brows pulled together in a deep frown. “You didn’t hurt her, did you?”

  He resisted the urge to chuckle at Sophia’s sweet contrariness. One moment she was ablaze that his mistress was in town, and the next, she was worried for Marguerite’s safety. “Her pride was hurt, to be sure, but she’ll survive.”

  Sophia nibbled on her lip for a moment. “I have to admit I’m inclined to believe your words, except for the fact that you stayed there last night. Why on earth would you stay at your mistress’s house?”

  He didn’t particularly want to share the fact that Marguerite had drugged him, but lying to Sophia was out of the question. “Marguerite slipped laudanum in my drink, and I fell asleep.”

  Sophia stared at him with a blank look before her eyes narrowed and she pulled away from him.

  He reached out and grabbed her once more, afraid she’d dash out the door and never look back. “I swear by God it’s the truth. Do you think I’d make myself look like a fool on purpose?”

  “No, I don’t,” she said, squirming in his arms. “Which is exactly why I’m going to find your former mistress and flog her until she knows not to cross me.”

  He threw his head back and laughed as he crushed Sophia to him and buried his face against her neck. “Life with you certainly is going to be interesting, my dear. But I’ve dealt with Marguerite and I won’t underestimate her conniving ever again. However, I am flattered, amazed, and awed by your willingness to try to protect me.”

  “Well, what else could I possibly do?” she asked.

  He drew his lips to her neck and nuzzled it, reveling in the shivers that he elicited in her. “Marry me,” he whispered.

  “I’ll do more than that,” she replied, turning her mouth to meet his seeking one. “I’ll love you forever, Nathan.”

  He tensed, but not because he had his usual thought that he didn’t desire her love. He actually liked hearing her say she loved him and declaring she always would. And that scared him more than any pistol barrel he’d ever stared down. The idea of needing Sophia and desiring her love made his gut clench. He had no idea if he had it in him to break down the wall he’d erected so long ago. Instead of making a false promise that he’d love her in return, he said simply, “Thank you,” before claiming her mouth in what was supposed to be a gentle kiss.

  But she responded with such fierce passion that he forgot all about gentleness. Within moments, he had her breasts bared, her unmentionables removed, and he stood between her legs with his trousers undone. When her fingers tentatively grazed his hard flesh, he hissed between his teeth and felt his buttocks flex. She wiggled her bottom, which he clasped with his hands as he groaned. This woman beguiled him with her innocence and passion. “You don’t mind me taking you here?” he whispered in her ear as she stroked her fingers up and down the length of his staff.

  “Mind it?” She looked baffled by his question. “If you tried to walk away from me now and leave me in this state of need I’d chase you down,” she said with a wicked grin. Suddenly, her fingers stopped their movement and wrapped around his shaft with a sure grip. “I want you to take me here, Nathan, and anywhere else you wish it. The garden, the conservatory, down by the lake on that lovely grotto would be wonderful.”

  “Your innocent looks disguise a wicked nature,” he teased, leaning down and using his tongue to circle first her right nipple and then her left.

  She moaned and moved her hands to his back, clutching him tightly. “I didn’t know I was wicked,” she rasped, “until I met you.”

  He lifted her and plunged deep inside her in one fluid motion. She responded by wrapping her legs around him and moving her hips to meet each one of his thrusts. Within moments, the slow movements became rapid, until he was driving into her with a frenzied need that he couldn’t control.

  The need to possess her body and then perhaps her soul drove him. Over the roaring of blood in his ears, he heard her cry out in pleasure and scream his name. Her legs tightened around his waist as her body clenched around his shaft. He plunged into her one final time before a release like nothing he’d ever experienced overcame him. His muscles shook as his body relaxed. He slumped against her, and she wrapped her arms around him and cradled him, whispering her love.

  Sophia and Nathan’s wedding took less time than it did for her to dress for it. Before she could properly take in all the details of the small chapel at Whitecliffe that Nathan had ordered so beautifully decorated, she was being escorted into the sunshine and down the cobblestone path that led through the garden and back t
o the mansion. As they strolled back to the house, she glanced at the blue sky and saw nothing but the bright possibilities her future with Nathan would bring. A ridiculously elaborate breakfast feast was waiting for their wedding party of five, which included the clergyman who had married them.

  After their meal, it hit Sophia that Nathan had never changed his decree that he was leaving her here at Whitecliffe with his aunt while he went off to London. Surely, he would not leave her here after the intimacy they had shared.

  Sophia crooked a finger at Nathan and had to fight not to grin when he immediately pushed his chair back from the dining room table to stand. Lady Anthony gave her a cool look, but Sophia refused to let anything ruin her wedding day. She pasted a smile on her face and waited patiently for Nathan, who was leaning over Harry’s shoulder and whispering something in his ear.

  When Nathan rose and held his hand out to her, she took it, but it was all she could do not to question him about what he’d been saying to Harry. She waited until they walked out of the dining room to his study and he shut the door. “What were you whispering to my brother?”

  Nathan gripped her around the waist and drew her firmly against his broad chest. He ran a gentle finger down the slope of her cheek before speaking. “Your skin has softened since being here.”

  She smiled at him. “Lotions will do that, I suppose. Now quit trying to distract me. What were you saying?”

  “To remember what I told him about preventing his stutter. You have to continually practice what I told him to perfect it.”

  Sophia twined her arms around Nathan’s broad back and tipped her face to his until she caught his dark gaze and held it steady. “What exactly did you tell him to help him? It’s worked miraculously.”