‘Which way now?’
There was an ancient sitting on the low wall of the church grounds and Richard hailed him. A few moments’ conversation elicited the information that a travelling carriage, heavily laden and travelling at speed, had driven through the village a short while earlier, on the Devizes road. As they set off again Richard glanced across at Phyllida. Her face was pale and strained and he reached out to put one hand over hers.
‘Don’t worry, we are closing on them.’
He felt her tremble and she said in a low voice, ‘After this, sir, I c-cannot doubt your devotion to Ellen. If...if we can save her from this folly, and if she wants you, Richard, then I shall not stand in your way.’
‘If she—’ He broke off, requiring both hands and his concentration to control the team as they approached a bend. Once they were on the straight he declared, ‘Confound it, Phyllida, what are you saying? Ellen does not look upon me as anything more than a friend. And it is certainly not Ellen I want.’
‘How can you say that, when you have spent the past month pursuing her?’
‘I put my name to that preposterous wager, but it did not take me long to realise I had made a mistake.’ He glanced down at her. ‘You have no confidence in your own charms, Phyllida!’
She sat up straight, wondering if she dare believe what she was hearing. Could he truly love her? There was no time to consider that now. They were driving into Melksham and her eyes alighted upon a dusty travelling carriage standing before a large coaching inn.
‘There they are!’
Richard drew up behind the carriage and almost before they had come to a stand Phyllida jumped down and ran inside.
‘Where are the occupants of that coach?’ she demanded of the landlord, who was emerging from the noisy taproom. If he was surprised to be addressed so abruptly he did not show it, merely waved his hand towards a door at the far end of the corridor.
‘In there, ma’am. It’s a private parlour.’
With Richard hard on her heels Phyllida burst into the room, only to stop so quickly that Richard all but cannoned into her. She felt his hand on her shoulder, but whether it was to stop himself from colliding with her, or as support for the scene before them, she did not know.
* * *
Ellen, a picture in pale blue, was standing by the window and sitting in an armchair beside her was Lady Hune.
‘You see,’ declared Ellen, smiling, ‘I told you they would come.’
Obedient to the pressure of the hand on her shoulder, Phyllida moved into the room. She heard Richard close the door behind them.
‘Perhaps one of you would be good enough to explain what the devil is going on here?’ she demanded angrily.
Ellen moved towards the table at the centre of the room, waving her hands towards the food and drink that covered its surface.
‘Do sit down and take some refreshment with us,’ she said. ‘We made sure you would be hungry after your journey. And we deliberately ordered that the coach should be left outside and not be brought into the yard, so you really couldn’t miss us.’
‘I think, Lady Phyllida, that we have been duped,’ remarked Richard. He guided Phyllida to a chair and gently pushed her down. ‘And very neatly, too.’
Ellen beamed at him.
‘I knew if you saw me running away you would go to Philly.’
‘Do you mean there is no elopement?’ said Phyllida. ‘But what of the fashionable gentleman seen at the turnpikes?’
‘One of Lady Hune’s footmen,’ replied Ellen. ‘It is surprising how easily people can be fooled by seeing a fashionable hat and coat upon a man.’
‘And may I ask where you obtained this hat and coat?’ asked Richard calmly.
He was sitting beside Phyllida at the table, holding her fingers in a sustaining grasp with one hand while with the other he filled two wineglasses. She herself could think of nothing to say. For the moment, relief at finding Ellen safe and well had replaced her anger.
‘We borrowed those from your room,’ explained the dowager. ‘I am afraid I had to coerce your valet into agreeing to help us, but I do not think he was too reluctant, for you have been going around like a bear with a sore head for the past week.’
‘And so will Fritt have a sore head, when I have finished with him,’ he muttered. ‘How dare he allow himself to be embroiled in your hare-brained scheme, Sophia!’
‘Oh, pray do not blame Lady Hune,’ said Ellen quickly. ‘This was all my idea. Ever since we returned from Shrewton Lodge I have been trying to hit upon a way to get the two of you together. I was very much afraid that Phyllida and I would go off to Tatham and you, Richard, would return to London and take up your rakish life again.’
‘Ellen!’
‘I beg your pardon for my plain speaking, Philly, but it is true, and Lady Hune agreed with me. As Mrs Ackroyd says, desperate times call for desperate measures, and I knew if you thought I had eloped you would both come after me. I did think of running off with Mr Tesford or Mr Fullingham, but when I suggested it to Lady Hune she thought that would not be wise.’
‘After what happened with Fullingham in the Denhams’ garden I am very glad you didn’t,’ retorted Phyllida. A sip of the wine Richard had poured for her was having its effect and she was beginning to feel a little better.
‘But then I was not prepared,’ argued Ellen. ‘This time I would have made sure I had my hatpin ready to use, if necessary. However, then Lady Hune suggested we should make it a sham elopement.’
‘I fear we have shocked you, Lady Phyllida,’ said Sophia, smiling a little.
‘Nothing your family does could shock me,’ retorted Phyllida bitterly. ‘After all you are an Arrandale, ma’am, are you not?’
‘I am, and proud of it. And I think Ellen will make a wonderful addition to the family—as Richard’s stepdaughter, of course.’
Phyllida’s breath caught in her throat. Richard was still holding one of her hands and she felt his fingers tighten.
‘Lady Phyllida has not yet agreed to marry me.’
‘But she will,’ replied Lady Sophia. ‘The two of you have been smelling of April and May for weeks. I think she could do better for herself, but if she wants to ally herself to an Arrandale you are amongst the best, Richard.’
He shook his head, saying unsteadily, ‘Great-Aunt Sophia, your encomium almost unmans me.’
Phyllida’s lips twitched as she met his eyes and saw the lurking laughter in his own.
‘Damned with faint praise, I think.’
‘Exactly.’ He lifted her fingers and kissed them. ‘So now you know what my family think of me, will you do me the honour of accepting my hand and my heart? Will you make an honest man of me?’
The world stood still, waiting for her answer. Phyllida knew Ellen and Sophia were holding their breath and she saw the hint of a shadow in Richard’s smile, as if he too was uncertain. She smiled.
‘Yes, I will accept your offer, Richard. Gladly, and with all my heart.’
A collective sigh went around the room. Phyllida kept her eyes on Richard’s face, saw his smile deepen, the flash of fire in his eyes, the promise of desire that set her body tingling.
He pulled her close and kissed her lips. Sophia tutted and Ellen gave a little squeal of delight, but he ignored them both, murmuring for her alone, ‘I will do my best to make sure you never have cause to regret it.’
‘You may wish to use this.’ Sophia’s voice recalled them to their situation. She was holding up a paper. ‘It is a special licence. The church and parson are waiting for you across the road. And we are not twenty miles from Shrewton. Since I went to all the trouble to make the Lodge ready for visitors you might wish to use it for your honeymoon. You need not worry about Ellen, Phyllida. I shall take her back to Royal Crescent with me and send for her maid
to join us—after she has packed up your trunk and sent it on to Shrewton, of course. So there is no hurry for you both to return.’
Richard gave a crack of laughter.
‘You have worked it all out between you, have you not?’
‘Of course,’ said Ellen, twinkling. ‘I said when I came to Bath that we might find Philly a husband, although I was very much afraid she would set her heart on one of the dull, worthy kind.’
Lady Hune laughed. ‘There is nothing dull or worthy about Richard!’ She pushed herself out of her seat. ‘Now, shall we go to the church?’
* * *
The wedding passed off without incident. Lady Hune had had the forethought to bring a wedding ring, a heavy plain band that she explained had belonged to some distant ancestor and if the reverend gentleman who conducted the service had any reservations he was far too in awe of a dowager marchioness in his church to voice them. Sophia carried Ellen back to Bath immediately after the ceremony, leaving Richard and his new bride to make their way to Shrewton Lodge.
‘Happy?’ he asked Phyllida as they bowled out of the town in the afternoon sunshine.
‘Yes, of course. But it has all happened so fast.’
‘I beg your pardon,’ he said quickly. ‘I have rushed you, I should have waited until we could arrange a more fitting wedding.’
‘No, no,’ she assured him. ‘I have had one wedding with all the pomp and ceremony, I do not wish for another.’
‘Truly?’ He reached for her hand.
‘Truly.’ She smiled, ‘But are you happy, Richard?’
‘Happier than I can say. It has all worked out so well, especially for Sophia. Ellen has helped her to overcome her sadness at Cassie’s elopement, and you have fulfilled her wish that I should become a respectable married man.’ He squeezed her fingers. ‘And I mean to be very respectable, my love!’
Her smile could not be contained. ‘Do you? Now that will be a challenge!’
He grinned. ‘Witch!’ Richard returned both hands to the reins as he said cheerfully, ‘Ellen will live with us, of course. Sophia is already hinting that she will come to London to help with her come-out next year. I hope you will not object to that?’
‘No, no, not in the least! Oh, dear, I fear I should have thought of all these things before I married you.’
‘How could you? When we set out this morning you had no idea that we were to be married. I hope you will not regret it, Phyllida. I shall do everything in my power to make you happy, I promise you.’
‘I believe you will,’ she murmured. She tucked her hand in his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. ‘But life will be very different for you, too, my love.’
‘I am looking forward to it,’ he said. ‘Marriage to you will go a long way to restoring my family’s name.’
‘I will help you to achieve that in any way I can.’ She paused. ‘What of Arrandale?’
‘Until I have proof that Wolf is dead I must continue to maintain the house for his return. I am sorry to say it will limit my own funds, but we shall get by, with a little prudent management.’
‘Of course we shall. And my money will help.’
‘Ah, I had forgotten about that!’
‘You do not sound very pleased.’
‘I am not. Everyone will say I married you for your money.’
‘Let them. You did not give it a thought, did you?’
‘No, Sophia mentioned it, but—’ Swearing under his breath, Richard brought the curricle to a halt and turned to face her. He grabbed her shoulders. ‘Do you not realise that you have married me without making any provision, any settlement to protect yourself?’
‘How could I?’ she said, turning his earlier words back upon him. ‘When I set out this morning I did not know we were to be married.’ She smiled and put one hand up to his cheek. ‘I am content, my love. It is a measure of how much I trust you.’
Her fingers slipped around his neck and she gently pulled his head down until their lips met in a deep, lingering kiss that only ended when a mail coach rattled past and they heard the catcalls and whistles from the passengers.
They broke apart, Richard cursing under his breath as Phyllida hid her face in his shoulder.
‘I beg your pardon.’ His arm tightened protectively about her. ‘I am a devil to expose you to such ribaldry—’
‘No, no.’ She raised her head, her countenance alight with laughter. ‘I am not at all upset, I assure you. Was it so very bad?’
He grinned at her. ‘Quite scandalous, my love.’
As they set off again she said thoughtfully, ‘Well, I think it is possibly the most outrageous thing I have ever done in my life, but I suppose I shall have to get used to it, now I am an Arrandale.’
‘Not at all. I intend that we shall be the very model of respectability.’
‘What, all the time?’
Greatly daring, she placed her hand on his thigh and her heart raced when she heard his growled response.
‘That might be a little too much to expect.’
Laughing, she settled down beside him for the drive to Shrewton Lodge, where it was clear they were expected. The housekeeper was at the door to welcome them.
‘We have no butler here, sir, Mr Croft having gone back to Bath with Lady Hune, but I think Hinton and I can manage.’
‘I have no doubt of it,’ replied Richard. ‘You have always done a magnificent job in the past when I have come here to stay. You always spoil me.’
‘Now give over, Master Richard,’ protested Mrs Hinton, clearly pleased. ‘We will do our best, as you well know. And I believe your groom and valet, and my lady’s maid, will be joining you here before the day’s out.’
‘That is so,’ agreed Richard. ‘Which bedchamber have you prepared for us?’
‘Lady Hune instructed that the Blue room should be prepared for you—’
‘Then we shall go there directly and, er, rest.’ He took Phyllida’s hand and led her up the stairs.
‘Richard we cannot disappear immediately!’ hissed Phyllida, as soon as the housekeeper was out of earshot.
‘Oh, yes, we can.’ His grip on her hand tightened and he led her through the corridors to a large room that smelled of beeswax and lemons. ‘The Hintons have clearly been busy here.’
Phyllida dropped her bonnet on a chair and moved towards the large canopied bed, running her hands over the hangings, rich blue silk embroidered with silver thread.
‘It is quite beautiful.’
‘No, you are beautiful.’ Richard put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. ‘I saw it that very first time I danced with you at Almack’s. I do remember it, I assure you.’
She shook her head.
‘No, I was too shy and awkward.’
‘At first, perhaps, but you were such a graceful dancer, and you have a goodness and sweetness of temper that give you an inner beauty.’ He put his fingers under her chin and gently eased it up so she was obliged to meet his eyes. ‘Since then you have gained in confidence. You now have elegance and poise, too. You are quite, quite perfect.’
He kissed her then, his blood stirring when she put her arms around his neck and returned his embrace, tangling her tongue with his own. He was aware of the change as her body pressed against him and she drove her hands through his hair, holding him to her. Impatience overcame them both, their kisses grew more heated and they began to scrabble at each other’s clothes, tearing at buttons, strings and ribbons, shrugging off sleeves, shirts, gowns while continuing to share those frantic, excited kisses that set the body aflame.
At last they broke apart and Phyllida stared at Richard’s naked torso, her mouth drying at the sight of the sculpted contours, the wide shoulders and narrowing waist, all she could see since the rest of his delicious body was
still encased in buckskin breeches. She reached out for him, wanting to run her fingers through the dark smattering of hair that covered his chest but he caught her hand and spun her around.
‘No,’ he growled. ‘Not until we have you out of those damned stays. ‘
She laughed then, a warm, guttural sound that was strange to her own ears. It sounded so...so confident, so powerful. She felt a slow vibration through her body as he pulled out the ribbons from the corset that confined her. He went slowly, drawing the ribbon out of each eyelet with infinite care, his fingers brushing against the fine linen shift beneath as he gradually released her from her cage of whalebone. Her skin tingled, she ached to be free, to turn and press herself against his body but he was intent on unlacing her completely. Unable to bear the wait, she gave a little sigh of exasperation.
‘Can you not go any faster?’
‘I could.’ His mouth descended to her shoulder and he gave it a little nip. ‘But there is no hurry.’
Her body told her differently, but she forced herself to keep still, felt the desire pooling in her belly, the growing ache between her thighs. She put back her head and moaned softly as he continued to unlace her while his mouth trailed a line of kisses down her neck. Then the stays were gone, but now his arms imprisoned her. His hands came around to cup her breasts, only the thin shift remained between their hot bodies. He pushed her forward slightly and she put out her hands to support herself on the bed.
‘Stay there.’
Dazed, languorous with desire she remained there, staring at the patterned bedcover. She heard the soft scuffle as Richard shed his boots and buckskins and then he came close and removed her shift in one smooth movement. She almost swooned with excitement as she felt his naked body on her back, skin on skin. His hands came around her again, caressing her breasts, thumbs circling the dark peaks until they swelled and hardened while he pressed himself against her buttocks. He was kissing her neck, nipping and sucking, drawing from her soft moans of excitement. He moved one hand down, caressed her waist, smoothed over her hips and then his fingers slid between the soft curls at the apex of her thighs, seeking out her hot, aching core.
The Chaperon's Seduction Page 24
