by Tonya Brooks
“Absolutely,” she readily agreed and placed a kiss on his too kissable chin. “But since the book is written in Sanskrit, I'm reading the passages as well.”
Damn. He'd forgotten she'd mastered that language, but his grin became even more rakish when he suggested, “Then you can read it to me. I'll be happy to provide any demonstrations you might require.”
“Perhaps we should get started on that,” she decided wickedly. “From the size of the book, it appears I have a lot to learn.”
Nicholas used every ounce of sensual skill he possessed to make love to Scarlett as he had dreamed of doing for years. He worshiped her body with reverence as if she truly were a goddess. He left no part of her untouched or unloved. He made certain that she felt cherished and adored and loved as no woman had ever been before. And she reveled in his tender passion.
By having the picnic in this grove, Nicholas had recreated one of his favorite dreams about Scarlett. As he lay there staring into her beautiful face, he couldn't help himself. Just as he had in the dream, he quoted her his favorite poem.
“If questioning would make us wise, No eyes would ever gaze in eyes;
If all our tale were told in speech, No mouths would wander each to each.
Were spirits free from mortal mesh, And love not bound in hearts of flesh,
No aching breasts would yearn to meet, And find their ecstasy complete.
For who is there that lives and knows, The secret powers by which he grows?
Were knowledge all, what were our need, To thrill and faint and sweetly bleed?
Then seek not, sweet, the 'If' and 'Why', I love you now until I die.
For I must love because I live, And life in me is what you give.”
~~~~~
Scarlett was surprised when he began to quote poetry, but hearing those tender words spoken so sincerely in that silken voice convinced her that poetry wasn't useless after all. It was really quite romantic. And very true. While she truly enjoyed obtaining knowledge, it could never compare with the euphoria that love could make her feel.
“That was beautiful, Nicky. I never knew you were such a romantic,” she said softly.
“Never had a reason to be before,” he confessed.
“I think I may have to revise my opinion of poetry,” she informed him with an impish smile.
“Not as bad as you thought, huh?”
“Not when you quote it to me,” Scarlett admitted. “Matter of fact, I like everything you do to me.”
“Everything?” Was asked with the wicked smile that made her heart beat faster.
“Everything,” she confirmed in a purr. Nicholas scooped her naked body into his arms and began to carry her to the pond. “Nicky, what are you doing?” Scarlett laughed as she clung to his bare shoulders.
“Teaching you everything,” he grinned and waded into the warm water.
“I already know how to swim,” she reminded him in amusement.
“Yes, but can you make love in the water?” He queried with a lascivious leer as he released her legs and let her body slide down the length of his.
Scarlett stood there in the chest high water, her arms around his neck, his around her waist, and rubbed her body against his sensuously. “Ask me again in an hour,” she suggested and pulled his head down until their lips touched.
Chapter Thirty Three
Langford House, London, England, 1812
The two thirty-year-old men sat in the study nursing a glass of brandy. They were both more than a little concerned that Scarlett would try to carry out her threat to find someone to compromise her. Devlin knew that if he forced her to continue this damned season, there was no telling what she might do. He felt as if he had been backed into a corner and he didn't like the feeling one bit.
“How the hell did I let you talk me into this?” He demanded wearily and didn't need to explain.
~~~~~
“It was the only way you'd agree to the betrothal, if you recall,” Nicholas reminded him.
“Yes, but now that Scarlett is of age, the betrothal contract isn't even necessary,” he pointed out. “It was just a precaution in case something happened to me.”
Nicholas sat upright at that and demanded, “Are you saying I can court Scarlett now?”
“It would certainly make my life easier,” Devlin admitted, but didn't give his consent much to his friend’s disgust.
Resigned to his fate, Nicholas slouched back down in the chair again to complain, “You know as well as I do that this is all a waste of time, Dev.”
~~~~~
His confidence could have been viewed as sheer arrogance to anyone else, but Devlin knew better. Nicholas had spent a lifetime with his sister and knew her as well as she knew herself. If Scarlett was going to fall madly in love with anyone, it was Nicholas Branvill. If she wasn't already.
The signs were all there, and he had given the pair ample opportunity to spend as much time together as possible over the last couple of years to further the possibility. He never would have done so had he not been able to trust Nicholas not to take advantage of her.
Still, the temptation had been hard on the other man. Scarlett was a stunningly beautiful woman, after all, and he knew how much his old friend wanted her. But Nicholas was above all things an honorable man. Truth be told, he was also the only man that Devlin could imagine himself handing his sister over to.
A husband had complete authority over his wife and she had little choice but to obey him. A woman as willful as Scarlett would balk at those restraints and leave herself wide open to abuse from the wrong man. Devlin would kill the bastard if that happened, but by then the damage would have been done. He had no such fears where Nicholas was concerned.
His old friend would indeed allow her the freedom to be herself as he had said he would. He would continue to spoil her for the rest of her life and that knowledge gave an overprotective brother a great deal of relief. No, there wasn't another man alive that Devlin would consider as a suitable husband for his sister.
“I do,” he agreed wearily and sipped his brandy. Devlin couldn't help noticing the other man’s glum expression and felt guilty for prolonging his wait for what they both knew was a useless endeavor. Relenting his stance somewhat, he offered, “Ya know, Nick. You could begin to court Scarlett now... providing you did it subtly.”
~~~~~
Not willing to have his hopes raised again, Nicholas merely turned his head to stare at his friend as he asked, “How subtle?”
Devlin shrugged negligently. “Whatever you deem proper courtship of an innocent.” Fixing him with a pointed look, he added, “Short of seduction, of course.”
That earned him a scowl. “What the hell d'you think I've been doing for the last two years?” He complained. Hell, he'd done everything he knew how to do in order to court Scarlett. He'd flirted as innocently as possible, gifted her with a multitude of trinkets and spent every free moment with her. A courtship didn't get more proper than that.
The other man sighed in resignation. “All right, Nick,” he relented. “You don't have to be that subtle. Just... bloody hell. Stay out of her bed.”
Nicholas grinned at his friend’s disgruntled expression. “Told ya I would,” was reminded with the wicked smile that he had inherited from his father.
“See that you do,” came the stern reply.
Nicholas was a man well pleased. He had permission to court Scarlett and in a much more satisfying manner than had been allowed so far. The possibilities were limitless. His smile grew even more wicked.
Chapter Thirty Four
Branvill Manor, England, 1812
They waded back out of the pond and Scarlett dressed herself in Nicholas's shirt while he pulled his breeches back on. The lovers sprawled out on the blanket half-dressed and began to feed each other the contents of the picnic basket interspersed with long, drugging kisses.
“Thank you, Nicky,” Scarlett said as she fed him a grape.
“For what?” He asked a
s he chewed the grape, but it was her that his eyes devoured.
“For the perfect wedding day,” she sighed in utter contentment and stretched out beside him, leaning up on one elbow, her head propped up on her raised fist. “I hope all of our days together can be this wonderful.”
Reaching up, he trailed one fingertip lovingly down her cheek and promised, “They will be.”
“How do you know?” She teased.
“Because you love me,” he said with a devilish smile that should have warned her of his change in mood. Nicholas began to tickle her as he had when she was a child and much to his delight, she was still ticklish.
Scarlett squealed in surprise, managed to wriggle free and surged to her feet. When Nicholas lunged for her, she took off running across the field with him in hot pursuit. The newlywed couple ran around the pond like a pair of mischievous children. He caught her and swung her up in his arms and Scarlett laughingly squealed in protest.
“Unhand her, you cad!” Rang across the field furiously.
The laughter died in their throats as the pair looked to their right where a bruised, disheveled and quite furious Viscount Carstairs stood glaring at them. “Carstairs,” Scarlett groaned and dropped her head onto Nicholas's shoulder in dismay. Damnation. What would it take to get rid of that man?
His hold tightening on Scarlett in a protective manner, Nicholas faced his cousin down with a scowl of displeasure. “Carstairs, what the hell are you doing here?” He demanded, not at all pleased with the interruption.
~~~~~
Since Ryder had foiled his plans for an elopement, Geoffrey was more determined than ever to save the lady. He'd come to the stud farm to challenge Nicholas to a duel and been completely astonished to see Lady Scarlett running through a field barely dressed. Once he’d realized that she was trying to escape from his cousin’s lecherous intentions, he lost all reason and his only intent now was to kill the bounder.
McKenna had warned him that this would happen. He had told Geoffrey that Ryder would not risk another man stealing the lady away from him, and that he would ruin her to ensure no other man would want her.
The viscount had not wanted to believe that his cousin could be so despicable, but his mother had agreed with the Laird. With the evidence of his depraved debauchery before him, he had no doubt that Ryder was as bad as they had painted him to be.
“Saving Lady Scarlett from your lecherous attentions,” the younger man shot back angrily as he strode toward them and pointed a gun at Nicholas. “Take your hands off of her, Ryder.”
~~~~~
A gun in the hands of a fool was dangerous, Nicholas knew. That same gun in the hands of a jealous fool bent on revenge could be deadly. Wanting Scarlett out of the line of fire, he slowly let her legs drop until her feet reached the ground and then he twirled her safely behind his own body. “Geoffrey, put the gun down,” he commanded in a tone meant to be obeyed.
~~~~~
Geoffrey was not inclined to listen. His hand never wavering, he stopped a good twenty feet away from the couple and said in a voice dripping with contempt, “Mother was right about you all along, but I didn’t believe her. I defended you. I told her you couldn't be as bad as she claimed, but she knew better,” he accused in a rage. “How could you defile a goddess like Lady Scarlett? I thought you understood how special she is. She was perfect, damn you!”
~~~~~
“Lord Car... Geoffrey, it's not what you think,” Scarlett began as she tried to slip out from behind the protection of Nicholas's body, but the hand around her wrist was like a manacle and she could not break free without making it look like she was struggling with him. “Nicky and I were married this morning.”
The viscount shook his head in denial, his bruised, swollen face twisted with fury and jealousy. “You are all that is good and kind to try to defend him after what he’s done, Lady Scarlett,” he said harshly. “But I know you would never willingly marry a bounder like Ryder.”
“I did, Geoffrey,” she insisted as she poked her head over Nicholas's shoulder to see better. “I love him. I've always loved him. I'm sorry if that hurts you, but it's the truth.”
Turning furious eyes on the older man, he accused, “What did you do to make her tell these lies?”
~~~~~
Nicholas could tell that his cousin was not particularly sane at the moment. If he believed Scarlett, it was entirely possible that he would turn his rage on her as well. That could not be allowed to happen, no matter the cost. “Told her I'd exile her to Montvale Island for the rest of her life unless she stopped trying to end the engagement,” he said and heard Scarlett's sharp gasp at the blatant lie.
“I knew it,” Carstairs all but crowed in righteous indignation. “Lady Scarlett, you will never have to fear him again.”
When Nicholas squeezed her hand, Scarlett gave the other man a tentative smile and replied, “Thank you, Geoffrey.”
He offered her a stiff bow due to his tightly bound ribs, and replied, “I am ever your servant, my lady.”
“If that's the case, you should let the lady go home,” Nicholas suggested in a bored tone and let her step out from behind him. “She's not exactly dressed for entertaining.”
Carstairs stared at the long length of leg on display and swallowed hard. His black, swollen eyes narrowed even more as he realized the lady was wearing nothing but Nicholas's shirt. “You will pay for touching her,” he vowed furiously.
~~~~~
Nervous at that, Scarlett asked, “What are you going to do?”
“Such unpleasant things need not concern a lady such as yourself,” Geoffrey evaded.
“I'm not leaving unless you tell me,” she insisted.
“It's quite simple, kitten. The pup is planning to kill me,” Nicholas drawled and even his very posture depicted the bored idle lord. “All the more reason for you to mount your horse and ride away before the unpleasant business begins.”
Nicholas wanted her to mount her horse and ride away? Scarlett stared at him as if he were unhinged. There was no way in hell she would leave him here unarmed with a madman. “I will not,” she flatly denied.
~~~~~
“You will,” Nicholas decreed as he took her arm and began to lead her to her horse. He had to keep Carstairs anger directed at himself and away from Scarlett.
“Release her!” Geoffrey commanded.
Nicholas stopped and looked at the younger man with disdain. “You would allow a lady to mount a horse unaided?” He queried, one eyebrow arched in an arrogant manner. “Even I am not such an insensitive brute.”
~~~~~
“I... I cannot mount alone, Geoffrey,” Scarlett lied.
“Very well,” was grudgingly allowed as he followed them at a safe distance.
As they neared the horses, she saw her rifle strapped to the saddle in its usual position and began to understand what Nicholas was doing. Her husband lifted her up and placed her in the saddle, his eyes as somber as she had ever seen them.
~~~~~
“The shoulder will suffice,” he murmured softly, and she nodded her agreement. Nicholas made the stipulation because he didn't have a doubt that Scarlett could, and would, fire a kill shot. She was an Ashbrook, after all.
He stepped away from the horse, keeping himself between his bride and his cousin. Carstairs eyes were glued to the enchanting picture a half-naked Scarlett made astride her mare. In an effort to divert his attention, he asked, “She has beautiful legs, doesn't she?”
“Beautiful,” Geoffrey agreed absently and then as if coming out of a daze, fixed that furious gaze on Nicholas again. “Move away from her.”
The duke moved slowly to the left, away from Scarlett and toward his cousin who was watching him like a hawk as he had hoped. A shot rang out from behind him and he saw Carstairs stagger back as the bullet pierced his shoulder. The viscount screamed in agony and dropped to his knees in the tall grass.
Scarlett slid off of her horse, the rifle falling to the ground as s
he sank to her knees when her legs failed to support her. Her husband rushed to her and knelt before her in the tall grass, wrapping both arms around her trembling body. “Oh, God, Nicky,” she gasped in horror and clung to him in desperation. “I thought he was going to kill you.”
Nicholas picked up the rifle, studied her tear streaked face and asked anxiously, “Are you all right, kitten?”
“I am now,” she admitted shakily. “I love you so much. I couldn't bear it if...”
“No!” Carstairs maniacal scream rang out in denial. “You can't love him. He's not worthy of you!”
Nicholas stood and whirled to face the younger man, his eyes blazing with all the fires of hell. Geoffrey was obviously unhinged and therefore posed a threat to Scarlett. He’d see him locked up or dead before he’d allow the lunatic near her again. “Shut up you fool!” He thundered furiously and was tempted to shoot the bastard again.
“You go to hell,” Geoffrey spat as he lifted the pistol with his left hand.
~~~~~
“No!” Scarlett cried as she surged upward in front of Nicholas even as he raised the rifle.
The two men fired at the same time. The bullet hit Carstairs dead center in his chest and he dropped like a stone, a shocked expression on his bruised and battered face. Scarlett felt searing heat graze her brow and watched in horror as the bullet sank into Nicholas's chest while bright red blood spattered her face. Nicholas had been shot! Dear God, Carstairs had killed him! The last thing she heard was the sound of her own anguished scream before darkness engulfed her terror filled mind.
~~~~~
Nicholas dropped the rifle and caught her before she slid to the ground in a dead faint. Sinking to his knees with her held protectively in his arms, he lifted a hand to smooth the hair from her blood spattered face and stared at it in shock. Turning her head, he saw a gash at her temple that was oozing blood at an alarming rate.
She'd been shot! The bastard had shot her. Holy hell. If he hadn't already killed Carstairs, he'd do it again. “Scarlett,” he choked rawly as sheer panic seized his soul. No! This could not be happening. He couldn't lose her. Not now. Not ever.
