Will touched his forehead to hers and rubbed her back. Of course, he was aroused, but their breath frosted in the air, and she was a virgin. He pressed her head against his shoulder again and nuzzled her hair.
She placed her slender hand over his chest. “Your heart is beating so fast.”
He tightened his hold on her, a little undone by her innocence. She’d not known how to kiss him back, but she’d caught on quickly. The women in his life had always been independent, worldly, and temporary. He’d bedded them and shared a few laughs, but he’d never let them get close. He sought pleasure, not intimacy.
Will tried to convince himself that they could somehow manage to extricate themselves from an enforced marriage. But it was the wee hours of the morning, and he knew that others must have noticed them both missing. There was no escaping until the servants stirred in the morning. He considered bribery, but he didn’t have any money with him. At any rate, if one servant was alerted, he would report to the butler who had the keys, and the butler, who undoubtedly was loyal and trustworthy, would report the incident to Boswood.
Amy’s deep, even breathing drew his attention. She was asleep. Dormant protective feelings filled his chest. He supposed their enforced captivity had created a situational bond between them, but he knew it wouldn’t last. If they were forced to marry, they would likely live separate lives like most couples of the ton: he with his traveling and she with her gown designs.
He sighed. There was nothing more he could do tonight. He would deal with tomorrow when it came.
Chapter Six
The next morning
What shall I tell Miss Hardwick’s poor parents?” Lady Boswood cried.
“Mama,” Georgette said, “I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation.”
“No, there isn’t,” her mother screeched. “She’s disappeared off the face of the earth.”
The Marquess of Boswood entered the drawing room and cleared his throat. “Madame, the physician is here with a tonic for your nerves.”
As a maid led Lady Boswood away, Georgette looked at her father gratefully. When it came to emergencies, her mother was hopelessly inept.
Last night, word had leaked out during the card party that the devil and Miss Hardwick were missing. A great hue and cry had commenced, but none of the guests or the servants had seen them for quite some time. More than a few guests had mentioned an elopement because everyone had seen the pair flirting at the Broughtons’ ball. Georgette prayed it wasn’t so, because of the scandal.
The Dowager Countess of Hawkfield mopped her tears. “Gypsies must have stolen them.”
Hawk paced the drawing room. “I cannot imagine Will kidnapping Miss Hardwick. He resisted my sisters’ efforts to make him a match. Why would he steal a bride?”
“I cannot fathom Amy leaving with him,” Georgette said. Amy had made her poor opinion of Mr. Darcett clear, and Georgette could not understand how the devil had managed to persuade her friend to elope. Amy always used caution and was mindful of the proprieties. She knew an elopement would cause a terrible scandal. Amy would not want to hurt her parents. Considering all these factors, Georgette could not believe Amy had willingly run away with the devil. But if she wasn’t with him, where was she?
The bell rang. A few minutes later, Hester, Lady Rutledge, ambled into the drawing room. “Is it true my nephew ran off to Scotland with an heiress?”
Hawk managed to settle his aunt and explained that no one knew for sure what had happened to the unlikely couple.
Lord Boswood stroked his chin. “There’s something very odd about this business. Both went missing at approximately the same time. I hate to mention it, but we must consider that there may have been foul play—and in my own home, no less.”
“But Papa, we know everyone who attended the party,” Georgette said.
“Perhaps the butler saw something suspicious,” he said and walked over to the bell to summon him.
Five minutes later, Mr. Hoffman arrived, looking stoic as usual. “My lord,” he said, bowing.
Lord Boswood explained the circumstances. “Did you or any of the other servants observe anything unusual last night? Even the smallest incident might be of use in our search for the young people.”
“Nothing out of the ordinary, my lord.”
Boswood stroked his chin. “Were there any unusual sights, sounds, or smells?”
Hoffman shook his head. “I can check with the cook, but we were serving a cold collation last night, so I doubt there are any clues there.”
“How could they just disappear?” Hawk asked. “The butler didn’t see them leave via the front door.”
“Amy was wearing a ball gown. She would not have gone out in the cold night without a wrap, and outerwear is Mr. Hoffman’s responsibility,” Georgette said.
“We assume they are together,” Boswood said. “It seems likely.”
Hawk cleared his throat. “Have all of the rooms been checked?”
Mr. Hoffman’s composure slipped for the first time that Georgette could ever remember.
“My lord, I inadvertently left the wine cellar unlocked for a short while last night. When I realized my mistake, I returned and locked the door,” the butler said.
The marquess stared at him. “Did you enter the wine cellar before locking the door?”
“No, my lord.”
“Did you hear voices or a noise of any kind?”
“No, my lord.”
“Dear God, they must be locked in the wine cellar,” Georgette cried.
The marquess held up his hand. “Everyone please be calm. We do not know yet if that is in fact what became of Miss Hardwick and Mr. Darcett. Now, Hoffman, if you will lead the way, Lord Hawkfield and I will accompany you to the wine cellar.”
After her father left, Georgette looked at Beau. “I cannot sit and wait.”
He took her arm. “Come, I will escort you there.”
Someone shook his shoulder. “Will, wake up.”
He blinked and found his brother staring at him. “What the deuce?”
When Amy gasped, Will realized he was cupping her breasts and dropped his hands. After he stood and assisted Amy to her feet, he rubbed his eyes only to find Hawk examining the empty wine bottle from last night. His brother looked at him with an odd expression.
Will held up his palms. “There was nothing else to drink.”
Amy brushed ineffectually at her skirts. Will realized she was nervous and took her arm. “Be calm. We’re rescued. Everything will be fine now.”
Boswood cleared his throat. “Beaufort, Georgette, let us inform the others that we found Miss Hardwick and Mr. Darcett safe and sound.”
“Papa, I wish to speak to her,” Georgette said.
Beau took her arm. “We should give them privacy.”
The marquess regarded Hawk. “We will await you in the drawing room.”
Hawk cleared his throat. “Will, there is an issue that we must address. We had better go upstairs.”
“What issue?” Amy asked.
Will wanted to put his arms round her to comfort her, but he didn’t dare in front of his brother. He exchanged a meaningful look with Hawk. “I wish to speak to Miss Hardwick privately. We will be along momentarily.”
Hawk took him aside. “Be quick about it. The scandal sheets are likely to be full of tales.”
“What?” he said under his breath.
“Talk to her briefly, and then come upstairs.”
After Hawk left, Will took Amy’s cold hands and squeezed them in an effort to reassure her. “I want to prepare you. They may try to make us marry.” He knew they would, but he wanted to soften the blow as much as possible.
She flinched.
“I’ll fight it,” he said. “We did nothing wrong. We just got locked in the wine cellar.”
“I can’t believe this. It was an accident.” She worried her hands. “We didn’t do anything really bad.”
“We spent the night together.”
/>
She leaned toward him. “Surely they wouldn’t make us marry because we kissed.”
“Hush. Don’t mention that—never give away ammunition,” he said.
She grasped his hands. “You will persuade them, won’t you?”
“I’ll do my best,” he said. But he didn’t hold out much hope.
Thirty minutes later, in the drawing room
“You will dishonor her?” the Dowager Countess of Hawkfield cried.
“Mama,” Will said, “I’m not dishonoring her, because I never dishonored her in the first place.” He was breathing hard as everyone stared at him with disbelief. “I swear she’s as pure as the driven snow.” He’d tried for her sake, but he was getting nowhere with any of them. Even Hawk felt marriage was necessary.
Aunt Hester arched her gray brows. “And how would you know that if you hadn’t gone fishing?”
“Oh, oh, oh,” the dowager countess cried.
Will noticed Amy clasping and unclasping her hands. “It’s ridiculous to make us marry because we got locked in a wine cellar accidentally.”
“The bald truth, Darcett, is that your reputation is, ahem, not the best,” Boswood said. “To be honest, most of the guests last night thought you had abducted her.”
The dowager countess wept again.
Hester rolled her eyes. “Louisa, stop that sniveling. This isn’t the end of the world. Well, it’s probably the end of Will’s bachelor days, but he’ll survive.”
“Aunt Hester, I counted on your support,” Will said. “I didn’t hurt her.”
“I beg to differ,” Boswood said. “Whether by design or accident, the two of you went missing together and were locked in by yourselves all night. The gossip has already spread.”
“That brings a question to mind,” Beau said. “How did the two of you end up in the wine cellar in the first place?”
“It was an accident,” Will and Amy said simultaneously.
Hester snorted. “You’re a poor excuse for a rake if you can’t lie any better than that.”
Boswood folded his hands over his belly. “It’s never about the truth; it’s always about the perception. And in this case, the gossip has leaked and the damage is done. It affects both of your families as well.”
“The sooner you accept the inevitable, the sooner you’ll adjust your mind to the changes,” Hawk said. “Everyone in the family will support you.”
Amy’s face crumpled. Will sat beside her and gave her his handkerchief.
“Let us give Miss Hardwick and Mr. Darcett a few minutes of privacy,” Boswood said. He walked over to Amy. “If you are ever in need of anything, you must come to me. You’ve always been a special friend to my Georgette, and I’ll do my best to see that most people know that it was an accident.”
She dabbed at her eyes while everyone filed out of the drawing room.
Will took Amy’s cold hands and squeezed them in an effort to reassure her. “I tried, but it seems gossip has spread far and wide.”
“I cannot believe this. I feel as if this is all a bad dream, and I will awaken to find my life has not changed.”
“I wish to speak to you, because we will likely spend very little time together in the next few days. Matters will likely progress quickly. No doubt my female relatives will begin planning the wedding within hours.”
“How can we marry when we barely know each other?” she said, her voice trembling.
“We spent the night alone. Unfortunately, it is common knowledge. We don’t have a choice.”
“But it was an accident,” she said.
No one would believe a rake like him hadn’t taken advantage of her. “It is the only way to salvage our reputations.” Actually it was to save her reputation, since his was ruined long ago.
“I am still in disbelief,” she said.
“This is not what either of us planned, but we’ll make the best of the situation.”
“What will I tell my parents? Oh, God, I cannot even imagine their shock upon learning the news.”
“If you wish, I will write to them,” he said.
She looked at their joined hands. “That is very kind of you, but I think it would be better if they received the news from me.”
“Try not to worry. Years from now, we will probably laugh over our wine cellar adventure.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” she said without conviction.
Will’s head felt light from weariness as he walked along the gravel walk behind his brother and mother. All he wanted was a bath and his bed. After they entered the foyer, the butler collected their wraps, and the dowager countess headed for the stairs.
Hawk turned to Will. “I need to speak to you.”
“Can’t it wait? I’m done up.”
“No, it cannot,” Hawk said.
Bloody hell. His brother knew about the debt. “Right,” he said and followed his brother into his study.
Will slumped in a cross-framed armchair. “You know about the debt.”
Hawk surprised him by taking the adjacent chair, rather than sitting behind his desk. “I presume that was the reason you wished to speak to me yesterday.”
He nodded.
“You’re hardly the first man to fall prey to the gaming tables.” Hawk sighed. “I’ll pay it on the condition that you never gamble again.”
“It’s my responsibility, and I will pay it.”
“You have no money,” Hawk said.
Will arched his brows. “I expect to come into funds soon.”
Hawk stared at him.
“I didn’t plan last night, if that’s what you’re thinking.” Of course he wouldn’t admit he’d had designs on her fortune prior to last night’s debacle.
“I deduced as much,” Hawk said. “If you’d intended to seduce her, you would have chosen more comfortable accommodations.” He sighed. “Let me pay the debt for now, so that word doesn’t get back to Hardwick.”
Will nodded. “I will repay you, and I will stand by our agreement to work as your land steward.”
“I’m glad. It’s difficult to find a man who has all the right qualifications. You know the property well and have a lot of experience with people from all walks of life. And you’re smart as a whip—when you’re not gambling.”
Will pinched the bridge of his nose. “I expected you to rip me to shreds for the debt.”
“I’ve made bad mistakes, as you know, but what counts is how you deal with it afterward,” Hawk said. “You came to me and took responsibility.”
He said nothing, because he was weary and could no longer think.
“Will?”
“Hmm?”
“The circumstances of your marriage aren’t important. It’s what comes after the wedding that matters. I wish you both happy. Now get some rest before you collapse.”
He swallowed hard. “Thank you.”
Aunt Hester’s town house, two hours later
Hester had insisted that Amy stay at her town house upon hearing that Lady Boswood had taken to her bed in a nervous state after last night’s incident.
“I know it’s difficult, gel, but the letter must post by express. You don’t want your parents to get this news from someone else who has heard an exaggerated account.”
“I understand the reason,” Amy said. A fog enveloped her brain. None of this seemed real. In the space of a few hours, her entire life had turned upside down. God only knew what was in store for her in the future.
Hester set out the paper, pen, and inkwell. “Do you prefer privacy or would you like some assistance?”
Amy’s hand trembled as she picked up the pen. She set it aside. “I just need a moment t-to calm myself.”
“You can dictate the letter to me,” Hester said. “I’ll add a postscript to the letter letting your parents know that you were a little nervous.”
She shook her head. “They will worry more if I do not write the letter myself.”
“Very well. I will sit on my sofa, and if you need assistance
writing the letter, just let me know.”
Dear Mama and Papa,
I love you both very much. I have news that will no doubt shock you. I regret to inform you that I will marry soon due to unusual circumstances. A gentleman named Mr. William Darcett and I were accidentally locked into a wine cellar overnight. I am unharmed, but you must know that there is a great deal of gossip circulating, and I wished you to learn the news from me, rather than strangers. I have been compromised.
I am presently staying with Lady Rutledge, Mr. Darcett’s aunt, until the wedding. I do not yet know when or where it is to take place, but I beg you to come to London at your earliest convenience. Please believe that I am unharmed, safe, and sound. There will be a big adjustment, I’m sure, but I will persevere. I miss you both so much and look forward to seeing you at the wedding.
Yours truly,
Amy
Amy closed her eyes momentarily after writing the word wedding. She still felt as if she were caught in a dense fog and could see no farther than the cold mist swirling round her.
“Are you finished, Miss Hardwick?” Hester asked.
She swallowed hard. “Yes, I am.”
“Do you wish me to review it for you?”
“No, I feel confident of the wording. Thank you for your support and the offer of your home during this difficult time.”
Hester patted her hand. “We are to be family now.”
Amy sanded the letter. When she applied the seal, she faltered. Then she bit her lip as Hester arranged for its delivery. It was one of those indelible moments she knew would be stamped on her memory forever. There would be many more in the days ahead, and she would have to maintain her composure.
Oh, dear God, she must marry the worst rake in England.
The next morning
“Have one more cup of tea with me,” Hester said.
“Thank you,” Amy said as the servant carried away the plates. She’d managed to eat a little breakfast, but her vexation had not abated.
How to Ravish a Rake Page 12
