The Rakehell Regency Romance Series Boxed Set 5

by MacMurrough, Sorcha

  "It’s become common knowledge that she’s a worse strumpet than her sister Georgina—" The Duke revealed in a fit of pique as he slammed the plaster phallus down on one of the dressers.

  Ash’s teeth ground together audibly. "I say, you really have gone too far this time, your Grace. You can most certainly speak to my wife, interrogate her as to my behaviour, character, and sexual predelictions, or any other damned thing you like. But you will not repeat such vile slander about her in my house, and certainly not to her face, no matter how much you think you have a right to be angry!"

  Thomas hissed, "You don’t give me orders, Paignton! I can ruin you with just a couple of words in the right ears. Where would you and Ellen be then?"

  Ash fixed the Duke with a hard stare. "You would deprive the district of a good doctor, and the poor of an advocate and helper, merely because you suspect I’ve been tupping your wife?"

  "Merely?" Thomas snorted. "There's no merely about it!"

  The young man called upon all his powers of self-control before replying, "I pity you. You think of sexual relations as an act of possession, for the purpose of claiming territory, dominance."

  "And what do you think it is?" Thomas mocked.

  Ellen re-entered, and Ash motioned her forward. She replied without hesitation, "We believe sexual relations are an aspect of the divine."

  Ash gave her a warm smile. "And what is our attitude regarding infidelity?"

  "Not to even be contemplated," she said without hesitation. "It dissipates our life force, and takes away that special intimacy of a whole marriage so it can never be repaired."

  "Thomas thinks Charlotte and I have been having an affair."

  Ellen laughed incredulously.

  "Even more amusing, he thinks we’re both servicing her."

  She laughed again then, though without mirth. Her eyes narrowed when the Duke’s expression never altered a jot.

  "Is this true?" she gasped.

  Charlotte began to weep silently, but still she said nothing.

  "You really think that Ash— That we—" Ellen’s back went ramrod straight. Her hand shot out, pointing to the door imperiously.

  Ash gaped as his wife turned into a tigress.

  "I want you to leave our house and not come back ever, Your Grace. You have abused our hospitality and friendship most shamefully, and you are no longer welcome in our home. Charlotte will be back at the Castle as soon as she is fit to travel."

  "I’m bloody well not leaving her here!" the Duke growled, though he too was astonished at Ellen’s crackling blue eyes and face white with fury.

  He had the feeling from her reaction that he had made a capital error somewhere, but was not willing to back down so easily. Not when he was still livid and confused. And certainly not in front of the much younger couple.

  "But Thomas—" Charlotte wept.

  Ellen still dared to stand up to him. "You can either leave her here now, or you’ be losing her later. If she’s moved she could—"

  Ash shot his wife a warning look.

  Ellen pulled him to one side. "I’m sorry, darling. But the time for keeping silent is at an end," she whispered in agitation. "Did you hear what he accused you of? Us of?"

  He shrugged. "Since it’s not true, what does it matter?"

  "I will not have you spoken of so foully!" she hissed.

  "Nor I you. We both know we have done nothing of which we should be ashamed. But we also promised Charlotte we would not break a confidence."

  "Then she should speak up now!"

  But Charlotte remained willfully silent, still cradled in her husband’s arms.

  Ash sighed. "Very well, take her home, but on your head be it. I’ll help you—"

  "Don’t bloody touch her!"

  "Here, I’ll take her feet," Ellen offered quickly. "You mustn’t jostle her."

  He accepted her help gruffly, and they slowly began to descend the stairs to the ground floor.

  Eswara could do nothing to dissuade Thomas from taking the Duchess home, so she simply said, "Make sure the carriage goes slowly. No jostling or twisting."

  "Thank you for the loan of it. I shall see it is returned forthwith, with some money for all your trouble—"

  Ellen shot him a look as hard as a slap.

  "Of all the insulting things you've just said," Ash growled, "that truly has to be the worst."

  Ellen and Ash stood by as the Duke loaded the prone woman into their carriage. Charlotte looked tearful and sheepish, and whispered how sorry she was for everything her husband had said.

  "It's not your fault," Ellen reassured her.

  "Nothing to be sorry for," Ash said through stiff lips. "I'm glad we all know what you really think of us, your Grace. Thank you for your past kindnesses, both of you, and of course we wish you well, but after everything you said to me today, I believe we would all do best to steer a wide berth of each other from now on."

  Thomas stared stonily ahead, his expression and every line of his body betokening fury.

  They watched the carriage disappear up the lane.

  Eswara shook her head. "I'm sure you'll tell me what that was all about in the fullness of time, but for now I'm going to fetch Blake and make sure she's all right once they get back to the Castle."

  She headed off in the direction of the stable block, leaving the newlyweds staring into the deepening twilight.

  Both sighed, and then turned to the other.

  "Alone at last," Ash said.

  "Aye, but we never expected—"

  "Just goes to show you. You can never really know a person. I never imagined he could think so ill of either of us."

  Ellen gazed up at him lovingly. "It's all in his mind. None of it is true. I think I know you pretty well. I would like to know all of you. Just so long as you know you never ever have cause to doubt me."

  "So long as you promise not to keep things from me for whatever reason. Fear of disappointment or anger. That was Charlotte’s mistake."

  Ellen nodded. "I know. I just wish you didn’t have to pay for it."

  "Nor you." He shook his head as he recalled all the vile things the Duke had said were making the rounds about his innocent wife.

  "We've done nothing but try to help. Given up our room, our honeymoon, to try to aid her in her time of need. Whatever if was all about, it's his fault for prying around in our private chambers. I'm not ashamed of anything we share, not even the lingam statue, and I hope you aren't either."

  "No, you're right, I'm not."

  "So, nothing to worry about then, darling. And perhaps one day we can all forgive and forget."

  Ash shrugged. "He’ll come round once she tells him the truth."

  "I hope so."

  He smiled down at her warmly. "I'm just not so sure I can forgive and forget that easily."

  She put her arm around his waist. "Idle words said in anger, and certainly not meant, eh, darling?"

  He tried to give his best devil-may-care smile. "You're right, of course. So now, we’ll go up and tidy the room, and get back to that wonderful honeymoon I had planned. Unless of course you want a break. Would you like to go to Bath or somewhere for a few days, love?" She stroked his cheek tenderly. "Oh, no. It’s been kind of Eswara and Blake to deal with all the evening calls so we can at least have uninterrupted nights. Taking you away now wouldn’t be fair."

  "Well, the last of my cousins are heading back to London tomorrow. What do you say we take Eknath and the others out for a bit of a tour of the area, and some shooting and fishing?"

  "But I thought it was against your principles to harm animals."

  "The shooting can be at a target, and the fish get thrown back."

  "Very well. Can I try too?"

  "I would be sorely disappointed if you didn’t. I’m only surprised you never have before."

  "Oh, Martin’s family were so bloodythirsty it was disgusting. Made me shudder just to think about it."

  He nodded. "I understand. But this is a whole diff
erent matter. I trust you."

  "Very good. First thing in the morning, eh?"

  She smiled. "So what should we do in the meantime, then?"

  "Well, I think our nerves are a bit too jangled by what just happened, but I think some hot chocolate and honey later after we're removed all traces of our houseguests might be just the thing."

  "Oooh, I do love how you're getting so good at reading my mind."

  She took his hand and led them back to their entrance to the house with a sultry smile.

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Ash enjoyed taking his wife out hunting with their friends the next day, but he could see what she meant about being revulsed by the way the English seemed to revel in bloodsports.

  As enlightened as Martin was, he killed several birds before Ash reminded him that they were only supposed to be engaging in target practice.

  "Well, if it's any consolation, I have every intention of eating everything I kill. But you're right, it was thoughtless of me in front of your Hindu friends, and I'm sorry."

  He sent Tim back with the brace of bloody birds, and their pair of black, white and tan cocker spaniels, and then moved towards one of the larger forest clearings to set up a practice area.

  Martin now demonstrated some fine marksmanship skills, hitting the centre of the target every time.

  Ellen enjoyed herself learning how to load, and then got to see a whole new side to her husband as he displayed his prowess.

  She gaped in awe as he hit the target repeatedly in exactly the same spot. "Ash, where did you—"

  "My father, and Martin."

  "But as with all things, it’s a case of the pupil outstripping the teacher," Martin praised.

  "Oh my."

  "Your turn, pet. Point, aim, shoot."

  She did as he instructed, and laughed in dismay as she was thrown backwards into her husband's arms.

  "Well, at least you hit the target. But I should have warned you about the kick. I’ll put some cream on that shoulder when we get home. And try this musket. It’s less heavy, with a shorter barrel. Less range, but more accurate if you hold it steady."

  At supper with the whole family, Ellen rubbed her sore shoulder, earning a sympathetic frown from her husband.

  After finishing their meal and saying good night to everyone, Ash took her up to their bathroom and made her change into her robe, and massaged some cream into her sore shoulder.

  She was feeling wonderfully relaxed at last, glad to be back in their bower of bliss, with no lingering anger over the argument with the Duke. The good news was that Charlotte was doing well, and that was the main thing.

  So all was right with Ellen's world with her husband by her side once more, and she could see no reason in the world to continue holding back. As he kissed her, she let the feelings carry her away completely.

  She made no demur when he moved to the bed to kiss and hold her. In fact she grew increasingly heated, stroking her hands down over his own back and buttocks, pulling her to him.

  He tried to evade her, but she begged, "Ash, please."

  "You’re not ready."

  "Oh, please believe me, I am."

  "But I’m not."

  "Ash, please!"

  Summoning up all her most heated memories of the kiss they had shared in the garden at Stone Court, she planted her mouth on his and rolled him over onto his back. Her hands were everywhere, driving him on relentlessly.

  All of his self-control and discipline was torn to shreds and flung to the four winds as she cupped him boldly and rubbed her belly against his hard shaft sinuously.

  He pulled his lips away from her, wondering what enchantment had rendered his demure blond bride into this wildly questing wanton.

  Then he knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that it was lust, if not love. He was delighted to have both, for he had feared she was too scared of her own passionate nature to ever accept it.

  And while he was sure she still didn’t know him well enough to say she loved him heart and soul, with care and nurturing, he was certain that that too would come in the fullness of time.

  For now, though, Ash had to deal with the very practical problem of them both losing their virginity. It was going to be over with him in an instant, leaving her possibly hurt and no doubt vastly needy and frustrated if he didn’t do something quickly.

  He grabbed the base of his shaft and pressed down until his most urgent sensation subsided, all the while stroking her mound, stretching her and spreading the torrid moisture dewing between her delicate folds.

  He managed to turn them over onto his side to make certain he would not be able to plunge straight in like a galloping stallion, and lifted her leg over his hip.

  She longed to make him lose restrain as she had, but every instinct in his body told him that now was not the time to give his passions free rein. There would be plenty of time for that once she trusted him. But for now…

  He slipped the tip of himself along her, gliding wetly, seeking avidly. He allowed just the smallest fraction to penetrate, then gradually edged his way forward, looking for the least sign of alarm or tension.

  But no, Ellen was kissing and nibbling at his neck like a starving woman. He teased the entrance to her delicate womanhood and pressed down on himself against to halt the urge to charge onwards at a breakneck pace.

  He moved deeper and deeper still, lodged in the hot tight core almost painfully, yet still she kissed him.

  "Are you all right?" he gasped.

  "It’s huge, but I need you so much," she whispered against his lips, her mouth hotly seeking.

  "I’m sorry if this-"

  She moved her hips and spread her leg even wider. Then she gasped, with pain, fear and pleasure in equal parts.

  Ellen shrank away for a moment and he would have stopped, but she clamped her hand possessively on one buttock.

  She had told him she wanted him, that she was ready. She couldn’t let him think she was rejecting him now, or that he had hurt her so badly she was fleeing from him in terror. She fitted herself to him and took a deep breath as he had told her, and pressed on.

  Then Ash was all the way inside her and she could swear she could hear his heart beating within the most secret recesses of her body.

  She was so incredibly aroused that when his pinnacle arrived she was right along with him, giving as well as receiving.

  "Ellen! Oh Lord, Ellen."

  He subsided for a brief moment and asked her, "Are you all right?"

  "Wonderful. Just superb. I knew it would be perfect," she said, revelling in the sensation of his whole body fitted to hers, inside her.

  "I hope it’s going to just keep on getting better."

  She smiled. "Better than perfect?"

  "Yes. Once I can control it."

  "You like to have too much control and restraint. Just let it happen. After all, the worst is over now, isn’t it? We’re here, man and wife. We’ve got past the first stage. There’s no need to be frightened. Perhaps you’re right, it can only get better, as we get more confident and learn about this type of pleasure."

  He kissed her tenderly. "Where did I ever get such a wise little wife?"

  "From a very kind and wise husband. You have no idea how you make me feel, Ash," she said, the love shining in her eyes plain to see. "So pleased and proud and so very lucky. I can’t even begin to think how many women must be so unhappy, stuck with rakes who give nothing to them at all. Or even young men who are virgins themselves who have no idea what to do, and wouldn’t even think about how to please their wives."

  "The same can be true of women as well. I doubt your sister worries overmuch about who she makes happy. As a result she just gets more and more narrow and discontented. Why, she was even going after Matthew Dane the other night, and he happily married. It’s just too bad."

  "Perhaps you should introduce Georgina to some of your friends in London, who could teach her about the Tantra," Ellen suggested as she began to move her hips to fit herself to
his aroused body even more perfectly.

  He stroked the toused hair back from her face and kissed her. "I don’t think it would ever work. She doesn’t have any concept of sharing, the divine. She’s like a greedy child who wants to possess and devour. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find her using her newfound bedroom tricks for mastery over some poor unsuspecting goggle-eyed chap."