The Marriage Truce

by Ann Elizabeth Cree

  She yanked her hand away. ‘What is wrong?’ she asked. Had she hurt him?

  ‘Nothing. It is just your touch. Damn it, Sarah. If you continue to touch me like that I may lose whatever control I have.’ His eyes were dark with passion and he was breathing hard. And she suddenly was aware of his hardness pressing into her leg.

  Amazed that she could have such power over him, she touched his cheek, tracing the planes of his face. He caught her hand and pressed it to his lips, then released it. ‘You are so beautiful. Do you know how much I’ve longed to touch you, to feel you beneath me?’

  ‘Is this the next step?’

  A sudden grin lit his face. ‘One of them. Do you object if I touch you more?’

  ‘No.’ In fact, she was beginning to feel impatient. Her body felt as if it was tingling with the need to feel his hands everywhere.

  He cupped her breast through the thin cotton of her nightdress and circled the nipple with his thumb. She gasped when his mouth came down to caress her nipple with his tongue. A tiny moan escaped her at the exquisite sensations he created. And then his mouth was moving up her neck, leaving a fiery trail of desire in its wake. His lips returned to hers, his tongue moving in her mouth. His hand crept beneath her nightdress and he slowly caressed her calf. He moved his hand slowly up her leg to her thigh, and then his fingers were stroking the inside of her thigh as his knee parted her legs. His hand crept further and touched the soft hidden bud, his fingers doing things to her she’d never imagined. Her body pressed into his hand, the desire for release building in relentless circles.

  And then he pulled away. She opened her eyes, confused, her body heated and heavy with desire. ‘I think the next step,’ he said. His voice was thick, his eyes heavy and hooded. She watched as he rose above her and then quickly averted her gaze as his hands fumbled with the fastenings of his breeches.

  And then he again stretched out beside her, his arms pulled her to him, and after that, it hardly mattered which step they were on.

  Cedric ran a hand down the Sèvres vase. If all went well, he’d soon be able to afford such fine porcelain. All of Kentwood was well furnished with a quiet good taste that he could not quite emulate. As Caroline Kenton herself exhibited. He turned when he heard footsteps and Charles Kenton appeared in the doorway of the drawing room.

  ‘You have a fine collection of porcelain,’ Cedric remarked. His gaze flickered over Kenton’s face, trying to gauge his mood, but Cedric could not quite read him.

  ‘My mother’s,’ Kenton said briefly. ‘You have business with me?’

  ‘Yes.’ Cedric smiled. ‘I will get directly to the point. Over the past few weeks I have had the great pleasure of finding myself frequently in your sister’s company. I have come to hold her in the highest regard. She is all that is lovely, and amiable and sweet. It perhaps seems too soon to speak, but I cannot wait. In short, I desire her to become my wife.’

  Kenton stared at him. ‘I must refuse your request.’

  ‘May I inquire why?’

  ‘There are several reasons. Sufficient to say, however, that I fear you have something of a reputation as a fortune-hunter. And even if I thought my sister returned the sentiments you claim to have, I would not consider the match.’

  A slow, boiling anger began to rise in Cedric. He kept his voice even. ‘And may I know the name of the person or persons who dared to sully my reputation in such a vile way?’ But he had no need for an answer.

  ‘I can’t see that it matters.’ Kenton shrugged, clearly dismissing him. ‘I am sorry I cannot spare you more time, but I have an engagement.’

  Cedric quit the house, his fury barely contained. But he’d had years of controlling his desire to leap at a man’s throat or slap a woman’s face for various set-downs.

  He mounted his curricle and cracked his whip with more force than necessary. The horses leaped forward and he drove out of the grounds, narrowly missing the gatepost. He would have his revenge. He would destroy Huntington. And do it through the thing he loved most.

  Sarah looked up as Sally entered her bedchamber. She had slept late and breakfasted in bed, and had only now finished dressing in a sprigged muslin gown.

  ‘His lordship wishes to see you in his study,’ Sally announced.

  ‘Thank you.’ Sarah’s pulse fluttered. In all her imaginings, she had never expected to find such ecstasy in a man’s arms. Last night seemed almost like a dream, particularly when she woke to find Dev gone from her bed. But her bedcovers carried his scent and her nightdress lay on the floor and she knew their lovemaking had been quite real.

  He stood at the window behind his desk, but turned as soon as she entered. ‘I trust you slept well,’ he said.

  ‘Yes, very well.’ A surge of disappointment assailed her. Were they about to resume their usual formal civility? Perhaps last night had meant nothing more to him than fulfilment of his male desire. ‘Did you want to see me about something?’ she asked politely.

  ‘Yes.’ He stepped around the side of the desk. ‘Although I would prefer that you move from the door.’

  She came to his desk. He smiled. ‘Much better.’ And then he bent his head and kissed her thoroughly.

  He lifted his head. The expression in his eyes brought a blush to her cheeks. She pulled away, her knees shaking. ‘Dev, the door is not closed.’

  ‘Isn’t it?’ His smile was rather rakish. ‘I somehow do not think anyone would object too much if they see me kissing you. Certainly not my sister or your cousin since I suspect they have waited for this since our wedding.’

  ‘Yes, but…’

  His mouth cut off her words and she found herself nearly falling on him as he backed up against his desk. He caught her, his mouth trailing kisses down her neck. He finally put her away from him, breathing hard. ‘I was going to ask you to come for a ride with me, but perhaps we should forget the ride all together and retire early.’

  The idea made her dizzy. ‘Now? Is that not rather improper?’ And what would the others think if they found out she and Dev were closeted together at eleven in the morning?

  A wicked light leaped into his eye. ‘Undoubtedly, but we are married.’ He stood back. ‘I am only teasing, at least for now. So, do you wish to come with me?’

  She smiled, suddenly happy. ‘Yes, but only if you conduct yourself with the utmost propriety.’

  He gave her a slow smile. ‘I can’t promise you that at all.’

  Three-quarters of an hour later, they had just started down the road in Dev’s curricle when the rug at Sarah’s feet moved. A familiar grey tail hung out one end. She gasped. ‘Dev! Stop!’

  ‘What is it?’ He pulled up the horse.

  ‘I fear we have a stowaway.’ She bent down and pulled the cover aside. Merlin looked up at them with his yellow gaze.

  Dev swore. ‘Blast it, Sarah, I thought you’d been hurt! Don’t scare me like that!’ He gave Merlin a speaking glance. ‘I should have guessed he might try this. However, I’ve no intention of having him along as chaperon today.’

  She picked Merlin up and cradled him against her. ‘Can we take him back to the house? I don’t want to leave him by the road.’

  He quirked a brow. ‘My dear, I hope you do not think me that callous. Besides, I strongly suspect if I were to do such a thing, we would be back at daggers drawn. Or worse.’

  He manoeuvred the horses around and back towards the stables. Sarah handed the protesting cat to a groom who promised to return him to the house.

  They again started off along the road that bordered the estate uninterrupted by stowaway animals. He looked down at her. ‘I spoke to Kenton yesterday so you may put your mind to rest. He assured me that he had noticed Blanton’s attentions and even if I’d said nothing, he would not have considered the match. Apparently he has already heard rumours of Blanton’s prior affair. He has warned Caroline to stay away from him as well.’

  ‘Thank you so much,’ Sarah said with heartfelt gratitude. ‘I had worried, but I won’t now.’<
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  ‘However, I don’t want you wandering around alone. I don’t trust him.’

  She glanced at Dev. ‘Why? Surely he cannot do me any harm now.’ And then she remembered the look on his face yesterday when she had given Merlin to Caroline.

  Dev hesitated. ‘We still do not know for certain who pushed you.’

  ‘You think it might have been Mr Blanton?’ Putting an actual name to her assailant made her shiver. At times, she had managed to convince herself that the blow to her back had been no more than her imagination.

  ‘Possibly.’ He frowned. ‘Your brother has not yet been able to determine if he was in the area or not. Or wring a confession out of him.’

  ‘Nick?’ Sarah was bewildered. ‘But he seems to be on quite good terms with Mr Blanton. I have been rather worried.’

  ‘Your brother is here to keep an eye on Blanton. He hopes Blanton will trust him enough to let down his guard.’

  ‘Surely there is no need for all of this.’ But she felt a trickle of unease none the less.

  He glanced at her. ‘There is. He’s dangerous. Your brother wants to make certain he leaves the area without further mischief. He is concerned for your safety. As I am,’ he added softly. ‘So, he is watching Blanton, and I am watching you. Which is why I’ve no intention of letting you go off on your own. Particularly now that you’re well enough to start off on one of your rambles.’ He looked at her. ‘Promise me you’ll not go off without one of us.’

  The concern in his eyes halted any objection she might have made. ‘I promise.’

  They turned down a road that followed the stream. He pulled the horses to a halt near a grassy patch under some trees. ‘My groom will meet us here shortly and then we can walk a bit. I know a very private spot.’

  She flushed at the look in his eye and he slowly bent toward her. A loud boom jerked them apart. She glanced at Dev.

  He frowned. ‘Damn, I’d forgotten Filby’s party was out shooting today. Perhaps we should find a quieter and less dangerous spot.’

  The shot came then. It seemed to happen at once, the noise, Dev shoving her down as something whizzed over their heads and then the horses leaping forward.

  She clutched at the side as Dev attempted to bring the horses under control. He succeeded and turned to face her. His face was ashen. ‘My God, Sarah. Are you all right?’

  ‘Yes.’ She was shaking uncontrollably. He reached over and pulled her to him. She managed to ask, ‘Are you?’

  ‘Yes.’ His arm tightened around her.

  ‘Huntington! What the devil happened?’ Sir Ralph had come through the trees, Charles Kenton in his wake. ‘Saw your team bolting. Thought for a moment Lady Huntington had been thrown.’

  ‘No. But close to it.’ Dev spoke over her head, his voice grim. ‘Someone shot at us. He would have hit Sarah if I hadn’t pushed her down.’

  ‘My God!’ Charles exclaimed. ‘Who would be so careless?’

  ‘If it was carelessness,’ Dev said coldly. ‘Who else is shooting with you?’

  ‘Are you suggesting it wasn’t an accident?’ Sir Ralph demanded.

  ‘That is what I intend to determine.’ Dev slowly released Sarah.

  More voices came from the trees. And then Nicholas emerged. He took in the scene and ran forward, his face white. ‘What happened? Sarah?’

  ‘I am all right,’ she said.

  ‘Huntington? What happened?’ Nicholas demanded.

  ‘Someone took a shot at us, either intending to hit us or spook the horses. Where’s Blanton?’

  Nicholas looked grim. ‘The devil of it is, I don’t know. He was with us. Then he shot a bird and he and Branley went to retrieve it. When they didn’t return I went off to look for them. Haven’t seen either one.’

  ‘I am taking Sarah home and then we’re both going to look for him,’ Dev said.

  Charles stepped forward and frowned at Dev. ‘You think Blanton deliberately did this?’

  ‘I’ve little doubt.’

  ‘Then I’ll join you,’ he said. ‘He offered for Caroline today and I turned him down. To say he was not pleased is an understatement. He would have mowed me down in the drawing room if he’d thought he could get away with it.’

  ‘You’re saying Blanton is shooting at people?’ Sir Ralph demanded.

  ‘Among other things,’ Dev said coolly.

  ‘Never liked the fellow much. Man’s a bounder. Caught him with his hands on one of the housemaids. Can’t have people like that staying under my roof. Will tell him he has to go elsewhere tomorrow.’ Sir Ralph spoke with evident satisfaction.

  ‘We can only hope he’ll decide to leave the county,’ Nicholas said.

  Dev smiled, but his smile was not pleasant. ‘We will make quite certain he does.’

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Cedric walked out of Sir Ralph’s study and directly out the door of Harrowood. He started towards his coach, where the footman had already loaded his bags. He climbed inside the coach, and the rage he felt, cold and deadly, started to consume him in slow flickering flames. Oh, he would leave all right, but first he intended to have his revenge. There was a small inn nearby where he intended to stay, a not-so-respectable inn, but Crump, the proprietor, owed him more than one favour.

  The problem, of course, would be getting near Lady Huntington. After yesterday, her husband undoubtedly intended to keep her under lock and key until he was gone. He leaned back against cushions and stared out at the road, lost in thought. And then his eye fastened on three woman walking alongside the road ahead of the coach. He recognised Caroline Kenton and Lady Jessica at once. The other was undoubtedly a maid.

  He knew what he would do now. Huntington could be destroyed in other ways than through his wife.

  As soon as he passed the women, he signalled the coachman to stop. Blanton stepped down and smiled. ‘Good day, Lady Jessica, Miss Kenton.’

  Sarah glanced down at the watercolour. It was the first one she had attempted since her wrist had been hurt. It was done from a sketch she had attempted of Merlin a few days ago. She was not very pleased with it, but at least the work had kept her mind off yesterday.

  Dev and Nicholas had returned to the house with the news that they had not been able to locate Blanton. Mr Branley had come home, saying he’d lost Blanton soon after they had retrieved the bird and then he himself had been lost before he made it back to Harrowood.

  And last night Dev had forbidden her to so much as set foot outside Ravensheed until they determined where the man was. She sighed. She was not looking forward to another enforced stay indoors.

  Amelia looked up from her book. ‘I dare say it will be quite tedious for you to be locked away. I thought perhaps you could come and stay with me for a while.’ She hesitated. ‘I did talk to Dev, and he agreed it would be the best thing until they are certain Blanton presents no more danger.’

  ‘That is very kind,’ Sarah said automatically. The intimacies of their night together had been completely overshadowed by the other events. Dev had been preoccupied, his manner cool, as if the passion they’d shared had never happened.

  ‘We can leave tomorrow, if you can be ready by then. Nicholas has agreed to go with us.’

  ‘How nice,’ Sarah replied, although she felt like weeping instead.

  They both were startled when the library door burst open. Caroline rushed in, her bonnet askew, her eyes wild with fear. ‘Oh, Sarah! It’s Jessica!’

  Sarah jumped up. Her heart leaped to her throat. ‘Caroline? What is it?’

  ‘He has her! ’Tis all my fault! I never thought!’ Caroline’s breath came in short gasps as if she’d been running.

  ‘Who? Where’s Jessica?’ Sarah asked swiftly with a growing sense of dread.

  ‘Mr…Mr Blanton, he…he abducted Jessica. ’Tis all my doing!’ Her voice rose hysterically.

  Sarah’s mind snapped into sharp focus. She dashed over and took Caroline’s arm. ‘Blanton abducted Jessica? Caroline, you cannot cry now! What happened?�
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  Caroline nodded and gulped down a sob. ‘We…we were walking along the road. He stopped and asked if we would like a ride. We said no and started to walk away, but he…he grabbed Jessica and forced her into the carriage. I…I tried to stop him but he pushed me.’ Her eyes filled with shock. ‘And then he was gone! Betsy screamed and would not stop and so I left her. And…and Charles is gone today so I…I came here.’

  Sarah stared at Amelia. ‘Oh, dear God! Dev! He and Adam are gone as well.’ She tried to think. ‘Nicholas! I will go to him.’

  ‘Shall I come with you?’ Amelia asked quickly. She stood, her own face pale.

  ‘No, someone must wait for Dev and Adam to return.’

  She turned and hurried towards the door, then nearly slammed into Nicholas. He caught her shoulders, steadying her. ‘Sarah! My God! What has happened now?’

  Sarah clutched his arm. ‘Blanton has Jessica! Caroline has come to tell us. And Dev is out and I was going to fetch you! You must help!’

  ‘Sarah.’ He gave her a little shake. ‘Start over.’ He glanced at Amelia. ‘Do you know?’

  They managed to tell him the story. When they finished, his face grim, he said, ‘I’m going after them. I’ve an idea where he might have gone.’

  Sarah’s hand tightened on his arm. ‘You do? Oh, Nick, please, I must go also!’

  He looked about to argue and then changed his mind. ‘Very well. Are you ready?’

  ‘Yes, just my bonnet and pelisse.’ She looked at him. ‘Nicholas, do you really know where he might be?’

  ‘Yes, he mentioned an inn once. The Crow Inn.’

  Amelia followed them out. ‘I will wait for Dev and Adam. And let them know.’

  They’d been on the road a scarce quarter of an hour when there was a loud meow. ‘What the devil is that?’ Nicholas exclaimed.

  Sarah froze. ‘Oh, no.’ The rug shifted at her feet.

  She lifted the blanket. Two lazy yellow eyes looked up at her. Her heart sank. ‘It’s Merlin.’