Guilt rippled through him once more. He ought to have said yes, ought to have stepped away from his desk to take a walk with his wife, even if it were only for half an hour. She was right that they should show the ton that they were wonderfully happy in their hasty marriage, but Daniel found that he wanted to go with her simply to bring a smile to her face.
“And that is precisely the reason that I will stay where I am,” he said aloud, one hand curling into a fist as he slammed it down, hard, onto the table. “Enough of this nonsense, Daniel. Leave your wife to live her own life, and you concentrate on your own.”
Frowning, Daniel leaned over his desk and tried to review his documents, only to discover that his eyes would not focus. He could not so much as read a single word, tortured as he was by conflicting thoughts and feelings over his wife.
Groaning aloud, Daniel set his head down on the desk and squeezed his eyes closed. A familiar vision came to his mind, the vision of Laura walking just ahead of him, laughing softly as she strolled along a path surrounded by bright yellow daffodils.
Except, when she turned to face him, it was no longer Laura’s face that he saw. It was Christina’s.
14
When Daniel thought of all the places in the world he could be at this very moment, a picnic in Hyde Park with his wife, his sister and her husband, and what seemed to be half the ton looking on was near the bottom of his list.
Had Polly addressed her note to him asking them to attend, he would have refused before he had even reached the end of it. But no, his sister was much smarter than that, and instead had sent it to Christina, who very gladly accepted on their behalf. He had told her in no uncertain terms that he would not be attending, but when she told him she would ask Lord Hudson to escort her, and wouldn’t that give the ton something to talk about, he finally resigned himself to the fact that he would be spending a day outdoors with some of the worst people in all of London.
Though he had to admit, his wife certainly seemed happy. Christina, Polly, and Lady Beatrice were chatting away animatedly in front of him, while Daniel brooded as Hudson and his brother-in-law, Lord Taylor, spoke around him.
“Ravenhall, it is jolly good to see you out and about,” said Taylor. “We are family, it’s true, and yet I feel as though I hardly know you. Why, Polly says—”
Daniel shot him a withering glare that quelled any further conversation. He had little interest in what Polly had to say. He knew his sister, the youngest and therefore the one who didn’t even remember Daniel as a child, found him somewhat fascinating, a fact which disconcerted him.
Taylor forged on. “Yes. Well, that is to say—”
“If you will excuse me, gentlemen, I must speak with my wife.”
Daniel increased his speed, quickly reaching the women, and he leaned down to speak into Christina’s ear.
“Lady Ravenhall, would you allow me to escort you the rest of the way?” he asked, gesturing down the path they were to travel to reach the picnic destination.
Her eyes widened, and he realized she had never known the Daniel who could flirt, who enjoyed the small, trivial things that seemed to matter to his peers.
“Of course,” she responded, her hand coming to his arm as they broke away slightly from the other women.
“Thank you for agreeing to come,” she said, though he knew she was fully aware he had no intentions of attending until she had forced his hand. “I do appreciate the opportunity to better get to know your family and to spend more time at events.”
“Yes. Well,” he shrugged. “This will not be a typical occurrence, you do understand? At some point, I will be returning to the country. Though if you would like to stay in London, I suppose it could be arranged.”
She turned her serene stare upon him and shook her head. “No, Daniel, I think it is better that we reside together.”
“Very well,” he said with a shrug, though why she was adamant about this, he wasn’t sure. “Once this threat is gone, then we will return to the country. You’ll like my estate, I think. It’s fairly peaceful, and the villagers are welcoming. Hopefully, you shouldn’t be bored.”
“No,” she said with a shake of her head. “I enjoy taking care of a household and living in the country. I look forward to it.”
“Good,” he said, before lapsing into silence, unsure of what else to say to her.
“Daniel,” she began, and he nearly groaned aloud. This was why he kept his distance. While she was practical, she also liked to put everything out into the open between them, while he preferred to tamp down whatever he was feeling. But, fortunately, she kept emotions out of this particular conversation. “Tell me more of your ... work. I mean, I know that you have these houses for women and children, but what else do you do?”
He sighed, wondering how much to tell her, but, seeing she was truly interested, he began.
“You know the circumstances that began my interest in seeing others find justice,” he said, his face grim. “It began when I was … at a low point, and leaving a club in St. Giles one night. It was shortly after Laura’s death, and I didn’t know what to do, where to go. So for a time I did what most men did, drowned myself in drink. Although I was on the hunt for Northcliffe, he seemingly had disappeared. Anyway, I walked out into the street and there was a young woman carrying a child, running as though her life depended on getting away. Which it did.”
He cleared his throat, feeling the intensity of Christina’s captivated stare.
“Her husband was chasing her, and he had nearly caught her, but I stumbled into his path accidentally. He ran into me and we both fell in the mud. He was momentarily stunned, and I picked up the woman and lifted her and the child into my waiting carriage so they could escape him. But when I asked her where to go, she gave her home address — right back to where the bastard lived. You see, she hadn’t anywhere else to go. He drank too much, he was abusive, but if she left him, she would starve. So I allowed her to come back to my townhouse. Gave them both something to eat and told her she couldn’t go back, couldn’t allow her child to be raised in such a house. But then I faced the dilemma of what to do with her. And so—” He raised his hands in front of him. “That’s how it began. Typically, it’s women and children. Sometimes orphans, sometimes entire families who need shelter, or anyone who needs someone to help them out of their current situations. And then I keep them from ever being hurt by the same person again if required. If they have been wronged, I make things right.”
She turned sharply to look at him but didn’t ask any questions, apparently not wanting to know any more, which he was happy about. Somehow, telling her and her good soul about his darkness in the brilliant light of the day seemed wrong.
Christina was quiet for a moment, and he wondered what she was thinking of him and his work. Would she judge him for it? Did she think him too high a peer for doing what he did? Could she—?
“I think what you do for those people is admirable,” she said, looking at him with wonder. “Not many people would give their time or their wealth to such a cause.”
“Hudson does most of the work,” he said with a shrug, not wanting her praise. He helped others, sure, but he did it to help himself feel better.
“Even still,” she said with a smile and patted his hand. “You’re a good person, Daniel.”
“I wish you wouldn’t say that to me,” he said, grimacing, hoping to keep her from furthering the subject.
“Truly,” she said. “I know there is some darkness inside you, but nothing that can’t be recovered from.”
He sighed as he looked around, glad when he realized they’d reached the picnic site. His sister came bounding up behind them, her smile alighting on Christina.
“We have the perfect place for ourselves,” she said with a grin and led them over to where her maid was laying out a blanket. Polly sat next to her husband, and Daniel led Christina over to occupy space next to Lady Beatrice.
“No,” she whispered to him. “Allow Lord Hudson
to sit next to her.”
He was taken aback by her comment, but he looked up to see Hudson sending a wink his way, and suddenly he was aware of the way the two of them stared at one another. Well, well, it seemed Hudson was smitten with the Lady Beatrice. She was a stunning woman, to be sure, tiny, with dark, good looks, but Daniel found no attraction to her whatsoever. No, it seemed he now preferred women with sandy blonde hair that glowed in the sun, who had curves that fit beautifully into his hands. He wanted Christina. The thought punched him in the gut, and when he looked down at her, he felt a stirring within him.
No, Daniel, he warned himself, pushing the lust back, and sat down next to her for the lunch.
Alas, it was torture. She was so near him, and she kept leaning over his lap for various dainties and sandwiches. A couple of times, he nearly groaned aloud. When he saw Hudson give him a knowing look, he frowned at him, causing his friend to laugh.
“What is it?” Lady Beatrice asked, to which Hudson shook his head.
“Nothing at all,” he said. “Just having a bit of fun at my friend, here.”
“At Daniel?” Polly said, wide-eyed. “Daniel never has fun.”
“Hush, love,” said Taylor, to Daniel’s great relief.
Taking note that they had finished their food, Daniel stood and announced he was going for a walk to further explore these particular gardens.
“I’ll accompany you,” Christina said, beginning to rise, but Daniel held up a hand.
“I’m fine alone,” he said, but when he felt five pairs of accusing eyes trained on him, he nodded in agreement.
“It is lovely here, isn’t it?” Christina asked as they began.
He nodded again, rather stupidly. Her close proximately wasn’t helping matters, as he was trying to thrust her and her luscious body from his thoughts.
“I suppose,” he finally answered, as they pushed deeper into the trees, away from the eyes of society. He didn’t want to be under scrutiny as he spoke to his wife. But now that they were well away, completely alone under the canopy of trees, he realized he had no desire to talk. No, he wanted to do far more than that.
Turning so suddenly that Christina let out a gasp, he pulled her to him, his hands cradling her face and tilting her chin up toward him. His lips met hers hurriedly, and she gave a slight moan of pleasure that sent heat streaking through him.
“Christina,” he murmured, his hands roaming over her, seeking out satiny, velvety skin that seemed to be calling to him. Her hands came to his elbows, pulling him closer, her lips and tongue, while inexperienced, drawing him in further to her depths. He felt her ample chest against him, and he wanted to release her breasts and see how they would look in the sunlight.
This pleasure could be had all the time, a little voice told him, but he tried to shut that voice away and concentrate on the moment itself. He deepened the kiss, suddenly taking control as he swept his tongue over hers. So many nights the thought of Christina in her bed just down the hallway tortured him, and now that the door had opened, all of the pent-up passion he had restrained came pouring out into the kiss. He had known he wanted Christina, he just didn't realize how badly he did.
Suddenly nearby laughter broke through his consciousness, and the realization of where they were came rushing back. Good Lord, he’d just about taken his wife here in the middle of Hyde Park.
“Christina, I am so sorry,” he said, raking a hand through his hair.
“There are many things to be sorry for,” she said quietly. “But that is not one of them. Come to my bed, Daniel,” she whispered, and before he could say anything in response, she was gone.
15
Christina sighed as she walked, glad that the London streets were still fairly quiet. She had always been accustomed to walking out alone, enjoying the fresh air and the time to herself, but there was something about being married and alone that felt very different. She could not explain it, not even to herself, yet it lingered there in her heart.
It had been another two weeks since she and Daniel had shared any lovely moments together, following their day at the picnic. She could hardly believe she had brought up the subject of consummating their marriage, but something had to be done. Even though she still found her cheeks burning at the thought of what she’d said, Christina did not regret being so honest with her husband. The difficulty was, despite their passionate kiss in the park, now over a fortnight on, he still had not appeared in her bedchamber. She no longer saw him often at dinner anymore either and, even on the nights they did eat together, he would be quiet and distant, just as he always was.
As Christina continued to find herself longing for more, she cursed her foolish heart. After all, she had agreed to this marriage, knowing what he felt — or didn’t feel — for her, but she had never considered that she would find it so difficult. She had believed that life would be just the same as it was prior to this, when she had been at home with her father, but she was beginning to realize how much had changed.
Christina walked through the door of the bookshop, inhaling the comforting, woody scent of leather-bound books. The interior was dim, and the light that shone in from high windows shimmered off the dust in the air. She smiled at the bookshop owner as she began to wander.
When she had been at her former home, there had never been the desire to spend time in her father’s company, for she had found him brash, somewhat heartless, and inclined to talk about himself. Her husband was practically silent, as though he had no interest in sharing anything about himself with her, but she found herself craving his company regardless. It did not help that she was often caught with the memory of his kisses — first in the gardens all those weeks ago and then the sudden kiss at the picnic. She found her hand drifting to her lips as she recalled just how wonderfully shocking it had been. As much as she wanted him in her bed to have children, her heart also quickened as she thought of his lips upon hers once more.
Of course, being untouched, she had no experience of what went on between a husband and wife. Christina’s mother had died when she was but a young child, she had no woman in her life to ask. Instead, Beatrice had, in hushed tones, hastily described the act to her before Christina had married Daniel. Apparently, Beatrice had been told as much by her older sister in preparation for her own wedding, whenever that should come about. To Christina, it all sounded rather painful and hugely embarrassing to be as naked as the day you were born with another person, but Beatrice had informed her, in no uncertain terms, that her husband would require her to be unclad. That had sent shivers down her spine, her mind suddenly filled with questions as to what Daniel might expect and what he would think of her.
Sighing to herself, Christina wandered along the row of books, her fingers idly making their way along the spines as she walked. She enjoyed visiting this wonderful shop, filled with rows upon rows of more volumes than one could ever ask for, but she could find nothing to interest her today.
“Can I be of assistance to you, my lady?”
Christina jumped as the voice startled her, and looked up to see a gentleman leaning against the bookshelf in front of her wearing a warm smile on his face. He was not unhandsome, although his smile did not reach his eyes. He was impeccably dressed, his mousey brown hair neatly styled, and his dark eyes pinning her where she stood.
“I am quite at my leisure this afternoon, sir,” Christina replied, calmly, finding it very strange that a gentleman should speak to her without a proper introduction. “Do excuse me.”
“That was rude of me, I apologize,” the gentleman replied, stepping into Christina’s way as she made to move farther into the bookshop. “I was simply caught by your beauty, my lady.”
“Lady Ravenhall,” she replied, firmly, turning her head to look at him directly, refusing to be intimidated by his gaze. “But as we have not yet been introduced, I do not think it wise to continue our conversation.”
“Quite right,” he grinned, leaning heavily on his cane. “Lady Ravenhall, you say. You m
ust be the young woman who recently wed my old friend, Daniel Harrington, the Marquess of Ravenhall?”
Seeing that she could not easily get past him, Christina sighed inwardly and made to turn around, only for the gentleman to capture her wrist. Her breath caught as she turned back to him, wrenching her arm away as perspiration broke out on her brow and she resisted the urge to flee from the man as fast as she could.
“Do excuse me, sir,” she said, in a voice that she hoped did not shake with her fright. “And may I suggest that you do not touch me again. I am not obliged to speak with you.” She jumped as she heard the door scrape open, allowing another person to enter the shop. Christina’s initial relief fled when she realized they were too far hidden in the recesses of the bookshop to be seen from the entrance.
“Forgive me. It is just that I have been very eager to make your acquaintance,” the gentleman replied, leaning forward so that Christina was forced to press herself back against the bookshelves. “After all, I have known your husband for a long time.”
It was not his words that had Christina’s heart clutching with an icy fear, but rather the look in the man’s eyes. His smile had turned cruel, his narrowed eyes heartless and the tone of his voice mocking.
“You — you are Lord Northcliffe,” she whispered, one hand clutching at her heart.
The man chuckled. “So he married someone who has a decent head on her shoulders! Very observant, Lady Ravenhall. You need not fear anything from me, my lady, so you do not need to look so afraid. I am simply showing you and your husband that I have no intention of going anywhere and that his threats do not frighten me. I was called away on business for a short time, but I have returned to London and intend to do all I can to enjoy the remainder of the Season — hopefully without Lord Ravenhall’s presence.”
He reached up and brushed Christina’s cheek gently, making her shudder. “You will tell him that you saw me, won’t you, Lady Ravenhall?”
Promise of Redemption Page 11
