“Kala, stop. Right now.” She heard a familiar commanding voice.
“Gabe?”
“Yes,” he whispered and she felt the fierce hold he had on her relax somewhat. She wriggled her hands free and threw her arms around his neck.
“Thank God, it’s you. Gabe, I was so scared. He said things and did things that,” she broke off and shuddered. “James. Where is James? Is he all right?” All of a sudden she felt firm lips covering her mouth. She pulled away. “Why did you do that?”
“I need you to shut up so I can think.”
“Oh,” she leaned up to kiss him once more.
“Oh, my,” she heard in the background.
“My, my,” an unfamiliar female voice said followed by a man’s throat being cleared.
“Bloody hell,” she heard Gabe utter.
***
Gabe would never forget that particular evening as long as he lived. It was the night that his life went straight to hell. His grandmother and Mrs. McGafferty helped Kala dress and tend her wounds while he went downstairs to check on James. The Marquess of Lunsford and his wife saw themselves home, but could be expected to tell everything they had witnessed. Before nightfall the entire ton left in town would know an abbreviated version of the truth. Gabe rotated his head as if he felt a noose tightening around his neck. James had a lump on the back of his head and a pounding head, but would recover in a day or two. Thompson had returned and seen to cleaning up the mess of the broken vase.
“I will have two new doors ordered.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Thompson said stiffly.
How dare the man act as if this whole thing were his fault? “Where were you today, Thompson?”
“Miss Kala gave the staff the afternoon off since she was going out. I went to visit a friend. We have a very small staff since the family has gone to Whitestone Manor.”
“I see,” and he did by the blush that rose to cover Thompson’s face. “Did no one think to watch the house?”
“The guard went with Miss Kala and Her Grace. Why would anyone want to enter the house?”
“Yes, well, now we know why. Don’t we Thompson?” The man had the nerve to huff and leave the room. “Impertinent servants.” Gabe walked over to the window in the parlor and watched as twilight began to fall. His hands clenched into fists behind him.
“Gabriel.”
“Yes, grandmother?”
“Mrs. McGafferty is bringing her down. Be gentle with her, she has been through a lot this afternoon.”
“Gentle? Gentle?” he heard his voice getting louder and harder.
“Gabe is right, Judith,” Kala’s sensuous voice could be heard from the door. “I should not have dismissed all the servants for the day. However, in my defense,” she hurried on before anyone could say anything, “I’m glad they weren’t here and injured because of me. I feel bad enough for James.”
“James is tough,” Gabe said stiffly. He walked over and saw the strips of cloth covering her hand. He took one gently in his and ran a finger over the cloth covering her palm. He watched her shudder a bit. “How are your hands?”
“They’ve been better,” her voice sounded a bit more breathless than usual. He crooked a finger and ran it down her soft cheek before he caught himself.
He grabbed her elbow to lead her to the settee. She jerked free and began crossing the room. His strides carried him across and he quickly caught up with her. “What do you think you are doing?”
“Going to sit on the settee.”
“I would have assisted you.”
“I don’t need assistance, thank you. I memorized the layout of the rooms I frequent most. Thank God that fiend brought me into one of them so I knew where everything could be found. If he had taken me somewhere else,” she couldn’t suppress a shudder, “I don’t know what would have happened to me.”
“You could be dead,” he bit out.
“Gabriel,” his grandmother reprimanded from her seat.
“It’s true. Before this goes any further, what happened?” She repeated the sequence of events as she remembered them. “Did he say anything?”
“Right after he ripped my dress, or perhaps before, he said something about wishing the duke had been able to watch but not being able to wait.”
Kala heard a loud thump and a profanity even she had never heard before. Hawkescliffe actually showing emotion in regards to her? What a truly interesting development. She shook herself. How could she be thinking like this after having so recently been attacked? Perhaps that was why. Any other time she would have continued on, attempting to ignore Gabe to the best of her abilities.
“You do realize the Marquess and Marchioness of Lunsford saw us in a most compromising position?”
“Yes, I gathered that. You know, Gabe, I can’t see, but I’m not stupid.”
“That is yet to be determined.” She began counting, refusing to lose her temper. “I will go and see the archbishop as soon as possible.” So intent on counting, she almost missed this comment.
“The archbishop? Why?”
“You are getting married, my dear,” she heard the glee in Judith’s voice.
“Oh, no. I think all of you need to go back where you came from. What can one old couple do? Besides, I have decided I do not want to marry — anyone.”
“It doesn’t seem to matter anymore what you have decided. And apparently you have not heard about this couple. He is worse than all of the gossipy old women of the ton. I imagine he is already at his club painting a vivid picture which the men will go home and tell their wives. It will be all over London by daybreak. I will have a special license in hand by tomorrow evening and we will be married.”
“Tomorrow? What if I want my family here?”
“That will not happen. Some will not be able to make it in time, so there is no need to bother them. I will send notes around to them explaining what happened and the haste in which it needed to be carried out.”
“I am not ruined, not like poor Lady Clarissa,” she blurted out in anger. “It is she that you should be marrying. She can provide you with money and excellent alliances, even if she is already increasing. There are plenty of seven-month miracle babies around the ton.”
“Mikala,” Judith cut in. “That is enough.”
“Whose side are you on, Judith?”
“My own.” A throat cleared at the door of the parlor.
“Your Grace, Miss Mikala’s things are all packed.”
“What?” her head whipped around to where Mrs. McGafferty’s voice came from.
“Thank you Mrs. McGafferty. I will have my solicitor send around your money tomorrow. Thank you for helping my fiancée.”
“It was my pleasure, Your Grace.”
“Would someone please tell me what the bloody hell is going on?”
“Kala, that is not proper language fitting a future duchess.”
“Duchess my arse,” she crossed her arms mutinously.
“As I said, we will be married by Saturday. You cannot stay here since it is no longer safe. You will come to my house and Grandmother will be our chaperone.”
“Wonderful,” she fell back against the back of the sofa.
“Mikala,” Judith sounded hurt.
“It’s not you, Judith. It is the prospect of being married to your grandson and dealing with his dragon of a mother.”
“I will appreciate it if you treat my mother with respect,” he said imperiously. “You know, once upon a time you didn’t find it so daunting to be attached to me by marriage.”
“Times change, Your Grace.”
“Enough of this. You are coming even if I have to throw you over my shoulder and carry you across the square.”
“Imagine all the talk if that were to happen,” Kala interjected caustically.
“I will have someone come for your trunks,” Gabe continued, ignoring her.
“Where will you be staying until Saturday?”
“At my house.”
“Wha
t will people say?”
“At this point, I don’t care. The damage has already been done.”
“Fine.” She stood and held out her hand waiting for his arm.
“What are you doing?”
“My, you do sound rather peevish right now. I’m waiting for assistance. Perhaps you are the one with the addled mind.”
“Good grief,” she heard Judith say behind her. Mikala had already decided, if he forced her into this marriage, she would make certain he regretted every second of his decision.
Chapter 17
Later that night, Gabe still seethed over her comments about Lady Clarissa. Did she really believe the rumors circulating the ton about them? His anger warred with feelings of hurt that she would believe such nonsense. However, it did bring up another topic.
He would have to inform Lady Clarissa of the turn of events. He had made no promises to her, but he did feel it necessary to make her aware of the situation. Clarissa would have made a wonderful duchess, but she lacked the fire that emanated from Kala. That fire, he realized with a start, he craved in a woman. But when? The desire for Kala and her wild ways had always been there, but had he tried to deny his longings? He had fought to suppress any feelings for her for so long he convinced himself he wanted someone sweet and biddable like Lady Clarissa. Mikala made all other women seem dull. Had he always compared other women to her?
He pushed the disturbing thoughts away and penned the note to Lady Clarissa, sealing it with his ducal seal. He made a list of all the things that had to be done tomorrow. Three times he began a letter to Derek explaining what had happened and informing him of the upcoming nuptials. Three times he tossed the letter into the fire. How did one go about telling his best friend that he and his sister were found in a compromising position and were forced to marry? Derek would kill him.
He stood and went to the brandy decanter on the cart and poured himself a healthy serving of the smuggled liquor. Then he moved to a large leather chair that stood in front of the fire and sat down. He set his glass down while he pulled off his boots and then crossed his feet to gather warmth from the blaze. How could one’s life go so wrong in the space of minutes? He sighed and picked up the glass, taking a healthy swallow. The liquid burned a path of warmth down his throat to his stomach.
He had begun to doze, a combination of the warmth and the brandy when he heard a thud and a curse. Startled awake, he jumped to his feet, the brandy spilling down his waistcoat. He saw Kala and relaxed a bit until he saw that she wore her nightgown and dressing robe.
“What are you doing down here?” He asked her a bit harshly, tearing at the buttons of his waistcoat to remove the wet, sticky mess.
“I wanted to talk to you in private. Judith helped me down the stairs. I bumped into the table though,” she said, rubbing the top of her thigh.
“And she let you come down wearing that?”
“I’m decently covered.”
“What do you want?”
She heard him walk away from her and then the tinkling of glass. “What are you doing?”
“Pouring myself another drink.”
“Another?”
“Don’t get all prudish. Most of the last one is all over my waistcoat.”
“Oh,” she began to walk cautiously across the room, her hands well in front of her searching for a chair.
“Oh hell,” he muttered before grabbing her arm and leading her to a chair. “Here, sit before you hurt yourself again.”
“May I have a drink?”
“Here,” he pushed his glass into her hands and noticed they trembled. The events of this afternoon had really shaken her.
“Gabe, I just wanted you to know you don’t have to go through with this.”
“Of course I do.”
“No. Your grandmother will say nothing and we do not have to tell your mother. Besides she hates me and would find excuses for it not to happen anyway.”
“Mother hates everyone,” he muttered.
“Excuse me?”
“Nothing.”
“Your grandmother has promised me she will not say a word to anyone and the servants all know better.”
“What of Lord and Lady Lunsford?”
“Can’t we convince those left in town that they didn’t really see what they think they saw?”
“Kala, your bodice laid ripped open exposing your natural wonders for all to see. I lay on top of you and we were kissing. How do you suppose we convince them we were innocent? Hell, I don’t know that I would believe it if I hadn’t been there and well and truly involved.”
“I will slip out of town and return to Mama and Papa. Let the gossips talk. I won’t be returning next year anyway. I am done with all these supercilious people. It will take the talk away from Lady Clarissa,” she threw back the brandy left in the glass.
“I don’t think so.”
She hunched her shoulders over, her sable hair covered her face from his view. He thought he heard a snuffle, but couldn’t be sure. “Mikala?”
“Damn you, Gabriel,” her face came up but her eyes were dry. “Just let me go. I will move to the country where I had originally planned. Please. Somewhere that nobody knows me. If you will loan me a bit of money, I will see you repaid plus interest. The more I think on it, the more I know I can’t return to Mama and Papa. They would be so embarrassed. Just let me go,” he watched in astonishment as tears began to cling to her sable lashes. They were beginning to fill back in, and promised to be thicker than before. What happened to the little termagant that he normally dealt with? He didn’t quite know how to deal with this show of emotion.
He took a deep breath and a fortifying drink before beginning. “Kala, this is the only way. You have to trust me on this.”
“This marriage won’t work, Gabe. We can’t even be in the same room together for five minutes without fighting.” She pulled her lower lip through her teeth, worrying it. Gabe shifted trying to relieve the tightness that had developed in his pants since he saw her in her negligee.
“We’ll have to manage.”
“Manage? Dammit, Gabe. Let me leave and forget that any of this ever happened. There might be a little talk, but nothing you can’t weather. You’re a duke, people will forget. You can marry Clarissa and everything will be fine once more.”
Gabe stood, rapidly crossed the few steps to her and jerked her up in front of him. His hands were clasped tightly on her upper arms, and she brought her hands up between them in a defensive manner.
“You listen closely, Mikala, and you listen well. There is some sick man out there that wants to kill you. He almost did it again today, plus more. I am not letting you out of my sight until we find him.”
“We don’t have to marry for that. We have chaperones in the house to...” her words were muffled by his mouth covering hers. She tore her mouth away. “Would you quit doing that?”
“I don’t think so,” he shifted one arm behind her back to hold her close while his other hand held her head in place. She felt his firm lips tease hers.
“Gabe,” she attempted to say, but instead felt shock when his tongue slipped into her mouth. She stiffened at the intrusion. Southerby had kissed her, and then she had been mauled in the attack earlier, but neither could be compared to this.
“I’m sorry. It is too soon after what happened to you.”
“No, I mean. Well, could you help me make new memories?”
“What do you mean?”
“I want to forget about what that other man did.”
“Less than a minute ago you wanted me to let you disappear.”
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I am acting like a wanton.” She wrapped her arms around her waist and turned her back to him, forcing his arms to drop away from her. “Gabe, you really don’t have to marry me. I planned on ending my season early even before I lost my sight. I just don’t fit in. There is a little cottage I made inquiries into. Perhaps that would be the best for all.”
She heard a heavy sigh
behind her before a pair of hands settled on her shoulders and turned her around. She felt his lips softly brush the top of her head. “Relax,” she heard him whisper in her ear. Both of his hands moved up and cradled her face, his fingers speared into her hair. She could feel his thumbs wiping at any remnants of tears that were on her cheeks. “Kala,” he murmured before his lips began to tease hers.
“No,” she pulled away from him. “Don’t do this. You don’t want me. Let me leave, please.”
“Dammit, Mikala Ann Simmons, quit fighting me. There is no escaping this mess we’re in.”
“You know, you’re my brother’s best friend not my keeper. You don’t have to ruin your life because of me. Don’t do this because you are being nice.”
“Believe, me, right now I feel anything but nice,” he growled before capturing her lips and cutting off any more arguments she might have given.
Not being able to see, she could focus solely on the feel, smell and taste of him. She could taste the brandy he had been drinking. It left her feeling heady. He was surprisingly gentle for such a large man. He coaxed her tongue into sparring with his, which made warmth rush through her body. She heard a moan and realized it came from her. Her arms reached around him and covered his back. Her breasts flattened against his hard chest, tingling at the contact.
He turned them in a circle so that he now sat in the chair, and pulled her down onto his lap. In this position he could not hide his reaction to her, and she thrilled with the knowledge that he responded to her like that. That had worried her most—that he only thought of her as a sister. Brothers definitely did not think of their sisters in this manner.
Gabe felt relief that the attack this afternoon had not scarred her from passion as he feared it had. Her response to him incited him. He would have to keep a tight rein on his passion if she were to leave this night still a virgin. He felt her tongue dart into his mouth and he felt a low moan rumble in his chest.
Kala took his moan into her mouth and allowed him to deepen the kiss even more. She shifted so that she could wrap her arms around his neck and run her fingers through his tousled hair. Her hand cupped his stubbled cheek, and ran her thumb along the smooth line of the scar. He has so many wonderful textures, she thought dreamily. She felt him pull away and drop kisses on her eyes then he nibbled on her ear lobes, each in turn.
A Thin Line Page 14
