The Hero Least Likely

by Darcy Burke

  Noting the slight amusement in his voice, she wrapped her arm around his and giggled. “Would it surprise you to know I don’t mind the long rides because I’m with you?”

  “I’d think long rides with someone who rambles on about Parliament would bore you.”

  “I don’t mind it. It’s what you’re interested in.”

  “While that’s true, I don’t think it’s something that interests a lady. You’d be well within your rights to tell me about something that ladies find fascinating but gentlemen don’t.”

  She bit her lower lip as they proceeded up the steps of the gazebo. “And what if I were to tell you I enjoy political talk? Would you be disappointed?”

  “Only if you were lying.” Raising an eyebrow, he studied her as she sat on the bench. “Should I be disappointed?”

  “No. I’m telling you the truth.”

  He sat next to her, his smile growing wider. “Really?”

  “Really. I realize it’s because I’m a lady that I shouldn’t, but I do. I grew up with a father who talked of little else. I suppose after a while, it became something I looked forward to hearing about.”

  “Then why don’t you tell me what you think about what’s going on with the Parliament?”

  She shrugged, barely noticing the breeze that cooled things off around them. “Do you truly want to know?”

  “Of course. You’re my wife, and I want to know what you’re thinking.”

  Pleased, her eyes met his and she leaned toward him. “I can’t think of a single gentleman who cares so much about what his wife thinks. Of all the ladies in England, I’m the most fortunate one.” She caught a glimpse of his bashful expression as he turned his face from her. “It’s true, Perry. You have no need to be shy around me.”

  She found him absolutely adorable. And how she wished they never had to go back to London. At least when they were at an inn, no one knew them so they could be alone for the most part. She was safe and loved, something she didn’t take for granted. But how long could such a blissful feeling last once the outside world came pressing in around them?

  With a sigh, she scanned the peaceful land around them with the inn not too far away. “Must we go to London tomorrow?”

  “What is it that troubles you about London? Is it your brother? I already told you I can handle him.”

  “I like it when it’s just the two of us.”

  “Does it help to know we’ll soon be going to our estate in the country? Then it’ll be the two of us all winter, and who knows if you’ll get tired of me?”

  “What a terrible thing to say. I could never get tired of you.”

  “Wait until winter’s over before you say that,” he teased.

  She leaned forward and kissed him. “What will it take for you to realize you’re an ideal husband?”

  Instead of answering her, he kissed her in return and said, “We won’t stay in London for long. I only feel it’s right to properly introduce you to my family and friends. I want you to be comfortable with your new life.”

  Why was it so difficult for him to accept that a lady might look at him and find him desirable? He was everything a lady wanted and more. If he only knew the type of gentlemen who were out there, he might understand why he was much better than them. Maybe in time he would see himself the way she saw him. In the meantime, she would savor every moment they spent together, especially the ones they had before her brother talked to him.

  With a smile, she clasped her hands around his and nodded. “All right. We’ll stay in London for a couple weeks then go to your estate.”

  “Our estate.”

  “I stand corrected. Our estate.”

  He lowered his head and gave her another kiss. She pulled him closer and deepened the kiss, desperately hoping he would remember the joy he found in her because when he learned about her past, it was her only hope that he’d forgive her.

  Two days later, Perry was sorting through his ledger to balance his account when a knock came from his library door. Surprised that Paula felt the need to knock, he looked up. But instead of Paula, Christopher stood in the doorway, a question in his eyes.

  “What is it?” Perry asked when he didn’t say anything. In all the time he’d known him, he never knew Christopher to be shy about saying what was on his mind. And in this case, he almost felt like his cousin was playing a game with him.

  “I know you left London with a delightful young lady, but I don’t see her anywhere. Did she run off before you could marry her?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Then where is she?”

  “Not that it’s any of your concern, but she’s taking a bath in her bedchamber.” Why he was telling Christopher this, he didn’t know.

  His cousin breathed a sigh of relief and walked further into the room, not bothering to wait for the invitation before he sat down and plopped his feet up on the desk. “That’s good. I tell you, it wasn’t easy to find a lady willing to marry you. Agatha’s been at me nonstop about finding you a wife ever since Sophie ran off with another gentleman.”

  Fighting back the urge to grimace, Perry turned his attention back to the ledger. “Sophie wouldn’t have been happy with me. We would never have made a good match.”

  “Precisely! I told Agatha that, but she was upset with her sister for days. You’re better off with someone who doesn’t crave constant excitement.”

  “Oh?” While he knew Christopher considered him boring, he wished he wouldn’t point it out whenever possible.

  “I meant the bad type of excitement.”

  “I wasn’t aware that excitement could be bad.”

  “Of course, it can be. Some gentlemen actually die in bed during lovemaking. Did you know that was possible? I didn’t until Ethan told me about Lord—”

  “I’ve heard enough. Your point is well noted. Excitement isn’t always a good thing.”

  “Fortunately, all has worked out and you’re married. You did marry her, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, I did. What kind of gentleman do you take me for? I wouldn’t run off with her and sully her reputation by not marrying her.”

  “Well, I suppose one could argue that she sullied your reputation since she was the one who kissed you.”

  With a sigh, he set his quill aside. “Did you come by to mock me?”

  “No, I came by to make sure you’re married. Agatha fretted the whole time you were gone. Believe me, it’s not easy to talk a lady into doing anything interesting in bed when she’s worried about something.”

  “Does everything have to be so…personal…with you?”

  Christopher shrugged and clasped his hands over his stomach. “I happen to find such talk entertaining.”

  “Apparently. In the future, I’ll thank you to confine such talk when you’re with your friends.”

  Perry shook his head and shut his ledger, deciding he’d continue sorting through his finances at a later time. While he knew Christopher purposely said things to unnerve him, he couldn’t figure out how to ignore them. If he could, then he suspected Christopher would stop. After all, how much fun was it to try to bother someone who didn’t respond the way one hoped?

  The sound of footsteps directed their attention to the doorway and Perry smiled when Paula walked by. She got lovelier each time he saw her. He called out to her, and she turned to enter the room.

  “My cousin wanted to congratulate us on our wedding,” Perry called out, motioning to Christopher who at least had the sense to straighten in his seat.

  “Yes,” he said and shot her a grateful smile. “Thanks to you, Perry finally has a wife. You’ll never know what a relief it is that someone made an honest gentleman of him.”

  He rolled his eyes. “If you’re so funny, then why is no one laughing?”

  At that, Paula chuckled and Perry felt a sense of satisfaction since she laughed at his joke but not Christopher’s. It was a minor victory but a victory all the same and he’d enjoy it.

  Christopher’s e
yebrows rose as he turned back in his direction. “Who knew you had a sense of humor? Having a wife is already doing you wonders.” Rising to his feet, he continued, “Agatha sent me over to invite you to a dinner party we’re having in a week.”

  Hesitant, Perry stood up and grabbed his cane. “Who’ll be there?”

  “Our friends. It’ll be an informal gathering, much like the ones you gave while I still lived here.”

  He resisted the urge to grimace. “Will Lord Edon be there?”

  “He’s my friend. Of course, he’ll be there.” He smiled at Paula. “You’ll like him. He’s got a real passion for life.”

  That wasn’t the way Perry would have described him, but it was better than telling her he was one of the most notorious rakes in London. “Will my friend Nate be there?”

  He gagged. “Is that a requirement?”

  “Lord Edon is your friend and Nate is mine. If you want to assure Agatha that all is well, I insist Nate go. Besides, don’t Claire and Agatha get along?”

  “You’re so demanding. All right. Lord Horrid will be there.”

  Perry fought the urge to correct him as he stepped around his desk so he could stand beside his wife. “Are you ready for our walk?”

  “You mean a walk to the drawing room, right?” Christopher called out before she could answer him.

  “No, I meant a walk through Hyde Park.”

  His jaw dropped for a moment then he pinched himself.

  Frowning, Perry asked, “What are you doing?”

  “Making sure I’m awake. I could have sworn you suggested walking—instead of riding a horse—through the park.”

  He sighed but saw that Paula seemed amused by Christopher’s comment, so he decided to concede and tell the truth. “Paula doesn’t mind my limp.”

  “It’s hardly a limp at all,” she added and slipped her arm around his, causing his body to flush with a pleasant warmth that always seemed to come over him whenever she touched him.

  Christopher chuckled. “You have no idea how long I’ve tried to get that stubborn cousin of mine to walk instead of riding a horse, but he was adamantly opposed to it. My lady, you have my complete admiration. You have accomplished what no one else has.”

  Perry rolled his eyes as his cousin gave an exaggerated bow before her. She squeezed his arm. Looking at her, he was assured that she didn’t think less of him because he’d let fear hold him back in the past. He tapped Christopher on the shoulder with his cane. “The queen demands you rise.”

  Her lips curled up at his joke.

  Christopher straightened and clasped his hands behind his back. “Before you two leave, I have something important to give Perry. I’ll retrieve it from my carriage and be right back.”

  As he hurried out of the room, Paula turned to Perry and kissed him. “You shouldn’t let him bother you.”

  “I try not to. It’s just difficult.”

  “Does it help if you know that I think you’re the best gentleman in all of London and no one will ever change my mind?”

  Pleased by her words, he grinned. “I think you see me as you want to see me, not as I really am.”

  “No, I see you as you really are.”

  She gave him another kiss, this one longer than the one before, and his body stirred with desire to caress her breasts or take her over to the chair and have her straddle him. He hadn’t been bold in their lovemaking. Up to now, he’d been letting her take the lead, thinking it would make her more comfortable with him. And fortunately, she had no problem initiating it. She didn’t seem to mind the arrangement, but he wondered if she’d mind it if he took the lead once in awhile. If he had the courage to ask, he would. However, with things going as well as they were, he thought it best to keep quiet in case he inadvertently said something wrong.

  When the kiss ended, her eyes sparkled. “You’re a good gentleman, Perry. I’m honored to be your wife.”

  Christopher returned with something wrapped in brown paper. “I thought it best to be discrete.” He glanced at Paula. “Agatha would be horrified if she saw what I was carrying when I left the townhouse.” Turning back to Perry, he held it out to him. “This is for your wife.”

  Perry frowned and stared at it. “If it’s for Paula, why are you giving it to me?”

  “When you unwrap it, you’ll find out.” He winked at her. “You, of all ladies, need something like this.”

  Uncertain of whether or not he’d like his cousin’s gift, Perry reluctantly took it. “Is this a debt you owe to someone that you expect me to pay?” He’d done that a couple times in the past, though not since Nate made him a stable boy.

  “I don’t have any debts,” Christopher replied, indignation in his voice. “I can’t believe you’d even think such a thing.”

  Rolling his eyes, he stepped away from Paula, thinking it best that she not see whatever the “gift” was. She didn’t need to be included in his cousin’s antics. He unwrapped the object, acutely aware that his cousin was smirking at him as if this was the funniest thing that had ever happened. That right there proved Perry had every reason to be concerned.

  When he saw it was a book, his gaze lowered to the title and his jaw dropped. Spinning on his heel, he placed the book behind his back so Paula wouldn’t see it. Avoiding eye contact with his cousin, he asked, “Paula, would you please leave me and my errant cousin alone for a few minutes?”

  Though her eyebrows furrowed, she nodded and left the room.

  “Close the door,” Perry told Christopher.

  This time it was Christopher who rolled his eyes as he obeyed him, though the way his lips curled up told Perry that he was enjoying his discomfort. Of course, Christopher was enjoying his discomfort. From the moment Perry took over as his ward, he took fiendish delight in getting a reaction out of him.

  Christopher returned to him, his expression intentionally clear of any mischief. “You wish to thank me for making your wife’s bed something she can look forward to?”

  “Take it back.” Perry thrust the book at him. “I’m not amused.”

  “I would take it back if it was for you, but it’s not your gift. It’s Paula’s.” He thrust the book back at him and he almost dropped it. “If you want me to take it, you’ll have to get her permission.”

  His face grew warm. “I can’t show her this.” He looked at the title again and shuddered. How to Pleasure a Lady. What kind of gentleman would give such an inappropriate book to Christopher anyway? Then the answer dawned on him. “Is this from Lord Edon?”

  “Technically, it’s from me. But I did ask him to give me a copy to give to your wife.”

  “Take it back.” He shoved it at him, but Christopher refused to take it so it fell to the floor. Groaning, he knelt down, leaning on his cane as he did so, and picked it up. “Why do you insist on being so difficult?”

  “I was about to ask you the same thing. Do you not want your wife to receive pleasure in bed?”

  “Of course I want her to receive pleasure in bed.” He stopped, his face growing even warmer when he realized he was discussing his private life with his cousin of all people! “Not that what I do or don’t do with her is your concern.”

  “You’re right. It’s not my concern. But I like her. She’s fun and she’s got a slightly wicked streak to her that will do you a lot of good.”

  “There is nothing wicked about her. She’s an honorable lady.”

  “Who went up to you and kissed you without knowing anything about you except your name and title.”

  Perry traced the edge of the handle on his cane for a moment, not sure how he could best answer something like that. Granted, it was strange that a lady would go up to him and kiss him, but she had a good reason. Then he recalled her brother. “She only did that because her brother was forcing her to do something she didn’t want to do. She needed protection. Now that she’s married to me, she doesn’t have to do anything he wants. The poor thing had no option.”

  “If she was so pure and noble of hea
rt,” Christopher began in an amused tone, “then why didn’t she just plead her case? Why did she create a scandal?”

  “She was probably afraid I wouldn’t understand her plight. She didn’t know me. I could have told her no.”

  Chuckling, he shrugged. “If you must believe that in order to be happy, then so be it. But that book is hers to do with as you will. If you care about her at all, you’ll read it and do what it says. But if you don’t, then by all means, get rid of it.”

  “What I do or don’t do with this book has nothing to do with how I feel about her.”

  “Sure it doesn’t.” Christopher smirked then turned toward the door. Pausing, he looked over at him. “Is there anything else?”

  He almost said no then said, “Don’t bring me any more books.”

  “All right. I won’t bring you any more books.”

  Perry frowned as he left the room. There was no way to win an argument with Christopher. The imp was much too clever, using words to his advantage. With a sigh, Perry went to the other side of his desk and slipped the book in his drawer. How to Pleasure a Lady, indeed! Paula already received pleasure in bed. She never once uttered a word of complaint. She went up to him often and kissed him, and many times those kisses led to other things. If she wasn’t happy with things the way they were, she wouldn’t initiate lovemaking. He closed the drawer, his face still hot from embarrassment. Just what was Christopher thinking? He wanted to embarrass me. That’s all. And it worked.

  A light tapping on the door brought his attention to Paula who stuck her head into the room. “Do you want to take that walk now?”

  Sure his face was still red, he forced his conversation with Christopher aside and went over to her, hardly noticing the cane. Usually, he was acutely aware of it, but today, he almost forgot it was there. “Yes, I’m ready.”

  With a smile, she slipped her arm around his and said, “It’s a lovely day. Perfect even.”

  He couldn’t agree more, but then any day with her was perfect. Putting Christopher far from his mind, he led her out of the townhouse so they could enjoy the day.

  EIGHT