Lord Rakehell

by Virginia Henley

  “Ah, yes, I’d forgotten about the government.”

  James spoke low to Anne. “I paid a call to Grosvenor Square when I got back to London. Perhaps it was fortunate that your father wasn’t at home. I spoke with your mother and she promised to see what she could do to make him change his mind.”

  “Thank you, James. I hope Mother can work her magic.”

  Teddy helped himself to a brace of roasted partridge he’d shot at Sandringham. “Too bad you allowed duty to call you, James, you missed the fireworks at Newmarket last weekend. Henry Chaplin had his horse Hermit entered, but his trainer said he’s come up lame. Chaplin almost pulled him, but at the last minute decided to run him. His archrival Hastings wagered two hundred and fifty thousand pounds that Hermit would lose. When Hastings lost the bet, the two men came to blows. It was great sport, I can tell you.”

  “But surely a loss of two hundred and fifty thousand pounds would wipe out his fortune,” James said with concern.

  Prince Teddy shrugged. “Just deserts for eloping with Chaplin’s intended bride.”

  Anne was deeply concerned about her friend. “I must visit Florence. The Hastings live close-by in St. James’s Place. She will be terribly upset over this, James.”

  “You must be careful, Anne. Don’t go alone. Take Frances with you.”

  “That’s a good idea. Will you be staying here tonight, James?” she asked, quietly enough so that no one else could hear.

  “Better not, sweetheart. Too many eyes and ears.”

  • • •

  “I’m sorry to disturb you, Alix,” Anne said, carefully closing the door to the private sitting room. “My sister Emily has arrived from Buckingham Palace. She is delivering a letter from Her Majesty the Queen and insists she’s been instructed to hand it to you in person.”

  “I didn’t request an audience with the queen when I returned from Sandringham. I’ve been expecting a summons all week. Please show Emily in, and order us some tea.”

  Anne returned to the entrance hall where Emily sat waiting. “Her Royal Highness will see you in her sitting room.” Anne was determined to show Emily more hospitality than she had been shown at Buckingham Palace. “The princess has ordered tea.”

  Alix greeted Anne’s sister warmly. “Lady Emily, welcome to Marlborough House.”

  Emily did not curtsy, but she politely inclined her head. “Your Highness, I bring you a letter from Her Majesty Queen Victoria.”

  “Thank you so much, Lady Emily. Please sit down and join us for tea.” She opened the envelope and took out the letter. “I shall read it immediately.”

  The serene smile remained on Alexandra’s face as she read the missive. As she had expected, it was a summons for her to present herself to Victoria.

  A maid wheeled in a tea cart, and Anne brought a small table and placed it beside her sister’s chair.

  Alix arose and moved to her writing desk. “Do have some tea, ladies, while I write a reply to Her Majesty’s letter.”

  Anne busied herself pouring the tea, then helped herself to a couple of pink iced petits fours so she wouldn’t have to make small talk with her sister.

  Princess Alexandra dipped her pen in the ink and began to write.

  Your Gracious Majesty:

  Thank you for your invitation to join you at Buckingham Palace.

  Because of your generosity in allowing Prince Edward and I to enjoy Sandringham Estate, it gives me the greatest pleasure to share our wonderful news. You may expect to be a proud grandmother sometime in March, next year.

  My doctor has advised me to reduce my social activities. I am sure you will understand why my delicate condition prevents me from resuming my monthly audiences with you at Buckingham Palace.

  Your devoted daughter-in-law,

  Alexandra, Princess of Wales

  After Emily left with her reply, Alix told Anne, “From now on, it will be my decision when I see my dearest mother-in-law.”

  • • •

  “Anne, Frances, I’m so glad to see you.” Florence invited her two friends upstairs to the drawing room. “I don’t want the servants to overhear us, so I won’t ring for tea. Will you have sherry instead?”

  “Sherry will be lovely,” Anne said. “We came because we were worried about you.”

  “Then you heard what happened at Newmarket?”

  “Yes, we know that your husband lost an enormous amount of money at the races.”

  “It’s all my fault—I’m the reason for the insane rivalry between Hastings and Chaplin. My husband’s hatred for Henry Chaplin knows no bounds.”

  “It doesn’t do any good to blame yourself, Florence,” Anne said firmly. “If he’s angry and drinking, you shouldn’t stay here. Perhaps you should go home.”

  Florence laughed bitterly. “I reached out to my father, but my stepmother rules the roost. She said that I made my bed and now I must lie in it.”

  “You never should have let your heart rule your head, Florence,” Frances admonished. “Blandford Churchill was at Sandringham, but I made sure I kept him at arm’s length.”

  “But, Frances, your brother James was at Sandringham. Blandford wouldn’t dare make improper advances to you,” Anne pointed out. “Florence, I too allow my heart to rule my head. The heart wants what it wants, right or wrong.”

  “You mustn’t worry about me. Hastings isn’t here. He’s gone to the Doncaster races to enter his horse Lady Elizabeth in the big race. He hopes to recoup his money.”

  “Well, I hope for your sake that he does. But high-stake wagers are addictive as well as dangerous. Please take care of yourself, Florence. If you need our help, Frances and I are only a short distance away at Marlborough House.”

  “I love you both. Thank you for caring about me.”

  • • •

  For the next few days, Anne was busy designing dresses for Princess Alexandra that concealed her expanding waistline. “It’s not just the style that matters; it’s also important to select the right colors and materials,” she advised Alix.

  “Dr. Jenner warned me against tightening my corset strings because it could harm my baby. Your looser-fitting designs are far more comfortable than squeezing into the outfits I wore last month.”

  Anne continually consulted with the sewing women. She took Alexandra’s measurements often, and it was no longer necessary for the princess to have constant fittings for her clothes. Anne’s days were filled with activities, but the nights seemed empty and endless, especially since James hadn’t been to Marlborough House for a week.

  I don’t just miss him, I long for him. Alix retires after dinner most nights and the evening hours seem to drag on forever.

  She had fallen into the habit of bathing around ten o’clock each night, and was in bed by eleven, often lying sleepless, hungry for the sight, feel, and taste of James.

  Tonight, when she returned to her chamber after taking her bath, every inch of her craved for his touch and she refused to go one more hour without seeing him. Anne opened her wardrobe, slipped on her fur coat, and departed Marlborough House.

  She cut through Green Park, crossed Piccadilly, and was in front of his town house on the corner of White Horse Street in less than fifteen minutes. She ran up the steps, lifted the brass knocker three times, and waited. It seemed to take forever for someone to open the door, and she was startled to see James. “Where’s Grady?” she asked in surprise.

  “Anne! It’s not safe for a lady to be out at this hour. Grady is in bed, where you should be.”

  She gave him a saucy smile. “That’s where I intend to be shortly.” She walked past him and ran up the stairs. James followed, his eyes drawn irresistibly to her lovely slim ankles in spite of the fact that he thought her behavior reckless. Anne entered the drawing room and turned to face him.

  He had been about to read his post when sh
e arrived, but set the letters down unread. “Anne, it’s wrong of me to compromise you. I’m going to put you in a cab and send you back to Marlborough House.”

  She ran the tip of her tongue around her lips. “Can’t I make you change your mind?” She slipped off her fur coat and stood before him naked.

  “My God, you are not just reckless, you are abandoned!” He enfolded her in his arms and groaned as his hands came into contact with the soft, silken skin of her back. “I should beat you for walking the streets naked.”

  “Do you have a rod?” she whispered, and bit his earlobe. “Ah yes, I feel that you do.”

  He swept her up into his arms, carried her to his chamber, and dropped her on the bed. He stroked his hand down the curve of her back. “Your lovely body has so many places that are irresistible to me.”

  “How many?”

  “At least a dozen.”

  “Show me where they are.”

  He lifted her foot. “Your instep begs my kisses.” He circled her ankle with his long fingers. “Your ankle is so delicate I can span it.” His hand moved up her leg. “Behind your knee is an intimate place I love to touch.”

  His palm stroked up her belly and he dipped a finger into her navel. “A very private spot. I doubt anyone but me has ever touched it.”

  “You make me want to purr.”

  “Now right here, beneath your breasts, the flesh is so tender and silky, I like to nibble it.” He traced one finger along her clavicle, then pressed his lips to the hollow of her throat. He dropped a kiss on each eyelid. “I can see the tiny blue veins when you close your eyes.”

  “That’s only eight—show me the rest.”

  “The red-gold tendrils that fall on your brow always invite my lips.” Then he lifted her hair and ran his tongue along the back of her neck. “So private.” He lifted her arm above her head to expose an armpit. “So intimate.” He touched his lips to the hollow, making her laugh. “And so ticklish.”

  He slid his hands beneath her bottom cheeks and curled his fingers into the cleft of her bum. “This spot is so sensitive it makes you shudder—it makes me shudder.”

  She slipped her arms about his neck. “Enough, James. You are torturing me.”

  He held his breath as the tips of her breasts brushed against his chest, and she wrapped her legs about him. “I’m in a fever of need, sweetheart.”

  When James thrust inside her, she arched her body as a wave of pleasure swept her from her breasts to her toes. He saw her eyes smoky with passion, her lips half-parted, waiting for his kisses. When he covered her mouth with his, and thrust his tongue in deep, she moaned with pure, sensual pleasure.

  He began to plunge savagely with hot, drugging strokes until the night exploded. Fire snaked through his groin and as he spilled, a feral growl escaped his throat. They lay still, pulsating together in a mating that had been almost too intense.

  The lovers lay whispering for an hour, enjoying their stolen time together. Then finally, James sat up and swung his legs to the floor. “I must get you back to Marlborough House. You’d better put on one of my shirts. I refuse to let you go back dressed in only your fur. That’s too decadent even for me, you little wanton.”

  He took a clean shirt from his dresser, sat her up on the edge of the bed, and threaded her arms through the sleeves. Then he buttoned it. Then he donned his own clothes.

  “Where’s your coat?”

  “I dropped it in the drawing room.” She sighed and got up off the bed. “Do I really have to go?”

  “Yes, you really, absolutely have to go. Come on.” He took her hand to make sure she followed him. He bent to retrieve her coat from the carpet, and saw his forgotten letters. He held the fur and when she put her arms into the sleeves, he wrapped it about her. Then he picked up his post. “Hello, what’s this?”

  She heard the sharp interest in his voice. “A letter from a secret admirer,” she teased.

  “It’s from your father.” He tore open the envelope and quickly read the note. “He’s asking to see me tomorrow at four.”

  Their eyes met and James saw her apprehension. After his last meeting with Earl Howe, he did not feel optimistic, but he masked his doubt. “It will be all right, love. I promise to be civil and won’t lose my temper, no matter the outcome,” he assured her.

  • • •

  As it turned out, Anne too received a note from her father in the morning post to come and see him. She arrived home at the appointed hour and was relieved to see James emerge from a hansom cab. Jenkins opened the door and they entered the house together.

  “Welcome home, Lady Anne. Your father awaits you in the library.”

  When they entered the room, Earl Howe got to his feet, came around the desk, and kissed his daughter’s brow. “It’s good to see you, my dear.” Then he held out his hand to James. “Lord Hamilton.” He returned to his chair. “Won’t you both be seated?”

  Anne felt a tightness in her chest, and took a deep breath, bracing herself for what was to come. In spite of her father’s civil greeting, the atmosphere felt formal and strained.

  James waited politely for Earl Howe to speak first.

  “I have decided to withdraw my objection to your marriage. I would prefer that you allow a decent interval between announcing the engagement and the date you set for the wedding. This will give my daughter time to make sure she is doing the right thing.”

  Anne closed her eyes and let out a long breath of relief. “Thank you, Father.”

  “Thank you for your understanding, Lord Howe. I, too, want Anne to be sure her decision is the right one.” James stood up and the two men again shook hands.

  As if she had been listening at the door, Lady Howe stepped into the library and the strained atmosphere seemed to disappear, at least for Anne. “Congratulations, darling. Your happiness is the most important thing in the world to your father and I. This calls for a toast.” She moved to a credenza that held a decanter, poured four glasses of claret, and handed them around. She raised her glass. “Here’s to your health and happiness.”

  Anne sipped the wine gratefully. She felt a red rose bloom in her chest as she began to radiate joy. She did not notice that the earl left his wine untouched.

  James drained his glass and set it down. He took Anne’s mother’s hand to his lips. “I truly thank you, Lady Howe.” His expressive brown eyes conveyed more than his words. He took possession of Anne’s hand. “I think we should drop in at Hampden House and tell my family the good news.”

  “Yes, that would be lovely,” Anne agreed. “Sorry to rush off, Mother.”

  “Off you go, darling.”

  Earl Howe said, “In the meantime, I’ll have the marriage contract drawn up.”

  James nodded. “Good day, Lord Howe, Lady Howe.” He ushered Anne from the library and headed toward the front door. When they were outside, they hugged each other with relief. “I thank the Fates, or whatever it was that made him change his mind.”

  “I think it was Mother’s magic,” Anne declared.

  “Yes, doubtless it was her invisible hand that orchestrated the whole thing.”

  As the couple walked around the corner to Green Street, Anne bethought herself.

  “What about John Claud?”

  “The young devil will have no choice but to accept it. In any case, he should be sitting in Parliament this afternoon.”

  When the happy couple entered Hampden House, Abercorn had just arrived home from his office at Buckingham Palace.

  James kissed his mother. “As I’m sure you’ve long suspected, I have asked Lady Anne to marry me, and she has accepted my proposal.”

  Lady Lu kissed Anne, and embraced James. “I congratulate the groom and offer the bride every happiness. Whatever took you so long?”

  Anne bit her lip. “I’m afraid that was my fault, Your Grace. My father wit
hheld his consent until today.”

  Abercorn beamed. “It’s a father’s duty to be protective of his daughter.”

  “This calls for champagne.” Lady Lu rang the bell for the butler.

  When he arrived, Abercorn informed him, “Champagne for the ladies, and Irish whiskey for James and I.”

  The four sat down in the drawing room to enjoy their drinks. “When is the happy day to be?” Lady Lu asked.

  “Anne’s father wants a decent interval between the engagement announcement and the wedding date, to give my bride time to change her mind.”

  Lady Lu threw back her head and laughed at such an absurd suggestion, but her husband was more practical. “Richard may have a point about a decent interval. It’s almost the end of October and the anniversary of Prince Albert’s death is approaching fast. The entire month of December will be set aside for mourning, and since our family is close to the royal family, it’s only fitting that you hold off the wedding celebration until after the New Year begins.” Then he winked at his son. “Of course, the decision is yours.”

  “I wouldn’t want to ruffle any royal feathers.” He slipped his arm around Anne possessively. “It will give us time to look for a decent house, with a large nursery.”

  “It will also give Princess Alexandra time to find a new lady-in-waiting to replace me. James wants me to be a full-time wife.”

  “But it’s what you want that should count, my dear,” Lady Lu asserted.

  Anne’s eyes sparkled like emeralds. “I want what James wants.”

  Lu rolled her eyes. “Good God, she’s intoxicated by love. More champagne, my dear?”

  In less than an hour they were in the cab on their way back to Marlborough House, holding hands and laughing at their good fortune. Before they arrived, James sobered. “Your father gave his consent grudgingly and I don’t want to give him cause to find fault with me in any way. From now on, we must live circumspect lives. No more midnight forays to White Horse Street.”

  “Respectability must be our God, and no scandal! How on earth are we to achieve such boring, lofty goals?”

  “By avoiding temptation and seeing each other as little as possible,” James suggested.