Capturing the Viscount (Rakes and Roses Book 1)

by Win Hollows

  But he couldn't stay away from her mouth for long. Letting out a small growl that seemed a possessive sound, his lips swooped down to crush hers beneath them again. She met his tongue with her own, the urge to be as close to him as possible driving her bravery. She could feel his hand move to where her corset ended a few inches below her navel. The shift she wore beneath her dress and corset had become bunched up as he had worked his way up her legs, giving him access to the bare skin there. He skimmed downwards with his fingertips, underneath her panties, and her stomach jumped at the unfamiliar touch. Rem's tongue swirled slowly around her mouth as he stroked lower with his roughened fingertips. She jerked, the tickling sensation filling her with liquid warmth near the place his hand gently grazed over.

  Rem murmured against her lips, "It's alright. I just want to touch you, sweetheart."

  Laura could barely breathe past the nervous lump in her throat, so eventually, she gave a little nod.

  His fingers whorled over her delicate skin, sending sharp tendrils of need down through her abdomen. Her belly sucked in of its own accord, reacting to the bloom of sensation that danced outward from his touch. Something was building inside her, making her want whatever it was he was doing to her, but more. She couldn't explain what it was she wanted him to do because she had no knowledge of what was supposed to come next, but she knew she wanted it more with every quickening breath she took. Rem's lips rubbed back and forth across her while his tongue took quick, shallow stabs into her mouth. She squirmed beneath him as his hand drew out rushes of throbbing euphoria that emanated from where he touched. A quiet mewling sound escaped her mouth into Rem's.

  He chuckled. "You like that? I'll bet you'll like this even better," he said, his hand moving further downward to where Laura was absolutely sure he shouldn’t be touching.

  Without warning, the carriage lurched to a halt, causing both Laura and Rem to roll off the seat and crash onto the floor with Laura landing on top. Laura let out a yelp, Rem grunting as her elbow dug sharply into his ribs. She looked up at him, panic in her eyes. He quickly lifted her off of himself and onto the seat and set to arranging her skirts the way they were, their hands fumbling over each other in haste. Just as Rem pushed himself onto the seat opposite her, Jonathan swung open the door and put the foot catch down. He cast a puzzled look in Laura's direction, making her wonder what was wrong with her appearance. She brought her hands up to her cheeks and felt the warmth there. Wonderful. She was blushing madly, and Jonathan knew her too well to not know what it could be from. In fact, her mother was probably home from her social calls and would notice too. Even her father might see her flustered like this. She didn't want to go inside at the moment, but there really wasn't any choice.

  Thankfully, Laura was in and out in under five minutes. She rushed through the house in a daze, her mind still fogged over with the feel of Rem's hands roaming her skin intimately. Her parents had been in their bedroom, and she didn't want to disturb them. She had collected Eliza and a thick shawl as Rem had suggested, and had left a note for her parents telling them who she was with for the afternoon. She didn't think her mother would be too upset at her excursion with Lord Rothstone. She was fairly certain Astoria was intent upon being connected to Lady Penelope by more than just friendship. Laura's mother would probably be overjoyed at the news that Laura was choosing to spend time with Remington of her own volition, even though they were only taking Eliza and Jonathan with them for chaperonage. Now if only she could chaperone her own reactions to him, she'd be just fine.

  Chapter 9

  When Laura and her maid stepped back into the carriage, she had put on a fringed shawl that covered her shoulders and arms, looking very proper, but Rem could still picture her with her dress hiked up to her waist while his hand was underneath it. Demn, but her skin was like silk, and the way her curves glided perfectly under his hands...When she'd finally given in, he hadn't been able to draw it out, make her beg for more like he'd intended. He'd just snapped, wanting to lose himself in her kiss that was more real than anything he'd ever done with another woman. Every move she made, every sound, was like taking a kick to the gut, knocking the wind out of him with the force of how much he wanted her. He'd needed to be inside her, possessing her, knowing every part of her nubile body that had been made for him. It had felt right, like he'd finally found exactly what could satisfy him every time, and he would never get bored. Blimey, but she could drive him insane. He was staring at her a bit intensely while still thinking about what had been going on a few minutes ago when he noticed Eliza trying not to smile on the seat beside her mistress.

  Laura's brows were drawn down now. "Where are we going?" she asked, as if just realizing she didn't know that yet.

  Rem's mouth quirked into a smile. "It's a surprise." He wanted her to be completely aghast at what he had in store. Since he hadn't actually planned anything or reserved the use of what he was taking her to, he sincerely hoped everything would work in his favor.

  The coach trundled along, and Rem hoped the driver actually knew the address he had given him. Sometimes drivers were too proud to admit they had no idea where they were going. Part of the territory of being a Duke's only son was that people tried way too hard to please him. It was why he only had a few friends who didn't make the mistake of taking him too seriously. And then there was Laura- She didn't seem to prescribe to society's long-held view that Dukes were somehow better than anyone else or that she should respect him for his title. In fact, it seemed she expected him to crawl up from the depths of wherever he rated on her current scale and earn his way into her good graces.

  Fine. Rem was rather grateful that she had no preconceptions about what he was or wasn't supposed to be. He didn't want someone who fawned all over him and put on an act of what they thought he wanted. He had met many a marriage-minded woman who had tried to mold herself into what society thought a future duchess should be. Or, even worse, tried to make herself into what she thought he wanted, specifically. The problem was, Rem had never been sure what he wanted. He had given up on finding a wife a long time ago, after encountering countless women whom he knew were never quite themselves around him.

  Until Laura. She didn't try to be anyone she wasn't. Of course, her parents did try to curtail some of her stranger tendencies in public, but she didn't have any shame about them. She liked what she liked and did what she wanted, even though it might cause some to reconsider her position as this year's reigning belle. Rem would even bet that if people did find out she was a bit odd, she'd decide they could all go hang themselves and, suddenly, her "habits" would become wildly popular. Rem smiled at the thought.

  "What are you smiling about?" Laura asked, eyes narrowed.

  "Nothing. You know it's not popular for a woman to be too curious."

  "Then I'll be unpopular," she retorted, causing Rem's smile to turn into a full-blown grin.

  He continued to smile as he watched her cheeks grow warm. With her alabaster complexion, she blushed more easily than was fair, but Rem enjoyed knowing he could get under her skin with a simple smile. She wasn't as immune to him as she claimed. That, he was now sure of. Rem made himself stop that line of thinking for now, knowing that daydreaming of what had been going on this carriage before would have him very hard and uncomfortable for the remainder of the journey.

  After a little while of stiltedly polite conversation in front of Eliza, and many more weasily questions from Laura trying to find out where they were headed, the coach left the city behind and began to roll through meadowland. Rem could tell that Laura missed the country by the way she strained her neck to look out the window as the scenery went by. Watching her wistful expression, Rem knew then and there that they would someday live in the country the majority of the time. It was obvious she wouldn't be happy being cooped up in the city surrounded by people who might worship her, but didn't understand her.

  That was alright with Rem. Although he had lived in the city for the past few years, he liked the tranquilit
y and privacy of having nothing around for miles. And he didn't need other people so much as he needed her. He could picture them taking walks through the woods, having picnics in the grass, their children frolicking through the countryside. And at night, staying warm by the fire, Laura reading a book or fiddling with a new invention she had to try, making love and not worrying about how paying attention to his own wife was unfashionable. Society was good for certain things, but he didn't want to live his life by their rules any more than Laura couldn't. And her happiness, he knew, would be what made him happy in the end. His parents had shown him by example that it wasn't enough to simply have what you wanted in life. It was so much more fulfilling to watch the person you love be happy. That was what made live worth living- knowing that you shared it with someone for whom you have done everything in your power to make life wonderful.

  Perhaps he really was in love. Because wasn't that what love was? Realizing that another person's happiness is more important than your own? Rem shifted in his seat, puzzling over it as he studied Laura's profile in the afternoon sunlight coming through the window. Laura's gaze alighted from point to point more quickly now, and Rem saw through the opposite window that they had entered the tiny town of Lorenberry. Their destination was just on the far side of the village, on a sprawling hillside estate that didn't exactly match the rest of the cozy town. When the carriage finally slowed to a halt on a circular cobblestone drive, Rem breathed a sigh of relief that the driver had indeed known where he was going. He helped Laura and Eliza out of the conveyance and snuck a hefty tip to the driver for his knowledge.

  "What is this place?" Laura asked, taking in the large, honey-colored stone mansion with its mullioned windows.

  "My friend Constantine told me about it, and I thought you'd like it," Rem told her, putting a hand to the small of her back as he lead her up to the massive white doors, Eliza following sedately behind them.

  "It's beautiful, but...why?" she asked, the puzzlement in her tone evident.

  "You'll see." He left it at that and used the door knocker three times.

  After a moment, a man in mustard-yellow and white livery opened the door, smiling as he indicated they enter.

  Laura was frowning, Rem could see. She had no clue what was going on and didn't like it, which amused him. He began to speak to the man quietly before he could spoil the surprise. Using low tones so Laura couldn't hear, he conferred with the bland, but smiling butler. He hadn't an appointment, but that, apparently, wasn't a concern. These people catered to the very rich, and those with eccentric tastes, so there was never a wrong time to come. This little outing was going to cost him a small fortune, but Rem didn't care a whit how much it was, so long as Laura had a good time.

  When he had arranged everything, Eliza stayed in the foyer while the man ushered the two of them through a set of double doors at the other end of the entrance hall and into an enormous salon that opened onto an outdoor terrace. A man sat playing a violin unobtrusively in the corner. There were several round tables of varying sizes set up throughout the space, both inside and on the terrace, and there were people sitting at some of them, eating and conversing robustly. About twenty or so people occupied the space, and they ranged from a table of very elderly men to young couples who sat close together and smiled secretly.

  "I hope you're hungry," Rem murmured.

  "This way, my lady, my lord." A waiter in black and white smiled and directed them to a table near the open terrace doors, where a perfect, warm breeze fluttered the hem of Laura's dusky pink day gown. Rem seated Laura and then himself, noting with satisfaction that she seemed charmed by the atmosphere of the place so far, her expression open and smiling. "We have a delightful menu for you today," the waiter informed them while a maid began filling their glasses with cold water. "The first course starts with caper and goatcheese-stuffed wild mushroom caps and glazed peach croissants, then moves into a tarragon leek soup paired with fresh whitefish and watercress sandwiches, followed by herb roasted guinea with asparagus in rosemary cream. Our dessert options for the day will be given to you at the conclusion of your meal should you wish to partake. Your first course will be served momentarily."

  Rem grinned as Laura's stomach rumbled audibly. The waiter smothered a smile and bowed before leaving them. The room buzzed with happy voices and pleasant music, with the sound of tableware tinkling here and there.

  "So you brought me all the way here for an early dinner?" Laura raised her brows expectantly.

  Rem chuckled. "No. This is just what we're doing while we wait for the reason we came here."

  "And you're still not going to tell me what that is." It was more of a statement than a question.

  "No. Enjoy the meal, Laura. Can't you ever just take the moments as they come and not worry about what comes next?"

  "No," she said firmly. Rem's lips twitched. She smoothed the napkin she had placed in her lap, arranging its folds to avoid looking at him. "I've always been too curious for my own good, as I'm sure you've figured out."

  Rem laughed quietly. "Yes, I have noticed that."

  She was quiet for a moment. Then, hesitantly, "I...I'm not sure what it is you think you see in me," she admitted. "I don't think I'm the person you think you'd be getting."

  "And what kind of person do you think I want?" he asked, his brows drawn down.

  "Well... Just...Not me." She looked up at him, her eyes open and frank. "Someone perfect. Someone who likes to go to balls every night and who is quiet when she's supposed to be and good at managing a household. Someone who doesn't get overwhelmed by people easily. I'm not any of those things."

  He didn't answer for a while, just looked at her. The answer to this question could change the course of their relationship, he knew. Unfortunately, just as he was about to answer, the waiter came with the first course of their meal. Laura looked away, smiling as the waiter placed a plate of mushrooms and a plate of small pastries before her. "I'm sorry I asked. It was impolite of me," she said as their waiter left to go stand by the well-stocked sideboard of liquor.

  "I don't think it's impolite at all. You have a right to know why I am pursuing you," he told her. "How about this? How about I tell you what I don't want in a wife?"

  Laura's lips pursed. "Alright."

  "I don't want someone obsessed with being perfect all the time because they think that's what a duchess should be. I don't want someone who takes themselves so seriously that they can't laugh often. I don't want someone who likes the company of others more than my own. And I don't want someone who doesn't have the courage to be herself."

  She appeared to mull this over, and then nodded quickly. Rem thought he saw her hide a smile, but he couldn't be sure because she immediately stuffed a mushroom cap in her mouth with her dainty fingers.

  The rest of the meal was pleasant- more than pleasant; it was wonderful. They spoke, more openly than they had before, and Laura even responded to some of his more flirtatious remarks.

  "My lord, your arranged diversion is prepared," a man in the same livery as the butler announced. "I will be just outside on the terrace to escort you at your leisure."

  Rem nodded, watched the man stride away. Laura was halfway through a large slice of blueberry pound cake, but she seemed to have slowed to a standstill, her fork playing with a bite she couldn't decide if she should eat. "Ready?" he asked her.

  "It's so delicious, but I think if I eat one more bite, I might have to take my corset off," she joked, smiling.

  "I wouldn't mind helping with that."

  "Oh, it think we've already established what happens when you help with my wardrobe," she retorted, rising from her seat.

  Rem rose as well, grinning. "Admit it, you like it as much as I did."

  "I will admit no such thing, my lord." Her chin was high in the air, but her eyes twinkled.

  Rem's heart skipped a beat. This was how it was supposed to be. The two of them, teasing, sparring in companionable accord. He wanted this. And he wasn't going to l
et it slip through his fingers. Hence, their next activity.

  Rem offered his arm to her and led her out onto the sun-warmed terrace. The view was spectacular. A velvety green hill rolled away from the manor, down to a meadow with a pond in the middle of it before the forest began. A group of three or four people could be barely made out at the edge of the meadow gathered around som1988ething that Rem couldn't see. There were a few people out here as well, standing and talking or smoking, one of whom Rem recognized as Constantine's father, the Duke of Volmere. He was talking animatedly to another gentleman around his own age and gave Remington a wave and a smile when he saw him. Rem returned the gesture, making a mental note to tell Con of the sighting.

  The man from inside materialized at Rem's side and bowed. "My lord, my lady, this way, if you please. Follow me." He turned and began to lead them around the corner of the manor, off the terrace and onto the grass.

  Suddenly, a loud CRACK split through the peaceful surroundings, followed by a succession of even louder BOOMS. Laura tensed, her nails digging into the material of Rem's coat. Both of them stopped in their tracks, Rem's heart seeming to stop along with their steps.

  "My apologies for the disturbance," the man in yellow said, pausing briefly to look at them. "A routine occurrence here, I assure you. Simply another activity one of our esteemed guests enjoys here regularly."

  Laura looked confused, but her grip on his arm loosened, and she began to move after the man in front of them again. Rem resumed walking as well, his heartbeat slowing. "What was that?" she asked.

  "It was an explosion made using black powder," he explained, not bothering to turn around.

  "Oh," Laura responded. Then, as they rounded the corner of the manor, Laura breathed another "Oh" as she stopped walking again, her grip on his arm going slack.

  Rem smiled as Laura took in the sight before them. On the grass a few dozen feet from the manor, there sat a large, person-sized basket attached to an enormous fabric balloon that rose above the height of the manor in glorious colors of blue and gold. The balloon was inflated using hot air generated by a flame perpetuated with a metal tank of oil fuel that hovered above the basket. There was no breeze presently, so the balloon remained perfectly still in the air, held down by ropes attached to four grounded metal arches not unlike croquet wickets. There was a design in the vertical center of the balloon, repeating itself around its girth that looked like a crest, but it was one Rem had never seen before. Two dragons with outspread wings reared back to back on a shield, flames coming from their open jaws.